Mosaic Science Podcast

Half of people with Parkinson’s disease experience hallucinations, paranoia and delusions. Mary O’Hara reports on a new hope. Written by Mary O'Hara Read by Michael Regnier Produced by Graihagh Jackson

Priyanka Pulla asks if there can ever be legitimacy in ‘quackery’. Written by Priyanka Pulla, read by Kirsten Irving, produced by Barry J Gibb, audio editing by Geoff Marsh. If you liked this story, we recommend Can meditation really slow ageing? by Mary Rose Abraham, also available as a podcast.

One in ten people struggle to recognise their emotions. New research suggests a vital link between our ability to sense our physical bodies and knowing how we feel. Written by Emma Young Read by Charlotte Hussey  Produced by Graihagh Jackson

Why is asbestos still killing people? Nic Fleming finds out in a twisting tale of industry cover-ups and misinformation that spans decades. Written by Nic Fleming, read by Pip Mayo, produced by Barry J Gibb

A network of compassionate volunteers caring for their terminally ill neighbours is allowing more people in Kerala, India, to end their days at peace and at home. Jeremy Laurance meets the man leading the movement. Written by Jeremy Laurance Read by Graihagh Jackson Produced by Graihagh Jackson  If you liked this story, we recommend 'The sex workers who are stopping HIV', also available as an audiobook. 

Having stamped out a number of tropical diseases – including malaria – decades ago, is America today complacent about a rising wave of infectious disease? By Carrie Arnold. Written by Carrie Arnold, read by Kirsten Irving, produced by Barry J Gibb, audio editing by Geoff Marsh

The need to mend broken hearts has never been greater. But what if we could simply manufacture a new one? Alex O’Brien studies the legacy of Texan surgeons and artificial hearts. Written by Alex O'Brien, read by Pip Mayo, produced by Barry J Gibb, audio editing by Ellie Pinney.

An early halt to a trial of deep brain stimulation for depression reveals little about the treatment but more about the changing nature of clinical trials. Written by David Dobbs Read by Brian Yim Lim Produced by Graihagh Jackson

Calories consumed minus calories burned: it’s the simple formula for weight loss or gain. But dieters often find that it doesn’t work. Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley of Gastropod investigate. Written by Cynthia Graber, read by Charlotte Hussey, produced by Graihagh Jackson. For more stories and to read the original text, visit mosaicscience.com If you liked this story, we recommend The fat city that declared war on obesity, by Ian Birrell, also available as a podcast. 

Notoriously illegal and synonymous with hedonism, LSD and ecstasy started life as aids to psychotherapy. Sam Wong meets the band of psychiatrists who are looking to reclaim them for medicine again. Written by Sam Wong, read by Pip Mayo, produced by Barry J Gibb, audio editing by Geoff Marsh For more stories and to read the text original, visit mosaicscience.com If you liked this story, we recommend Saved: How addicts gained the power to reverse overdoses, also available as a podcast. 

Telling cancer from non-cancer is tough for brain surgeons. Scorpions, Amazon.com and the legacy of a dying girl might change that, writes Alex O'Brien. Written by Alex O'Brien, read by Kirsten Irving, produced by Barry J Gibb For more stories and to read the text original, visit mosaicscience.com If you liked this story, we recommend listening to Decisions on a knife edge, by Charlotte Huff, also available as a podcast. 

Women’s reproductive rights are under attack across the globe. Sophie Cousins investigates the challenges women face in accessing abortion and contraception in two very different countries – India and the USA. Written by Sophie Cousins Read by Kirsten Irving  Produced by Graihagh Jackson If you liked this story, we recommend Postpartum psychosis: "I'm afraid of how you'll judge me, as a mother and as a person", by Catherine Carver, also available as an audiobook. 

Oklahoma has lost a million pounds of fat. Ian Birrell asks how – and whether declaring ‘war on obesity’ can really change a city’s infrastructure and encourage healthy living. Written by Ian Birrell, read by Kirsten Irving, produced by Barry J Gibb If you liked this story, we recommend listening to Brazil's billion dollar gym experiment by Ian Birrell, also available as a podcast. 

Headlines scream about “epidemics” of shootings and stabbings – but what if we took that literally? From Chicago to Glasgow, treating violence as a public health problem has produced great results. Written by Samira Shackle Read by Kirsten Irving Produced by Graihagh Jackson Subscribe to our podcast: Apple Podcasts itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/mosai…id964928211?mt=2 RSS mosaicscience.libsyn.com/rss If you liked this story, we recommend 'The women that kill, abuse and torture' by Katarine Quarmby, also available as a podcast. 

Applying mild electrical currents to your head could take away pain, help memory and improve attention – and the US military is very interested. Emma Young reports. Written by Emma Young, read by Kirsten Irving, produced by Barry J Gibb If you liked this story, we recommend Can you think yourself into a different person? by Will Story, also available as a podcast.

In Finland, people whose sickness is linked to certain buildings fear being labelled as mentally ill, while scientists search for evidence that their condition is ‘real’. Written by Shayla Love Read by Graihagh Jackson  If you liked this story, we recommend Shayla Love's story 'Meet the dogs with OCD', also available as a podcast.   

One nerve connects your vital organs, sensing and shaping your health. If we learn to control it, the future of medicine will be electric. Written by Gaia Vince, read by Kirsten Irving, produced by Barry J Gibb, edited by Geoff Marsh For more stories and to read the text original, visit mosaicscience.com Subscribe to our podcast: iTunes itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/mosai…id964928211?mt=2 RSS mosaicscience.libsyn.com/rss If you liked this story, we recommend Mosaicscience – Can-you-supercharge-your-brain by Emma Young, also available as a podcast.

When doctors in rural Italy began to see a surge in cancer cases, they were baffled. Then they made the link with industrial waste being dumped by local crime syndicates. Ian Birrell learns about the tragic consequences.  Written by Ian Birrell Read by Michael Regnier Produced by Graihagh Jackson Subscribe to our podcast: Apple Podcasts itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/mosai…id964928211?mt=2 RSS mosaicscience.libsyn.com/rss If you liked this story, we recommend 'Brazil's cancer curse' by Sue Armstrong, also available as a podcast. 

"Polio was unpredictable. Often no more harmful than any other childhood infection, it could on occasion ‘turn’ with swift, inexplicable savagery, destroying a child’s nerve cells and leaving him paralysed for life. If it damaged the nerves controlling his lungs they could freeze up and György would either die or spend the rest of his life inside an iron lung that breathed for him." Trapped by the Cold War and scarred after a failed revolution, Hungary fought one of its greatest battles against polio. Written by Penny Bailey, read by Pip Mayo, audio editor Geoff Marsh, produced by Barry J Gibb For more stories and to read the text original, visit mosaicscience.com Subscribe to our podcast: iTunes itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/mosai…id964928211?mt=2 RSS mosaicscience.libsyn.com/rss If you liked this story, we recommend Mosaicscience – Prisoners-of-war, also available on our podcast.

Sex workers in Mozambique are providing health support to those at the margins of society. They face political and financial challenges, but against the odds they are helping thousands. Written by Jules Montague  Read by Kirsten Irving  Produced by Graihagh Jackson For more stories and to read the text original, visit mosaicscience.com Subscribe to our podcast: Apple Podcasts itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/mosai…id964928211?mt=2 RSS mosaicscience.libsyn.com/rss If you liked this story, we recommend 'How HIV became a matter of international security' by Alexandra Ossola, available to read here.