CrowdScience Podcast
We take your questions about life, Earth and the universe to researchers hunting for answers at the frontiers of knowledge.
Episodes to download
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Why do I have such a sweet tooth?
Fri 11 Jun 2021
How our genes help determine how much sugar we should eat
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What is the point of menstruation?
Fri 4 Jun 2021
Why did humans evolve to have periods and do we have to have them each month?
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Is my neighbour’s noise harming my health?
Fri 28 May 2021
Noise can be a source of annoyance – but could it even be damaging to our health?
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How old are the elements?
Fri 21 May 2021
Can you pick a random atom on earth & tell how old it is, or what its cosmic history is?
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Could we turn poisonous plants into edible crops?
Fri 14 May 2021
Detoxifying plants may reveal untapped food ready for the picking
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Why is learning stuff harder as you get older?
Fri 7 May 2021
Why as children we effortlessly absorb new skills but as adults we don’t
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Why are seeds such different sizes?
Fri 30 Apr 2021
Why are seeds the size they are? Does their size affect how big the plant grows?
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What can we learn from wastewater?
Fri 23 Apr 2021
Sewage testing could help stop the spread of disease
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Why does grief leave me feeling this way?
Fri 16 Apr 2021
Grief can be crippling. Why have we evolved to be so affected by loss?
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Why do we gossip?
Fri 9 Apr 2021
Are we hardwired to seek out salacious stories and can we harness gossip for good?
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If a tree falls in a forest does it make a sound?
Fri 2 Apr 2021
If a tree falls in a forest, and there’s no-one there to hear it, does it make a sound?
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Can space exploration be environmentally friendly?
Fri 19 Mar 2021
Are the space junk and carbon footprint issues of extra-terrestrial endeavours solvable?
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Why does it feel so good to swear?
Fri 5 Mar 2021
How swearing relieves pain and helps us bond with others
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Why do men rule the world?
Fri 26 Feb 2021
Listener Paula from Kenya wants to know why men rule the world
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Can we build houses from living trees?
Fri 19 Feb 2021
Treehouses are magical but are they viable dwellings for modern living?
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Can I improve my sense of direction?
Fri 12 Feb 2021
Why do some people navigate with ease whilst others struggle to find their way?
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Will giving up alcohol improve my sperm count?
Fri 29 Jan 2021
Investigating how lifestyle can affect male fertility
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Are there downsides to deep cleaning?
Fri 22 Jan 2021
Could overzealous hygiene routines damage our immune system or promote superbugs?
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What are the limits of human endurance?
Fri 15 Jan 2021
Meet the athletes pushing against the limits of human endurance
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Is a fungus intelligent?
New Year's Day 2021
Fungal networks are entangled with life on Earth and even show signs of intelligence.
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Do animals exercise?
Christmas Day 2020
Some of the CrowdScience team answer listeners' questions from all over the world
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Was I born clumsy?
Fri 18 Dec 2020
Simon is sick of knocking stuff over, so CrowdScience looks at the science of clumsiness
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Will our spacecraft ever reach the stars?
Fri 11 Dec 2020
How spaceship engineering could power us through interstellar space
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Are humans naturally clean and tidy?
Fri 4 Dec 2020
What hygiene instincts do we have, and are they fit for purpose?
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How can I beat pain?
Fri 13 Nov 2020
Listener Bebeto wants to know how to get rid of a pain in his wrist
