december 29, 2020
Royal Institution Christmas Lecture 2020
Helen is one of the three 2020 Royal Institution Christmas Lecturers. Along with Professor Chris Jackson and Dr Tara Shine, she will present “Planet Earth: A User’s Guide”, three lectures that examine what we need to know about our planet to live on it. Helen will present the second lecture “Waterworld” on Earth’s ocean, which will be broadcast on BBC4 at 8pm on December 29th. The lecture will explore what Earth’s ocean is, what it does for us, and why it’s so so much more than just the place where the fish live. It will be available worldwide on the Royal Institution website four weeks later.
june 8, 2020 - ‘world oceans day’
Ocean Autopsy
Ocean Autopsy will follow leading oceanographer Dr Helen Czerski and zoologist Dr George McGavin as they examine the damage to the ocean and its habitants as caused by humanity. They carry out an ‘autopsy’ on the North Sea which acts as a bellwether for the world's waters. We can begin to understand the true state of them, revealing the startling changes they’re undergoing.
The 90-minute film will document the pair as they examine the water’s toxicity due to industrial chemicals and investigate microplastics saturating the water in an attempt to discover how this impacts the ecosystem. In addition, the experts will perform an autopsy on a porpoise to “highlight the devastating impact these changes are having on marine life.” “This program explores the problems that humans have caused in the ocean and asks what we can do to prevent further damage and choose a healthier ocean future,” added Dr Czerski. “I’ve spent years working at sea and researching our oceans, and this is a topic that really matters to me. The global ocean is the heart of our planetary life support system. Only now are we realising that hurting the ocean is hurting ourselves, because we are citizens of an ocean world.”
Ocean Autopsy is scheduled to premiere on BBC4 at 9pm on 8 June 2020, which is World Oceans Day.
Photo credit: Mario Hoppmann
October 9 & 10, 2018 on bbc radio4
Costing the Earth
The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. That's certain to impact on the weather we experience in Britain. Helen and a boatload of international scientists have just spent a month at the North Pole conducting experiments to find out much more about the impacts of this extraordinary change to our planet.
Join Helen on the Arctic ice floes for the very latest research on the rapid changes to the far north.
February 15 & 22, and March 1, 2018 at 9pm on BBC4
From Ice to Fire: The Incredible Science of Temperature - new series on BBC Four
Everything around us - from the tiniest insect on Earth to the most distant stars of the cosmos - exists somewhere on a vast scale from cold to hot. In this series, Helen explores the extraordinary science of temperature. She unlocks the extremes of the temperature scale, from absolute zero to searing heat of stars - and reveals how temperature works, how deep its influence on our lives is, and why it's the hidden force that has shaped our planet and the entire universe.
January 14, 2018 at midday on BBC Radio 3
Private Passions
In Michael Berkeley's programme Private Passions, Helen talks about music, and about the influence music has had on her life.
october 5, 2024
BBC Radio4 – Curious Cases: Space Bubbles
In the first episode of a new series of ‘Curious Cases’, Hannah Fry and Dara O'Briain tackle listeners’ conundrums with the power of Science!
They hear from a renowned 'bubbleologist', and learn how NASA helped him blow his way to a world record. They coax a physicist to reveal the secrets of his peer-reviewed bubble-juice formula, and investigate how bubbles work in space and in the ocean.
With Dr Helen Czerski (UCL), Dr Justin Burton (Emory University), Dr Awesome (Bubbleologist), Professor Carlo Ratti (MIT).
January 19, 2024
Rare Earth series: BBC Radio4
Rare Earth is a new weekly podcast and radio show from BBC Radio Four which digs deeper into the biggest issues for our planet. Each week, environmental journalist Tom Heap and physicist Helen Czerski will tackle a major story about our environment and wildlife, work out how we got here and meet the brave and clever people with fresh ideas to help us- and nature- thrive. Series link.
july 15, 2023
BBC World Service - Deep-sea mining: Curse or cure?
The Real Story
In this episode Shaun Ley’s guests discuss deep-sea mining, with Helen, Pierre Josso, Toby Fisher and Gerard Barron.
June 5, 2023
BBC Radio4 – Book of the Week
Extracts from Helen’s book Blue Machine: How the Ocean shapes our World.
5 episodes broadcast daily, 5-9 June 2023
march 17, 2022 - bbc radio 4
The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry
Mathematician Hannah Fry and geneticist Adam Rutherford investigate your everyday science queries. Here, they get stuck into two questions about tides. Oceanographer Helen Czerski and Professor Deborah Greaves are on hand to help with the answers.
