Curious Cases

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169 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud

1. Yawn Chorus

   23 oktober 2026 · 28 min

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   We often associate yawning with being tired or bored - but this week's episode explores whether it could be a clever way to cool down our brains? Lees meer

   Hannah and Dara discover humans aren't the only species that yawn. From cats to chimpanzees and even fish, plenty of other vertebrates engage in this ancient behaviour which scientists believe evolved hundreds of millions of years ago. And it doesn't always happen as a spontaneous reflex to feeling tired but can also be triggered by watching other people do it.

   If you have an everyday mystery for the team to investigate, contact them on curiouscases@bbc.co.uk

   Contributors:

   Stephen Jackson - Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Nottingham

   Laura Kelley - Associate Professor in Behavioural Ecology at University of Exeter

   Dr Andrew Gallup - Professor of Behavioral Biology at Johns Hopkins University

   Producer: Lucy Taylor
   Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
   A BBC Studios Production

2. Making Waves

   16 oktober 2026 · 28 min

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   What happens when you give water a really good shake? You might expect splashing, spilling and general aquatic chaos - but under exactly the right conditions, something much stranger can happen... Lees meer

   In this episode, Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain dive into the world of 'Faraday waves': amazing geometric patterns that, in certain circumstances, will appear on the surface of a vibrating liquid. They discover how the renowned physicist Michael Faraday accidentally discovered this remarkable phenomenon in the 19th Century; debate whether they could ever occur in a swimming pool; and find out what on earth alligators have to do with it.

   Along the way, the pair encounter eerie ‘square’ seas and learn about new ways satellites are helping us to understand the ocean’s wildest waves!

   If you have an everyday mystery for the team to investigate, contact them on curiouscases@bbc.co.uk.

   Contributors:
   Cédric Beaume - Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics at the University of Leeds
   Lucy Bricheno - Group Head of Coastal Ocean at Liverpool’s National Oceanography Centre
   Glynn Holt - Former Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Boston University

   Producer: Lucy Taylor
   Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
   A BBC Studios Production

3. Identical(ish)

   9 oktober 2026 · 28 min

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   Ever wondered how close nature can get to making a human clone? And what happens if identical twin brothers marry identical twin sisters and have babies - how similar are they? Our listener Chris has been pondering this very issue, and his question takes Hannah and Dara down another scientific rabbit hole. Lees meer

   Our intrepid duo consider how one fertilised egg can somehow become two babies, why those babies aren’t quite genetic photocopies, and why even identical twins gradually become more different as they grow up. They also find out how studying twins is helping scientists learn lessons about how all of us age - and explore the classic, movie-perpetuated mystery of “twin telepathy”… could there maybe, possibly, be something to it?!

   There’s also just time to address the tricky issue of cloning. From Dolly the sheep to regenerative medicine, cloning science has paved the way for some serious breakthroughs; but could we ever clone a human? And more to the point, should we?

   Expect sheep, sci-fi, identical cousins, and a dash of disproven twin mythology, as Curious Cases makes its return!

   If you have an everyday mystery for the team to investigate, contact them on curiouscases@bbc.co.uk.

   Contributors:
   Xand van Tulleken - Doctor, broadcaster and Honorary Associate Professor of Infection and Population Health at University College London
   Kevin Sinclair - Professor of Developmental Biology and Head of Animal Sciences at the University of Nottingham
   Claire Steves - Principal Investigator at TwinsUK and Professor of Ageing and Health at King’s College London
   Chris van Tulleken - Doctor, broadcaster and Professor of Infection and Global Health at University College London

   Producer: Lucy Taylor
   Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
   A BBC Studios Production

4. Trailer

   29 september 2026 · 1 min

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   Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain return for a new series, and a whole lot of new problems to solve!

5. Frosty Fractals

   2 januari 2026 · 29 min

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   One winter morning, listener Jane opened her curtains to find her car roof covered in breathtaking, fern-like frost so intricate it looked like a William Morris print. But how does something as ordinary as ice create patterns so beautifully complex? Lees meer

   Hannah and Dara explore this crunchy, slippery, delicately patterned branch of chemistry to uncover the rules and mysteries that govern the extra-ordinary world of ice. Why does ice come in so many shapes and sizes? And does all ice form at 0 degrees Celsius? Is every snowflake truly unique? We have questions a plenty for our eager chemists, who, as all good chemists do, have a few demonstrations up their sleeves to help explain.

   And we explore nature’s hidden geometry to find why these frost ferns follow the same rules as lightning bolts, river deltas and even human lungs.

   You can send your everyday mysteries for the team to investigate to: curiouscases@bbc.co.uk

   Contributors
   Sarah Hart – Professor Emerita of Mathematics, Birkbeck University of London
   Christoph Salzmann – Professor of Physical and Materials Chemistry, UCL
   Dr Thomas Whale – Lecturer, Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds

   Producer: Emily Bird
   Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
   A BBC Studios Production

6. Mining for Gold (GOLD!)

   31 december 2025 · 28 min

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   From pharaohs' tombs in Ancient Egypt and medieval currency, to priceless royal jewellery and Spandau Ballet songs - gold has been prized for millennia.
   But it's only really in the last century or so that we've started uncovering its usefulness in less decorative applications. Lees meer

   Today, gold is used in masses of electricals; it's also revolutionised part of the manufacturing sector by stopping a dangerous reliance on mercury as a catalyst; and it's vital to space missions. Although there are also some more frivolous modern uses for gold, as Hannah and Dara discover. (Gold-leaf in your cocktail, anyone?)

   Challenged to find out whether all the world's mined gold would really fit in an Olympic swimming pool, our science-savvy duo discover that this antisocial element might just be the best darn thing on the periodic table...

   Contributors:
   - Graham Hutchings, Regius Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cardiff
   - Frances Wall, Professor of Applied Mineralogy in the Camborne School of Mines at the University of Exeter
   - Tim Peake, Astronaut

   Producer: Lucy Taylor
   Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
   A BBC Studios Production

7. Phantom Pain

   19 december 2025 · 28 min

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   What exactly is 'phantom pain' and how does it work?
   Hannah and Dara investigate a medical phenomenon that's been known about for centuries but is often misunderstood; and involves masses of unanswered questions. Lees meer

   The condition 'phantom pain' is when someone gets a sensation of pain that feels like it's coming from a part of their body that's no longer there - so that could be an amputated limb, or perhaps something that has been removed, such as a tooth or an organ. It's thought to be caused by how the brain and body process pain and physical awareness, but there's still debate around what exactly is going on neurologically.

