Inside Science Podcast Highlights: Space-Based Solar Power, Trophy Hunting and Seed Banks, Leningrad Siege Seeds, Dark Matter on Ganymede, and Bird Song Efficiency

In this episode, the Inside Science team delves into space-based solar power as a potential future energy source, including how energy could be transmitted to Earth via microwaves and the role of advanced tandem solar cells. The show also examines conservation through trophy hunting, arguing that well-regulated hunting can protect habitats and local livelihoods, while acknowledging the controversy and need for strong regulation. A moving discussion revisits the siege of Leningrad, focusing on the Millennium Seed Bank's heroic seed preservation amid starvation and bombardment. New ideas in physics consider Ganymede as a potential dark matter detector, and science highlights explore Zipf's law in bird songs and a maths-backed Guess Who strategy.

Space-Based Solar Power: A Continental-Scale Energy Vision

The episode opens with a discussion on solar power and its expansion beyond terrestrial roofs. Researchers propose space-based solar panels, potentially reducing Europe’s reliance on wind and land-based solar by up to 80 percent, with the concept anchored in NASA’s 2050 outlook. Energy would be transmitted to Earth via microwave beacons rather than long cables. The economics depend on advances in energy storage and transmission on Earth. Prof. Henry Snaith of Oxford weighs in, noting that while space solar could be useful after 2050, it may not be essential for meeting 2050 carbon targets; it could dramatically reduce land use, since 100 percent solar could require only 1–2 percent of Earth’s land if energy demand rises. Origami-inspired folding solar panels are highlighted, enabling compact launch and deployment in space. The current silicon-based modules offer 22–24 percent efficiency, but next-generation tandem cells, including perovskite on silicon, could reach around 35 percent now and push toward 50 percent in the near future, reducing land requirements for solar farms. “space-based solar power could be a green technology which can have nearly continuous power generation.” - Henry Snaith

“If we want to produce all our power from solar energy, then we need between 1 to 2 percent of our land.” - Henry Snaith

Conservation vs. Controversy: Trophy Hunting and Habitat Value

Conservation scientist Adam Hart argues that trophy hunting, when legal and well-regulated, can enhance habitat values and support local communities, sometimes more effectively than agriculture. He cites studies suggesting that trophy hunting can benefit many species and preserve large tracts of habitat across Southern Africa, challenging the view that hunting is a major extinction driver. Nonetheless, he cautions that bans driven by optics and misinformation could harm wildlife and livelihoods, and cites UK Parliament debates where inaccurate claims dominated discussions. The episode emphasizes evidence-based policy and the complex trade-offs in conservation funding and land use.

“Trophy hunting is deeply offensive to many, and if poorly regulated, it can be hugely problematic.” - Professor Adam Hart

Seed Banks Under Siege: A Wartime Literary and Scientific Portrait

The show revisits the siege of Leningrad through Simon Parkin's shortlisted Royal Society Trevedi Prize book, The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad. At the heart of the story is a seed bank in the Millennium Seed Bank network that persisted under bombardment and famine. The interview with Parkin and judge Val McDermott highlights scenes of extraordinary risk and devotion: botanists shielding seeds from looters, standing guard on roofs as bombs fell, and harvests beginning again in spring 1942. Parkin describes the seed bank as a “library of all the seeds” whose preservation created a lasting scientific legacy, even as the Plant Institute faced severe funding challenges today. The staff roll call featuring names and dates of death underscores the human cost of scientific dedication.

“It's not often that you read a science book and it makes you cry.” - Val McDermott

Dark Matter on Ganymede and Other Space-Time Queries

In exciting space-science news, researchers propose that Jupiter's moon Ganymede could act as a massive dark matter detector. A collision of a dark matter particle with Ganymede’s ice shell could create a distinctive mineral signature that persists in its ocean below, offering a potential observational target for future space missions. The idea is exploratory and not yet peer-reviewed, illustrating how planetary bodies might serve as long-duration detectors for elusive dark matter. The segment emphasizes the need for peer review and continued observations to assess viability.

Zipf’s Law in Birds and Strategy in Guess Who

The episode also covers a study from the University of Manchester showing that birds, like humans, use shorter sounds more frequently, following Zipf’s law of abbreviation in 600 songs from seven species. This finding highlights shared patterns in communication and brain evolution. In a lighter moment, the talk turns to a mathematical optimization of the Guess Who game, describing how to divide options in half to maximize the chances of success, with caveats about endgame nuances. The playful segment showcases how math can inform everyday decision-making.

Overall, the program blends theoretical and practical science across energy, conservation, wartime resilience, fundamental physics, and cognitive science, with voices from researchers, writers, and broadcasters guiding the conversation.