January 6, 2022
Inside Science: Deep Ocean Exploration
Helen explores life in the ocean depths with a panel of deep sea biologists. They take us to deep ocean coral gardens on sea mounts, to extraordinary hydrothermal vent ecosystems teeming with weird lifeforms fed by chemosynthetic microbes, and the remarkable biodiversity in the muds of the vast abyssal plains.
Helen's guests are Adrian Glover of the Natural History Museum in London, Kerry Howell of Plymouth University and Alex Rogers, scientific director of REV Ocean.
They discuss the dramatic revelations made by deep ocean explorers in just the last forty years, and the profound connections that the deep sea floor has with life at the Earth's surface. They also consider the threats to the ecosystems down there from seabed mining and climate change.
First broadcast on BBC Radio4 at 4pm on Thursday 6 January.
november 23, 2021
Costing the Earth: All Aboard the Sir David Attenborough
Helen gets a sneak preview of Britain's newest polar explorer, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, a ship that will be crucial for research into climate change and its impacts on the polar regions.
BBC Radio 4 programme broadcast Tuesday 23 November at 3:30pm.
November 9, 2020
Start the Week: Physics in all its glory
BBC Radio 4’s weekly discussion programme setting the cultural agenda every Monday, with Andrew Marr.
Nobel Prize winner Sir Roger Penrose, theoretical physicist and author Carlo Rovelli, and Helen Czerski, one of this year’s Royal Institution Christmas Lecturers. At 9am.
April 28, 2020
Costing the Earth: Zero Carbon Britain
BBC Radio 4 programme: Costing the Earth.
In June last year the UK government committed us all to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. To reach that ambitious target we're going to have to change the way we travel, heat our homes and farm our food. Tom Heap is joined by an expert panel to measure our progress and gauge our chances of reaching net zero.
Tom's joined by physicist Helen Czerski of University College London, James Murray, editor of Business Green and the author of Our Final Warning, Mark Lynas.
November 5, 2019
Costing the Earth: Thames Revival
BBC Radio 4 programme: Costing the Earth.
In 1957 the River Thames through London was declared biologically dead. The retreat of industry from the city lifted the curse and today the river hosts more than 3000 seals, 156 species of fish, porpoises, dolphins and the occasional very confused whale.
Helen is co-ordinating a large-scale study of the River Thames. In this programme she cruises the river meeting the engineers and naturalists determined to give Londoners a river to be proud of.
June & July, 2019
Science Shambles podcasts
Helen has taken over hosting duties for the Science Shambles podcast while Robin Ince is away on tour. She’s been on a whirlwind tour of the scientific world, including the maths of cricket scores (with Matt Parker & Rob Eastaway), infinity and sugar cubes (with Marcus Chown), the implications of mega-constellations of satellites (Marek Ziebart and Andrew Steele), nanotechnology (Michelle Dickinson and Suze Kundu) and plenty more. Links will appear here as the podcasts go live.
The Moon and the Death of the Universe and Everything in It
The Deliciousness of The Quantum Realm and The Attack of the Nano Socks
Satellites, Immortality and Reinventing Humanity
december 1, 2018 on BBC Radio4
Saturday Live
Comedian and writer Sandi Toksvig, former armed robber turned triathlete John McAvoy and bubble enthusiast, Dr. Helen Czerski and harmonica fan Ben Hewlett. With the Inheritance Tracks of Richard Blackwood.
March 2, 2017 on BBC4
Sound waves: The Symphony of Physics
Helen explores the world of sound, investigating the hidden sounds of volcanos, the secrets of the human voice, and the beauty behind the sound of Big Ben. In two episodes.
January 23, 2017 on BBC2
Horizon: Hair Care Secrets
Horizon delves into the science of hair. Helen is co-presenting with Anne Glover, Zoe Williams and Laura Waters.
November 30, 2015 on BBC4
The Quizeum – Manchester Museum of Science & Industry
Series 2, Episode 5 of the Quizeum. Located in the world's oldest surviving passenger railway station, Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry plays host this time. Griff Rhys Jones invites regular team players Professor Kate Williams and Dr Janina Ramirez to explore the story of Manchester's scientific and industrial past, present and future, alongside mathematics professor Marcus du Sautoy and physicist and oceanographer Dr Helen Czerski.
November 04, 2015 on BBC4
Colour: The Spectrum of Science
A three-part series on Colour, as part of the BBC’s contribution to the International Year of Light.
Earth is the most colourful place we know of. In this series, Helen uncovers what colour is, how it works, and how it has written the story of our planet - from the colours that transformed a dull ball of rock into a vivid jewel to the colours that life has used to survive and thrive. But the story doesn't end there - there are also the colours that we can't see, the ones that lie beyond the rainbow. Each one has a fascinating story to tell.
