Too Weird to Be True: The Science of You

In Lewis Carroll’s Alice books logic or common sense is inverted to explain reality. So too in science. The tools of science enable us to see the invisible and travel back in time. They also reveal truths about the natural world that are counter-intuitive and defy our senses. That the sun does not traverse the sky each day but the Earth turns in the opposite direction is a classic example. In this talk I will, to quote ‘Alice through the looking glass‘, discuss ‘six impossible things to believe before breakfast’ – about the human body.

Beneath the surface, our bodies fight a hidden battle—repairing damage and removing threats before we even notice. While we often think of the immune system as fighting infections, it also plays a vital role in preventing cancer.
In Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition that increases cancer risk, this battle is even more crucial. When DNA repair mechanisms fail, the immune system steps in, eliminating abnormal cells before they develop into tumours. However, cancer can sometimes evade detection, finding ways to grow unchecked.
This talk explores the secret battles your body fights every day, and how science is helping to uncover—and enhance—these invisible defences.