   Researchers around the world are looking into the condition; in the meantime, people who experience phantom pain - like today's studio guest Lynn - often have to try out a range of treatments, to find out what combination works best for them. But as the team discover, pain is deeply subjective - and in this case, there is really no 'right answer'...

   Contributors:
   - Tamar Makin, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at the University of Cambridge, where she leads the Plasticity Lab;
   - Lynn Williams, a qualified therapist and upper limb amputee who volunteered as a subject for one of Tamar’s research programmes;
   - Carlos Roldan, Associate Professor in the Department of Pain Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center;
   - Keren Fisher, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who’s worked in the NHS for more than four decades; largely in pain management at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.

   Producers: Emily Bird & Lucy Taylor
   Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

   A BBC Studios Audio Production

8. Tortoise Tomfoolery

   12 december 2025 · 29 min

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   Tortoises have traditionally been the poster child for slowness. These ancient, armoured reptiles are solitary, territorial and all-too-often dismissed as dull. Lees meer

   In fact, tortoises have distinct personalities. They have changeable moods, can learn simple tasks, remember certain useful information for years and even recognise familiar people.

   But can they play?

   Hot on the trail of tortoise tomfoolery, Hannah and Dara explore the stereotype-smashing studies that show there's far more to these creatures than previously thought; and find out that these complex behaviours might apply not only to the turtle clan, but potentially other reptiles as well...

   To submit your question to the Curious Cases team, please email: curiouscases@bbc.co.uk

   Contributors:
   - Anna Wilkinson, Professor of Animal Cognition at the University of Lincoln
   - Unnar Karl Aevarsson, Herpetologist at ZSL London Zoo
   - Gordon Burghardt, Distinguished Service Professor in the Departments of Psychology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee

   Producer: Lucy Taylor
   Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
   A BBC Studios Production

9. Planetary Wobble

   5 december 2025 · 28 min

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   Could you survive an eternal winter? Or is endless summer sun a more appealing prospect? Lots of us are grateful for the seasonal changes that shape the world around us, but this week Hannah and Dara are asking what life would look like without the axial tilt that brings each hemisphere closer and further away from the sun as the seasons change each year. Listener Andrew from Melbourne wants to know what would happen if the planet stood perfectly upright, no lean, no tilt, no seasons. But what else could happen? Is Earth’s 23-degree slant the cosmic fluke that made life possible?
   To find out, Hannah and explore how losing the tilt reshapes climate, ecosystems, evolution and maybe even the fate of the dinosaurs. Lees meer

   You can send your everyday mysteries for the team to investigate to: curiouscases@bbc.co.uk
   Contributors
   Dr Robin Smith - Climate modelling researcher at the University of Reading
   Professor Rebecca Kilner - Evolutionary Biologist and Head of the Department of Zoology at Cambridge
   Professor Amaury Triaud - Professor of Exoplanetology at the University of Birmingham
   Aidan McGivern - Meteorologist and Senior weather presenter at the MET Office

   Producer: Emily Bird
   Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
   A BBC Studios Production

10. Immortal Jellies

    28 november 2025 · 29 min

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    Could immortality ever be possible for humans?
    It sounds like something from a sci-fi movie, but floating in oceans around the world is a tiny, transparent jellyfish that could hold the answer... Lees meer

    Turritopsis dohrnii, known as 'the immortal jellyfish', isn’t immortal in the true sense of word - it can die - but it has a nifty way of avoiding that fate. In times of stress, this miniscule jelly can biologically reverse its aging process, reverting from 'medusa' (adult jellyfish) to a juvenile form and starting its life-cycle again; potentially ad infinitum.

    Abilities like these could hold the key to - if not exactly 'immortality', then at least regenerative or long-life treatments for humans in future. But of course there's a catch: these extremely delicate jellyfish can still easily die from predation, disease, or environmental threats and are extremely difficult to keep healthy in a lab environment.

    Hannah and Dara hear about new technology that could change the way we study immortal jellyfish, and discover various other super-abilities in the animal kingdom that could help in our quest for healthier, longer lives.

    Contributors:
    - Miranda Lowe, Principal Curator of Crustacea and Cnidaria at London’s Natural History Museum
    - Alex Cagan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics, Department of Pathology and Department of Vet Medicine at the University of Cambridge
    - Maria Pia Miglietta, Associate Professor of Marine Biology at Texas A&M University in Galveston
    - Nicole Xu, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Robotics and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder

    Producer: Lucy Taylor
    Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
    A BBC Studios Production

11. Mysteries from the Final Frontier

    21 november 2025 · 29 min

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    Space: the final frontier, a deep dark realm full of questions and mysteries - many of which science can't yet satisfactorily answer.
    But that won't stop the Curious Cases team! Lees meer

    In a special edition recorded in front of an audience at the BBC Radio Theatre in London, Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain team up with a panel of guests who know their way around the universe: presenters from the world's longest running science TV show, The Sky At Night.

    With the intergalactic expertise of George Dransfield, Chris Lintott and Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Hannah and Dara tackle a slew of space-related questions put forward by the listeners - exploring topics ranging from the sound of stars and the shape of the universe, to the search for alien life.

    To submit your question to the Curious Cases team, please email: curiouscases@bbc.co.uk

    SPACE AUDIO CLIPS:

    - Maggie's Choice: In 2005, the European Space Agency's Huygens probe descended to the surface of Saturn's moon Titan. Microphones aboard Huygens recorded the sounds of descent and landing, then The Planetary Society and scientists at the University of California helped ESA process the audio.
    CREDIT: European Space Agency (Huygens probe) / HASI-PWA Team (instrument and data) / The Planetary Society (processing)

    - George's Choice: The black hole at the centre of the Perseus galaxy cluster has been associated with sound for years, since astronomers discovered that pressure waves sent out by the black hole caused ripples in the cluster's hot gas that could be translated into a note. This new sonification was released for NASA's Black Hole Week in 2022.
    CREDIT: NASA

    - Chris's Choice: In 2023, the Planck space telescope picked up echoes left by soundwaves that travelled through the early Universe. This primordial hum was then translated into frequencies we can hear.
    CREDIT: NASA

    Producer: Lucy Taylor
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Production

12. Beam Me Up, Scotty!

    14 november 2025 · 29 min

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    Whether you’re stuck in traffic, waiting at the airport whilst delay after delay is announced or just really missing someone far away, a lot of us have probably wished we could teleport. But is this superpower the stuff of science fiction? Or could it, one day, become a reality? Lees meer

    Listener Faith wants to know whether Star Trek’s Transporter could ever deconstruct and reconstruct humans in the real world, and it turns out quantum physics holds some tantalising potential for this seemingly impossible task. To search for answers Hannah and Dara dive down the quantum rabbit hole, exploring entanglement, superposition, and trying on some very special socks.

