More or Less

Babies born in Rwanda are likely to live healthier lives than those in the most deprived 10% of England, according to recent reports. But does the data back this up? And how is "good health" measured across the world? Hannah Moore and Wesley Stephenson explore the numbers with Professor David Gordon from Bristol University’s International Poverty Research Centre. This programme was first broadcast on the BBC World Service.

"In the next 40 years, humans will need to produce more food that they did in the previous 10,000," claimed a recent edition of The Economist. Ruth Alexander and Hannah Moore look at whether this is true. With the world's population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, how confident can we be that everyone will have enough to eat? This programme was first broadcast on the BBC World Service.

Oscar-winner John Legend said that there are more black men "under correctional control" in the United States today than were in slavery in 1850. Is he right? Plus, how many Lego bricks, stacked one on top of the other, would it take to destroy the bottom brick? This programme was first broadcast on the BBC World Service.

Debunking the myth of needing 8 hours of sleep and exploring health implications. Research shows optimal sleep at 7 hours with risks of oversleeping. Conflicting views on impact of short and long sleep durations on health. Significance of 7 hours of sleep for feeling rested and energetic, and its implications on health outcomes.

How maths can help you find love, and hold on to it. Plus, we hear a collection of our listeners’ favourite statistics. This programme was first broadcast on the BBC World Service.

Delving into the risks of excessive jogging on health, the podcast questions the validity of claims. It analyzes a study on jogging habits and mortality rates, highlighting potential health impacts. Additionally, it debunks flawed statistics regarding infidelity on cruise ships, providing a rational perspective on the data.

Tim Harford on claims that keen runners might be damaging their health. Plus, tuition fees; affairs among cruise passengers; UK election safe seats; loyal listeners' favourite statistics.

How to use mathematics to find your life partner. Plus: what are the chances that two friends, given the same due date for their babies' birth, actually do give birth on the same day? This programme was first broadcast on the BBC World Service.

Fact-checking political claims on job creation, milk pricing complexities, using maths to find a life partner, accuracy of baby due dates, and differences in teen pregnancy rates between US and UK.

Who is in the world's wealthiest elite, and where do they live? Which are the world's best and worst board-games? Oliver Roeder, a senior writer for FiveThirtyEight, says a statistical analysis can tell us. This programme was first broadcast on the BBC World Service.