Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 00 | Introducing A Brand New Series Of Curious Cases | 20240927 | ||
| 01 | 01 | Space Bubbles | 20241004 | 20241005 20241005 (R4) | While chatting at the back of class, best mates Abi and Stef got curious about bubbles. How do you make really giant ones? Could you even get one around the entire planet? Hannah and Dara set out to investigate. They hear from a renowned 'bubbleologist', and learn how NASA helped him blow his way to a world record. They coax a physicist to reveal the secrets of his peer-reviewed bubble-juice formula, and investigate how bubbles work in space and in the ocean. Our curious duo also discover an audacious project aiming to build a Brazil-sized raft of bubbles...in space! Contributors: Dr Helen Czerski, UCL Dr Justin Burton, Emory University Dr Awesome, Bubbleologist Professor Carlo Ratti, MIT Producer: Ilan Goodman Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate giant bubbles. Best mates Stef and Abigail want to know how make giant bubbles. Could a globe-spanning bubble even protect us from climate change!? While chatting at the back of class, best mates Abi and Sofia got curious about bubbles. How do you make really giant ones? Could you even get one around the entire planet? Best mates Sofia and Abigail want to know how to make giant bubbles. Could a globe-spanning bubble even protect us from climate change!? |
| 01 | 02 | The 5 Second Rule | 20241004 | 20241012 20241012 (R4) | Would you eat food that fell on the floor? That's the question Hannah and Dara are getting their teeth into this week as they put the so-called ‘5 second rule' through its paces. For some people it's 3 seconds, and for others its 10 – especially if it involves a dropped ice cream and a screaming child. But microbiologist Don Schaffner says there's no safe amount of time to leave food on the floor if you're planning to eat it. And while you might think buttered toast would pick up the biggest number of bugs, it may surprise you to hear that wet foods like watermelon are actually the worst when it comes to attracting harmful bacteria. If all this is putting you off your dinner, the bad news is that the rest of your kitchen is also a microbiological minefield. Research shows nearly 70% of us keep our fridges are the wrong temperature, which sparks a lively discussion about whether it's ever safe to reheat rice. For home hygiene guru Sally Bloomfield it's all a question of being a bit more clever about the kind of germs we expose ourselves to and weighing up risks. Contributors: Dr Don Schaffner: Rutgers University Dr Ellen Evans: Cardiff Metropolitan University Professor Sally Bloomfield: International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene Producer: Marijke Peters Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate the science behind the 5 Second Rule. Listener Quinn wonders whether the 5 second rule really exists and is it really ever safe to eat food off the floor. |
| 01 | 03 | Mirror, Mirror | 20241004 | 20241019 | 9 year old listener Koby sends Hannah and Dara on a mission to find the shiniest thing in the world. And so they enter a world of mirrors - The journey takes them into the subatomic goings on of shiny metal surfaces, where electrons waggle and dance and send light waves back at *just* the right angle. Our curious duo play with an astonishingly reflective plastic film that can be found hidden in devices we all use. And they probe the mysterious power of refraction, harnessed to make the $2 million mirrors which reflect the lasers at the huge LIGO experiment. And everyone ponders the surprisingly reflective properties of a pint in space. Contributors: Dr Felix Flicker: University of Bristol, author of The Magick of Matter Professor Stuart Reid: University of Strathclyde Quinn Sanford: optical engineer from 3M GariLynn Billingsley: Optical Sciences Group Leader at LIGO Producer: Ilan Goodman Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain apply their scientific super-powers to all things shiny. Listener Koby wants to know 'What is the shiniest thing in the world slash universe?'. |
| 01 | 04 | In The Groove | 20241004 | 20241026 | It's sometimes said that timing is everything and this week the pair investigate the mystery of rhythm, discovering why some of us might be better at staying in tempo. From the daily cycle of dawn and dusk to sea tides and circadian clocks, rhythm governs many aspects of our lives, and cognitive psychologist Dr Maria Witek says it makes sense we also place great importance on its presence in music. She specialises in ‘groove', or the feeling of pleasure associated with moving to a beat – and it's not just something the dancers among us enjoy; groove has even been used to treat patients with Parkinson's Disease. Neuroscientist Professor Nina Kraus has studied drummers' brains and found their neurons fire with more precision. She explains that teaching kids rhythm can improve their language and social skills. But no need to take her word for it, because Skunk Anansie's drummer Mark Richardson is in the studio to put Hannah to the test. Can she handle a high hat at the same time as a snare? Contributors: Dr Maria Witek, University of Birmingham Professor Nina Kraus, Northwestern University Mark Richardson, drummer with Skunk Anansie Producer: Marijke Peters Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain get in the groove as they investigate the science of rhythm. Dan wonders why some of us have no sense of rhythm? |
| 01 | 05 | The Taste Of Words | 20241004 | 20241102 | 11 year old Esther visualises days of the week in a kind of 3D structure. It's something called ‘synaesthesia' and she wants to know why it happens - and why other people don't experience things the way she does. Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain explore the vibrant and varied ways different people experience the world, from the man who tastes individual words - including all the stops of the tube - to the composer who sees music in shapes and colours. And along the way, they figure out why Mozart is white wine while Beethoven is red. Contributors: Professor Julia Simner: Professor of Psychology,University of Sussex Professor Jamie Ward: Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Sussex James Wannerton, President of UK Synaesthesia Association CoriAnder: electronic music producer Producer: Ilan Goodman Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate why some people can literally taste words. Esther wonders why she can see the days of the week arranged in 3D. It turns out other people can even taste words and see music. What's going on!? |
