Host Anand Jagatia tackles gravity - a fundamental force of the universe yet also an everyday mystery that has baffled several listeners. Can you outrun it? Or at least use it to get fitter? If it varies, does that mean that you weigh less, depending on where on earth you stand? And if it’s the force of attraction between any objects with mass, are you technically more attractive after eating a massive cake? Professor Claudia de Rham from Imperial College London explains the basics of gravity, while we discover the best place on earth to weight ourselves, with Professor Paddy Regan from Surrey University and NPL Fellow in Nuclear and Radiation Science and Metrology. Anand takes a very fast spin on a special chair to experience extra gravity, thanks to Professor Floris Wuyts from the University of Antwerp, Kings College London and Minister of Science of Asgardia. And finally, we talk to an expert lined up at the other end of a hypothetical hole through the earth: Professor Richard Easther from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. What would happen if we fell straight through the earth? CrowdScience finds gravity a force to be reckoned with. Presenter: Anand Jagatia Producer: Marnie Chesterton Editor: Cathy Edwards Production Co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano and Jana Bennett-Holesworth Studio Manager: Jackie Margerum and Duncan Hannant Photo: Anand Jagatia experiencing extra g-force

Are food allergies higher in the West than the East? UK-based listener Jude wants to know the answer. Her daughter-in-law Min didn’t know anyone with food allergies when she was growing up in South Korea and thinks that they’re not so common there. Host Alex Lathbridge investigates. Along the way, he finds out what makes us sensitive to food allergies and how much that depends on our environment. He volunteers to have an allergy test, learns what triggers food allergies and tries to discover what lies behind their increase around the world. Alex talks to some of the leading experts on food allergies in search for an answer to our listener’s question: Paul Turner breaks down what happens in our bodies when we have an allergic reaction; Jennifer Koplin explains why Australia tops the league table for food allergies and Michael Levin reveals what he found out in his ground-breaking research in South Africa comparing urban and rural populations. We also hear from Hana Ayoob, who grew up in Singapore and the UK, who describes what it’s like to suffer from multiple food allergies and describes the difference in cultural attitudes. Finally, we turn to Sooyoung Lee in South Korea to see if our listeners are right about the difference in rates for food allergies between East and West. Presenter: Alex Lathbridge Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: Cathy Edwards Production Co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano Studio Manager: Duncan Hannant(Image: Young Asian father with cute little daughter grocery shopping for dairy products in supermarket Credit: d3sign via Getty Images)

In this engaging discussion, evolutionary biologist Kit Opie and biological anthropologist Katie Starkweather dive into the complexities of human relationships. They explore whether monogamy is a social construct or part of our evolutionary history. Opie shares insights from primate mating systems, while Starkweather reveals how different cultures approach non-monogamy. The chemistry of love is also unpacked, showcasing how neurochemicals like oxytocin influence bonding, shedding light on the age-old question of whether one partner is truly better than many.

The wetness of water seems blindingly obvious - but dive into the science and things aren’t so clear. CrowdScience listeners Rachel and Callum were washing their hands one day and it got them thinking about wetness. Why does water feel the way it does? And what makes a liquid wet? To find out, presenter Anand Jagatia takes a closer look at the behaviour of liquids with materials scientist Mark Miodownik, and finds out why they might not be as wet as we think. We learn what’s really behind the sensation of feeling something wet on your skin, with the help of physiologist Davide Filingeri and PhD student Jade Ward. And we turn to a philosopher, Vanessa Seifert, and a chemist, Tim Neudecker, to puzzle out exactly how many water molecules you need before the property of wetness emerges. Presenter: Anand Jagatia Producer: Anand Jagatia Editor: Cathy Edwards Production Co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano Studio Manager: Bob Nettles and Andrew Garratt(Image: A photo of a droplet falling into a body of water Credit: Flaviu Cernea / 500pxvia Getty Images)

Delve into the nostalgic world of tangerines, exploring how they vanished from our holiday traditions. Discover their origins in Ancient China, and learn about the unique Dancy variety through the insights of a fruit detective. Uncover the complex journey of citrus breeding, which has led to sweeter but less diverse fruits. Listen to a citrus supplier share tales of forgotten varieties and witness a listener's emotional reunion with the tangerines of their childhood. A sweet exploration of nostalgia and biodiversity!

Explore the enchanting hues of the sky, from vibrant sunsets to the surprising science behind color perception. Discover why we see blue during the day and the rare occurrences when green appears, like in a rainbow or the elusive green flash. Delve into the role of sunlight scattering and how our brains interpret these colors. Journey to the Arctic to witness the mesmerizing northern lights and learn how solar particles create stunning auroras. This fascinating investigation uncovers the beauty and complexity of what paints our sky.

Hugo Duminil-Copin, a Fields Medal-winning mathematician at the University of Geneva, dives into the enigma of randomness. He demonstrates how our brains often misinterpret random patterns, even during playful experiments like coin flips. The conversation explores whether anything is truly random and the philosophical implications of predictability, especially in quantum physics. Additionally, insights from cognitive neuroscience reveal why humans seek order amid chaos, shedding light on the intricate relationship between randomness and perception.

In a poignant exploration of memory, the podcast dives into infantile amnesia, revealing why we often forget early childhood experiences despite their significance. Personal stories intertwine with scientific insights, examining how caregiving and culture shape our recollections. Listeners learn about innovative experiments with toddlers and fascinating animal studies that suggest those memories might still linger in our brains. The discussion also uncovers the emotional impacts linked to lost memories and the complexities of memory retrieval.

Smartwatches are becoming a fitness staple, but how accurate is their health data? A skeptic voices doubts while a fan embraces the tech. The hosts conduct a gym experiment to test reliability. Experts weigh in on how these devices measure vital signs and their pros and cons. They discuss the motivational boost smartwatches can provide, even with accuracy concerns. Lastly, there’s a reflective look at the psychological impact of quantifying fitness and wellness.

Catherine Ivy, an assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan, studies how birds like bar-headed geese manage long migrations at high altitudes. Lucy Hawkes, an associate professor at the University of Exeter, explores the unique physiology that allows these geese to fly over the Himalayas. They discuss adaptations such as super-powered hearts and lungs, the challenges of thinner air and scarcity of oxygen, and share fascinating insights from their groundbreaking research on avian altitude capabilities.