BBC Radio 4's Inside Science tackles the challenge of detecting nuclear weapons hidden in Earth orbit, a concern that resurfaced after a satellite passing through the Van Allen belt raised suspicions it might be carrying a warhead. Such a device detonating in orbit could destroy much of the world's satellite infrastructure, and while the 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans placing nuclear weapons in space, there has never been a reliable way to verify compliance. Presenter Tom Whipple speaks to MIT's Prof Areg Danagoulian about a new detection method he has proposed in Nature this month, offering a potential route to monitoring orbital weapons that has previously eluded scientists.

The episode also covers two other stories: how the wobbling gait of toddlers learning to walk is informing the design of robots that play football, and a newly launched global database of food consumption intended to help researchers address pressing questions about diet and environmental impact. The 28-minute programme, produced by Alex Mansfield and Tabitha Taylor Buck, was broadcast on 16 July 2026 and remains available on BBC Sounds for 25 days.