| 01 | 06 | The Shock Factor | 20241004 | 20241109 | If there's one type of discharge you really want to avoid, it's lightning, but what happens when it hits you? We hear from lightning survivor Kerry Evans, and discover that the best place to shelter – if you ever find yourself in a similarly charged storm – is in a car, or low to the ground. And why this is never a good time to take a selfie. Dr Dan Mitchard from Cardiff University's excitingly-named Lightning Lab explains why there's no lightning at the poles, and the presenters lament that polar bears and penguins are missing out. We all know about the gods of lightning, but the mysticism doesn't stop there. Above cloud level there are many other types of unusually-named phenomena, reaching to the edge of space, including sprites, trolls and even pixies. And Professor Karen Aplin reveals that lightning has even been discovered on other planets, in a science story that could affect our plans to colonise Mars. Contributors: Dr Daniel Mitchard, Lightning Laboratory, Cardiff University Professor Karen Aplin, University of Bristol Producer: Marijke Peters Dara \u00d3 Briain and Hannah Fry investigate the mystical power of lightning. Lots of listeners have questions about lightning and wonder whether we can capture its power? |
| 01 | 07 | Invincible Moss Piglets | 20241004 | 20241116 | Listener Vivienne has heard that tardigrades - aka moss piglets - have special powers of survival. Radiation? Drought? Extreme cold? NO PROBLEM. Does that mean they could survive an apocalypse? And could they even help us master space travel!? Hannah and Dara learn how to find these little moss piggies in roof gutters and garden corners. And they're amazed by their capacity to dry out and hunker down for decades before springing back to life. But calamity strikes when it turns out that fine glass tubing - in the form of pipettes - is their natural predator. And worse is to come: our curious duo learn that there may be some tardigrades stuck on the moon, and one researcher has even fired them out of a gun. All in the name of science. But they have survived at least 5 mass extinctions so far. So their chances of surviving the next one are pretty good. As long as pipettes aren't involved. Contributors Dr James Frederick Fleming: Natural History Museum of Norway and the University of Oslo Dr Nadja Møbjerg: University of Copenhagen Dr Thomas Boothby: University of Wyoming Producer: Ilan Goodman Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain stress test tardigrades: would they survive an apocalypse? Listener Vivienne wants to know if tardigrades could survive an apocalypse and even teach us about space travel. |
| 01 | 08 | Be More Athlete | 20241004 | 20241123 | Are you more of a rhino or a kitten? More like a tortoise or a hare? Listener Ivy wants to know what makes a good athlete and so Hannah and Dara tackle the science of sport. Our curious duo get to grips with the rigours of training tailored for endurance events vs those based on more explosive bursts of activity. They consider the contribution of genetics, fast vs slow twitch muscle fibres, the unique advantage of Michael Phelps's body proportions and whether butterfly really is the most ridiculous stroke in swimming. And after a rigorous scientific analysis, Dara turns out to be ideally suited for - netball. Much to his surprise. Contributors Dr Polly McGuigan: University of Bath Dr Mitch Lomax: University of Portsmouth Professor Alun Williams: Manchester Metropolitan University Dr Josephine Perry: Sports psychologist Producer: Ilan Goodman Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate what makes a good athlete. Listener Ivy is a swimmer, and she wants to know what makes a good athlete. Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain get exercised about body types, technique and the rigours of training. |
| 01 | 09 | A Lemon-powered Spaceship | 20241004 | 20241130 | Fruit-powered batteries are the ultimate school science experiment, but they're normally used to power a pocket calculator. This week's listener wants to know if they could do more, and sends the team on a quest to discover whether they could used to send a rocket into space? Professor Saiful Islam is the Guinness World Record holder for the highest voltage from a fruit-based battery, but disappoints the team when he reveals they produce very little power. He used 3,000 of them and only managed a measly 2 Watts. Given that spaceships are famously difficult to get off the ground, it seems a lemon battery might just fail the acid test. Author Randall Munroe is undeterred and suggests alternative ways to get energy from citrus, including burying them to make oil. Then the team discuss the pros and cons of switching to a lemon-based diet. For battery expert Paul Shearing, all this raises a serious question, about how we will power the planes of the future. He suggests solar power could play a part in short-haul flights and discusses some of the exciting battery materials being tested today. Contributors: Randall Munroe, author Professor Paul Shearing, Oxford University Professor Saiful Islam, Oxford University Producer: Marijke Peters Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate how many lemons it takes to power a spaceship? Elijah asks how many lemons it would take to power a spaceship? |
| 01 | 10 | Night Walkers | 20241004 | 20241207 | Wake up! It's time for a dreamy new episode of Curious Cases all about the science of sleepwalking. Listener Abigail has done some strange things in her sleep, from taking all the pictures off the wall, to searching for Turkish language courses. And she wants to know: WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? It turns out Abigail is not alone. Hannah and Dara hear weird and wonderful stories of extreme sleepwalkers - from the lady who went on midnight motorbike excursions, to the artist who does all his best work while asleep. They delve into the neuroscience to find out how you can remain in deep sleep while walking, talking or even peeing in your mum's shopping basket. They learn about some cutting edge research where the participants were sleep deprived and then half-woken with scary sounds, and they zero in on the key triggers, from a boozy night out to a squeaky bed. Contributors Professor Russell Foster: University of Oxford. Professor Guy Leschziner: King's College London and Guys' and St Thomas' hospital Lee Hadwin: the sleep artist Professor Francesca Siclari: The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience Producer: Ilan Goodman Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate sleepwalking Listener Abigail has done some very odd things in her sleep. But sleepwalking seems like a bad idea. Why is it something humans do? |