April 08, 2015 on BBC4
The Quizeum – National Maritime Museum
Part quiz, part panel show, The Quizeum celebrates the UK's unique and fascinating museums.
At the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, the experts being put to the test by Griff Rhys Jones are historian Professor Kate Williams, historian specialising in European and Chinese ceramics Lars Tharp, former first sea lord Admiral Lord West, and physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski.
March 04, 2015 on BBC4
Climate Change: A Horizon Guide
Today, the topic of climate change is a major part of daily life, yet 40 years ago it was virtually unheard of. Since then, Horizon and the BBC have followed scientists as they have tried to unpick how the climate works and whether it is changing. Helen delves into this unique archive. First broadcast: 4 March 2015, BBC4.
August 19, 2014 on BBC6 Radio
Super Senses: The Secret Power of Animals
Helen has filmed a 3 part series (first episode shown on 19 Aug 2014 on BBC2) on the science of animal senses, which she presents with Patrick Aryee. Humans have an impressive array of physical senses, but there is still a lot that we can't see, hear or smell. Many animals can perceive far more of the physical world, and they communicate, hunt and disguise themselves in ways that humans can't detect directly. This series explores the science of how animals sense this hidden physical world, and what that extra insight allows them to do.
July 17, 2014 on BBC2
What's Wrong With Our Weather?
A Horizon programme on whether the Jet Stream is changing. British weather has been unusual in the past few years. Helen and co-presenter John Hammond are exploring whether there are longer-term changes underway.
May 22, 2014 on BBC2
Horizon: Longitude Prize 2014
To celebrate its 50th birthday, Horizon invites the public to play a role in tackling the greatest challenges facing science today. Helen is part of a special Horizon programme which launches the 10 million pound Longitude Prize 2014.
Horizon explores six potential challenges nominated by a new Longitude Committee, and launches a vote to determine which should be put forward as the new Longitude Prize. The question is 'if you had 10 million pounds to make one change to the world, what would you do?'.
February 09, 2014 on BBC4
The Sky at Night – Jupiter: Weather and Moons
The revamped Sky at Night - on BBC4. The team looks at why Jupiter has such extraordinary weather. Helen appears as guest presenter discussing the atmosphere of Jupiter.
July 25, 2013 on BBC2
Dara O'Briain's Science Club – A Second Series
Dara O’Briain hosts another 6 episodes of Science Club for BBC2. Accompanied by his regular team of Professor Mark Miodownik, Dr Helen Czerski and science journalist Alok Jha, along with some of the world’s most eminent scientists, Dara explores the ground-breaking ideas that are changing the world we live in.
June 25, 2013 on BBC2
The Secret Life of the Sun
Kate Humble and Helen reveal the inner workings of our very own star. It's more active now that it's been for a decade, sending eruptions of super-heated plasma and vast waves of radiation towards our planet - with the potential to disrupt our lives in dramatic ways.
April 09, 2013 on BBC4
POP! The Science of Bubbles
Helen presents a BBC4 programme all about the science of bubbles. Bubbles may seem to be just fun toys, but they are also powerful tools that push back the boundaries of science. From the way animals behave to the way drinks taste, Helen shows how bubbles affect our world in all sorts of unexpected ways. Now available on YouTube.
December 29, 2017
Champagne cork pop
Helen spoke to Matt Parker (@standupmaths) about the physics of a champagne cork pop.
October 3, 2017
Hay Levels - series 3
Free videos for A Level students, recorded at Hay Festival 2017. The series sees the world’s greatest teachers, thinkers and writers offer bite-size answers to the biggest questions.
September 28, 2017 on BBC Radio 4
The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry
The Shocking Surprise Why do we get static shocks?
The team uncover some slightly unethical science experiments on static electricity from the 1700s. Hannah Fry uses a Leyden Jar to demonstrate how static electricity works with help from her glamorous assistant, Adam Rutherford. Spoiler Alert: it doesn't end well for Adam.
They discover what makes some people more susceptible to static shocks, and how bees and spiders have harnessed the awesome power of electricity.
Featuring electromagnetism scientist Rhys Phillips and physicist Helen Czerski.
Presenters: Adam Rutherford, Hannah Fry
September 14, 2017
See the TED.com video of Helen telling us “We need to talk about physics”
This is the talk Helen gave in February 2017 at TEDxManchester .
March 1, 2017 on BBC 6 Music
Radcliffe and Maconie Show
Katie Puckrik talks to Helen about two new BBC4 television programmes which explore sound. They discuss the sounds of whales, dolphins, rumbling volcanos, bats, bull whips, the extraordinary movements in the human tongue when you sing, and the high pitch sounds some of us cannot hear.
