CrowdScience

BBC World Service

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

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504 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes504

Newest first

Dec 10, 2021 · 35 min
What's the best way to make a decision?
Life is full of choices – but how can we make the best ones?
Dec 3, 2021 · 32 min
What makes stuff sticky?
Our world would fall apart without adhesives - but how do they hold things together?
Nov 26, 2021 · 32 min
Which is better: Optimism or pessimism?
Is being optimistic really the best way to live your life?
Nov 19, 2021 · 30 min
Would my cat survive in the wild?
Do our pampered house cats lose their survival instincts?
Nov 12, 2021 · 26 min
Can we recycle concrete?
Concrete has a big CO2 footprint – so can we turn waste into new structures?
Nov 5, 2021 · 39 min
Can COP26 deliver on climate change?
We head to the COP26 climate conference to hear about plans to slow down global warming
Oct 29, 2021 · 34 min
Could we completely switch to renewable energy?
The island that’s run almost entirely on renewable energy
Oct 22, 2021 · 36 min
Should I have kids?
Is it responsible to bring a new person into existence?
Oct 15, 2021 · 35 min
Can we grow a conscious brain?
With advances in stem cell research, could we grow a human brain? And would we want to?
Oct 8, 2021 · 35 min
Does the planet need snails?
Gardeners might see snails as their enemy, but they are vital to life on earth
Oct 1, 2021 · 32 min
Do plants have immune systems?
Can plants remember diseases or stressful events they have previously experienced?
Sep 24, 2021 · 32 min
How do flowers know when to bloom?
Find out what influences when flowers open and the various factors that slow the process
Sep 17, 2021 · 35 min
How did eyes evolve?
How did evolution produce the clever organs with which you’re reading this?
Sep 10, 2021 · 34 min
Can we transfer electricity wirelessly?
Could power be beamed into hard to reach communities?
Sep 3, 2021 · 31 min
Can we save our night skies?
How to combat the light pollution that blots out starry skies and disrupts wildlife
Aug 27, 2021 · 27 min
How did our ancestors sleep?
How have our sleep patterns changed over history and pre-history?
Aug 21, 2021 · 34 min
Why is human skin so rubbish?
We’re dissecting our skin’s structure and roles and asking if science can give it a boost
Aug 13, 2021 · 37 min
How can smart tech tackle climate change?
How can clever computing help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Aug 6, 2021 · 34 min
Can video games help me or harm me?
What’s the scientific evidence for how gaming affects us?
Jul 30, 2021 · 31 min
Do I really have to clean my recycling?
We tackle questions about the best ways to recycle.