CrowdScience

We take your questions about life, Earth and the universe to researchers hunting for answers at the frontiers of knowledge.

World Service,421 episodes

Episodes

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Can we feed everyone?
We ask leading agricultural experts about global food security
25 Apr 2025,31 mins
Why am I always late?
Why do some people find it easier to be punctual than others?
18 Apr 2025,26 mins
Why do animals swallow rocks?
Answering your questions about life, Earth and the universe
11 Apr 2025,29 mins
How do you measure a mountain?
As sea levels rise, will mountains shrink? How do we measure height above sea level?
04 Apr 2025,26 mins
Where in the world will I weigh least?
We tackle gravity - a fundamental force of the universe, yet also an everyday mystery
28 Mar 2025,26 mins
Are there global food allergy hotspots?
Do food allergies vary around the world – and if so, why?
21 Mar 2025,29 mins
Are humans naturally monogamous?
Why is one partner usually the norm for humans around the world?
14 Mar 2025,27 mins
Is water wet?
The wetness of water seems obvious - but dive into the science and it's not so clear cut
07 Mar 2025,26 mins
Whatever happened to tangerines?
Can we track down a tangerine variety lodged in one listener's memory?
28 Feb 2025,28 mins
Why isn't the sky green?
Why do we see so many colours in the sky, but never green?
21 Feb 2025,27 mins
Is anything truly random?
A question about bathroom tiles has us wondering whether everything is pre-determined
14 Feb 2025,26 mins
Why can't I remember my early childhood?
Some huge milestones happen in our first years of life - but why do we forget them?
07 Feb 2025,27 mins
Is my smartwatch good for my health?
Do smartwatches reliably monitor fitness? And can they make us healthier?
31 Jan 2025,27 mins
How high can birds fly?
What altitude can birds cope with, and which species soars highest?
24 Jan 2025,27 mins
Which animal has the biggest carbon footprint?
Humans emit far too much planet-warming carbon, but what about other species?
17 Jan 2025,28 mins
Is beer better without alcohol?
How does non-alcoholic beer differ from the original - and is it better for us?
10 Jan 2025,32 mins
Why am I embarrassed when I fall?
Falling can be serious – so why do we find it embarrassing or even funny?
03 Jan 2025,26 mins
I didn’t know that!
Did you know that flies fly in rectangles and fish hide by lighting themselves up?
27 Dec 2024,26 mins
Will the Earth ever lose its Moon?
Anand Jagatia is joined by a panel of experts to answer listener questions about the Moon
20 Dec 2024,26 mins
Why does pain sometimes feel good?
What makes people seek out unpleasant or painful sensations, like eating chilli?
13 Dec 2024,29 mins
Why am I good at jigsaw puzzles?
What skills do you need to complete a jigsaw puzzle? And why do we enjoy them?
06 Dec 2024,32 mins
Can I improve my sense of direction?
Why some people get lost while others have a great sense of where they are
29 Nov 2024,29 mins
Why can't my dog live as long as me?
And how do some animals tackle the ageing process head on?
22 Nov 2024,28 mins
What does my voice say about me?
What shapes the sound of your voice? And is everybody’s voice unique?
15 Nov 2024,31 mins
Why is my house getting sunnier?
A mysterious shift in sunshine through one listener’s window requires investigation
08 Nov 2024,30 mins
Why do some mushrooms glow?
We explore the mysterious phenomenon of bioluminescence
01 Nov 2024,29 mins
Why do languages fade from us?
Can learning multiple languages make us forget our native tongue?
25 Oct 2024,26 mins
Why do my armpits smell?
Deodorant hasn’t been around forever, so is there any evolutionary reason for body odour?
18 Oct 2024,26 mins
What's the fairest voting system?
Is there a perfect way to elect politicians?
11 Oct 2024,32 mins
Why don’t sunflowers fall over?
With huge heads on spindly stalks, how do sunflowers defy gravity to stay standing?
04 Oct 2024,26 mins