| 01 | 11 | Freeze Me When I Die | 20241004 | 20241214 | When you die, would you want to be frozen so that one day you might be brought back to life? Listener Elspeth wants to know if that's even possible. So Hannah and Dara embark on a quest to explore the chiling science of ‘cryobiology': preserving living things at really low temperatures. It turns out there are already thousands of people alive who were once suspended in antifreeze and stored in liquid nitrogen - when they were just a small clump of cells! There's even a frog which can turn into a ‘frogsicle' for months on end. But re-animating full size humans is a challenge no one has solved - yet. Will some miraculous nanotechnology of a distant future solve the problem? Contributors: Professor João Pedro de Magalhães: University of Birmingham Hayley Campbell: Author and broadcaster Professor Joyce Harper: UCL Dr Hanane Hadj-Moussa: The Babraham Institute, Cambridge Garrett Smyth: Cryonics UK Producer: Ilan Goodman Can you freeze dead people and bring them back? Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate Listener Elspeth wants to know if living creatures can be frozen, stored and then reanimated. Our curious duo get into the chilling science of cryonics |
| 01 | 12 | Bored To Death | 20241004 | 20241221 | Anyone who has ever done a long car journey with kids will be familiar with the idea of being bored to death – but can this feeling really be fatal? Hannah and Dara hear about a club where members count roundabouts and collect milk bottle tops, but boredom expert Wijnand van Tilburg explains these dull-sounding hobbies might actually have mental health benefits. He explains that science and comedy are stereotypically both seen as exciting subjects but warns them their chat about Venn diagrams might tip the balance the other way. Mind-wandering specialist Mike Esterman reveals why we're rubbish at staying on task when there are more rewarding things to do, and sets the pair a challenge to play a computer game that distracts them with pictures of cute babies and fluffy animals. Contributors: Dr Wijnand van Tilburg: University of Essex Dr Mike Esterman: Boston Attention and Learning Lab Producer: Marijke Peters Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain wonder whether you die of boredom? Edward wants to know if boredom can kill? |
| 01 | 13 | The Fastest Fly | 20241004 | 20241228 | The buzz of a fly hovering just above your head has got to be one of the most irritating sounds around, but this week we try to work out just how fast they could be flying. Could a claim horseflies reach speeds of up to 90 mph possibly be true, and Dara wants to know if this is what makes them so difficult to swat? Entomologist Erica McAlister is better known as the ‘fly lady' and speaks up in defence of these tiny creatures, explaining there are 7,000 known species in the UK alone. Which makes it all the more shocking there are several that don't have wings. For Professor Graham Taylor the question of speed comes down to a simple calculation, and the team try to work out whether a horsefly beats its wings fast enough relative to its size to travel so rapidly. He explains horseflies aren't clever, but scientists are interested in their simple brains and are studying them to use as models for drones and mini robots. Contributors: Dr Erica McAlister, Natural History Museum Professor Graham Taylor, Oxford University Producer: Marijke Peters Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain want to know what is the fastest fly? James asks if horseflies can really travel at 90 mph? |
| 23 | 00 | Trailer - Curious Cases Is Back | |||
| 23 | 01 | The Diamond Throwdown | 20250405 | 20250407 (R4) | “Diamonds are nonsense! ? Hannah boldly proclaimed in a previous episode. But listener Guy is a diamond enthusiast, and he and his diamond-loving pals were NOT OKAY WITH THIS. He demanded we re-open the case, and here we are... SO in this glittering showdown, Dara is on a quest to flip Hannah's perspective from “meh ? to “marvelous. ? And for Hannah, some uncomfortable facts soon emerge. It turns out that diamonds are much more than just overpriced bling. They're the secret ingredient in all sorts of high-tech gadgets with a whole arsenal of little-known superpowers. Enter electrochemist Julie Macpherson, who blows Hannah's mind by showing how diamonds can slice through ice like butter, thanks to their unmatched ability to conduct heat. Not impressed yet? Physicist Mark Newton makes a diamond glow in the dark, using nothing but his phone flashlight. And that's just to start! These ultra-robust gems can scrub nasty chemicals from water, serve as supercharged electrodes, and even reveal deep-earth secrets locked away for billions of years. By the end of this episode, will Hannah finally admit diamonds are forever cool? Contributors: Charlie Bexfield - Gemmologist and diamond specialist Julie MacPherson - Professor of Chemistry at the University of Warwick Mark Newton - Professor of Physics at the University of Warwick Grahame Pearson - Professor of Earth Sciences from the University of Alberta Producer: Ilan Goodman Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem Hannah Fry hates diamonds. Dara \u00d3 Briain loves them. Can science bring them together? Hannah thinks diamonds are overpriced and lame. Can Dara win her round with SCIENCE? |
| 23 | 02 | Liar, Liar | 20250412 | 20250414 (R4) | For any of you who have ever told a porkie pie, don't worry, this week we hear why we all do it... and discover that deception is actually good for social bonding. From the red squirrels who cry wolf to scare off the competition, to kids who look you in the eye as they tell bare faced lies, this is a behaviour that occurs across all species. And one man who's particularly good at it is Traitors contestant Paul Gorton who reveals he felt absolutely no guilt about his tv trickery. But it seems that while we're masters at telling tall stories, we're terrible at detecting them, because we've all been focusing on completely the wrong cues. Contributors: Professor Richard Wiseman Professor Sophie van der Zee Producer: Marijke Peters Listener Delphine wants to know why we lie. Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate. Hannah and Dara fib their way through the science of lying with the help of a real life Traitor. |
