Science In Action

BBC World Service

The BBC brings you all the week's science news.

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335 episodes
Updated Oct 30, 2025

Episodes335

Newest first

Apr 18, 2024 · 31 min
Unexpected black hole in our galaxy
Unexpected black hole in our galaxy; Ancient Horse DNA; the mechanisms of addiction
Apr 11, 2024 · 31 min
Bird flu in Antarctica
Highly pathogenic bird flu has been detected along the Antarctic coast
Apr 4, 2024 · 27 min
Earthquake in Taiwan
A powerful earthquake in Taiwan demonstrates the country’s preparedness.
Mar 28, 2024 · 27 min
Star for a day
A star on the brink of explosion will be visible from Earth. But not for long.
Mar 21, 2024 · 33 min
Out of Africa
A rare glimpse into the lives of the ancestors moving from Africa to the whole world.
Mar 14, 2024 · 28 min
Impacts of global warming
Will 2024 be another record-breaking year for the climate?
Mar 7, 2024 · 29 min
The first stars in the universe
Astronomers think they have seen glow the first generation of stars after the Big Bang
Feb 29, 2024 · 26 min
One million genomes in two dimensions
US researchers aim to sample genomes from one million diverse people but concerns raised
Feb 22, 2024 · 29 min
Largest ever covid safety study
A monumental study of 99 million vaccinated people shows how rare adverse effects are.
Feb 15, 2024 · 26 min
Climate scientist wins defamation case
Will this serve as a warning against politically motivated attacks on climate scientists?
Feb 8, 2024 · 27 min
Particle physics v climate change
Should we spend $17 billion on a new atom smasher whilst the world literally burns?
Feb 1, 2024 · 29 min
Unethical data gathering in China
Papers containing DNA data gathered from Chinese ethnic minorities are under scrutiny.
Jan 25, 2024 · 31 min
Drilling into the past
How scientists can drill into the seabed to find out more about the planet’s deep past
Jan 18, 2024 · 28 min
Swine fever in South East Asia
Swine fever has reached Borneo, devastating the local wild pig populations
Jan 11, 2024 · 31 min
Seeking supernovas
How supernovas – the colossal explosions of stars – can help us decipher the Universe
Jan 4, 2024 · 29 min
Tackling tuberculosis in South Africa
Fighting a disease that has become South Africa's biggest killer
Dec 28, 2023 · 28 min
Following in the footsteps of ancient humans
Roland Pease travels to South Africa to gain a deeper understanding of human origins
Dec 21, 2023 · 31 min
Volcanic eruption lights up Iceland
Volcanic eruption lights up Iceland.
Dec 14, 2023 · 30 min
The science of morning sickness
A team of researchers have uncovered what may cause morning sickness in pregnancy.
Dec 7, 2023 · 26 min
Can carbon capture live up to its hype?
Climate expert Richard Black discusses the good, the bad and the ugly of carbon capture.