Inside Science: Melissa hurricane, bird flu insights, interstellar comet 3I Atlas, and maths mysteries

In this BBC Inside Science episode, host Victoria Gill guides listeners through the stormy question of Hurricane Melissa and its links to a warming ocean, the risks posed by avian influenza strains such as H5N1 and H9N2, and the journey of the interstellar comet 3I Atlas. The show also explores cryptography puzzles, animal-pattern formation via reaction–diffusion models inspired by Alan Turing, and the development of an artificial tongue capable of detecting capsaicin in spicy foods. With expert insights from hydrologist Hannah Cloak and avian virologist Ian Brown, plus mathematician Katie Seckles, the program blends climate science, virology, astronomy, and maths in accessible ways.

Introduction and weather science

The episode opens with a discussion of Hurricane Melissa, a slow-moving, fuel-rich storm driven by unusually warm Atlantic waters. Host Victoria Gill talks to Hannah Cloak, a professor of hydrology at the University of Reading, about why the storm became so powerful and how climate change is linked to stronger, more intense cyclones. The conversation covers how warming oceans provide energy, how slow movement concentrates destruction in one area, and how forecast models rely on data from satellites and hurricane hunter aircraft. The experts note that rapid intensification is becoming more common in a warming world, and that forecasts must adapt to evolving patterns and potential poleward shifts in hurricane tracks. A key quote from the segment:

"Rapid intensification is becoming more common," - Hannah Cloak (Professor of Hydrology, University of Reading).

Bird flu season and human risk

The program then shifts to avian influenza, with Ian Brown from the Purbright Institute explaining the current UK situation with H5N1 and the risk presented to humans. He describes how outbreaks rise in autumn due to migratory birds, but emphasizes that these avian viruses typically do not replicate efficiently in the human upper respiratory tract, limiting human-to-human transmission. The discussion also covers the H9N2 strain, its position on the ‘staircase’ to human infection, and how external glycoproteins (serotypes) determine cross-immunity with H5N1. A quote from Brown underscores the low immediate human risk:

"The risk to humans is deemed very low for these viruses," - Ian Brown (Avian Virology Lead, Purbright Institute).

Interstellar visitor 3I Atlas

Roland Pease, science journalist, guides listeners through the science of 3I Atlas, an interstellar object passing through the solar system. The segment contrasts the elegant, well-understood physics of comets formed in our own system with the buzz and misinformation that sometimes accompanies such visitors. Pease argues for careful science communication to separate myth from observation and stresses the value of studying interstellar material to understand planetary formation, chemistry, and the broader cosmos. A representative quote from Pease captures the spirit of scientific curiosity:

"This is a fascinating object," - Roland Pease (Science Journalist).

Mathematics, cryptography, and animal patterns

Katie Seckles returns to link maths with everyday wonder. She highlights a CIA sculpture puzzle containing four ciphers, three of which were cracked quickly while the fourth remains unsolved, with the artist hinting at clues that were later found in Smithsonian archives. The discussion then moves to Turing’s reaction-diffusion model, explaining how activator–inhibitor dynamics can create zebra stripes or leopard spots, and how a potential third chemical and variable cell sizes sharpen and regularize these patterns. A sample quote:

"Turing's reaction-diffusion model produced patterns that look like leopard spots and zebra stripes," - Katie Seckles (Mathematician and Broadcaster).

Food science: artificial tongue and capsaicin

The episode concludes with a report on an artificial tongue that detects capsaicin using a milk-based electrogel. The technology promises a way to gauge spiciness without tasting, offering potential as a taste-testing tool in product development. Katie Seckles frames its usefulness as a practical sensor rather than a chef replacement. A quote from the segment:

"it's a sort of taste tester so you can check whether something's going to be too spicy without having to taste it yourself" - Katie Seckles.

Closing

As the program wraps, the hosts tease upcoming science themes and remind listeners of the ongoing work across climate, virology, astronomy, and mathematics that shapes a curious, evidence-based view of the world.