    Contributors
    Ivette Fuentes - Professor of Quantum Physics at University of Southampton
    Winfried Hensinger - Professor of Quantum Technologies at the University of Sussex
    Helen Beebee - Professor of the Philosophy of Science at the University of Leeds

    Producer: Emily Bird
    Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
    A BBC Studios Production

13. Going Viral

    7 november 2025 · 29 min

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    Cold and flu season is well and truly upon us, and whilst most of us are busy bemoaning the pesky viruses behind our sniffles and chesty coughs – one of our listeners has other ideas. Elizabeth wants to know whether we’re too hard on these oft-maligned microbes? We’ve all heard that some bacteria can be good for us, but what about viruses? Could they have a softer side too?
    Hannah and Dara explore the virome, from prehistoric placental proteins to ultra-precise disease fighting phages to find out if Viruses truly are the villains of the microscopic world or whether they just need a better PR team. Lees meer

    Contributors
    Jonathan Ball - Professor of Molecular Virology at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
    Martha Clokie - Professor of Microbiology at the University of Leicester.
    Marylin Roosinck - Professor Emeritus of Microbiology at Penn State University US.

    Producer: Emily Bird
    Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
    A BBC Studios Production

14. We Didn't Start the Fire

    31 oktober 2025 · 29 min

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    It has been said that you can't start a fire without a spark, but as Hannah and Dara are about to discover, that's not true! Lees meer

    Welcome to the fiery phenomenon of spontaneous combustion, when something can ignite all on its own: no matches, no sparks, no external flame. It happens when certain materials heat themselves up internally through chemical or biological reactions, and if that carried on unchecked and the material gets hot enough, it can eventually ignite itself.

    This process can occur in various everyday items such as piles of hay or grass clippings, oily rags and in certain instances lithium batteries; but there are also several useful chemical substances that autoignite when they come into contact with air - as Hannah, Dara and a wary BBC fire officer witness in the studio...

    So how can we stop things regularly bursting into flames? How scared should we be about oiling floorboards and our increasingly battery-powered life? And is spontaneous human combustion really a thing? Our investigators are on the case.

    To submit your question to the Curious Cases team, please email: curiouscases@bbc.co.uk

    Contributors:
    - Andrea Sella, Professor of inorganic chemistry at University College London
    - Emanuel ‘Big Manny’ Wallace, former science teacher now a science content creator
    - Matt Oakley, fire investigations officer at Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
    - Roger Byard, Emeritus Professor of pathology at the University of Adelaide and a senior specialist forensic pathologist at Forensic Science SA (FSSA)

    Producer: Lucy Taylor
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

    A BBC Studios Production

15. Just My Luck

    24 oktober 2025 · 29 min

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    Are you a lucky person? Do the cards just fall well for you? Whether it's always finding a parking spot when you need one or chance encounters that change your life's trajectory for the better, some people seem to have more luck than others. Hannah and Dara explore the world of probability and psychology to figure out if some people are luckier than others, and if there's anything we can do to turn things around. Lees meer

    You can send your everyday mysteries for the team to investigate to: curiouscases@bbc.co.uk

    Contributors
    David Spiegelhalter - Emeritus Professor of Statistics in the Centre for Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cambridge
    Richard Wiseman - Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology University of Hertfordshire
    Maia Young - Professor of Organization and Management at UC Irvine, California US
    Edward Oldfield

    Producer: Emily Bird
    Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
    A BBC Studios Production

16. Good Vibrations?

    17 oktober 2025 · 29 min

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    It turns out that the whole world wobbles. Everything has a natural frequency - the rate at which it moves when disturbed - be it a cup of tea, a building or a human organ. Lees meer

    Even more incredibly, if an external force matches an object's natural frequency, it causes it to absorb that energy and vibrate with increasingly large waves; and that can have consequences, from helping a spider find its lunch to making a bridge collapse.

    On the trail of good and bad vibes and everything in between, Hannah and Dara investigate whether the famous 1940 collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in the USA was really down to resonance, explore examples of resonance in nature, and find out what this mysterious vibration can do to the human body: from the pressures of repetitive tractor-driving, to absorbing the reverberations of certain instruments...

    To submit your question to the Curious Cases team, please email: curiouscases@bbc.co.uk

    Contributors:
    - Helen Czerski, Professor of Physics at University College London
    - Wanda Lewis, Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering at Warwick University
    - Phillip Moxley, Senior Research Associate at the University of Southampton
    - Sana Bokhari, sound therapy practitioner

    Producers: Lucy Taylor & Emily Bird
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

    A BBC Studios Audio Production

17. To Crab, or Not to Crab?

    10 oktober 2025 · 29 min

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    We can all picture a crab, but did you know that nature has reinvented those claw clicking, sideways scuttling crustaceans at least five separate times? In recent years the internet has run wild with the idea that crabs are the ultimate life-form, and that even humans might one day end up with pincers too. But is there any truth behind the memes? Hannah and Dara scale the tangled tree of life and tackle taxonomy to figure out if ‘crab’ really is evolution’s favourite shape. Exploring coconut to spanner, ghost to hermit, soldier to spider they learn how to tell the ‘true’ crabs from the impostors. Lees meer

    You can send your everyday mysteries for the team to investigate to: curiouscases@bbc.co.uk

    Contributors
    Dr Joanna Wolfe – Evolutionary Biologist, Harvard University and UC Santa Barbara
    Professor Matthew Wills - Professor of Evolutionary Paleobiology, University of Bath
    Ned Suesat-Williams – Director of the Crab Museum, Margate

    Producer: Emily Bird
    Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
    A BBC Studios Production

18. Trailer

    1 oktober 2025 · 2 min

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    Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain return to Curious Cases HQ for a brand-new series. And curios, there’s a lot to unpack! Coming soon to BBC Sounds.

