BBC Radio Podcasts from The Thought Show
A ‘Manspreading’ Video Goes Viral in Russia
A ‘Manspreading’ Video Goes Viral in Russia – is it propaganda?
The Men Who Hunt Stolen Motorbikes
In one city hit by motorbike theft, volunteers are using social media to fight back.
The People Who Remove Facebook Posts
How hard is the job of being a content moderator on Facebook posts?
Catching The Killers Behind A Viral Murder Video
Were Cameroonian forces behind a shocking viral murder video?
Social Media And Losing Weight
Can social media help you to lose weight or is some advice less healthy than it seems?
Russian Extremism Memes
Why are some Russians being placed on extremist watch lists for posting memes?
Did Facebook Fuel Hate in Myanmar?
Did Facebook fuel hate in Myanmar by failing to control hate speech against Rohingyas?
The Influencer Business
The power of social media influencers - what are the rules and ethics around advertising?
Virtually Making A Fortune?
Why are people spending real money to buy land that only exists in virtual reality?
What is #QAnon?
#QAnon – the online conspiracy theory that is firing up supporters of Donald Trump.
Sandy Hook Hoaxers Update
An update on the conspiracy theorists who deny the shootings at Sandy Hook took place.
Life As A YouTube Child Star
Life as a YouTube child star – how fame and money can come with online abuse.
#MeToo: Part Two
Sexual harassment in the media and society – what impact has the #MeToo movement had?
#MeToo: What's Next?
#MeToo: What's Next? What’s the future for the movement started by the hashtag?
World Cup Social Media Extravaganza
A recap of the big social media trends of the World Cup: what dominated where, online.
The World of Memes
The world of memes: where they come from and how they spread political messages
The Silver Snipers
The Silver Snipers: Swedish pensioners test their aim at a professional eSports event
A Transgender Twitter Fight
A Transgender Twitter Fight: how one short message led to a Twitter ban for an activist.
The Mysterious Wikipedia Editor
The mysterious Wikipedia editor – the man who has angered anti-war activists.
A Vegan You Tube Court Drama
A vegan vlogger files a lawsuit for defamation after suffering abuse online
Weapons of Mass Deception
The online dirty tricks and social media bots rupturing relations in the Middle East.
Life After Life for US Ex-Prisoners
Preparing Long Term Prisoners for High-Tech Life After Jail in the United States
Inside The Dark World Of “Incels”
Inside the dark world of “Incels”, the online subculture of “involuntarily celibate” men.
The YouTube Stars Selling Cheating
The YouTube stars promoting cheating by advertising an essay-writing company.
When a Democrat Met a Republican
When a Democrat Met a Republican – a project bridging the political divide.
Who’s Pushing Syria Conspiracies?
The influential Twitter accounts which are pushing Syria conspiracy theories.
Blocking Hate Speech on Social Media
Blocking hate speech on social media in Germany – but is a new law limiting free speech?
Murder Rates in London and New York
Comparing murder rates in London and New York – is London now more deadly?
How Deadly Was 1920s Melbourne?
The real life murder rate in 1920s Melbourne – has a TV crime series got it right?
#NeverAgain: a Turning Point for the US?
Students demand bans on semi-automatic rifles and measures to stop school shootings
Neo-Nazi Hate Music
We discover huge inconsistencies in how YouTube deals with neo-Nazi hate music.
Did Sir Roger Bannister Make The ‘Impossible’ Possible?
A tribute to Sir Roger Bannister, the first person to run a mile in under four minutes.
Faking a Trend on Twitter; Women, Oscars and the Bechdel Test; Dinosaurs
Faking a trend on Twitter; women, the Oscars and the Bechdel Test and a love of dinosaurs
Students vs Gun Laws; Winter Olympic Winners
The Students leading the gun control debate; Numbers at the Winter Olympics and Bullies
Undercover with the Alt-Right; Debunking Dubious Statistics and Job Interviews
Undercover with the Alt-Right; how to debunk dubious statistics and job interviews.
Rise of Extreme Pranking, the Fall in Drinking in Russia, Learning About Pain
The rise of extreme pranking; has drinking in Russia gone down? Also, understanding pain.
