2022-04-07 Britain’s love affair with coffee
Introduction Here in the UK, when it comes to enjoying a nice hot drink, it’s not all about tea. We…
2022-03-31 Optimists vs Pessimists
Introduction Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Which one you are may be linked more to your birthplace and…
2022-03-24 The world of Agatha Christie
Introduction If you like a good murder mystery, you have probably read a book by the British writer Agatha Christie…
2022-03-17 Mars: Mysteries of the Red Planet
Introduction Mars has been in the news a lot recently with three separate missions being sent to explore the planet’s…
2022-03-10 Why laughter is the best medicine
Introduction Laughter can be a serious business. There’s evidence that people who laugh recover more quickly from illness. Neil and…
2022-03-03 Is being kind good for you?
Introduction How do you feel when you are kind to someone? The benefits of kindness have been attracting the attention…
2022-02-24 Eating bugs
Introduction Would you eat a cricket doughnut? Food made from bugs is a growing trend in the Western world. Insects…
2022-02-17 The benefits of boredom
Introduction Having nothing to do, or doing the same task again and again, can be demotivating. But it doesn’t have…
2022-02-10 Do our pets care about us?
Introduction We love and care for our pets. But do they care about us in return? Do they know when…
2022-02-03 Sleepy in South Korea
Introduction How many hours do you sleep? Not many, if you live in South Korea, which might be one of…
2022-01-27 Preparing for the Beijing Winter Olympics
Introduction Beijing is preparing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, but the games will look different this time. Neil and…
2022-01-20 Are personalised diets the best way to be healthy?
Introduction Many diets claim to improve health or help you lose weight, recent research shows that what counts is not…
2022-01-13 Inventing languages
Introduction New bits of English are invented as people use the language in new ways, but what happens when a…
2022-01-06 Welcome to the ‘metaverse’
Introduction How will technology help us in the future? We discuss how things like the metaverse, energy tech, and AI…
2021-12-30 Do trees have memories?
Introduction Can plants ‘remember’ stressful situations, such as droughts or pests? And if so, does it make them stronger and…
2021-12-23 Algorithms
Introduction Algorithms are often hidden, but they are very much present in our daily lives. If you order a pizza…
2021-12-16 Changing the Earth’s climate
Introduction In this programme, Neil and Sam discuss geoengineering – the name for a collection of new scientific plans to…
2021-12-09 Body language online
Introduction The coronavirus pandemic has forced millions of people worldwide to get used to meeting others only through a computer…
2021-12-02 The Human Library: Life as an open book
Introduction We learn a lot from books and from talking to people. That’s the idea behind an initiative to create…
2021-11-25 How green is nuclear energy?
Introduction Climate change is reaching emergency levels. Some people think the best option is renewable energy. Others prefer a return…