Curious Cases

BBC

4.8 (705)
SCIENCE
UPDATED WEEKLY

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Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain tackle listeners' conundrums with the power of science!

5D AGO

Furnishing with Fungi

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 Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem A BBC Studios Audio Production

29 min
MAY 2

Love Neurons

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 Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem A BBC Studios Audio Production

29 min
APR 25

Invisibility Quest

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 A BBC Studios Audio Production

30 min
APR 18

Liar, Liar

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: Paul Gorton Professor Richard Wiseman Professor Sophie van der Zee Producer: Marijke Peters Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem A BBC Studios Audio Production

29 min
APR 11

The Diamond Throwdown

“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 A BBC Studios Audio Production

32 min
APR 3

Curious Cases is back!

Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain return to tackle listener's questions with the power of science!

2 min
JAN 4

13. The Fastest Fly

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 Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem A BBC Studios Audio Production

30 min
12/28/2024

12. Bored to Death

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 Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem A BBC Studios Audio Production

30 min

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DAILY NEWS

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4.8

out of 5

705 Ratings

Love the show and presenters

May 5

Finnegan usa

Love the content. Love how participants are respectful and kind. Is the dialog speeded up or compressed? Can be hard to understand and process.
Hope for more!

09/09/2024

The Nameless Twin

I quickly fell in love with this show and both presenters! The lighthearted and sincere way the subjects are addressed is so pleasing. Only episodes that put me off were the ASMR bits 🤣 … I don’t care for ASMR. Been more than a year now and I’m losing hope for more, but as long as I get trailers here for other things they’re doing, I’ll keep following.
Hannah is great

Feb 16

Desmond Fuller

A great partner is hard to find and that must be the story of Hannah’s BBC shows. She is smart, witty and funny. Most of her co-hosts are fools or have very big egos. Find her a better co-host.
Another great BBC podcast

05/22/2024

adriankersey

Fun, enjoyable, serious science!