From the Iron Age to the Gold standard the importance of metals to human civilisation cannot really be overstated.

And of course, in the modern world we’re surrounded by them so we all know what a metal is. Or do we? Just what is it that makes a metal a metal and why are they so special?

Dr Mark Miodownik is Professor of Materials and Society at University College London . He tells Jonathan all about the material on which we've built our civilisation.

We also have Phil Smyth and Lara Dungan to run us through the main science news stories of the week and Jonathan answers your texts and tweets from last week.