Inside Science: Bionic Eye Implants, Skeleton Pregnancy Tests, and Mars Ice from Volcanoes

Inside Science explores three fascinating threads: a new wireless bionic eye implant that enhances central vision by leveraging the retina and infrared stimulation; a novel method to detect past pregnancy in ancient skeletons by testing key sex hormones in dental and bone material; and a surprising Mars narrative where volcanic eruptions could loft water into the atmosphere, creating equatorial ice insulated by ash. The program also covers weather data collection by volunteers, a potential mouse model for human menstruation, bat predation on a robin, and ongoing conversations about menopause and dental plaque in archaeology.

Overview

This episode of Inside Science surveys several recent science developments across medicine, archaeology, planetary science, and meteorology. It opens with an update on a bionic eye candidate that is closer to real-world use, then pivots to a novel palaeo-hormone assay that could illuminate women’s reproductive histories in the past, followed by a profile of citizen science in weather data, and a Mars study linking volcanism to equatorial ice. The show also touches on experimental mice that menstruate, and a dynamic bat-prey interaction that was captured in the field.

Bionic Eye: Technology and Impact

Imperial College London researchers report a next‑generation retinal implant positioned beneath the retina, paired with a camera-equipped pair of glasses and a wireless transducer. The high-contrast infrared stimulation supports the retina’s remaining neural pathways, aiming to preserve peripheral vision while enhancing central vision. The device differs from earlier models by its subretinal placement, wireless operation, and strong signal output, offering potential gains for people with central vision loss. A broader conversation considers how such devices fit into the long arc of eye transplantation and prosthetic vision.

Doctors emphasise that the eye remains a privileged site for restoring function because the retina still communicates with the brain, even when central vision is damaged, making this approach particularly meaningful for those with geographic atrophy or other degenerative conditions.

Paleohormone Testing: Skeletons and Reproductive History

The segment explains a method to extract and measure steroid hormones from ancient bones and teeth, using a test analogous to a home pregnancy assay to detect oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Progesterone is highlighted as a key pregnancy marker. By examining skeletons with fetal remains and others without, researchers hope to reconstruct pregnancy patterns and, potentially, menopause timelines in our lineage. This approach sits within the growing field of proteomics and ancient biomolecules as a parallel to ancient DNA work.

The discussion situates these hormone signatures within a broader anthropological aim to understand female life histories and reproductive biology across time, including menopause in humans and other species.

Weather Rescue and the Value of Human Observers

In the UK, citizen scientists collect rainfall data using traditional gauges, providing essential ground truth for climate trends. Ed Hawkins describes the Weather Rescue project, which digitised two centuries of rainfall records and is moving toward AI-assisted transcription of daily data. The program underscores the enduring value of manual measurements, the risks of data loss with automated systems, and the potential for long-term climate insights drawn from historical records.

Mars Volcanism and Equatorial Ice

A Nature Communications study uses simulations of ancient Martian eruptions to show how water could be lofted high into the atmosphere, where it would cool and condense into ice on the equator, subsequently buried by volcanic ash. This mechanism could explain equatorial ice deposits and informs future considerations for Mars exploration and potential in-situ water resources.

Other Discoveries and Close

The episode rounds out with notes on artificial-ish menstruation in mice and a remarkable bat that captures a robin mid-flight, illustrating the adaptability of nocturnal predators. The presenter signs off with a personal farewell, handing the show to the next host.