Monday
How Do They Do It? (19.30-20.00) ‘It’, in this case, is the ability of fibre optic cables to convey data around the world at the speed of light.
Clever V Stupid (BBC3, 20.30-21.00) This week, an irk of call centre operatives take on the brainboxes – who include a space engineer – to see which group has most prowess in a range of activities.
Podfather (BBC4, 21.00-22.00) Profile of Robert Noyce, one of the key figures in the invention of the silicon chip.
Costing the Earth (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) Eco-activists.

Tuesday
Nature Shock (FIVE, 20.00-21.00) Marine biologists are surprised at reports of an orca whale killing and eating a great white shark.
Horizon (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) The flagship science show returns with a look at the dangers of excessive drinking, and the promise of a designer drug that might mimic the effects of alcohol without the health risks.

Wednesday
Trials For Life (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Vivienne Parry looks at efforts to sort out cystic fibrosis through gene therapy.
Timeshift (BBC4, 20.00-21.00) Daisy Donovan (oh wow, remember her?) narrates a history of robots in film, and looks at scientists’ efforts to create artificial intelligence.
Visions of the Future (BBC4, 21.00-22.00) Michio Kaku looks at the promise of AI. As always when watching the good professor, be sure to count the number of times he says ‘in the future’.

Thursday
Material World (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Quentin Cooper talks to Alan Guth, one of the leading physicists looking at the conditions of the early universe.
Leading Edge (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) Geoff Watts talks to Richard Holmes, winner of the 2009 Science Book Prize.

Saturday
Life (BBC2, 19.30-20.30) David ‘no I haven’t retired’ Attenborough launches a new nature series looking at the challenges creatures overcome to survive in harsh environments.