The Far Right and Sweden
Why is the far right keen on Sweden?
Is the US Census Under Threat?
Is the US census under threat? Plus, conspiracy theories on social media, and veganism
The Past and Future of Fake News
Fake news; real lives behind economic data, and how dreams turn into nightmares
History of ‘Fake News', Louis Bachelier and Noise
What does the term 'Fake News' mean and is it even useful?
Just How Rare is a Hole-in-One?
How rare is it for golfers to score a hole-in-one? Plus, are people who hear voices sick?
Kilobyte to Brontobyte, Social Media Review and Habits
Kilobyte to Brontobyte: naming monster numbers, social media review and matters of habit
Diet Coke Habit, 'Milkshake Duck' and Witches
Diet Coke habit, the meaning of “Milkshake Duck”, and denouncing women as witches
Does Eating Chocolate Make Your Brain Younger? Twitter Bot and Crowd Power
Does eating chocolate make your brain younger; how to spot a bot and the power of crowds
How Lucky are Regular Lottery Winners
What are the chances of multiple wins on the Lottery or scrathc cards?
Mr Darcy’s Wealth
How rich is Mr Darcy, the male love interest in Pride and Prejudice?
Italy's Football Failure, Russia's Blogger for President
Italy's World Cup failure. Plus, Russia’s opposition leader Alexei Navalny
Pop Albums, the Russian Web and Dubbing Movies
Why pop music albums are getting longer, how free is the Russian web, and dubbing movies
Nigerian Lawmakers, 'Calexit' Hashtag, Dark Tourism
Do Nigerian Lawmakers get $1.7m, Who Pushed the 'Calexit' Hashtag, and Dark Tourism
Novelists in Numbers
The words novelists use obsessively and why
US Millennials’ Political Engagement, Clashes in America and Serial Killers
Are US millennials more politically engaged online? Clashes in America and serial killers
Economists, Selfies and Holding Your Breath
Exploring the work of economist Richard Thaler
Kilobyte to Brontobyte, Sexist Double Standards and Staying Put
Kilobyte to brontobyte: naming monster numbers, sexist double standards and staying put.
Big Polluters: Ships v Cars and the 'Husband-Proof' shopping list.
Big polluters: ships v cars, the 'husband-proof' shopping list and how to live small.
Sperm Counts and Deleted Protest Posts
Sperm – are we going extinct? The deleted protest posts, and why be a surrogate mother?
How To Measure A Hurricane
How to measure a hurricane, Germany’s new hate speech law and why we need romance.
More Horses than Tanks?
More horses than tanks, the fake war photographer and why do we ask ‘What do you do’?
London's High-rise Death Toll
London's high-rise death toll, Hurricane Harvey’s fake news, and complicated technology
How To Win at Fantasy Football
How to win at fantasy football, Jollof rice wars, and human remains in museums.
Trump Bump, Free Speech, Pull of News
Is America’s economy enjoying a Trump Bump? A fight over free speech and the pull of news
Transgender in the US Military, India’s Midnight Selfies and Eavesdropping
Transgender people in the US Military, India’s midnight selfies and eavesdropping
Raising Other People's Children
Child Safety Whistleblowers, Why Raise Other People's Children, Unsung Prime Numbers
More Boys than Girls in Sweden?
Reports suggest there could be 123 boys for every 100 girls age 16-17 in Sweden
A Genius of Maths
The life and legacy of Iranian mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani
Calling the Shots at Wimbledon
Calling the shots at Wimbledon; China’s video crackdown; and choosing to be childless.
Is Steph Curry Cheap, and Fake Football News
Is Steph Curry cheap, fake football news and what’s in a kiss?
Making Penalty Shoot-outs Fairer
Making penalty shoot-outs fairer; a teenager’s murder in India, and why choose polygamy?
Deadly Tower Block Fires
How rare are deadly tower block fires and are tower blocks safer than houses?
Post UK Election Special
Post UK election analysis; war in the quilting world, and are exams the best test?
Are African Football Players More Likely to Die on the Field?
