CrowdScience

Sometimes in science, when you try to answer one question it sparks even more questions. The CrowdScience inbox is a bulging example of that. We get tons of new questions every week and many of those are following up on episodes we’ve made. Sometimes you want us to go deeper into part of the answer, or sometimes a subject intrigues you so much that it inspires further questions about it. In this episode presenter Caroline Steel is on a mission to answer some of those questions. The CrowdScience episode How do fish survive in the deep ocean? led listener Ivor to wonder what sort of vision deep sea fish might have. On hand to answer that is Professor Lars Schmitz, Kravis Professor of Integrated Sciences: Biology, at Claremont McKenna College in the USA Sticking with vision, we also tackle a question inspired by the CrowdScience episode Do we all see the same colour? For years listener Catarina has wondered why her eyes appear to change colour. Professor Pirro Hysi, ophthalmologist at the University of Pittsburgh, sheds some light on that subject. In India, Rakesh listened to the CrowdScience episode Will the Earth ever lose its moon? and wondered about Jupiter’s many moons. The European Space Agency’s Ines Belgacem is working on a new mission to study Jupiter’s moons. She explains which of the giant planet’s ninety seven moons are ones for Rakesh to watch. We also hear how the episode Why can’t my dog live as long as me? caught the attention of listener Lisa... and her cat. She had us falling in love with the long history of falling cats and the scientists who study them. Caroline is joined by Professor Greg Gbur, physicist at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte in the USA and author of Falling Felines and Fundamental Physics. Could this episode of follow up questions lead to an episode investigating the follow up questions to these follow up questions? Have a listen and, who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself inspired to email crowdscience@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Tom Bonnett Editor: Ben Motley(Photo: Innovation and new ideas lightbulb concept with Question Mark - stock photo Credit: Olemedia via Getty Images)

CrowdScience listener David is a bird whisperer. On his family farm in Guinea, he would mimic the call of the black-headed weaver. He could replicate it so well that the birds would fly in close, curious to find out who was calling. David has been wondering if he was actually communicating with the weaver. In the foothills of the Austrian Alps is a research hotspot with a curious history. It was here that a scientist first began studying birds in their natural environment. That work continues today with Andrew Katsis from the University of Vienna, who knows the local flock of greylag geese by name. His research shows that animals aren’t just anonymous members of a group, they have personalities, relationships, and the ability to recognise one another. But what else do birds know? Thomas Bugnyar, professor of social behaviour and animal cognition, spends his time trying to get inside the mind of ravens. His work suggests they can understand their surroundings, make rational decisions, and even solve complex problems. Plus, we meet Ellie, a cockatoo with the ability to use a touchscreen computer to “talk.” She has a working vocabulary of more than 1,500 words. And when she presses a button, it would appear she is not just pecking at random, she is choosing purposefully, responding in ways that suggest birds may not only understand us, but communicate back. Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Minnie Harrop and Harrison Lewis Series producer: Ben Motley(Photo: Close up of Greylag goose with blue background Credit: Harrison Lewis, BBC)

A listener grapples with nostalgic attachments to possessions, sparking an exploration into why we hold on to sentimental items. Experts discuss how memories tied to objects provide comfort and stability. The emotional struggle of letting go reveals the deep connections we have to our identities through items. A visit to the Museum of Broken Relationships demonstrates how universal these feelings are, showcasing artifacts that tell poignant stories of love and loss. The podcast sheds light on our complex emotional bonds with the objects we cherish.