| 23 | 03 | Invisibility Quest | 20250419 | 20250421 (R4) | Hannah and Dara tackle a disarmingly simple question: is anything in the universe truly invisible? After ruling out mysterious Nordic spirits and ‘Dara's ire', our curious duo start to track down the invisible waves all around them. Including, it turns out, some which are emanating from their VERY OWN FACES! An infrared camera reveals Hannah's nose as a particular hotspot. Turning their gaze to bigger things, they wonder: what does our own galaxy look like when viewed in this invisible spectrum? Infrared reveals vast loops and whorls of dust and gas - gigantic structures otherwise totally hidden. But there are even cooler surprises. Ever wondered what an X-ray of the universe looks like? Turns out it's a sparkly map of white-hot black holes! Back on earth, the discussion turns to ways of making objects disappear by bending light in tricksy ways. But why is the fancy science of ‘metamaterials' still struggling to make a proper invisibility cloak? Sorry, Harry Potter fans. In the end, our physicists reveal a universe bursting with even more elusive, even more mysterious stuff: dark matter and dark energy. Prepare to see the unseen in a whole new light! Contributors: Matthew Bothwell - the Public Astronomer at the University of Cambridge and author of The Invisible Universe Andrew Pontzen - Professor of Physics at Durham University Mitch Kenney - Assistant Professor in metamaterials at the University of Nottingham Producer: Ilan Goodman Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain search the universe for stuff we can't see Listener Dylan wants to know; is anything in the universe truly invisible? Hannah and Dara are on the case. |
| 23 | 04 | Love Neurons | 20250426 | 20250428 (R4) | What happens in your brain when Cupid's arrow strikes? As a teenager, Alison developed an intense crush on George Harrison from the Beatles. But, she wants to know, why do we develop these feelings for pop stars we've never actually met? And what potent swirl of neurochemistry drives those fierce emotions? With neuroscientist Dr. Dean Burnett and evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Anna Machin as their guides, Hannah and Dara investigate everything from the brain's chemical fireworks during a crush to the evolutionary perks of love and bonding. Along the way, they dissect teenage infatuations, lifelong love affairs with football teams, and why love can feel as addictive as heroin. There's even a guest appearance from two cute rodents: the monogamous prairie voles and their more, shall we say, commitment-phobic cousins, the montane voles, who gave us early clues about the role of the ‘cuddle' hormone oxytocin. Whether you're a hopeless romantic or a hard-nosed skeptic, prepare to fall head over heels for the science of love. Contributors: Dr Anna Machin - evolutionary anthropologist and author of Why We Love Dr Dean Burnett - honorary research fellow at Cardiff Psychology School, author of The Idiot Brain and The Happy Brain. Carmine Pariante - Professor of Biological Psychiatry at King's College London Producer: Ilan Goodman Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain get giddy on the chemistry of love. As a teenager, Alison had an intense crush on the Beatles' George Harrison. Why do we develop wild crushes? And what happens in our brains when we fall in love? |
| 23 | 05 | Furnishing With Fungi | 20250503 | 20250502 20250505 (R4) | From mouldy bread to athlete's foot, fungi don't exactly scream “home improvement. ? But what if this misunderstood kingdom is the secret to the sustainable materials of the future? Listener Alexis - definitely not a gnome - wants to know how much of our homes we could build with fungi. Professor Katie Field describes how the mushroom is the just tip of the iceberg - it's the network of thread-like filaments called mycelium where fungi really do their best work. Architect Phil Ayers explains how fungi, like yeast in bread, can bind waste products into firm, MDF-like blocks. And while we're not constructing skyscrapers with mushrooms just yet, it turns out fungi-based materials are already making waves in interior design. Think sound-absorbing wall panels or insulation that's both eco-friendly and chic. And here's a cool one: mushroom leather! Using discarded stalks from mushroom farms, one company is crafting strong, flexible material for trainers, handbags, and even car dashboards. Move over, cows - mushrooms are pushing their way up. Oh, and NASA? They're dreaming big with fungi too - to grow habitats in space. From mould...to the moon! Contributors: Katie Field - Professor of Plant-Soil Processes at the University of Sheffield Phil Ayres - Professor of Biohybrid Architecture at the Royal Danish Academy Patrick Baptista Pinto - co-founder of Really Clever Maurizio Montalti - Co-founder and Chief Mycelium Officer of SQIM / MOGU Lynn Rothschild - Senior Research Scientist at NASA Ames research centre Producer: Ilan Goodman Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate the surprising materials we can make from fungi. Listener Alexis wants to know, how much of what's in our homes could be made with fungi-based materials? |
| 23 | 06 | Aches And Rains | 20250510 | 20250512 (R4) | The team test the theory that you can use the weather to predict pain, separating science fact from fiction. It's an area with a huge amount of conflicting research, but one man who has investigated this is Professor Will Dixon, who explains that low pressure could be causing people's joints to ache more. Dara and Hannah are intrigued to hear our genes may also be responding to changes in temperature and hear how we might be pre-programmed to produce more inflammation during wintertime to fight off bugs - which has the unfortunate side effect of making other some conditions worse. But don't despair! The pair find out 21 degrees is the optimum temperature for health and wellbeing - a perfect English summer day. Contributors: Dr Chris Wallace Professor Trevor Professor Trevor Harley Producer: Marijke Peters Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain ask whether the weather affects our aches and pains. Eleanor wants to know if rain might be causing her legs to ache. |
| 23 | 07 | Don't Bite Me! | 20250517 | 20250519 (R4) | Ever wondered why some people are mosquito magnets and other people barely get bitten? Hannah and Dara grapple with the question of whether these insects are evil or genius, discovering how they're experts at finding blood when they're hungry, even using a specially designed syringe to suck it out. But when Professor Leslie Vosshall tells them some people are more than 100 times likely to be attacked than others, the pair start wondering which one of them is more attractive? So they put the science to the test, and reluctantly agree to send their stinky socks to Professor Sarah Reece. She reveals that one of them smells extra special to these annoying little animals, possibly because of their cheesy feet. But can you guess who? Contributors: Professor John Pickett Producer: Marijke Peters Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain wonder why mosquitoes bite some people more than others? Ailsa asks why she's a mosquito magnet while her husband Keith never gets bitten |