Are African footballers more prone to heart attacks? And the conflict in Venezuela.
Samba, Strings and the Story of HIV
Samba, strings and the story of HIV and the past and future of social network 4chan
Have 65% of Future Jobs Not Yet Been Invented?
Have 65% of future jobs not yet been invented? A hunt for the truth behind the statistic.
Uganda’s refugees
Uganda’s refugees; what happened to #Kony2012? Are you a numbers person?
An Urban Maze
An Urban Maze; cartoonists of the ‘Caliphate’; creatures of habit
The UK’s Foreign Secretary Gets a Fact Check
The UK’s Foreign Secretary gets a fact check; fashion brands and the hijab; being short
The Death Rate of White Americans
The death rate of white Americans; fake celebrity social media; how words shape us.
Could North Korea Wipe out 90% of Americans?
Could North Korea wipe out 90% of Americans? The “Great Meme War” in France; Clapping
The Ignorance Test
The Ignorance Test; fake news from the left; the appeal of the subterranean world
Will One in Four People Develop a Mental Health Problem?
Where is this figure from and what’s the evidence for it?
Baby Boxes – are they really saving infant’s lives?
Are Baby Boxes really saving infants’ lives? Disturbing rip-off cartoons and why do yoga?
The Concrete Facts About Trump’s Wall and China
How much concrete will it take to build Trump’s wall?
The Attention Span of a Goldfish
The attention span of a goldfish; live video streaming player safety; human hands.
Why are Hollywood Actresses Paid Less than Men?
Why are Hollywood actresses paid less than men? Sweden’s troll factory; and how to listen
What happened last night in Sweden?
What happened last night in Sweden; Twitter bots target UK election; why do we stammer?
Hans Rosling - the Extraordinary Life of a Statistical Guru
Hans Rosling - the Extraordinary Life of a Statistical Guru
Is Democracy Failing in America?
Is democracy failing in America and why has North Carolina been compared with Cuba?
Counting Crowds
The difficulties of counting the crowds at President Trump’s inauguration.
Why January Makes us Want to Scream
Is the third Monday in January really the day people feel saddest?
Does Sweden Really Have a Six Hour Day?
Does Sweden really have a six hour day and what drives some people to become vigilantes?
Could you forgive someone that raped or tortured you?
Some crimes may seem unforgettable, but can forgiveness help heal the hurt?
Yellow cards for Christmas?
Are footballers deliberately getting suspended to get a break over the festive period?
How risky is the contraceptive pill?
We look at the numbers behind the scary headlines about birth control.
How not to test public opinion.
How not to test public opinion, also, President Duterte’s online victory.
Avoiding Asteroids
We are getting better at spotting Earth-bound space rocks – but how safe are we?
Ice Cream Versus Aid
Does the world spend more on ice cream than on humanitarian aid?
Child Marriage and Dangerous Algorithms
Is a girl under 15 married every seven seconds? And beware dangerous algorithms.
Dying for Cocaine
How many people die in Colombia’s drugs trade for every kilo of cocaine?
Algorithms, Crime and Punishment
When Maths can get you locked up.
Sustainable Development Goals – Are there Just too Many?
Is there a better way for the world to set Sustainable Development Goals?
Who Won the US Presidential Debate?
Polling on the Clinton-Trump TV showdown – and why not all polls are equal.
Trump’s Crime Claims
Is Donald Trump right to claim some US inner cities are more dangerous than Afghanistan?
The Cost of A Wedding Gift
How to work out how much to spend on a wedding gift.
Drug Deaths in the Philippines
How many people have died in the Philippines during President Duterte’s drug crackdown?
Swimming World Records
Why are swimming world records frequently being broken?
Ranking Iceland’s Football Team; Social media movements inspired by the UK’s vote to leave the EU; Why we love Cycling
Ranking Iceland’s Football Team – is it the best football team in the world per capita?
Brexit Economics; Viral videos and US murder rates; Attraction
What might the UK’s vote to leave the European Union mean for the UK’s economy?
The Problem with Antibiotics; Opposition to Afrikaans; the Origins of Life
The problems with the antibiotics market, and the opposition to Afrikaans