It's been a busy couple of weeks! From celebrating my cousin's traditional Nigerian wedding to a Scientifically Speaking team day and an unexpected pharmaceutical conference in Nigeria, there's been quite a bit happening.

The conference got me thinking about medicines quality, which brings me to some interesting science stories I've come across recently.

I talk about a study that found undeclared prescription medicines in skincare products sold online, and the growing conversation around retatrutide, an experimental weight-loss medicine that hasn't yet been approved but is already being marketed through unofficial channels.

There's also antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and why having national action plans doesn't necessarily mean we're making progress, whether AI can really replace human research participants, and the ongoing conversation about publish-or-perish culture in academia.

A quick, curious conversation about medicines, research, technology and some of the bigger questions that made me stop and think this week.

In this episode:

• Could your online skincare contain an undisclosed prescription medicine?

• Retatrutide, fake medicines and the risks of unapproved products being sold online

• Antimicrobial resistance: why good action plans aren't enough

• Can AI replace human research participants?

• Publish or perish: are academic incentives encouraging better research?

Have a question, comment or something interesting you've spotted in science? Get in touch with Monday Science — I may feature it in a future episode.

Find out more about Monday Science - https://mondaysciencepodcast.com/

• Get in Touch - MondayScience@scientificallyspeakingglobal.com

• Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mondayscience/

• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/monday-science?originalSubdomain=uk

• Follow us on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mondayscience

Monday Science is back ! In this first Conversations with Dr Bahijja episode, I reflect on why perfectionism has sometimes got in the way of consistently making the podcast, and why I’m choosing conversation over perfection.

Then we get into the science.

I talk about AI and pharmaceutical data, academic freedom, what university education actually costs, why expertise alone may not be enough to build public trust in scientists, non-animal models in infectious disease research, and the bigger question of who decides what research gets funded.

There is also quantum physics, AI in pharma and, naturally, an Ig Nobel-winning experiment involving underwear buried in soil.

A curious, wide-ranging conversation about science, research, academia and the things that made me stop and think this week.

In this episode:

• AI, federated learning and pharmaceutical collaboration

• Academic freedom and higher education

• What makes people trust scientists?

• How research funding can shape scientific priorities

Have a question, comment or something interesting you’ve spotted in science? Get in touch with Monday Science — I may feature it in a future episode.

Find out more about Monday Science - https://mondaysciencepodcast.com/

• Get in Touch - MondayScience@scientificallyspeakingglobal.com

• Follow us on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mondayscience/

• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/monday-science?originalSubdomain=uk

• Follow us on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mondayscience

What does it take to move pharmaceutical innovation from a university lab into the hands of the people who actually need it? And what happens when scientists stop waiting for “perfect conditions” and start building anyway?

In this part II episode of Monday Science, Dr. Bahijja Raimi-Abraham sits down with Prof Margaret Ilomuanya to explore the realities of pharmaceutical innovation, research leadership, and in-country manufacturing in Nigeria.

From compounding creams in buckets inside a small office to leading MedAfrica GMP Laboratories, the first GMP facility domiciled within a university in West Africa this conversation is ultimately about vision, persistence, and the power of starting small.

But this episode also goes deeper than infrastructure or funding. It explores the mindset behind scientific progress. The role of collaboration. The importance of communicating African science more visibly. And the tension between barriers that exist on paper and the opportunities that emerge when researchers focus on solutions instead of limitations.

Follow us @MondayScience #mondayscience #mondaysciencepodcast

Find out more www.mondaysciencepodcast.com

Get in touch mondaysciencepodcast@scientificallyspeakingglobal.com

Join the newsletter https://forms.gle/e1KWqp5H6x14k9pV9

What does it really take to move from understanding a problem… to building something that actually solves it?

In this episode of the Monday Science Nigeria Special Series, Dr Bahijja Raimi-Abraham explors that question through the journey of Professor. Margaret Ilomuanya — pharmacist, academic, product developer, and one of the driving forces behind one of West Africa’s most significant pharmaceutical innovation milestones. From hospital pharmacy to academia, and into global research collaborations, her work sits at the intersection of science, systems, and real-world needs.

This conversation goes beyond career progression. It examines how lived clinical experience can shape research direction, why innovation often fails to reach the people it’s meant to serve, and what it looks like to build scientific infrastructure within the very environments where problems exist. At the centre of it is a clear thread: science is not just about discovery. It is about application, relevance, and impact!

Dr Bahijja's questions for you...

• What does innovation look like in your context, and who is it really designed for?
• Have you seen examples where research stays on paper instead of reaching people?
• And what would need to change, in your field or system, for science to move more consistently from idea… to impact?