| 23 | 08 | Chuckle, Snigger And Lol | 20250524 | 20250526 (R4) | Why do we giggle, snort, and bust a gut laughing? Is it just humans being weird, does it serve some higher function or do other animals crack up too? And, okay, Dara is a comedian, but has he ever really made anyone laugh, like properly? With help from Professor Greg Bryant and Professor Sophie Scott, they dive into the science of LOLs, exploring how laughter bonds us, eases stress, and even spices up flirting. They uncover the difference between genuine belly laughs and those polite chuckles that pepper everyday interactions. Contributors: Sophie Scott - Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL Greg Bryant - Professor of Communication at UCLA Betty La France - Professor or Communication, Northern Illinois University Producer: Ilan Goodman Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain get serious about the science of laughter Listener Taylor wants to know why we laugh - and do any animals also do it? |
| 23 | 09 | Nano Sharks | 20250531 | 20250602 (R4) | Think of a shark and you'll probably conjure up images of Jaws, but it turns out their skin is also covered in tiny teeth. Hannah and Dara investigate the incredible properties of these so-called dermal denticles, to find out whether they could be replicated at a nanoscale to increase vehicle speeds. They learn that while sharks might look like they have beautifully sleek surfaces, up close their skin is covered in something extremely rough and textured, a property that helps them swim up to 12 percent faster. And it's already inspiring airlines to design ultra-thin films that can reduce drag and increase efficiency. Contributors Dr Jess Wade Professor Manish Tiwari Producer: Marijke Peters Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain discover that sharks could help us invent faster cars Listener Wayne wonders if the amazing aerodynamic properties of sharkskin could help racing cars drive faster |
| 23 | 10 | Colossal Creatures | 20250607 | 20250609 (R4) | How big can animals really get before they collapse under their own weight or run out of snacks? Could a 12-foot comedian survive their first punchline without snapping in half? Listener Andrew sends Hannah and Dara on a deep dive into the science of supersized species. With evolutionary biologists Ben Garrod and Tori Herridge as their guides, they explore the quirky rules of scaling: why giant bones need air pockets, how pressure stockings aren't just stylish but essential, and why massive creatures have to choose between inefficient chewing or letting dinner ferment in their cavernous stomachs. Discover why scaling up a mouse would turn it into a blood-boiling disaster and learn the curious logic behind whether the meat bear should eat the two meat dogs, or vice versa (it's a maths thing - you'll have to listen). Oh, and here's the weird constant: whether you're a mouse or an elephant, everyone takes roughly the same time to pee! Join Hannah and Dara for a colossal romp through the wild world of ancient giants and the gross super blobs of the (possible) future. Contributors: Tori Herridge - Senior Lecturer in evolutionary biology at the University of Sheffield Ben Garrod - Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement at the University of East Anglia Martin Sander - Professor of Palaeontology at the University of Bonn Producer: Ilan Goodman Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain attempt to design the biggest creature that's ever lived Listener Andrew wants to know what's the biggest an animal could ever be? Has it already existed - or could there be a bigger one in the future? |
| 23 | 11 | Clowns In Spacetime | 20250614 | 20250616 (R4) | Can you slow down time by hurtling through space at breakneck speed? Could listener Saskia's friend - currently one year older - end up the same age as her if he went fast enough? It sounds bananas, but it's all part of Einstein's mind-warping theory of relativity. With expert copilots Professor Sean Carroll and Dr. Katie Clough, Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain embark on a cosmic roller coaster through space and time. They uncover why GPS satellites - whizzing around Earth at 14,000 km/h - need to account for time bending, why penthouse dwellers age faster than those on the ground floor, and, most importantly, why clowns on trains might just hold the key to understanding modern physics. Contributors: Katy Clough - Research Fellow at Queen Mary University of London Sean Carroll - Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University Peter Buist - Manager of the Galileo Reference Centre Richard Dyer - PhD student at the University of Cambridge Producer: Ilan Goodman Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain set off on a wild ride through spacetime. Saskia wants to know if her older friend could become the same age as her by traveling really, really fast. Hannah and Dara set off on a wild ride through space and time. |
| 23 | 12 | Memory Swap | 20250621 | 20250623 (R4) | Could you ever trade memories with someone else? Fancy downloading the experience of landing on the moon, winning an Oscar or performing at Glastonbury? Listener Adam wants to know, and Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain are on the case. With expert insights from Professor Chris French and Professor Amy Milton, they dive into the mind's tendency to blur the lines between reality and imagination - often embellishing, distorting, or downright making stuff up. Discover how memory conformity makes us “see ? things like spoons being bent by paranormal forces, how scientists can implant artificial memories in mice, and hear Al Hopwood's hilariously vivid tales of things that definitely never happened. Chris even spills the secrets of how to deliberately plant false memories in others (don't try this at home!). From rewiring trauma to curing phobias, the potential of memory manipulation is both exciting and unnervingly sci-fi. Prepare to question everything you think you remember. Contributors: Amy Milton - Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge Chris French - Professor of Anomalistic Psychology at Goldsmiths University Al Hopwood - Artist, writer and curator Producer: Ilan Goodman Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain probe the science of memory. Listener Adam wants to know if we could ever transfer memories between people. Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain probe the science of memory. |
