Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea

The refractory period refers to the length of time it takes for a male to be able to ejaculate after just ejaculating and is a trait that is shared by many creatures across the animal kingdom. But why do males experience this and what causes it? Jonathan was joined by Susana Lima, Principal investigator at the Champalimaud Research Center for the Unknown to discuss. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

It’s over 50 years that a human being first landed on another world. It is undoubtedly one of the most monumental moments in human history. This week's Futureproof we look back at our special show to try to bring home the sheer audacity of what happened half a century ago on this day. We’ll hear about Ireland’s very own piece of the moon. Planetary Scientist and Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the UC Davis, Sarah T Stewart, tells us how the rocks that Apollo astronauts brought back have helped us come up with a new understanding of how the moon formed in the first place. And Senior Editor at The Economist and author of The Moon: A History For The Future, Oliver Morton, explains that July 20th 1969 wasn’t actually our first successful moon landing. So, when did we first get there and when are we going back? Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

With no gravity or atmosphere to speak of, and temperatures lurching from 127C to minus 173C - the Moon is a dangerous place. That being said, certain death if exposed to its environment isn’t stopping us from trying to get back up there - far from it. But there is one tiny thing that might put a spanner in the works if we do ever manage to land on the Moon’s surface again...and it isn’t the lack of oxygen or the solar radiation. Dr Philip Metzger, Planetary Scientist at the Florida Space Institute from the University of Central Florida joined Jonathan to discuss. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.