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Glass is an extraordinary material. When we look through a window or pour a drink most of us take it for granted but what other material is so versatile – and beautiful? It can used in lenses for magnifying glasses or high-powered astronomical telescopes. It can be spun into fibres to carry the internet across the world. It can be used to store high-level radioactive waste. And it can be fashioned into delicate, eye-catching crystal for drinking glasses and ornaments.

In this week's Science Café we’re celebrating the International Year of Glass 2022. We find out how glass is made and explore its properties, its wealth of uses and the new applications we’re still discovering.

Adam's guest is Prof. Russell Hand, Director of the Centre for Glass Research at Sheffield University. We also hear about the process of making and shaping glass from glassblower Amelia Burke from E&M Glass in Malpas. And Tony Palframan, CEO of Phoenix Optical Technologies in St. Asaph, tells us about the use of glass in precision optics.