| 23 | 13 LAST | Clever Crows | 20250628 | 20250630 (R4) | The term 'bird brain' might suggest our feathered friends are stupid, but Hannah and Dara learn it's completely untrue. They play hide and seek with a raven called Bran, and hear how his behaviour changes depending on his mood. Corvid expert Nicola Clayton explains these creatures are actually cleverer than the average 8-year-old, and can learn how to choose specific tools for different scenarios. And neurobiologist Andreas Nieder tells them that while crows evolved totally different brains from humans - 300,000 years apart - they might just be capable of the same type of intelligence. Contributors: Bran the raven Lloyd Buck, bird handler Professor Nicky Clayton, University of Cambridge Professor Andreas Nieder, University of Tubingen Producer: Marijke Peters Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain discover that crows are exceptionally clever. Eleanor wonders whether crows are capable of complex human emotions and finds out they're cleverer than the average eight-year-old. |
| 24 | 01 | To Crab, Or Not To Crab? | 20251004 | 20251006 (R4) |  We can all picture a crab, but did you know that nature has reinvented those claw clicking, sideways scuttling crustaceans at least five separate times? In recent years the internet has run wild with the idea that crabs are the ultimate life-form, and that even humans might one day end up with pincers too. But is there any truth behind the memes? Hannah and Dara scale the tangled tree of life and tackle taxonomy to figure out if ‘crab' really is evolution's favourite shape. Exploring coconut to spanner, ghost to hermit, soldier to spider they learn how to tell the ‘true' crabs from the impostors. You can send your everyday mysteries for the team to investigate to: curiouscases@BBC.co.uk Contributors Dr Joanna Wolfe – Evolutionary Biologist, Harvard University and UC Santa Barbara Professor Matthew Wills - Professor of Evolutionary Paleobiology, University of Bath Ned Suesat-Williams – Director of the Crab Museum, Margate Producer: Emily Bird Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem A BBC Studios Production Hannah and Dara investigate why nature has evolved the humble crabs so many times. Listeners Kirstin and Emily want to know why so many species have evolved into crabs... and if we could be next. Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain Investigate. Dr Joanna Wolfe – Evolutionary Biologist, Stanford University and UC Santa Barbara |
| 24 | 02 | Good Vibrations? | 20251010 | 20251011 (R4) 20251013 (R4) | It turns out that the whole world wobbles. Everything has a natural frequency - the rate at which it moves when disturbed - be it a cup of tea, a building or a human organ. Even more incredibly, if an external force matches an object's natural frequency, it causes it to absorb that energy and vibrate with increasingly large waves; and that can have consequences, from helping a spider find its lunch to making a bridge collapse. On the trail of good and bad vibes and everything in between, Hannah and Dara investigate whether the famous 1940 collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in the USA was really down to resonance, explore examples of resonance in nature, and find out what this mysterious vibration can do to the human body: from the pressures of repetitive tractor-driving, to absorbing the reverberations of certain instruments... To submit your question to the Curious Cases team, please email: curiouscases@BBC.co.uk Contributors: - Helen Czerski, Professor of Physics at University College London - Wanda Lewis, Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering at Warwick University - Phillip Moxley, Senior Research Associate at the University of Southampton - Sana Bokhari, sound therapy practitioner Producers: Lucy Taylor & Emily Bird Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain consider whether resonance can down bridges and lift moods. Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain investigate how resonance can both bring down bridges and help spiders catch lunch; and ponder how various types of vibrations affect humans. |
| 24 | 03 | Just My Luck | 20251018 | 20251020 (R4) | Are you a lucky person? Do the cards just fall well for you? Whether it's always finding a parking spot when you need one or chance encounters that change your life's trajectory for the better, some people seem to have more luck than others. Hannah and Dara explore the world of probability and psychology to figure out if some people are luckier than others, and if there's anything we can do to turn things around. You can send your everyday mysteries for the team to investigate to: curiouscases@BBC.co.uk Contributors David Spiegelhalter - Emeritus Professor of Statistics in the Centre for Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cambridge Richard Wiseman - Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology University of Hertfordshire Maia Young - Professor of Organization and Management at UC Irvine, California US Edward Oldfield Producer: Emily Bird Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem A BBC Studios Production Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate whether some of us are just luckier than others. Listener Robin wants to know whether there is a scientific way to turn your luck around. |
| 24 | 04 | We Didn't Start The Fire | 20251024 | 20251025 20251025 (R4) 20251027 (R4) | It has been said that you can't start a fire without a spark, but as Hannah and Dara are about to discover, that's not true! Welcome to the fiery phenomenon of spontaneous combustion, when something can ignite all on its own: no matches, no sparks, no external flame. It happens when certain materials heat themselves up internally through chemical or biological reactions, and if that carried on unchecked and the material gets hot enough, it can eventually ignite itself. This process can occur in various everyday items such as piles of hay or grass clippings, oily rags and in certain instances lithium batteries; but there are also several useful chemical substances that autoignite when they come into contact with air - as Hannah, Dara and a wary BBC fire officer witness in the studio... So how can we stop things regularly bursting into flames? How scared should we be about oiling floorboards and our increasingly battery-powered life? And is spontaneous human combustion really a thing? Our investigators are on the case. To submit your question to the Curious Cases team, please email: curiouscases@BBC.co.uk Contributors: - Andrea Sella, Professor of inorganic chemistry at University College London - Emanuel ‘Big Manny' Wallace, former science teacher now a science content creator - Matt Oakley, fire investigations officer at Surrey Fire and Rescue Service - Roger Byard, Emeritus Professor of pathology at the University of Adelaide and a senior specialist forensic pathologist at Forensic Science SA (FSSA) Producer: Lucy Taylor A BBC Studios Production Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate the fiery phenomenon of spontaneous combustion. Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain investigate the fiery phenomenon of spontaneous combustion - and to Dara's delight explore the murky myths around spontaneous human combustion as well. |