February 13, 2017
Cara Santa Maria's TalkNerdy Podcast
Cara Santa Maria is a Los Angeles Area Emmy and Knight Foundation Award winning journalist, science communicator, television personality, producer, and podcaster. In this episode of TalkNerdy, Cara is joined in studio in Los Angeles by Helen. They talk about the science of bubbles, the current science landscape in broadcast television, and Helen's new book "Storm in a Teacup: The Physics of Everyday Life".
January 16, 2017 on BBC Radio4
The Infinite Monkey Cage
Witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes - hosted by Robin Ince and Brian Cox. Helen appears with Russell Kane and Danielle George, in the first programme of the new series, recorded at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry: Episode 1 of Series 15 (at 4:30pm).
December 29, 2016 on BBC Radio4
Inside Science
Adam Rutherford puts listeners' science questions to his team of experts: physicist Helen Czerski, cosmologist Andrew Pontzen and biologist Yan Wong. Queries include gravity on sci-fi space ships, how animals would evolve on the low gravitational field of the Moon, gravitational waves, mimicry in parrots, sea level rise, the accelerating university, dinosaur intelligence, the Higgs field and concerns about oxygen levels in the atmosphere.
December 11, 2016 on Channel 4
Sunday Brunch
Helen returns to Channel 4's Sunday morning show, hosted by Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer - Series 5, Episode 44.
December 05, 2016
Absolute Radio Interview
'Mind-expanding Monday' - Geoff Lloyd asks Helen some very interesting questions about every day physics. Listen to the podcast (interview starts at 23 minutes).
October 27, 2016
Book Shambles Podcast
A comedy-literary podcast with Josie Long and Robin Ince. In Episode 5, Helen joins Josie and Robin to talk about the science of every day things.
November 09, 2016 on BBC Radio4
Midweek
Helen joins composer Odaline de la Martinez, actor Paapa Essiedu and geologist and gold prospector Jim Richards as guests of Libby Purves for this week's edition of Midweek on BBC Radio4.
December 31, 2015 on BBC Radio4
Inside Science
New Year Eve's edition. Adam Rutherford and guests oceanographer Dr Helen Czerski, astrophysicist Chris Lintott and zoologist Dr Tim Cockerill share their highlights of the science year and answer listeners' science questions.
August 09, 2014 on BBC world service
The Forum
Bubbles - fragile gas filled spheres, sparkling champagne globules that fill your nose with fizz, pipe dreams that pop when the illusion grows too big: the Forum explores the mysterious world of bubbles. Bridget Kendall is joined by Helen Czerski, biomedical engineer Constantin Coussios and artist Bradley Hart who makes giant paintings using bubble wrap.
November 06, 2012 on BBC2
Dara O'Briain's Science Club
A six-part science magazine programme hosted by Dara O'Briain started on 6 November 2012 on BBC2. He was joined by materials scientist and engineer Mark Miodownik, neuroscientist Tali Sharot, journalist Alok Jha, and Helen Czerski. Helen was looking at "Cutting Edge" science projects for this series.
October 30-November 01, 2012 on BBC2
Operation Iceberg
In this 2-part programme, Operation Iceberg, Helen, Chris Packham, Andy Torbet, and Chris Van Tulleken join a team of scientists as they investigate the birth, life and death of icebergs. They were on the ice and at sea for six weeks, investigating the science of glaciers, how glaciers produce icebergs and why icebergs matter for our polar regions. It was an amazing expedition, connecting many strands of polar science and involving plenty of ice adventures. Filming took place in July and August 2012. See the videos, photos and diaries of the filming of Operation Iceberg.
June 05, 2012 on BBC2
Horizon: The Transit of Venus
Horizon television programme about the transit of Venus which occurred during the early morning of 6 June 2012. Helen co-presented with Liz Bonnin and Lucie Green, and Helen covered the science of the Venusian atmosphere. A video of this programme is available for use by schools and universities via the 'BBC Active' website.
March, 2012 on BBC2
Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey
"Orbit" is the set of three programmes which explore the relationship between the Earth's orbit and the weather. Filming took place throughout the whole of 2011, and the programmes were first broadcast in March 2012.
Making the series videos, and "Joy of Snow".
The series was rebroadcast on 4, 11 & 18 Dec 2014, and a DVD is available at the BBC Shop.
October 29, 2012 on BBC Radio4
Museum of Curiosity
Prof John Lloyd and the museum's curator Jimmy Carr, with guests Sean Hughes, Dr Irving Finkel, and Helen Czerski. Helen donated a bubble.
January, 2012 on BBC2
Stargazing Challenges
Blue Peter science feature: BBC2 Stargazing Challenges. Broadcast originally in January 2012 and again in October 2012.