Hannah Predicted a Pandemic
5/20/20261 hr 3 min
What if the next pandemic could be predicted before it even begins? Hannah and Michael step into the unsettling world of outbreak simulations, where scientists map invisible infections, model human behaviour, and try to stop global catastrophe before it starts. Some warnings save millions. Others get ignored, until it’s too late. After the break the conversation takes a turn into space stations, fizzy drinks in zero gravity, the first microscopes, and gravitational waves bending the fabric of spacetime itself. Welcome to Field Notes! ------------------- For more information about Cancer Research UK, their research, breakthroughs and how you can support them, visit https://cancerresearchuk.org/restisscience Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMichael Stevens· Host0:01
Hello and welcome to The Rest is Science. I'm Michael Stevens.
Hannah Fry· Host0:04
And I'm Hannah Fry.
Michael Stevens· Host0:05
And today on Field Notes we're gonna be tackling your questions, and then also Hannah has brought something. I think it might be a story. I, I literally don't know.
Hannah Fry· Host0:15
It is, it is a story. You know, I noticed in the introduction in that I used my BBC voice. Did you hear it?
Michael Stevens· Host0:19
[laughs] No, I wasn't even listening. To be honest, I was just looking at my own video going, "Look at that handsome devil."
Hannah Fry· Host0:24
I know.
Michael Stevens· Host0:25
So do, do, do your BBC voice again.
Hannah Fry· Host0:27
Um, it's just much f- it's a bit more formal, and I think, I think that might be because, because my story is about a v- is about a BBC show that I did where, um, I accidentally almost perfectly predicted the pandemic two years before it happened.
Michael Stevens· Host0:41
Whoops.
Hannah Fry· Host0:42
Whoops. Um, I've got into a lot of trouble for it, I'll be honest.
Michael Stevens· Host0:45
Wait. But no, but do, do, do the BBC voice again.
Hannah Fry· Host0:48
Hello, I'm Hannah Fry.
Michael Stevens· Host0:49
Nice. Yeah.
Hannah Fry· Host0:51
Do you know what I mean?
Michael Stevens· Host0:51
It's still definitely you, but it feels, it feels like you're not talking to me.
Hannah Fry· Host0:57
On the spectrum between BBC and Essex, uh, which is, you know, my natural state, um, I, I would say that you're closer to the Essex than, than the BBC.
Michael Stevens· Host1:06
Oh, yeah. Let me, let me, let me try to do a BBC voice.
Hannah Fry· Host1:09
Go on.
Michael Stevens· Host1:09
Hello and welcome to The Rest is Science. I'm Michael Stevens.
Hannah Fry· Host1:13
Ooh, that was good.
Michael Stevens· Host1:14
It's almost like American newscaster really.
Hannah Fry· Host1:17
That, that was very good. I was gonna say, I think the, the only problem with it is that it's, uh, is, is the accent I'm afraid. I'm afraid you're sacked.
Michael Stevens· Host1:23
'Ello. Me name's Michael Stevens.
Hannah Fry· Host1:26
[laughs] I dig it. Damn.
Michael Stevens· Host1:28
That's BBC.