| 24 | 05 | Going Viral | 20251101 | 20251103 (R4) | Cold and flu season is well and truly upon us, and whilst most of us are busy bemoaning the pesky viruses behind our sniffles and chesty coughs – one of our listeners has other ideas. Elizabeth wants to know whether we're too hard on these oft-maligned microbes? We've all heard that some bacteria can be good for us, but what about viruses? Could they have a softer side too? Hannah and Dara explore the virome, from prehistoric placental proteins to ultra-precise disease fighting phages to find out if Viruses truly are the villains of the microscopic world or whether they just need a better PR team. Contributors Jonathan Ball - Professor of Molecular Virology at the University of Liverpool Martha Clokie - Professor of Microbiology at the University of Leicester Marylin Roosinck - Professor Emeritus of Microbiology at Penn State University US, Producer: Emily Bird Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem A BBC Studios Production Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate whether some viruses are good for us. Listener Elizabeth wants to know whether viruses need a better PR team. |
| 24 | 06 | Beam Me Up, Scotty! | 20251108 | 20251110 (R4) | Whether you're stuck in traffic, waiting at the airport whilst delay after delay is announced or just really missing someone far away, a lot of us have probably wished we could teleport. But is this superpower the stuff of science fiction? Or could it, one day, become a reality? Listener Faith wants to know whether Star Trek's Transporter could ever deconstruct and reconstruct humans in the real world, and it turns out quantum physics holds some tantalising potential for this seemingly impossible task. To search for answers Hannah and Dara dive down the quantum rabbit hole, exploring entanglement, superposition, and trying on some very special socks. Contributors Ivette Fuentes - Professor of Quantum Physics at University of Southampton Winfried Hensinger - Professor of Quantum Technologies at the University of Sussex Helen Beebee - Professor of the Philosophy of Science at the University of Leeds Producer: Emily Bird Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem A BBC Studios Production Could teleportation ever be possible? Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate. Listener Faith wants to know whether there's any science behind the sci-fi of Star Trek. |
| 24 | 07 | Mysteries From The Final Frontier | 20251115 | 20251117 (R4) | Space: the final frontier, a deep dark realm full of questions and mysteries - many of which science can't yet satisfactorily answer. But that won't stop the Curious Cases team! In a special edition recorded in front of an audience at the BBC Radio Theatre in London, Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain team up with a panel of guests who know their way around the universe: presenters from the world's longest running science TV show, The Sky At Night. With the intergalactic expertise of George Dransfield, Chris Lintott and Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Hannah and Dara tackle a slew of space-related questions put forward by the listeners - exploring topics ranging from the sound of stars and the shape of the universe, to the search for alien life. To submit your question to the Curious Cases team, please email: curiouscases@BBC.co.uk SPACE AUDIO CLIPS: - Maggie's Choice: In 2005, the European Space Agency's Huygens probe descended to the surface of Saturn's moon Titan. Microphones aboard Huygens recorded the sounds of descent and landing, then The Planetary Society and scientists at the University of California helped ESA process the audio. CREDIT: European Space Agency (Huygens probe) / HASI-PWA Team (instrument and data) / The Planetary Society (processing) - George's Choice: The black hole at the centre of the Perseus galaxy cluster has been associated with sound for years, since astronomers discovered that pressure waves sent out by the black hole caused ripples in the cluster's hot gas that could be translated into a note. This new sonification was released for NASA's Black Hole Week in 2022. CREDIT: NASA - Chris's Choice: In 2023, the Planck space telescope picked up echoes left by soundwaves that travelled through the early Universe. This primordial hum was then translated into frequencies we can hear. Producer: Lucy Taylor A BBC Studios Production Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain team up with the team from The Sky at Night to explore space. From intergalactic penguins to a deliciously donut-shaped universe, Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain team up with presenters from The Sky at Night to tackle listeners' space queries. |
| 24 | 08 | Immortal Jellies | 20251122 | 20251124 (R4) | Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain ask whether a tiny jellyfish holds the secret to immortality. |
| 24 | 09 | Planetary Wobble | 20251129 | 20251201 (R4) | Could you survive an eternal winter? Or is endless summer sun a more appealing prospect? Lots of us are grateful for the seasonal changes that shape the world around us, but this week Hannah and Dara are asking what life would look like without the axial tilt that brings each hemisphere closer and further away from the sun as the seasons change each year. Listener Andrew from Melbourne wants to know what would happen if the planet stood perfectly upright, no lean, no tilt, no seasons. But what else could happen? Is Earth's 23-degree slant the cosmic fluke that made life possible? To find out, Hannah and explore how losing the tilt reshapes climate, ecosystems, evolution and maybe even the fate of the dinosaurs. You can send your everyday mysteries for the team to investigate to: curiouscases@BBC.co.uk Contributors Dr Robin Smith - Climate modelling researcher at the University of Reading Professor Rebecca Kilner - Evolutionary Biologist and Head of the Department of Zoology at Cambridge Professor Amaury Triaud - Professor of Exoplanetology at the University of Birmingham Aidan McGivern - Meteorologist and Senior weather presenter at the MET Office Producer: Emily Bird Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem A BBC Studios Production What would Earth be like without a tilted axis? Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate. Listener Andrew wants to know what would happen if the earth lost it's wobble. Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain explore a cascade of climate, ecosystem and evolutionary consequences. |
