Why are millennials so attracted to starting their own businesses?
Published on Monday, 3rd February 2020.
The popularity of texting is changing how we communicate and relate to each other
Published on Monday, 27th January 2020.
What do the marks on our skin tell us about ourselves and our place in the world?
Published on Monday, 20th January 2020.
Why is dystopic fiction so appealing?
Published on Monday, 13th January 2020.
In cases of sexual assault, why do people so often blame the victim?
Published on Monday, 6th January 2020.
Why is party planning so hard?
Published on Monday, 16th December 2019.
Why are we resilient?
Published on Monday, 9th December 2019.
An exploration of why and how music can exert a powerful effect on our emotions
Published on Monday, 2nd December 2019.
Michael Blastland investigates talk of a crisis in masculinity.
Published on Monday, 25th November 2019.
Why do grandparents care for their grandchildren and what effect does it have on them?
Published on Monday, 18th November 2019.
Could the answer lie in our DNA, our upbringing or our lack of self control?
Published on Monday, 11th November 2019.
What evolutionary advantage does consciousness bestow upon us?
Published on Monday, 4th November 2019.
Why are humans conscious of so little of what goes on around us?
Published on Monday, 28th October 2019.
Why do we feel shy and what can we do about it?
Published on Monday, 21st October 2019.
Why do we get so attached to our intuitions? And can they mislead us?
Published on Monday, 14th October 2019.
What exactly is intuition? And why should we trust it?
Published on Monday, 7th October 2019.
Why do people ditch the comforts of modern life to go and sleep under the stars?
Published on Monday, 30th September 2019.
Why do some people reject traditional forms of education, housing and even government?
Published on Monday, 23rd September 2019.
Sandra Kanthal asks if human nature is wired to fixate on the downsides of life.
Published on Monday, 16th September 2019.
What’s the power of make-up? Why can't many of us leave the house without it?
Published on Monday, 26th August 2019.
Happiness is a fundamental human desire, yet we often struggle to achieve it.
Published on Monday, 19th August 2019.
Why funerals matter so profoundly to us, as individuals and societies
Published on Monday, 12th August 2019.
Blending is a distinctly human activity. Why do we do it?
Published on Monday, 5th August 2019.
We find out how the natural world affects our mental health
Published on Monday, 29th July 2019.
Why do so many people care so much about their sports teams?
Published on Monday, 22nd July 2019.
What makes people choose a life of isolation and silence?
Published on Monday, 15th July 2019.
Have we become obsessed with the idea of collaboration?
Published on Monday, 8th July 2019.
Why do we enjoy the misfortunes of others?
Published on Monday, 1st July 2019.
Computing history is filled with the accomplishments of women. But where are they now?
Published on Monday, 24th June 2019.
The need to discover our past and what this tells us about ourselves
Published on Monday, 17th June 2019.
Why do we choose to do things that could kill us?
Published on Monday, 10th June 2019.
Attitudes to tax are determined by some surprising factors.
Published on Monday, 3rd June 2019.
How confidence can motivate us and help us live up to our potential
Published on Monday, 27th May 2019.
There is little overlap between how good people think they are and how good they are
Published on Monday, 20th May 2019.
When we know we’re in a hole, why do we find it so hard to stop digging?
Published on Monday, 6th May 2019.
Why should we value emotional labour?
Published on Monday, 29th April 2019.
People on the left are more likely to accept climate change than those on the right.
Published on Monday, 22nd April 2019.
Why does what we know about an artist affect how we see their work?
Published on Monday, 15th April 2019.
Why is Cinderella such a universal story?
Published on Monday, 8th April 2019.
How stories help us connect, teach us empathy, and set the rules of society
Published on Monday, 1st April 2019.
A look at why living in a patriarchy affects the mother-daughter relationship
Published on Monday, 25th March 2019.
Why the father-daughter relationship is so important
Published on Monday, 18th March 2019.
Why is it OK to be anti fat?
Published on Monday, 11th March 2019.
Why do women still compete in beauty pageants?
Published on Monday, 4th March 2019.
Is Instagram’s popularity changing how architects design buildings and public spaces?
Published on Monday, 25th February 2019.
Is meritocracy just a utopian idea?
Published on Monday, 18th February 2019.
Why do we like to go fast – why are we so taken with speed?
Published on Monday, 11th February 2019.
Why are we so quick to point the finger of blame?
Published on Monday, 4th February 2019.
How are smart speakers affecting us, from privacy to child development?
Published on Monday, 28th January 2019.
Giving a gift - simple pleasure or risky business?
