Science broadcasting at its finest.

In Our Time on BBC Radio 4, a weekly discussion on the history of ideas. IOT does science superbly, and todays was among the best: 45 minutes of conversation about the Permian-Triassic extinction with three academics who knew their stuff and could talk about it in a clear, understandable way without patronising or over complicating. Brilliant, brilliant and the generous BBC lets you listen again or download as a podcast. Which you should. Why highlighted here? Because part of the discussion covers evolution in the aftermath of of a big wipeout, including a lovely phrase about the survivors: 'dead clay walking'. Now clear off and listen to it.

Quite.

This in from a Beagle Project supporter from Canada who shares the widespread surprise that the British Broadcasting Corporation so far sees no merit in a British-built replica of a British built ship which, commanded and crewed by courageous British sailors took a British born and educated man around the world. That British man then framed a theory which changed the world of science and establish biology a we know it today. Young British sailors and scientists will be among the crew who re-stage Darwin's 1831-36 voyage, crossing four oceans, crossing the equator, rounding Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope. British academics will have experiments and projects carried out aboard. Broadcasters from America, Japan, Germany, France, Australia and New Zealand do find this interesting. Strange.