More or Less: Behind the Stats

Dr. Gregg Jacobs challenges the 8-hour sleep myth, discussing research on health risks associated with long or short sleep durations. Experts explore connections between sleep duration and mortality, highlighting optimal 7-8 hours. Debate on extended sleep's impact on health outcomes, including inflammation and back pain, is discussed, with recommendations for around 7 hours of sleep for optimal health.

Exploring if Iceland's football team is the best per capita after defeating England, analyzing UK referendum voting patterns by age, and speculating on future voting trends.

Explore the economic implications of Brexit on the UK's growth, trade relationships, and regulations. Delve into the challenges of negotiating trade deals post-Brexit and the differing perspectives on economic prospects.

Exploring the historical and modern practices of companies collecting personal data for profit, including the shadowy story of data pooling by insurance companies from more than a hundred years ago. The podcast delves into the privacy concerns and security risks associated with data tracking by online retailers, banks, credit card companies, and technology corporations. It also discusses the algorithmic influence on user choices and privacy concerns, and the challenges of personal data protection amidst skepticism towards privacy technologies and dominance of data brokers.

Exploring the impact of Brexit on trade, economists' contrasting views, EU's trade agreements, challenges of post-Brexit negotiations, uncertainties in trade arrangements, and the concept of unilateral free trade.

If it seems the EU referendum debate just involves two politicians shouting contradictory statistics at each other - then we are here to help. In this series, we're giving you a break from the politicians and we're going to try to figure out the truth. Bracing concept, isn't it? We'll be looking at some of the big questions - the cost of being a member, immigration, law-making and trade. But today we're looking at EU regulation. Tim Harford asks how much red tape from the EU is costs the UK and what might happen if we leave?

Exploring the debate on EU referendum statistics, from the percentage of UK laws from the EU to UK's voting behavior in the European Council. Delving into the complexity of lawmaking and sovereignty, with insights from Nigel Farage and Nick Clegg. Analyzing the impact of UK's preferences on shaping EU legislation and the challenges of quantifying EU influence on UK laws.

Exploring the impact of EU migration on the UK and the uncertainties surrounding migration statistics. Discussing the potential consequences of Brexit on EU migration levels and the economic benefits of EU migrants in the UK economy.

Exploring the conflicting statistics of the EU Referendum, debunking the £350 million a week claim for NHS, analyzing economic forecasts post-Brexit, debating the 6% smaller GDP projection, discussing the economic implications of leaving the EU, and considering the gains in self-determination and sovereignty

There is a black hole in our knowledge of women and girls around the world. Campaigners say that they are often missing from official statistics and areas of their lives are ignored completely - but what needs to be done?Producer: Charlotte McDonald Presenter: Tim Harford