19. Clever Crows

    4 juli 2025 · 28 min

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    The term 'bird brain' might suggest our feathered friends are stupid, but Hannah and Dara learn it's completely untrue. They play hide and seek with a raven called Bran, and hear how his behaviour changes depending on his mood. Corvid expert Nicola Clayton explains these creatures are actually cleverer than the average 8-year-old, and can learn how to choose specific tools for different scenarios. And neurobiologist Andreas Nieder tells them that while crows evolved totally different brains from humans - 300,000 years apart - they might just be capable of the same type of intelligence. Lees meer

    Contributors:

    Bran the raven
    Lloyd Buck, bird handler
    Professor Nicky Clayton, University of Cambridge
    Professor Andreas Nieder, University of Tubingen

    Producer: Marijke Peters
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

    A BBC Studios Audio Production

20. Memory Swap

    27 juni 2025 · 30 min

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    Could you ever trade memories with someone else? Fancy downloading the experience of landing on the moon, winning an Oscar or performing at Glastonbury? Listener Adam wants to know, and Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain are on the case. Lees meer

    With expert insights from Professor Chris French and Professor Amy Milton, they dive into the mind’s tendency to blur the lines between reality and imagination - often embellishing, distorting, or downright making stuff up.

    Discover how memory conformity makes us “see” things like spoons being bent by paranormal forces, how scientists can implant artificial memories in mice, and hear Al Hopwood’s hilariously vivid tales of things that definitely never happened. Chris even spills the secrets of how to deliberately plant false memories in others (don’t try this at home!).

    From rewiring trauma to curing phobias, the potential of memory manipulation is both exciting and unnervingly sci-fi. Prepare to question everything you think you remember.

    Contributors:

    Amy Milton - Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge
    Chris French - Professor of Anomalistic Psychology at Goldsmiths University
    Al Hopwood - Artist, writer and curator

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

21. Clowns in Spacetime

    20 juni 2025 · 30 min

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    Can you slow down time by hurtling through space at breakneck speed? Could listener Saskia’s friend - currently one year older - end up the same age as her if he went fast enough? It sounds bananas, but it’s all part of Einstein’s mind-warping theory of relativity. Lees meer

    With expert copilots Professor Sean Carroll and Dr. Katie Clough, Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain embark on a cosmic roller coaster through space and time. They uncover why GPS satellites - whizzing around Earth at 14,000 km/h - need to account for time bending, why penthouse dwellers age faster than those on the ground floor, and, most importantly, why clowns on trains might just hold the key to understanding modern physics.

    Contributors:

    Katy Clough - Research Fellow at Queen Mary University of London
    Sean Carroll - Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University
    Peter Buist - Manager of the Galileo Reference Centre
    Richard Dyer - PhD student at the University of Cambridge

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

22. Colossal Creatures

    13 juni 2025 · 29 min

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    How big can animals really get before they collapse under their own weight or run out of snacks? Could a 12-foot comedian survive their first punchline without snapping in half? Listener Andrew sends Hannah and Dara on a deep dive into the science of supersized species. Lees meer

    With evolutionary biologists Ben Garrod and Tori Herridge as their guides, they explore the quirky rules of scaling: why giant bones need air pockets, how pressure stockings aren’t just stylish but essential, and why massive creatures have to choose between inefficient chewing or letting dinner ferment in their cavernous stomachs.

    Discover why scaling up a mouse would turn it into a blood-boiling disaster and learn the curious logic behind whether the meat bear should eat the two meat dogs, or vice versa (it’s a maths thing…you’ll have to listen). Oh, and here’s the weird constant: whether you’re a mouse or an elephant, everyone takes roughly the same time to pee!

    Join Hannah and Dara for a colossal romp through the wild world of ancient giants and the gross super blobs of the (possible) future.

    Contributors:

    Tori Herridge - Senior Lecturer in evolutionary biology at the University of Sheffield
    Ben Garrod - Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement at the University of East Anglia
    Martin Sander - Professor of Palaeontology at the University of Bonn

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

23. Nano Sharks

    6 juni 2025 · 29 min

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    Think of a shark and you'll probably conjure up images of Jaws, but it turns out their skin is also covered in tiny teeth. Hannah and Dara investigate the incredible properties of these so-called dermal denticles, to find out whether they could be replicated at a nanoscale to increase vehicle speeds. They learn that while sharks might look like they have beautifully sleek surfaces, up close their skin is covered in something extremely rough and textured, a property that helps them swim up to 12 percent faster. And it's already inspiring airlines to design ultra-thin films that can reduce drag and increase efficiency. Lees meer

    Contributors

    Dr Jess Wade
    Professor Manish Tiwari

    Producer: Marijke Peters
    Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem

    A BBC Studios Audio Production

24. Chuckle, Snigger and LOL

    30 mei 2025 · 29 min

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    Why do we giggle, snort, and bust a gut laughing? Is it just humans being weird, does it serve some higher function or do other animals crack up too? And, okay, Dara is a comedian, but has he ever really made anyone laugh, like properly? Lees meer

    With help from Professor Greg Bryant and Professor Sophie Scott, they dive into the science of LOLs, exploring how laughter bonds us, eases stress, and even spices up flirting. They uncover the difference between genuine belly laughs and those polite chuckles that pepper everyday interactions.