Follow us @MondayScience #mondayscience #mondaysciencepodcast

Find out more www.mondaysciencepodcast.com

Get in touch mondaysciencepodcast@scientificallyspeakingglobal.com

Join the newsletter https://forms.gle/e1KWqp5H6x14k9pV9

Monday Science returns with a new season, a new format, and a deeper focus on how science moves across systems. In this episode, Dr Bahijja Raimi-Abraham reflects on the journey so far and introduces a season shaped by her secondment in Nigeria, exploring medicines quality, antimicrobial resistance, and the hidden ways pharmaceuticals impact both people and the planet.

About this Episode

This relaunch episode marks the return of Monday Science with a renewed focus, a refined structure, and a deeper sense of purpose. Six years after its launch during the COVID-19 pandemic, the podcast evolves from a spontaneous response to global uncertainty into a more intentional platform for science, storytelling, and systems-level thinking.

In this episode, Dr Bahijja Raimi-Abraham reflects on the origins of the podcast, from creating a trusted space for evidence-based conversations to navigating her own journey as a pharmaceutical scientist and academic. She introduces the shift to a seasonal format and situates Monday Science within the broader mission of Scientifically Speaking, focusing on workforce development and translating science to society.

The episode also sets the direction for the new season, centred on her secondment experience in Nigeria with NAFDAC, exploring how medicines quality influences antimicrobial resistance and what this means for regulation, public health, and global systems.

A new segment, On My Radar, introduces the concept of One Health, examining how human medicines, such as fluoxetine, are impacting ecosystems in unexpected ways. This opens up a broader conversation about the hidden pathways through which pharmaceuticals shape both human and environmental health.

The episode closes by setting expectations for the season ahead, including in-depth discussions, expert interviews, and a continued commitment to making science accessible, relevant, and impactful.

🎧 Follow @DrBahijjaRaimiA and @MondayScience for updates

In this final Monday Science Live before our summer break, Dr. Bahijja Raimi-Abraham wraps up the Black Mirror Season 7 series with an in-depth look at USS Callister: Into Infinity, a bold sequel to the iconic Season 4 episode.

We follow Nanette Cole and her crew—digital consciousnesses cloned without consent—as they fight for survival and freedom in a vast online universe controlled by 30 million players.

This episode explores:

• The science and ethics of cloning human consciousness from DNA

• Consent, autonomy, and digital imprisonment

• The risks of advanced VR and mind uploading

• What it truly means to be “real” in a virtual world

Dr. Bahijja also reflects on key takeaways from the entire season and invites listeners to continue the conversation while the podcast takes a short break.

This is the last live episode before Monday Science goes on pause...join us as we end the season!

🎧 Follow @DrBahijjaRaimiA and @MondayScience for updates and return dates.

In this emotional and thought-provoking episode, we explore Eulogy — a Black Mirror story that dives deep into the ethics of memory, grief, and technological immortality. Set in a world where people can relive and even edit their most traumatic or treasured memories, Eulogy centers around the use of AI-assisted therapy and memory playback technology.

Join us as we unpack the science and ethics of this episode — from digital memory preservation and emotional manipulation to the societal consequences of controlling our past.

We explore questions like: Can revisiting pain help us heal, or does it deepen the wound? Who owns our memories once they’re uploaded? And what happens when grief is commodified?

We also reflect on:

• The risks and benefits of using tech for trauma processing

• The blurred line between therapy and surveillance

• The impact of nostalgia on mental health

As the episode builds to its haunting conclusion, we discuss the power of memory to shape identity and the moral implications of letting machines curate our most intimate experiences.

Whether you’re a science lover, an ethics enthusiast, or just a Black Mirror fan, this discussion will leave you questioning the future of healing — and the price of remembering.

Follow, rate, share, and stay connected on @mondayscience on all social media platforms.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of consent, sexual assault, and sexual harassment.

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Bahijja Raimi-Abraham speaks with Dr. Douglas Zytko, Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Oakland University, about how virtual reality is reshaping the landscape of dating and relationships.

About the Episode

As virtual reality technology becomes more immersive and accessible, new forms of connection are emerging—especially in the realm of dating. This episode explores the rise of VR dating platforms, their similarities and differences compared to in-person interactions, and the psychological and social implications of falling in love in a digital space.

Together, Dr. Raimi-Abraham and Dr. Zytko examine the potential benefits—such as accessibility and safety—as well as the challenges, including questions about authenticity, consent, and emotional connection. Could virtual reality enhance our capacity to form meaningful relationships, or is something vital lost when touch and presence are replaced with code and avatars?

Tune in for a fascinating conversation at the intersection of technology, intimacy, and the future of human connection.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, comment, and leave a review. We’d love to hear from you!