The Big Idea

BBC World Service
  • 4.8 (42)
  • EDUCATION

What are the big ideas shaping our world now?

  1. 12/19/2020

    Fighting pandemics

    The 2020 pandemic has transformed our world, but it won’t be the last to do so. How should we prepare for the future? Along with one of the world’s leading epidemiologists, David Edmonds explores the science of pandemics – and why it is so uncertain.

    12 min

  2. 12/12/2020

    The science of addiction

    Some people are addicted to drugs, others to alcohol. Addicts often crave a substance, and yet when they inject or consume it, it doesn’t bring them any pleasure. David Edmonds finds out how humans can want something, but not like it.

    11 min

  3. 12/05/2020

    The new normal

    Love him or loathe him, we can all agree that Donald Trump is not a ‘normal’ President. Previous presidents would never behave like President Trump. Is the abnormal becoming normal? And how can we tackle people who say uncomfortable things?

    12 min

  4. 11/28/2020

    Do cities need rules?

    Have you ever thought that your city is too regulated? Or that the city you live in doesn’t do enough to police people who break the rules? In this episode, David Edmonds has been speaking to Michele Gelfand, a psychologist whose research on rule makers and rule breakers could change the way we think about our cities. We’ll find out why you might be able to tell the time better in a city that's like Switzerland; why Japanese police officers reportedly egged people on to commit more crimes; and why living in a city like San Francisco could make you more creative. Presented by David Edmonds. Produced by Robbie Wojciechowski for the BBC World Service.

    10 min

  5. 11/21/2020

    The science of sleep

    We spend around a third of our lives asleep, but the reason we sleep is still something of a mystery. Could it be the biggest mistake the evolutionary process has ever made? What does sleep actually do for us? David Edmonds meets Matthew Walker, one of the world’s leading sleep scientists, to discuss some of his findings. We’ll hear about how the clocks going back has an effect on heart attack rates, and consider why, if you’re struggling to sleep, the worst thing you could do would be to stay in bed.

    15 min

  6. 11/14/2020

    The importance of fairness

    Ernst Fehr is well named: he’s an economist who writes about fairness. In fact, until his pioneering work, economists had been dismissive about whether fairness was a subject worthy of study. Now some have tipped Fehr to win a Nobel Prize. David Edmonds speaks to him about why it pays to be fair, and why people are less selfish than you think. Presented by David Edmonds Produced by Robbie Wojciechowski for the BBC World Service

    12 min

  7. 11/07/2020

    How do we spot rogue cops?

    David Edmonds speaks to a leading criminologist who says we can do much better in identifying rogue cops before they act. Produced by Robbie Wojciechowski for the BBC World Service.

    12 min

  8. 10/31/2020

    Understanding emotions: Should we follow our hearts?

    Watching a scary movie, you feel scared. But how do our brain and body work together to tell us about our emotions? A brilliant young scientist has been finding out why the art of interoception could help us better manage our emotions.

    13 min
See All (42)

4.8
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

What are the big ideas shaping our world now?

Information

  • Creator
    BBC World Service
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2020
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2020
  • Show Website
    The Big Idea

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