    Contributors:

    Sophie Scott - Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL
    Greg Bryant - Professor of Communication at UCLA
    Betty La France - Professor or Communication, Northern Illinois University

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

25. Don't Bite Me!

    23 mei 2025 · 30 min

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    Ever wondered why some people are mosquito magnets and other people barely get bitten? Hannah and Dara grapple with the question of whether these insects are evil or genius, discovering how they’re experts at finding blood when they’re hungry, even using a specially designed syringe to suck it out. But when Professor Leslie Vosshall tells them some people are more than 100 times likely to be attacked than others, the pair start wondering which one of them is more attractive? So they put the science to the test, and reluctantly agree to send their stinky socks to Professor Sarah Reece. She reveals that one of them smells extra special to these annoying little animals, possibly because of their cheesy feet. But can you guess who? Lees meer

    Contributors:
    Professor Sarah Reece
    Professor Leslie Vosshall
    Professor John Pickett

    Producer: Marijke Peters
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

26. Aches and Rains

    16 mei 2025 · 29 min

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    The team test the theory that you can use the weather to predict pain, separating science fact from fiction. It's an area with a huge amount of conflicting research, but one man who has investigated this is Professor Will Dixon, who explains that low pressure could be causing people's joints to ache more. Dara and Hannah are intrigued to hear our genes may also be responding to changes in temperature and hear how we might be pre-programmed to produce more inflammation during wintertime to fight off bugs - which has the unfortunate side effect of making other some conditions worse. But don't despair! The pair find out 21 degrees is the optimum temperature for health and wellbeing - a perfect English summer day. Lees meer

    Contributors:

    Dr Chris Wallace
    Professor Will Dixon
    Professor Trevor
    Professor Trevor Harley

    Producer: Marijke Peters
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

    A BBC Studios Audio Production

27. Furnishing with Fungi

    9 mei 2025 · 29 min

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    From mouldy bread to athlete’s foot, fungi don’t exactly scream “home improvement.” But what if this misunderstood kingdom is the secret to the sustainable materials of the future? Lees meer

    Listener Alexis - definitely not a gnome - wants to know how much of our homes we could build with fungi. Professor Katie Field describes how the mushroom is the just tip of the iceberg - it’s the network of thread-like filaments called mycelium where fungi really do their best work. Architect Phil Ayers explains how fungi, like yeast in bread, can bind waste products into firm, MDF-like blocks. And while we’re not constructing skyscrapers with mushrooms just yet, it turns out fungi-based materials are already making waves in interior design. Think sound-absorbing wall panels or insulation that’s both eco-friendly and chic.

    And here’s a cool one: mushroom leather! Using discarded stalks from mushroom farms, one company is crafting strong, flexible material for trainers, handbags, and even car dashboards. Move over, cows - mushrooms are pushing their way up.

    Oh, and NASA? They’re dreaming big with fungi too - to grow habitats in space. From mould...to the moon!

    Contributors:

    Katie Field - Professor of Plant-Soil Processes at the University of Sheffield
    Phil Ayres - Professor of Biohybrid Architecture at the Royal Danish Academy
    Patrick Baptista Pinto - co-founder of Really Clever
    Maurizio Montalti - Co-founder and Chief Mycelium Officer of SQIM / MOGU
    Lynn Rothschild - Senior Research Scientist at NASA Ames research centre

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

28. Love Neurons

    2 mei 2025 · 29 min

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    What happens in your brain when Cupid’s arrow strikes? As a teenager, Alison developed an intense crush on George Harrison from the Beatles. But, she wants to know, why do we develop these feelings for pop stars we’ve never actually met? And what potent swirl of neurochemistry drives those fierce emotions? Lees meer

    With neuroscientist Dr. Dean Burnett and evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Anna Machin as their guides, Hannah and Dara investigate everything from the brain’s chemical fireworks during a crush to the evolutionary perks of love and bonding. Along the way, they dissect teenage infatuations, lifelong love affairs with football teams, and why love can feel as addictive as heroin.

    There’s even a guest appearance from two cute rodents: the monogamous prairie voles and their more, shall we say, commitment-phobic cousins, the montane voles, who gave us early clues about the role of the ‘cuddle’ hormone oxytocin.

    Whether you're a hopeless romantic or a hard-nosed skeptic, prepare to fall head over heels for the science of love.

    Contributors:

    Dr Anna Machin - evolutionary anthropologist and author of Why We Love
    Dr Dean Burnett - honorary research fellow at Cardiff Psychology School, author of The Idiot Brain and The Happy Brain.
    Carmine Pariante - Professor of Biological Psychiatry at King’s College London

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

29. Invisibility Quest

    25 april 2025 · 30 min

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    Hannah and Dara tackle a disarmingly simple question: is anything in the universe truly invisible? After ruling out mysterious Nordic spirits and ‘Dara’s ire’, our curious duo start to track down the invisible waves all around them. Including, it turns out, some which are emanating from their VERY OWN FACES! An infrared camera reveals Hannah’s nose as a particular hotspot. Lees meer

    Turning their gaze to bigger things, they wonder: what does our own galaxy look like when viewed in this invisible spectrum? Infrared reveals vast loops and whorls of dust and gas - gigantic structures otherwise totally hidden. But there are even cooler surprises. Ever wondered what an X-ray of the universe looks like? Turns out it’s a sparkly map of white-hot black holes!

    Back on earth, the discussion turns to ways of making objects disappear by bending light in tricksy ways. But why is the fancy science of ‘metamaterials’ still struggling to make a proper invisibility cloak? Sorry, Harry Potter fans.

    In the end, our physicists reveal a universe bursting with even more elusive, even more mysterious stuff: dark matter and dark energy. Prepare to see the unseen in a whole new light!

    Contributors:

    Matthew Bothwell - the Public Astronomer at the University of Cambridge and author of The Invisible Universe
    Andrew Pontzen - Professor of Physics at Durham University
    Mitch Kenney - Assistant Professor in metamaterials at the University of Nottingham

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

30. Liar, Liar

    18 april 2025 · 29 min

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    For any of you who have ever told a porkie pie, don't worry, this week we hear why we all do it... and discover that deception is actually good for social bonding. From the red squirrels who cry wolf to scare off the competition, to kids who look you in the eye as they tell bare faced lies, this is a behaviour that occurs across all species. And one man who's particularly good at it is Traitors contestant Paul Gorton who reveals he felt absolutely no guilt about his tv trickery. But it seems that while we're masters at telling tall stories, we're terrible at detecting them, because we've all been focusing on completely the wrong cues. Lees meer

    Contributors:

    Paul Gorton
    Professor Richard Wiseman
    Professor Sophie van der Zee

    Producer: Marijke Peters
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

    A BBC Studios Audio Production

31. The Diamond Throwdown

    11 april 2025 · 32 min

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    “Diamonds are nonsense!” Hannah boldly proclaimed in a previous episode. But listener Guy is a diamond enthusiast, and he and his diamond-loving pals were NOT OKAY WITH THIS. He demanded we re-open the case, and here we are... Lees meer

    SO in this glittering showdown, Dara is on a quest to flip Hannah’s perspective from “meh” to “marvelous.” And for Hannah, some uncomfortable facts soon emerge. It turns out that diamonds are much more than just overpriced bling. They're the secret ingredient in all sorts of high-tech gadgets with a whole arsenal of little-known superpowers.

