Pick of the Day

AKADEMGORODOK, THE city founded by Khrushchev (right) 40 years ago as a kind of greenhouse for Soviet science is visited by Crossing Continents (11am R4). But post-Communist economic collapse has led to an immense brain-drain, and the city, isolated in a great Siberian forest, is struggling with poverty.

More cheerfully, Ensemble (4pm R3) looks at humour in music, with contributions from Haydn, Satie and Jean Francaix, one of the very few composers who can make witty sounds.

New Radio (11.30pm R4 FM), a series of programmes by first-time producers, is sadly short on humour and originality. But the last of today's three pieces, a diary made by a Gulf War tank commander, grabs the attention.