A Question of Science

Introducing More Questions of Science – bite-size episodes where we revisit some of the biggest ideas from the first 12 episodes of the series and take the conversation even further. Professor Brian Cox will be in his home studio, catching up with some of the expert panellists from earlier in the series. Together, they’ll tackle your follow-up questions, explore new angles and go deeper into the topics that sparked your curiosity. And because science never stops, we’ll also bring you the latest breakthroughs, discoveries and developments. Send your follow up questions on cancer, fertility, ageing, ancient DNA, climate change and nutrition to the team: aquestionofscience@bbc.co.uk More Questions of Science arrives on YouTube and podcast platforms in early 2026.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the frontier of human bioengineering and building, replacing, and enhancing our bodies.   Will we ever have bionic brains and cloned humans? Is there a danger of science fiction getting too close for comfort?    From mechanical implants to lab-grown organs to whether humans could evolve to live in space, the discussion delves into what’s possible today and where science might take us next.  Panellists  Mark Pollock – Explorer, motivational speaker and Chairman of Collaborative Cures George Malliaras – Prince Philip Professor of Technology, University of Cambridge Madeline Lancaster – Group Leader, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology    Robin Lovell-Badge – Group Leader, Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute  Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/buildahuman   A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute.   Music by John Biddle  © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox and an expert panel explore the elusive science of consciousness – what it is, how it arises, whether it can be observed in the brain, and the most compelling theories explaining it.  In a deep, often mind-bending discussion, the panel tackles the many ways of interpreting consciousness itself, and how fields like psychophysics can be used to quantify imagination and perception.     With questions from the audience, the conversation delves into hallucinations and reality, how memory helps to build identity, and whether AI could ever be conscious too.  Panellists  Anil Seth – Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, University of Sussex Katharina Schmack – Consultant Psychiatrist and Group Leader, Neural Circuits and Immunity in Psychosis Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute Steve Fleming – Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL Alex O’Connor – Host of ‘Within Reason’ podcast  Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/consciousness  A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute.    Music by John Biddle © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel dive into the complex world of diet, nutrition and food choices.  With new probiotic and high-protein products appearing on supermarket shelves every day and conflicting nutritional advice coming from every direction, it’s difficult to cut through the noise when it comes to what we eat.  Our panel uses expertise from their roles as nutritionists, geneticists, gastroenterologists and policymakers to answer audience questions about food advertising, wellness advice, and whether it’s really possible – or worthwhile – to avoid food ‘additives’.   Panellists  Giles Yeo – Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Christina Vogel – Professor in Food Policy and Director of the Centre for Food Policy, City St George’s, University of London Saliha Mahmood Ahmed – Gastroenterologist and MasterChef winner, 2017 Nita Forouhi – Professor of Population Health and Nutrition, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge  Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/nutrition   A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute.    Music by John Biddle © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the science of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other conditions that cause dementia. More than 55 million people around the world are living with dementia, with the number set to rise in ageing populations. How close are we to effective, affordable treatments?  What are the genetic risks? Can we prevent it developing? The panel takes a deep dive into dementia research and where it’s headed, from early detection to the latest drug trials and whether diet, exercise or even doing puzzles like Sudoku really make a difference. Panellists Bart de Strooper – Professor and Group Leader, Cellular Phase of Alzheimer’s Disease Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute and UK Dementia Research Institute Julie Williams – Professor and Group Leader, Cardiff University and UK Dementia Research Institute Rory Cellan-Jones – Health and technology writer and presenter of the Movers and Shakers podcast Sonia Gandhi – Professor of Neurology, UCL, Assistant Research Director, Francis Crick Institute and Consultant Neurologist, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/ageingbrain A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute.  Music by John Biddle © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the science of fertility.   Making babies is big business but our scientific understanding of fertilisation, pregnancy and embryo development is surprisingly limited.     In this episode, our panel discuss emerging technologies that could shape the future of fertility and tackle audience questions on declining sperm counts, egg freezing and the ethics of genetic screening.  Panellists: Joyce Harper – Professor of Reproductive Science, UCL Gunes Taylor – Molecular Biologist, University of Edinburgh Naomi Moris – Group Leader, Developmental Models Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute   Lucy van de Wiel – Senior Lecturer in Global Health & Social Medicine, King’s College London                                                                                                                                                   Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/fertility A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute Music by John Biddle © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join a stellar conversation with Carly Howett, Associate Professor of Space Instrumentation, Jill Stuart, space ethics expert, Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, and Sanjeev Gupta, Professor of Planetary Science. They delve into who truly owns space and the implications of space tourism and asteroid mining. The panel explores the risks of space debris, the importance of international collaboration through the ISS, and whether owning a star is a reality or a scam. Ethical considerations and future conflicts in off-world colonies spark thought-provoking insights!

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel are talking all things ancient DNA. Over the past 50 years, new technology has allowed researchers to sequence and study centuries-old DNA taken from ancient, long-buried human remains. This new insight into our past has led to a whole new understanding of our ancestors, from our migration across the globe, to the environmental changes we’ve experienced, and even the spread of ancient deadly pandemics like the black plague. Our panel of scientists answers questions from a studio audience about the usefulness of commercial DNA tests, the true meaning of ancestry, and what our ancient genetic material could reveal about our future. Panellists Pooja Swali – Research Fellow in Pathogen Genomics, UCL Pontus Skoglund – Group Leader, Ancient Genomics Lab, Francis Crick Institute Adam Rutherford – Lecturer in Biology and Society, UCL Tom Booth – Senior Research Scientist and Archaeologist, Francis Crick Institute Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/ancientDNA. If you have a follow up question about any of the episodes in the series, email us:  aquestionofscience@bbc.co.uk A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute. Music by John Biddle © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox and a panel of experts discuss how to curb rising global temperatures and what life could be like in a warmer world. Our planet is hotting up. But as temperatures climb, can we cope with a climate emergency? What can science and technology to do help us, and will social and political change make a difference? Our panel answers the audience’s questions on everything from carbon capture to climate sceptics. Panellists Myles Allen – Head of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, University of Oxford Kathryn Brown – Director of Climate Change and Evidence, The Wildlife Trust Hayley Fowler – Professor of Climate Change Impacts, Newcastle University George Monbiot – Environmental journalist and campaigner Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/climate If you have a follow up question about any of the episodes in the series, email us:  aquestionofscience@bbc.co.uk A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute. Music by John Biddle © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox and a panel of experts discuss COVID-19 and whether we are prepared for the next pandemic. Where or when could it happen? How could we control it? What would we do differently? In this episode, a lively studio audience quizzes world-leading scientists and doctors working on the frontline, specialising in infectious disease, vaccines and protecting us from the next deadly outbreak. Panellists Teresa Lambe – Head of Vaccine Immunology, University of Oxford and co-designer of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine Wendy Barclay – Head of the Department for Infectious Disease at Imperial College London Emma Wall – Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Francis Crick Institute and Consultant in Infectious Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Kevin Fong – Professor of Public Engagement and Innovation, UCL and Consultant Anaesthetist, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/pandemics If you have a follow up question about any of the episodes in the series, email us:  aquestionofscience@bbc.co.uk A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute. Music by John Biddle © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.