    Enter electrochemist Julie Macpherson, who blows Hannah’s mind by showing how diamonds can slice through ice like butter, thanks to their unmatched ability to conduct heat. Not impressed yet? Physicist Mark Newton makes a diamond glow in the dark, using nothing but his phone flashlight.

    And that’s just to start! These ultra-robust gems can scrub nasty chemicals from water, serve as supercharged electrodes, and even reveal deep-earth secrets locked away for billions of years.

    By the end of this episode, will Hannah finally admit diamonds are forever cool?

    Contributors:

    Charlie Bexfield - Gemmologist and diamond specialist
    Julie MacPherson - Professor of Chemistry at the University of Warwick
    Mark Newton - Professor of Physics at the University of Warwick
    Grahame Pearson - Professor of Earth Sciences from the University of Alberta

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

32. Trailer

    3 april 2025 · 2 min

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    Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain return to tackle listener's questions with the power of science!

33. The Fastest Fly

    4 januari 2025 · 30 min

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    The buzz of a fly hovering just above your head has got to be one of the most irritating sounds around, but this week we try to work out just how fast they could be flying. Could a claim horseflies reach speeds of up to 90 mph possibly be true, and Dara wants to know if this is what makes them so difficult to swat? Lees meer

    Entomologist Erica McAlister is better known as the ‘fly lady’ and speaks up in defence of these tiny creatures, explaining there are 7,000 known species in the UK alone. Which makes it all the more shocking there are several that don’t have wings.

    For Professor Graham Taylor the question of speed comes down to a simple calculation, and the team try to work out whether a horsefly beats its wings fast enough relative to its size to travel so rapidly. He explains horseflies aren't clever, but scientists are interested in their simple brains and are studying them to use as models for drones and mini robots.

    Contributors:

    Dr Erica McAlister, Natural History Museum
    Professor Graham Taylor, Oxford University

    Producer: Marijke Peters
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

34. Bored to Death

    28 december 2024 · 30 min

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    Anyone who has ever done a long car journey with kids will be familiar with the idea of being bored to death – but can this feeling really be fatal? Lees meer

    Hannah and Dara hear about a club where members count roundabouts and collect milk bottle tops, but boredom expert Wijnand van Tilburg explains these dull-sounding hobbies might actually have mental health benefits. He explains that science and comedy are stereotypically both seen as exciting subjects but warns them their chat about Venn diagrams might tip the balance the other way.

    Mind-wandering specialist Mike Esterman reveals why we're rubbish at staying on task when there are more rewarding things to do, and sets the pair a challenge to play a computer game that distracts them with pictures of cute babies and fluffy animals.

    Contributors:

    Dr Wijnand van Tilburg: University of Essex
    Dr Mike Esterman: Boston Attention and Learning Lab

    Producer: Marijke Peters
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

35. Freeze Me When I Die

    21 december 2024 · 28 min

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    When you die, would you want to be frozen so that one day you might be brought back to life? Listener Elspeth wants to know if that’s even possible. So Hannah and Dara embark on a quest to explore the chiling science of ‘cryobiology’: preserving living things at really low temperatures. Lees meer

    It turns out there are already thousands of people alive who were once suspended in antifreeze and stored in liquid nitrogen - when they were just a small clump of cells! There’s even a frog which can turn into a ‘frogsicle’ for months on end. But re-animating full size humans is a challenge no one has solved…yet. Will some miraculous nanotechnology of a distant future solve the problem?

    Contributors:

    Professor João Pedro de Magalhães: University of Birmingham
    Hayley Campbell: Author and broadcaster
    Professor Joyce Harper: UCL
    Dr Hanane Hadj-Moussa: The Babraham Institute, Cambridge
    Garrett Smyth: Cryonics UK

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

36. Night Walkers

    14 december 2024 · 29 min

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    Wake up! It’s time for a dreamy new episode of Curious Cases all about the science of sleepwalking. Lees meer

    Listener Abigail has done some strange things in her sleep, from taking all the pictures off the wall, to searching for Turkish language courses. And she wants to know: WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

    It turns out Abigail is not alone. Hannah and Dara hear weird and wonderful stories of extreme sleepwalkers - from the lady who went on midnight motorbike excursions, to the artist who does all his best work while asleep. They delve into the neuroscience to find out how you can remain in deep sleep while walking, talking or even peeing in your mum's shopping basket. They learn about some cutting edge research where the participants were sleep deprived and then half-woken with scary sounds, and they zero in on the key triggers, from a boozy night out to a squeaky bed.

    Contributors
    Professor Russell Foster: University of Oxford.
    Professor Guy Leschziner: King’s College London and Guys’ and St Thomas’ hospital
    Lee Hadwin: the sleep artist
    Professor Francesca Siclari: The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

37. A Lemon-Powered Spaceship

    7 december 2024 · 30 min

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    Fruit-powered batteries are the ultimate school science experiment, but they’re normally used to power a pocket calculator. This week’s listener wants to know if they could do more, and sends the team on a quest to discover whether they could used to send a rocket into space? Lees meer

    Professor Saiful Islam is the Guinness World Record holder for the highest voltage from a fruit-based battery, but disappoints the team when he reveals they produce very little power. He used 3,000 of them and only managed a measly 2 Watts. Given that spaceships are famously difficult to get off the ground, it seems a lemon battery might just fail the acid test.

    Author Randall Munroe is undeterred and suggests alternative ways to get energy from citrus, including burying them to make oil. Then the team discuss the pros and cons of switching to a lemon-based diet.

    For battery expert Paul Shearing, all this raises a serious question, about how we will power the planes of the future. He suggests solar power could play a part in short-haul flights and discusses some of the exciting battery materials being tested today.

    Contributors:

    Randall Munroe, author
    Professor Paul Shearing, Oxford University
    Professor Saiful Islam, Oxford University

    Producer: Marijke Peters
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

38. Be More Athlete

    30 november 2024 · 30 min

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    Are you more of a rhino or a kitten? More like a tortoise or a hare? Listener Ivy wants to know what makes a good athlete and so Hannah and Dara tackle the science of sport. Lees meer

    Our curious duo get to grips with the rigours of training tailored for endurance events vs those based on more explosive bursts of activity. They consider the contribution of genetics, fast vs slow twitch muscle fibres, the unique advantage of Michael Phelps's body proportions and whether butterfly really is the most ridiculous stroke in swimming.

