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Can chocolate ever be better for you than salad? The podcast explores this nutritional conundrum, diving into the debate with the help of nutrition experts. They discuss the health benefits of dark chocolate, including its richness in antioxidants, magnesium, fiber, and arginine. They also examine the healthiness of popular salads, highlighting the high-fat dressings and toppings that contribute to the calorie count.

This podcast investigates China's missing numbers including youth unemployment, local government debt, and COVID-death toll. It explores the challenges in accurately measuring these figures and the implications for the Chinese government's control of information.

This podcast explores the potential links between exercise and the heart condition atrial fibrillation, highlighting a study from 2009 that suggests male endurance athletes have an increased risk. They discuss symptoms, demographics, and varying study results on the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in endurance athletes. The podcast also discusses the impact of exercise on the condition and the need for more research.

This podcast explores the concept of climate refugees and questions the prediction of a billion climate refugees in this century. It discusses the models used to generate these predictions, the difference between internal displacement and migration across borders, and the potential impact of climate change on migration. It also highlights the financial challenges associated with migration and the role of human actions in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.

Veronica Carlin, a data scientist who loves romantic comedies, explores the representation of women in STEM roles in romantic comedies and discusses the significance of her findings. She also discusses the influence of characters like Dana Scully and 'The Other Zoe', a rom-com that promotes embracing life through love.

Exploring the statistics on women's alcohol consumption in the UK and the discrepancy between reported intake and actual sales. Also discussing inaccuracies in reporting the number of vessels in the South China Sea and the relatively small global fishing catch in the area.

Exploring the possibility of extraterrestrial life using the Drake Equation, the calculations for the number of habitable planets, and the challenges of finding and communicating with alien civilizations.

Exploring the claim that Indian women own 11% of the world's gold, discussing the cultural significance of gold in India, the global breakdown of gold holdings, the distribution of gold ownership in India, and the reasons for high Indian demand for gold.

Dr Kate Kitagawa, co-author of 'The Secret Lives of Numbers', explores the overlooked mathematicians throughout history. From female mathematicians in imperial China to pioneers in the Middle East, she reveals the global history of mathematical advances. Discover the contributions of Al-Khwarizmi, the rivalry between Newton and Leibniz in inventing calculus, and the unique methods of the Kerala School in India.

Reporter Perisha Kudhail, Dr Lawrence Ball from Kent Wildlife Trust, and Professor Lynn Dicks from University of Cambridge discuss the 'windscreen phenomenon' and its implications for insect decline. They cover the Bugs Matter Project measuring insect abundance, potential causes for the decline, and studies showing a decrease in insect biomass.