Milk: drink a lot of it and we’ll grow big and tall with strong bones. That’s what many people are told as children, but just how true is this accepted wisdom? CrowdScience listener JJ in Singapore is sceptical. He wants to live a healthy life for as long as possible, and he’s wondering whether drinking cow’s milk will help or hinder him on this mission. All mammals produce milk, and our mother’s milk is our very first drink as babies. So what actually is the white stuff? Mary Fewtrell, professor of paediatric nutrition at UCL, gives presenter Chhavi Sachdev the lowdown on just how fundamental breastmilk is to us all. But are we meant to continue drinking milk from other animals once we grow up? This behaviour of ours is rare among mammals… so Christina Warinner, professor of evolutionary biology at Harvard University, tells us when in our history cow’s milk entered our diet, and how we even came to be able to digest it. And is there any truth in the accepted wisdom that cow’s milk will give us stronger bones? Karl Michaelsson, professor of medical epidemiology at Uppsala University, has researched just this – and the answer isn’t what you’d expect. Karl helps Chhavi sift through the complex evidence to see whether milk is actually any good for us.Presenter: Chhavi Sachdev Producer: Sophie Ormiston Editor: Ben Motley(Photo:Lady milking cow, Nadiad, Gujarat, India)

Join Professor Sarah Gabbott from the University of Leicester, a leading paleontologist and co-author of 'Discarded,' as she explores the lasting legacy of human civilization. She discusses how 'technofossils'—the enduring marks we leave behind—will be detectable for millions of years. The conversation dives into the Silurian Hypothesis, pondering whether earlier advanced species left any trace at all. Plus, listeners discover the rare art of fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast and how our everyday pollution uniquely shapes Earth's future geological record.

Dive into the intriguing world of camouflage, from its origins in nature to military applications. Discover how patterns and colors evolved through historical context and reflect national identity. Learn about the latest advancements, like a cloak that renders soldiers invisible, and explore thermal camouflage technology's innovative capabilities. Personal accounts shed light on the need for adaptability in modern warfare, highlighting the ongoing arms race between concealment and detection in an ever-evolving battlefield.

Pascale Hibon, a staff astronomer at the European Southern Observatory in Chile, shares her expertise in studying distant celestial objects using the Very Large Telescope. The conversation reveals how light from these objects often journeys for billions of years, making Hibon a kind of time traveler. They discuss the nature of light, its dual wave-particle characteristics, and breakthroughs in telescope technology. The podcast also raises intriguing questions about the longevity of photons and their transformative journey across the universe.

Jean-Pierre Wolf is a professor in the Applied Physics Department at the University of Geneva, specializing in lasers for climate applications. He discusses the intriguing potential of weather engineering to control rainfall. Cloud seeding and its ethical implications are explored, revealing both the benefits for agriculture and the environmental concerns. Wolf also highlights groundbreaking laser technologies that could replace traditional methods, showcasing innovative ways to influence weather patterns while minimizing pollution. A fascinating dive into the future of rain manipulation!

CrowdScience listener Jon started wondering how our teeth are created while he was in the dentist’s chair. It took his mind off the drilling. He wants to know how our teeth are made, what goes into them and how come we only get two sets of teeth when other animals, like sharks, grow thousands of new ones throughout their lives.Anand Jagatia goes back to prehistoric times to discover how the story of teeth began millions of years ago. Palaeontologist Yara Haridy explains that teeth weren’t designed originally for eating at all, but as a kind of armour on the exoskeletons of fish that was also sensitive to the environment. It turns out that our teeth in fact are part of our evolutionary success story. Biological anthropologist Peter Ungar reveals that we flourished as a species because our teeth are designed to get the maximum energy from our food. Anand discovers how teeth can even be grown in a lab when he meets researchers Ana Angelova Volponi and Xuechen Zhang whose team has managed to replicate the environment in which teeth develop. He also talks to Katsu Takahashi who has discovered a method for developing a third set of teeth. It’s a whole new way of creating teeth that will change the way we make them. Presenter Anand Jagatia Producer Jo Glanville Editor Ben Motley Studio Manager Bob Nettles Production co-ordinator Ishmael Soriano Translation, Katsu Takahashi interview Bethan Jones

The epic space story of a sci-fi dream that changed spaceflight forever. Told by the Nasa astronauts and team who made it happen. Our multi-award-winning podcast is back, hosted by space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock. She tells the story of triumph and tragedy - of a dream that revolutionised modern space travel forever.You can listen to the trailer here. To hear episodes, search for 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle is a BBC Audio Science Unit production for the BBC World Service. Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg, and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music. Archive: Mission audio and oral histories, Nasa History Office.