    And after a rigorous scientific analysis, Dara turns out to be ideally suited for…netball. Much to his surprise.

    Contributors
    Dr Polly McGuigan: University of Bath
    Dr Mitch Lomax: University of Portsmouth
    Professor Alun Williams: Manchester Metropolitan University
    Dr Josephine Perry: Sports psychologist

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

39. Invincible Moss Piglets

    23 november 2024 · 29 min

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    Listener Vivienne has heard that tardigrades - aka moss piglets - have special powers of survival. Radiation? Drought? Extreme cold? NO PROBLEM. Does that mean they could survive an apocalypse? And could they even help us master space travel!? Lees meer

    Hannah and Dara learn how to find these little moss piggies in roof gutters and garden corners. And they're amazed by their capacity to dry out and hunker down for decades before springing back to life. But calamity strikes when it turns out that fine glass tubing - in the form of pipettes - is their natural predator. And worse is to come: our curious duo learn that there may be some tardigrades stuck on the moon, and one researcher has even fired them out of a gun. All in the name of science.

    But they have survived at least 5 mass extinctions so far. So their chances of surviving the next one are pretty good. As long as pipettes aren't involved.

    Contributors
    Dr James Frederick Fleming: Natural History Museum of Norway and the University of Oslo
    Dr Nadja Møbjerg: University of Copenhagen
    Dr Thomas Boothby: University of Wyoming

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

40. The Shock Factor

    16 november 2024 · 29 min

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    If there’s one type of discharge you really want to avoid, it’s lightning, but what happens when it hits you? Lees meer

    We hear from lightning survivor Kerry Evans, and discover that the best place to shelter – if you ever find yourself in a similarly charged storm – is in a car, or low to the ground. And why this is never a good time to take a selfie.

    Dr Dan Mitchard from Cardiff University’s excitingly-named Lightning Lab explains why there's no lightning at the poles, and the presenters lament that polar bears and penguins are missing out.

    We all know about the gods of lightning, but the mysticism doesn't stop there. Above cloud level there are many other types of unusually-named phenomena, reaching to the edge of space, including sprites, trolls and even pixies.

    And Professor Karen Aplin reveals that lightning has even been discovered on other planets, in a science story that could affect our plans to colonise Mars.

    Contributors:

    Dr Daniel Mitchard, Lightning Laboratory, Cardiff University
    Professor Karen Aplin, University of Bristol

    Producer: Marijke Peters
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

41. The Taste of Words

    9 november 2024 · 30 min

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    11 year old Esther visualises days of the week in a kind of 3D structure. It’s something called ‘synaesthesia’ and she wants to know why it happens - and why other people don’t experience things the way she does. Lees meer

    Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain explore the vibrant and varied ways different people experience the world, from the man who tastes individual words - including all the stops of the tube - to the composer who sees music in shapes and colours.

    And along the way, they figure out why Mozart is white wine while Beethoven is red.

    Contributors:

    Professor Julia Simner: Professor of Psychology,University of Sussex
    Professor Jamie Ward: Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Sussex
    James Wannerton, President of UK Synaesthesia Association
    CoriAnder: electronic music producer

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

42. In the Groove

    2 november 2024 · 31 min

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    It’s sometimes said that timing is everything and this week the pair investigate the mystery of rhythm, discovering why some of us might be better at staying in tempo. Lees meer

    From the daily cycle of dawn and dusk to sea tides and circadian clocks, rhythm governs many aspects of our lives, and cognitive psychologist Dr Maria Witek says it makes sense we also place great importance on its presence in music. She specialises in ‘groove’, or the feeling of pleasure associated with moving to a beat – and it’s not just something the dancers among us enjoy; groove has even been used to treat patients with Parkinson’s Disease.

    Neuroscientist Professor Nina Kraus has studied drummers’ brains and found their neurons fire with more precision. She explains that teaching kids rhythm can improve their language and social skills. But no need to take her word for it, because Skunk Anansie’s drummer Mark Richardson is in the studio to put Hannah to the test. Can she handle a high hat at the same time as a snare?

    Contributors:
    Dr Maria Witek, University of Birmingham
    Professor Nina Kraus, Northwestern University
    Mark Richardson, drummer with Skunk Anansie

    Producer: Marijke Peters
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

43. Mirror, Mirror

    26 oktober 2024 · 30 min

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    9 year old listener Koby sends Hannah and Dara on a mission to find the shiniest thing in the world. And so they enter a world of mirrors… Lees meer

    The journey takes them into the subatomic goings on of shiny metal surfaces, where electrons waggle and dance and send light waves back at *just* the right angle. Our curious duo play with an astonishingly reflective plastic film that can be found hidden in devices we all use. And they probe the mysterious power of refraction, harnessed to make the $2 million mirrors which reflect the lasers at the huge LIGO experiment.

    And everyone ponders the surprisingly reflective properties of a pint in space.

    Contributors:

    Dr Felix Flicker: University of Bristol, author of The Magick of Matter
    Professor Stuart Reid: University of Strathclyde
    Quinn Sanford: optical engineer from 3M
    GariLynn Billingsley: Optical Sciences Group Leader at LIGO

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

44. The 5 Second Rule

    19 oktober 2024 · 29 min

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    Would you eat food that fell on the floor? That’s the question Hannah and Dara are getting their teeth into this week as they put the so-called ‘5 second rule’ through its paces. Lees meer

    For some people it’s 3 seconds, and for others its 10 – especially if it involves a dropped ice cream and a screaming child. But microbiologist Don Schaffner says there’s no safe amount of time to leave food on the floor if you’re planning to eat it. And while you might think buttered toast would pick up the biggest number of bugs, it may surprise you to hear that wet foods like watermelon are actually the worst when it comes to attracting harmful bacteria.

    If all this is putting you off your dinner, the bad news is that the rest of your kitchen is also a microbiological minefield. Research shows nearly 70% of us keep our fridges are the wrong temperature, which sparks a lively discussion about whether it’s ever safe to reheat rice.

    For home hygiene guru Sally Bloomfield it’s all a question of being a bit more clever about the kind of germs we expose ourselves to and weighing up risks.

