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BBC Radio 4

Tim Harford explains - and sometimes debunks - the numbers and statistics used in political debate, the news and everyday life.

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1,133 episodes
Updated Saturday

Episodes1133

Newest first

Sep 3, 2022 · 8 min
Can we use maths to beat the robots?
Why improving how we teach and think about maths could help us keep an edge over machines
Aug 31, 2022 · 28 min
Energy prices, excess deaths and the race to count to 200
Is there an easy way to cut soaring energy bills?
Aug 27, 2022 · 8 min
Kenya’s Election Rounding Error
Official figures didn’t add up - but due to rounding, not fraud.
Aug 20, 2022 · 9 min
The numbers behind “natural” birth control
We examine online claims about the effectiveness of “natural” birth control methods
Aug 13, 2022 · 8 min
Is opinion polling broken?
Following some high profile slip-ups in recent US elections, is opinion polling broken?
Aug 6, 2022 · 8 min
Debunking the Liverpool FC Conspiracy Theory
We debunk spurious rumours that Liverpool FC use asthma medication to enhance performance
Jul 30, 2022 · 8 min
How our world measures up
From ancient tally bones to a jar of peanut butter, a look at the history of measurement
Jul 23, 2022 · 10 min
Does the World Athletics Championships have a false start problem?
We examine the rules and tech of false starts after the disqualification of Devon Allen.
Jul 16, 2022 · 10 min
Is Uganda about to become a middle income country?
We assess President Museveni’s claim that Uganda is nearing a higher economic status.
Jul 9, 2022 · 10 min
Does it take 10,000 litres of water to make a pair of jeans?
The numbers behind water use and denim production
Jul 2, 2022 · 9 min
How many American women will have an abortion in their lifetime?
In the wake of the historic overturning of Roe vs Wade, we look at the statistics.
Jun 29, 2022 · 29 min
Covid climb, childcare costs and why can’t the French count properly?
How accurately are official figures picking up the new covid wave?
Jun 25, 2022 · 11 min
Ed Sheeran and the mathematics of musical coincidences
Ed Sheeran thinks that musical coincidences will always happen… but do the numbers agree?
Jun 22, 2022 · 28 min
Rail strikes, tyre pollution and sex statistics
Do rail workers really earn £13,000 a year more than nurses?
Jun 18, 2022 · 8 min
How often do people have sex?
Looking at sex and statistics in Japan and America.
Jun 15, 2022 · 28 min
Maternity litigation, stars, bees and windowless planes
Are damages for maternity mistakes now more than wages for maternity nurses and doctors?
Jun 11, 2022 · 10 min
Hannah Fry: Understanding the numbers of cancer
The maths professor on the choices she and others have faced after a cancer diagnosis
Jun 8, 2022 · 28 min
Employment puzzle, pyramids and triplets
The UK has a low unemployment rate but lots of people not working – how come?
Jun 4, 2022 · 8 min
Are girls starting puberty earlier?
We look into a claim that the age of girls’ puberty is falling rapidly
Jun 1, 2022 · 28 min
Jubilee costs, fuel poverty and imperial measures
We debunk a claim the government is spending £38,000 per household on the Jubilee