CrowdScience

Questions about life, Earth and the universe answered by researchers AI summary

BBC World Service Visit website › Science · EN · 519 episodes · latest 2026-11-13

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What it is about

We take your questions about life, Earth and the universe to researchers hunting for answers at the frontiers of knowledge.

Publisher’s own description, taken unchanged from the podcast feed.
(C) BBC 2026

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Latest episodes

What is El Niño?

2026-11-13 · 26 min

The news has been full of references to ‘El Niño’, a global weather phenomenon that, this year, is forecast to be the biggest yet. CrowdScience listener Kennedy is a farmer in Kenya and this has got him worried. He…
Ten years of CrowdScience

2026-11-06 · 31 min

In November 2016 the BBC World Service launched a brand new show in which listeners would send in their science questions, and a team of fearless presenters would find answers. Ten years on, CrowdScience is still going…
Are right-handed people more creative?

2026-10-30 · 26 min

CrowdScience listener Nyok, in South Sudan, is right-handed and has always felt very creative. He's also noticed that left-handed people seem to be more logical. He's wondering if this has anything to do with the idea…
How do insects hear?

2026-10-23 · 28 min

CrowdScience listener Lauren from Belgium has near-complete hearing loss in one ear, because all the sensory hair cells in her inner ear have died. This got her thinking about how complicated the human ear is and…
Why don't we lay eggs?

2026-10-16 · 29 min

Some animals lay eggs, and their young hatch out of them. Other animals give birth to live young. But which strategy is best? That’s the question that’s been bothering CrowdScience listener Sameer in Canada. Is giving…
Are we really in charge?

2026-10-09 · 26 min

Have you ever found yourself doing something – perhaps getting a glass of water, eating a snack, or even sitting on the toilet – without remembering making the decision to do it? CrowdScience listener Mohammed certainly…
How are shells made?

2026-10-02 · 26 min

Where do shells come from? CrowdScience listener Tamsyn got in touch, a little embarrassed, confessing that she had managed to reach her twenties without realising that shells are made by living creatures. Suddenly, her…
Do plants know we're here?

2026-09-25 · 26 min

CrowdScience listener Gurmeet in India wants to know if plants can sense that we're around. She started wondering about this at a wellness centre where she was encouraged to hug a tree. She enjoyed the experience, but…
How many dead people are on the internet?

2026-09-18 · 34 min

CrowdScience listener Devin in Canada has just had a baby. Worried that all the good email addresses might be taken by the time his child needs one, he has already set up an account. But it got him wondering: how many…
Can my veggie sausages save the world?

2026-09-11 · 26 min

CrowdScience listener Lisa, who is from South Africa but now lives in the UK, has been a vegetarian for many years. Sometimes though, she still finds herself craving meats – like spaghetti bolognese or a burger. To…

Episode details from the publisher’s feed. Playback happens at the publisher.

Publisher details

Owner: BBC
Oldest episode in feed: 11/2016 · over 10 years
Typical length: 31 min
Format: Episodic Newest first, episodes stand alone

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