

More or Less
BBC Radio 4
Tim Harford explains - and sometimes debunks - the numbers and statistics used in political debate, the news and everyday life
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 6, 2023 • 29min
Covid deaths, North Sea gas and Chloe Kelly's World Cup penalty
Explore the rise in COVID deaths in England and Wales, revised UK economic growth figures during the pandemic, and the claims about Chloe Kelly's World Cup penalty speed. Discuss the environmental impact of North Sea gas compared to imports and debunk the government's claim. Analyze the factors contributing to the UK's poor economic performance and emphasize the importance of considering multiple indicators.

11 snips
Sep 2, 2023 • 9min
What percentage of our brain do we actually use?
Debunking the myth of humans only using 10% of our brain, this podcast explores the controversy and theories surrounding non-responsive neurons. It delves into brain plasticity, individual cell functions, and the implications of brain usage on intelligence and evolution.

Aug 30, 2023 • 29min
HS2 and electric cars, UK vs China emissions & massive maths errors
The podcast explores the affordability of electric cars in the UK and whether they can replace the HS2 rail project. They analyze the claim of deaths following COVID vaccination in England. Comparisons are made between The Guardian's and their own mathematical errors. The hosts discuss the UK's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and debunk the myth of humans using only 10% of their brains.

Aug 26, 2023 • 10min
How safe is the release of Fukushima nuclear plant water?
Examining the release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean and evaluating its environmental impact. Exploring the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident and the challenge of deciding whether to store treated radioactive wastewater or discharge it into the Pacific Ocean. Discussing the release of tritium from the Fukushima plant and addressing concerns about radiation risks. Highlighting the negative effects of fear and stress on human health regarding radiation.

Aug 19, 2023 • 9min
How many butterflies are there in the world?
Experts discuss the challenges in determining the exact number of butterflies on Earth, ongoing efforts in the UK to conduct butterfly counts, use of transect surveys to estimate the number of butterflies, the difficulty of determining the global butterfly population, reflections on past estimation methods, and the need for global volunteer efforts.

4 snips
Aug 12, 2023 • 10min
Why is it so hard to predict the outcome of competitions like the Premier League?
Football competitions are kicking off all around Europe in the coming days and weeks, including the world’s most watched division: The English Premier League. We might make our predictions on who we think is going to win a sporting competition but what factors are we considering?
In this programme we look at some of the most popular variables that are taken into account when making sporting predictions and why even these have drawbacks. From upcoming football leagues to the Olympic Games, Head Analyst from Nielsen Gracenote, Simon Gleave tells us what are some of the most difficult sports to predict and why.Presenter: Paul Connolly
Producer: Natasha Fernandes
Editor: Richard Vadon
Production Co-ordinators: Debbie Richford and Janet Staples
Sound Engineer: Graham PuddifootImage: Premier League Trophy, Credit: Carl Recine/Reuters

Aug 5, 2023 • 9min
Are the media exaggerating how hot it is in the Mediterranean?
Reports on heatwaves across the globe have dominated our newsfeeds over the last few weeks, with temperatures said to have soared over the 40C mark in many parts of Europe. But across social media, not everyone is buying it. A trickle of scepticism swelled to a tidal surge, with people questioning whether temperatures are being hyped up by the wider media to drive fear and scare-monger. In this programme, we unpick allegations made about how these temperatures are recorded - and if they are accurate. We hear from Samantha Burgess at the Copernicus Climate Change Service; Alessandro Delitala from the Sardinia Environmental Protection Agency; and Sean Buchan from Climate Action Against Disinformation.
Presenter: Paul Connolly
Producer: Natasha Fernandes
Editor: Richard Vadon
Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound Engineer: Rod Farquhar

Jul 29, 2023 • 9min
Data, extreme weather and climate change
Recent global headlines have been dominated by record temperatures across Europe, North America and parts of Asia. As extreme weather events have happened for decades, how are links to climate change made? In this programme we look at how scientists use data to draw climate conclusions and hear how that data isn’t always available, with a focus on severe flooding earlier this year in part of Central Africa. With Joyce Kimutai, principal meteorologist and climate scientist at the Kenya Meteorological Department and researcher at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change, Imperial College.Presenter: Kate Lamble
Producer: Nathan Gower, Jon Bithrey
Editor: Simon Watts
Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot

Jul 22, 2023 • 10min
Ukraine war: A new way of calculating Russian deaths
Official information on the numbers of dead and injured in the Ukraine war has been in short supply. Little has come from either the Ukrainian or Russian sides, with estimates from western governments and intelligence agencies filling the information void. But some Russian journalists have been documenting war deaths and have come up with a new way of estimating fatalities using probate records. With contributions from David Frenkel, reporter at Mediazona and the BBC’s Russian Service correspondent Olga Ivshina.

4 snips
Jul 15, 2023 • 9min
Are more adult nappies sold in Japan than baby ones?
Japan has one of the highest rates of life expectancy and one of the lowest birth rates. But does that mean that a widely circulated claim – that more nappies aimed at adults are sold in Japan than those made for babies – is true? With guests Sarah Parsons, Senior Teaching Fellow at SOAS in London and Dr Mireya Solis, Knight Chair in Japan Studies at the Brookings Institution.Presenter: Charlotte McDonald
Reporter: Isobel Gough
Producers: Isobel Gough, Jon Bithrey
Sound Engineer: James Beard
Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown


