

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

Oct 10, 2017 • 9min
WS More or Less: Kilobyte to Brontobyte
Exploring the history and evolution of digital storage file names, from kilobytes to brontobytes. Unraveling the linguistic roots and cultural significance of memory measurement terms. Delving into the origins of data storage prefixes and the whimsical journey from terabytes to yottabytes. Discussing energy consumption, storage capacity, and the introduction of new terms like brontobyte and hellabyte. Engaging listeners in a humorous debate over preferred names for data storage units in the evolving landscape of naming conventions.

Oct 2, 2017 • 9min
WS More or Less: Big polluters - ships versus cars
The podcast discusses the environmental impact of large container ships, revealing that 15 of these ships emit more pollution than all cars globally. It also explores regulatory efforts to address ship emissions and how emissions decreased during the recession with fuel-efficient super ships.

Sep 29, 2017 • 24min
Uber; EU passports; counting domestic violence
Investigation into Uber safety controversies, comparison of safety stats between Uber and London cab drivers. Surge in EU passport applications post-Brexit. Challenges in measuring domestic violence and need for improved data collection. Wrap-up with subscription promotion and announcement of upcoming podcast series.

Sep 25, 2017 • 9min
WS More or Less: Sperm - Are we going extinct?
Exploring falling sperm count as a problem, analyzing trends and meta-analysis studies, discussing declining sperm counts and impact on male fertility, exploring impacts of age on fertility and health advice for prospective fathers

Sep 22, 2017 • 25min
Statistics abuse, tuition fees and beer in 1887
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is accused of mis-using official statistics.

Sep 15, 2017 • 10min
WS More or Less: How to measure a Hurricane
Delving into the intricacies of hurricane measurement, the podcast explores the Saffir-Simpson scale and introduces advanced models like Ike and CDP to assess intensity and damage potential. It discusses the significance of duration in determining storm damage and how location influences the severity of hurricane impact.

Sep 15, 2017 • 25min
Are Natural Disasters on the Rise?
The podcast explores the increase in natural disasters globally, debunking the claim of a quadrupled rate. It analyzes trends, fatality rates, and hurricane patterns, addressing interesting listener questions. The episode also delves into indefinite hyperbolic numbers and introduces a new science mysteries podcast.

Sep 11, 2017 • 9min
WS More or Less: More Horses than Tanks?
Exploring the UK army's horse versus tank count, comparing their historical roles and modern significance. Discussing international armies' choices between horses and tanks, highlighting the British army's unique composition. Reflecting on the evolving roles of horses and tanks in warfare, and reevaluating the criteria for assessing military strength beyond tank numbers.

Sep 8, 2017 • 26min
Electric cars, school-ready and feedback
Will we need more power stations? Plus, are children in Manchester ready for school?

Sep 4, 2017 • 7min
One in 500 Year Storm
Discussing the significance of the 1 in 500-year storm in Houston, comparing it to historical events like the Paris flood of 1910. Debunking the 'one in 100 year event' misconception in weather analysis. Highlighting the importance of updating calculations considering climate change for accurate estimates.


