What is empathy?

What drives our feelings of compassion for others – what is happening in our brains?

• 38 mins

How low-carbon can CrowdScience go?

We try to find out the best ways to reduce our carbon footprint

• 40 mins

What is infinity?

We tackle impossible-sounding questions on topics from infinity to quantum mechanics

• 33 mins

Could we survive an extinction event?

Are humans capable of outwitting asteroids, volcanoes or other causes of mass extinction?

• 38 mins

Can digital technology transform West Africa?

A panel of experts discuss how digital technology and AI are transforming West Africa.

• 32 mins

How did humans discover medicine?

Diseases have always been with us, but when did we first find ways to cure them?

• 31 mins

What is cancer?

We take a look at cancer treatment’s dark past, its current state and future

• 37 mins

Why do insects prefer to bite certain people?

Why are some people magnets for mosquitos and others not? CrowdScience investigates

• 36 mins

What’s the weirdest weather?

Our expert panel tackle multiple meteorological queries in the CrowdScience inbox.

• 37 mins

Why are we obsessed with crime?

Kay from Hamburg wants to know where our obsession with crime comes from

• 31 mins

Introducing 13 Minutes to the Moon Season 2

Jump on-board a doomed mission to the Moon. Apollo 13: the extraordinary story

• 3 mins

What are scientists doing about coronavirus?

CrowdScience goes into labs to meet researchers urgently searching for COVID-19 solutions

• 30 mins

Can I trust DNA ancestry tests?

How much do DNA tests really tell you about your ancestors?

• 33 mins

Can science explain why I love shopping?

Crowdscience investigates the brain science behind our buying behaviour

• 36 mins

Will a placebo boost my sports performance?

Can we trick ourselves into running faster or playing better?

• 26 mins

How can I reduce stress?

Listener Keith from Lincolnshire wants to know how to reduce stress - he's a firefighter.

• 26 mins

What makes a spider spin a web?

How instincts let spiders build complex structures

• 26 mins

Why do you sweat more than me?

What affects how much and where we sweat?

• 33 mins

How do I learn maths when school’s shut?

We tackle maths questions sent in by high school students in lockdown

• 34 mins

What is the smallest particle?

We tackle particle physics questions from around the world

• 31 mins

Does my toilet make sense?

Is it time to reinvent the flush toilet?

• 39 mins

How does a language begin?

How does one language become two, or even 7000?

• 30 mins

Why can’t you tickle yourself?

In this kids special, we explore a raft of questions from our younger listeners

• 45 mins

Would you risk your life to save another?

Why do some people put themselves in danger to help others?

• 32 mins

Were my atoms once your atoms?

What is the likelihood that an atom in your body has been used in someone else’s body?

• 36 mins

Do animals have consciousness?

What does it feel like to be a cat or a cuttlefish?

• 36 mins

What’s the point of blood types?

We, like most animals, have a variety of different blood types. But what are they for?

• 35 mins

Is barefoot running better?

How does a bare foot change our running pain and performance

• 31 mins

Could earthworms help transform the future of farming?

As they work the soil worms can hugely increase its fertility but there’s a downside.

• 37 mins

How is human sound affecting sealife?

Are peaceful seas an illusion? We find out how human sound affects life under the waves.

• 37 mins

Are some soaps better than others?

How was soap discovered, and what else is used for washing around the world?

• 34 mins

Why do conspiracy theories exist?

Why do conspiracy theories exist and why are we seeing so many in this pandemic?

• 39 mins

Does air traffic affect our weather?

Has reduced air travel due to pandemic lockdown affected our weather and climate?

• 33 mins

What is the point of slime?

Squelching into the science of slime.

• 33 mins

What’s the yeast doing inside my bread?

Yeast: the tiny organism with massive potential

• 33 mins

Why does running water make me need the toilet?

What does science say about controlling urination, and other bodily functions?

• 30 mins

Why do we like spicy food?

Join the CrowdScience dinner party as we tackle listeners’ food questions

• 35 mins

Why am I embarrassed to be naked?

We all have naked bodies – so why are we so embarrassed to show them?

• 32 mins

What makes stuff sticky?

Our world would fall apart without adhesives - but how do they hold things together?

• 32 mins

Why do planets spin?

Crowdscience answers listeners’ celestial questions

• 33 mins

Why do I blush?

Does blushing have some sort of evolutionary purpose? And why do we yawn?

• 32 mins

Am I related to a virus?

Although they’re not technically ‘alive’ might viruses hold a place in our family tree?

• 28 mins

Can I learn to sing in tune?

Why are some of us tone deaf, and can you improve your singing with practice?

• 32 mins

Why are elephants so big?

An episode dedicated to the curious minds of our younger listeners

• 31 mins

How can I beat pain?

Listener Bebeto wants to know how to get rid of a pain in his wrist

• 39 mins

How does a breeze become a gale?

Why are some winds friendly and others fierce?

• 27 mins

Can we prevent wildfires?

How can we reduce the spread of forest fires?

• 32 mins

Are humans naturally clean and tidy?

What hygiene instincts do we have, and are they fit for purpose?

• 31 mins

Will our spacecraft ever reach the stars?

How spaceship engineering could power us through interstellar space

• 28 mins

Was I born clumsy?

Simon is sick of knocking stuff over, so CrowdScience looks at the science of clumsiness

• 36 mins

Do animals exercise?

Some of the CrowdScience team answer listeners' questions from all over the world

• 37 mins

Is a fungus intelligent?

Fungal networks are entangled with life on Earth and even show signs of intelligence.

• 29 mins

What are the limits of human endurance?

Meet the athletes pushing against the limits of human endurance

• 33 mins

Are there downsides to deep cleaning?

Could overzealous hygiene routines damage our immune system or promote superbugs?

• 33 mins