| 24 | 10 | Tortoise Tomfoolery | 20251206 | 20251208 (R4) | Tortoises have traditionally been the poster child for slowness. These ancient, armoured reptiles are solitary, territorial and all-too-often dismissed as dull. In fact, tortoises have distinct personalities. They have changeable moods, can learn simple tasks, remember certain useful information for years and even recognise familiar people. But can they play? Hot on the trail of tortoise tomfoolery, Hannah and Dara explore the stereotype-smashing studies that show there's far more to these creatures than previously thought; and find out that these complex behaviours might apply not only to the turtle clan, but potentially other reptiles as well... To submit your question to the Curious Cases team, please email: curiouscases@BBC.co.uk Contributors: - Anna Wilkinson, Professor of Animal Cognition at the University of Lincoln - Unnar Karl Aevarsson, Herpetologist at ZSL London Zoo - Gordon Burghardt, Distinguished Service Professor in the Departments of Psychology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee Producer: Lucy Taylor A BBC Studios Production Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain ponder whether tortoises can be playful. Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain investigate whether tortoises and their reptile relatives can be playful - and discuss the mysterious disappearance of one Shelby Ó Briain. AKA Tortoise Play |
| 24 | 11 | Phantom Pain | 20251213 | 20251215 (R4) | Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate the misunderstood phenomenon of phantom pain. |
| 24 | 12 | Going For Gold | 20251220 | 20251222 (R4) | Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain go prospecting for answers about how much gold we've mined. |
| 24 | 12 | Going For Gold (gold!) | 20251220 | 20251222 (R4) | From pharaohs' tombs in Ancient Egypt, to Medieval currency, to priceless royal jewellery - gold has been prized for millennia. But it's only really in the last century or so that we've started uncovering gold's usefulness in less decorative applications. Today, gold is used in masses of electricals; it also revolutionised the manufacturing sector by stopping its reliance on destructive mercury as a catalyst; and it's vital to space missions. Although there are also some more frivolous modern uses for gold, as Hannah and Dara discover. (Gold-leaf in your cocktail, anyone?) Challenged to find out whether all the world's mined gold would really fit in an Olympic swimming pool, our science-savvy duo discover that this antisocial element might just be the best thing on the periodic table... Contributors: - Graham Hutchings, Regius Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cardiff - Frances Wall, Professor of Applied Mineralogy in the Camborne School of Mines at the University of Exeter - Tim Peake, astronaut Producer: Lucy Taylor Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem A BBC Studios Production Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain go prospecting for answers about how much gold we've mined. Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain consider an age-old maxim about gold and Olympic swimming pools - and find out why gold is the 'antisocial cockroach' of the periodic table... |
| 24 | 12 | Mining For Gold (gold!) | 20251220 | 20251222 (R4) | From pharaohs' tombs in Ancient Egypt and medieval currency, to priceless royal jewellery and Spandau Ballet songs - gold has been prized for millennia. But it's only really in the last century or so that we've started uncovering its usefulness in less decorative applications. Today, gold is used in masses of electricals; it's also revolutionised part of the manufacturing sector by stopping a dangerous reliance on mercury as a catalyst; and it's vital to space missions. Although there are also some more frivolous modern uses for gold, as Hannah and Dara discover. (Gold-leaf in your cocktail, anyone?) Challenged to find out whether all the world's mined gold would really fit in an Olympic swimming pool, our science-savvy duo discover that this antisocial element might just be the best darn thing on the periodic table... Contributors: - Graham Hutchings, Regius Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cardiff - Frances Wall, Professor of Applied Mineralogy in the Camborne School of Mines at the University of Exeter - Tim Peake, Astronaut Producer: Lucy Taylor Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem A BBC Studios Production Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain go prospecting for answers about how much gold we've mined. Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain consider an age-old maxim about gold and Olympic swimming pools - and find out why gold is the 'antisocial cockroach' of the periodic table... |
| 24 | 13 | Frosty Fractals | 20251227 | 20260102 20251229 (R4) | Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain investigate nature's most intricate patterns. One winter morning, listener Jane opened her curtains to find her car roof covered in breathtaking, fern-like frost so intricate it looked like a William Morris print. But how does something as ordinary as ice create patterns so beautifully complex? Hannah and Dara explore this crunchy, slippery, delicately patterned branch of chemistry to uncover the rules and mysteries that govern the extra-ordinary world of ice. Why does ice come in so many shapes and sizes? And does all ice form at 0 degrees Celsius? Is every snowflake truly unique? We have questions a plenty for our eager chemists, who, as all good chemists do, have a few demonstrations up their sleeves to help explain. And we explore nature's hidden geometry to find why these frost ferns follow the same rules as lightning bolts, river deltas and even human lungs. You can send your everyday mysteries for the team to investigate to: curiouscases@BBC.co.uk Contributors Sarah Hart – Professor Emerita of Mathematics, Birkbeck University of London Christoph Salzmann – Professor of Physical and Materials Chemistry, UCL Dr Thomas Whale – Lecturer, Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds Producer: Emily Bird Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem A BBC Studios Production Hannah Fry and Dara \u00d3 Briain tackle listeners' conundrums with the power of science! How does something as ordinary as ice create such complex and beautiful patterns? Hannah and Dara investigate the frosty ferns that formed on listener Jane's car roof. |