    Contributors:

    Dr Don Schaffner: Rutgers University
    Dr Ellen Evans: Cardiff Metropolitan University
    Professor Sally Bloomfield: International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene

    Producer: Marijke Peters
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

45. Space Bubbles

    12 oktober 2024 · 28 min

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    While chatting at the back of class, best mates Abi and Sofia got curious about bubbles. How do you make really giant ones? Could you even get one around the entire planet? Lees meer

    Hannah and Dara set out to investigate. They hear from a renowned 'bubbleologist', and learn how NASA helped him blow his way to a world record. They coax a physicist to reveal the secrets of his peer-reviewed bubble-juice formula, and investigate how bubbles work in space and in the ocean.

    Our curious duo also discover an audacious project aiming to build a Brazil-sized raft of bubbles... in space!

    Contributors:

    Dr Helen Czerski, UCL
    Dr Justin Burton, Emory University
    Dr Awesome, Bubbleologist
    Professor Carlo Ratti, MIT

    Producer: Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

46. Trailer

    4 oktober 2024 · 2 min

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    Curious Cases is returning! Superstar mathematician and broadcaster Hannah Fry teams up with legendary comedian and fellow science nerd Dara Ó Briain for an all-new series of the show which takes your quirkiest questions and solves them with the power of science. Lees meer

    In this short preview ep, our dynamic duo tease some of the upcoming episodes in which they enlist the world’s top experts to tackle the most profound and puzzling questions to have ever trickled through your curious minds: Could you power a spaceship with a lemon? Can you actually die of boredom? Why do some people *taste* words? Why does Hannah have absolutely no sense of rhythm? And could we stop climate change with massive space bubbles!?

    Producers: Marijke Peters and Ilan Goodman
    Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
    A BBC Studios Audio Production

47. The Impossible Number

    14 februari 2023 · 42 min

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    There is a bizarre number in maths referred to simply as ‘i’. It appears to break the rules of arithmetic - but turns out to be utterly essential for applications across engineering and physics. We’re talking about the square root of -1. WHICH MAKES NO SENSE. Lees meer

    Professor Fry waxes lyrical about the beauty and power of this so-called ‘imaginary’ number to a sceptical Dr Rutherford. Dr Michael Brooks tells the surprising story of the duelling Italian mathematicians who gave birth to this strange idea, and shares how Silicon Valley turned it into cold hard cash. It's all about oscillations, Professor Jeff O’Connell demonstrates. And finally, Dr Eleanor Knox reveals that imaginary numbers are indispensable for the most fundamental physics of all: quantum mechanics.

    Imaginary, impossible…but essential!

    Contributors: Professor Jeff O’Connell, Ohlone College California, Dr Michael Brooks, Author of 'The Maths That Made Us', and Dr Eleanor Knox, Philosopher of Physics at KCL and a Senior Visiting Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh.

    Producer: Ilan Goodman

48. The Mind Numbing Medicine

    7 februari 2023 · 44 min

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    This episode will render you oblivious, conked out and blissfully unaware. It’s about anaesthetics: those potent potions that send you into a deep, deathly sleep. Listener Alicia wants to know how they work, so our sleuths call on the expertise of consultant anaesthetist Dr Fiona Donald. Fiona shares her experience from the clinical frontline, and explains what we do and don’t know about how these chemicals work their mind-numbing magic. Lees meer

    We hear about ground-breaking research led by Professor Irene Tracey, which reveals how a pattern of slow brain waves can be used to determine the optimum dosage of these dangerous drugs.

    And finally, Drs Rutherford and Fry wonder: what does all this tell us about normal consciousness? Professor Anil Seth shares how we can use brain tech to measure different levels of conscious awareness – from sleepy to psychedelic.

    Presenters: Hannah Fry and Adam Rutherford
    Producer: Ilan Goodman

49. The Resurrection Quest

    31 januari 2023 · 38 min

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    ‘Can we bring back extinct species?’ wonders listener Mikko Campbell. Well, Professor Fry is pretty excited by the prospect of woolly mammoths roaming the Siberian tundra once more. And everyone is impressed with the science that might make it happen. But Dr Rutherford comes out STRONGLY against the whole thing. Can our expert guests win him over? Lees meer

    Dr Helen Pilcher shares the tale of Celia the lonely mountain goat, and makes the case for cloning to help protect species at risk of extinction. Professor Beth Shapiro sets out how biotech company ‘Colossal’ plans to engineer Asian elephants’ DNA to make a new group of mammoth-like creatures. And we hear how genetic technologies are being used in conservation efforts around the world.

    BUT WHAT ABOUT T-REXES? Not gonna happen. Sorry.

    Contributors: Dr Helen Pilcher, author of ‘Bring Back the King: The New Science of De-Extinction’, Professor Beth Shapiro from the University of California Santa Cruz, Dr Ben Novak of Revive and Restore and Tullis Matson from Nature’s SAFE.

    Presenters: Hannah Fry and Adam Rutherford

    Producer: Ilan Goodman

50. The Puzzle of the Pyramids

    24 januari 2023 · 36 min

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    The Great Pyramids of Giza are awesome feats of engineering and precision. So who built them - and how? Was it a mysteriously super-advanced civilization now oddly extinct? Was it even aliens? Lees meer

    Nah, course not! Rutherford and Fry investigate how these inspiring monuments were really constructed, and learn about the complex civilisation and efficient bureaucracy that made them possible.

    Professor Sarah Parcak busts the myth that they were built by slaves. In fact, she reveals, it was gangs of well-paid blokes fuelled by the ancient Egyptian equivalent of burgers and beer. And Dr Chris Naunton explains how it was not some mysterious tech, but incredible organisation and teamwork which made it possible to transport massive stone blocks over long distances several thousand years before trucks arrived.

    Dr Heba Abd El Gawad points out how racism led to bizarre assumptions in the history of archaeology, and how those assumptions linger in contemporary conspiracy theories which refuse to accept that Egyptians could have built the pyramids themselves!

    Presenters: Hannah Fry and Adam Rutherford
    Contributors: Professor Sarah Parcak, University of Alabama, Dr Chris Naunton, Egyptologist and broadcaster, Dr Heba Abd El Gawad, University College London
    Producers: Ilan Goodman & Emily Bird