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Oxford Sparks Big Questions

Jul 8, 2026

Each of us is different. Our genetics and life experiences shape us into unique individuals – with unique brains. When it comes to medicine, therefore, a 'one size fits all' approach is often not adequate, and trial and error is required to find the best treatment for a condition: especially when it comes to the...


Jun 17, 2026

Put simply, most drugs work by binding to a protein and altering how they function. But how can we model how well a particular molecule will bind to a particular protein, and use that knowledge to help discover new treatments? In this episode, we talk to Prof Fergus Imrie from Oxford's Department of Statistics, who is...


Jun 3, 2026

In 2022, 7% of the UK's total carbon emissions came from the aviation sector - a figure that's on the rise. This means that - while a flight is often the start of a well-deserved holiday - a lot of us feel at least a sprinkling of guilt over our carbon footprint. So, what if we could reduce the carbon...


May 20, 2026

Until recently, most of us had probably never even heard of the hantavirus. Now - with memories of the global COVID-19 pandemic still fresh in our minds - it's only natural to feel slightly concerned about the new virus hitting our headlines. But are our worries justified? We chat to Dr Daniel Wright from the...


May 6, 2026

‘Killing animals’ and ‘conservation’ sound mutually exclusive, but when it comes to managing populations that are having a negative environmental impact, is culling the answer? If so, how do people feel about it? We chat to Jessica Frater from the Department of Biology at the University of Oxford about...