CrowdScience

BBC World Service

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

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

504 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes504

Newest first

Oct 24, 2025 · 27 min
Should we help maggots and caterpillars?
How do we learn to love the unsung insects that do so much good in gardens and farms
Oct 17, 2025 · 26 min
Can we record our senses?
Can we record what it's like to taste, smell, or touch something?
Oct 10, 2025 · 26 min
Are atoms immortal?
Do atoms exist forever, or can they be destroyed?
Oct 3, 2025 · 27 min
Why are some animals black and white?
Why are zebras so stripy? Why do penguins wear tuxedos?
Sep 26, 2025 · 26 min
Answers to even more questions
Questions inspired by previous episodes of CrowdScience
Sep 19, 2025 · 26 min
Do birds understand us?
Listener David can mimic bird calls, but he wants to know if his chirps have any meaning
Sep 12, 2025 · 26 min
Why am I so sentimental?
Why do we get so attached to our possessions?
Sep 5, 2025 · 26 min
Will drinking milk help me live longer?
Is drinking milk good for us, or an unnecessary habit?
Aug 29, 2025 · 34 min
How long will traces of our civilisation last?
If intelligent life visits Earth millions of years from now, will they find traces of us?
Aug 22, 2025 · 36 min
How does camouflage work?
Where does military camouflage come from? And can you hide your body’s heat signature?
Aug 15, 2025 · 26 min
How long does light last?
Trying to catch a glimpse of the oldest stuff in the universe
Aug 8, 2025 · 32 min
Can we stop the rain?
Can we use science to stop the rain from falling?
Aug 1, 2025 · 30 min
How are teeth made?
What are teeth made of and why can’t we have unlimited replacements, like sharks?
Jul 28, 2025 · 3 min
Trailer: 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle
The epic space story of a sci-fi dream that changed spaceflight forever
Jul 25, 2025 · 26 min
Could technology improve our brains?
Can technology restore memories or cure the symptoms of neurodegenerative conditions?
Jul 18, 2025 · 26 min
What if the Earth spun backwards?
If planet Earth spun backwards, would life still be the same?
Jul 11, 2025 · 31 min
Where did Earth’s water come from?
Seventy percent of our planet is covered in water, but where did it all come from?
Jul 4, 2025 · 26 min
Can we harness solar energy from other stars?
Can we harness the energy of the stars?
Jun 27, 2025 · 26 min
Why are twins special?
Why are we fascinated by twins?
Jun 20, 2025 · 26 min
How can we persuade more people to cycle?
Can behavioural science help listener Hans with his aim to get more people on bikes?