Published on Monday, 21st January 2019.
What motivates some to record every aspect of their exercise regime and share it online?
Published on Monday, 14th January 2019.
Why are more people taking on extreme endurance challenges which test them to the limit?
Published on Monday, 7th January 2019.
Why are we so fascinated by Zombies?
Published on Monday, 31st December 2018.
Why is there a hierarchy of musical instruments?
Published on Monday, 24th December 2018.
Why are we so fascinated with wine?
Published on Monday, 17th December 2018.
Why do we collude with corruption when it is unfair and costs us billions of dollars?
Published on Monday, 10th December 2018.
We all need a place to call our own. Why, for many men, is that place the garden shed?
Published on Monday, 3rd December 2018.
Exploring the connection between horses and humans
Published on Monday, 26th November 2018.
Why is it so difficult to decide what is true in a world riddled with alternative facts?
Published on Monday, 19th November 2018.
Why Fact Checkers are so important in the fight to combat fake news
Published on Monday, 12th November 2018.
How when we suffer a scarcity of mental resources, we fail to plan for our futures
Published on Monday, 5th November 2018.
Why do people love plane, train and bird spotting?
Published on Monday, 29th October 2018.
Nastaran Tavakoli-Far asks why women seek alternative ways to improve their health.
Published on Monday, 22nd October 2018.
Nastaran Tavakoli-Far on open secrets in religious organisations, businesses and families
Published on Monday, 15th October 2018.
What can the social media generation learn from the ancient art of persuasion?
Published on Monday, 8th October 2018.
Why do we get overwhelmed by caring about other people?
Published on Monday, 1st October 2018.
Feminist mothers share the complexities of bringing up a son and the conflicts that arise
Published on Monday, 24th September 2018.
A father can continue to influence a son long after they have stopped living together
Published on Monday, 17th September 2018.
Why is it we remember some facts easily, and others slip away?
Published on Monday, 10th September 2018.
We take a look at heartbreak and discuss why we suffer pain when a relationship ends.
Published on Monday, 3rd September 2018.
Why are we fascinated with Antarctica?
Published on Monday, 27th August 2018.
Why boredom can be quite interesting
Published on Monday, 20th August 2018.
Sailor Lesley Curwen asks why we are drawn to go to sea
Published on Monday, 13th August 2018.
How our love affair with the boat can be a deep and passionate attachment
Published on Monday, 6th August 2018.
Why is new tech a mixed blessing for female friendships?
Published on Monday, 30th July 2018.
Why do men crave friendships with other men?
Published on Tuesday, 24th July 2018.
Caz Graham finds out why people go to their school reunion.
Published on Monday, 16th July 2018.
Why do we divide the world into us and them?
Published on Monday, 9th July 2018.
How would you define your status in society? And why do some suffer status anxiety?
Published on Monday, 2nd July 2018.
Why do people want to fish when it is increasingly difficult?
Published on Monday, 25th June 2018.
Why has football becomes the world’s favourite team sport?
Published on Monday, 18th June 2018.
Why do so many people love landscapes like the English Lake District?
Published on Monday, 11th June 2018.
Why do we believe complete strangers can guide us in improving every aspect of our lives
Published on Monday, 4th June 2018.
Why do we have such a close and complex relationship with dogs?
Published on Monday, 28th May 2018.
Why do people chase immortality? We those who believe science is close to beating death
Published on Monday, 21st May 2018.
Why do people marry themselves, is it narcissism, or a bold step to finding happiness?
Published on Monday, 14th May 2018.
Why do people fall victims to online romance frauds
Published on Monday, 7th May 2018.
Why are we giving away our data so freely?
Published on Monday, 30th April 2018.
In the US, those least likely to be victims of gun violence are most likely to carry guns
Published on Monday, 23rd April 2018.
Why do people create and inhabit fantasy worlds?
Published on Monday, 16th April 2018.
Why do people dream of opening a restaurant? Is the reality anything like the fantasy?
Published on Monday, 9th April 2018.
Why is the order in which we are born seen as a key to our character?
Published on Monday, 2nd April 2018.
Why we need to think about machines and morals
Published on Monday, 26th March 2018.
Why do we look down on laziness?
Published on Monday, 19th March 2018.
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors of a men only club?
Published on Thursday, 15th March 2018.
Why do so many people love Dinosaurs?
Published on Monday, 5th March 2018.
Why do bullies do what they do?
Published on Monday, 26th February 2018.
Why do we rely on the interview process when it's proven to be ineffective?
Published on Monday, 19th February 2018.
The Why Factor asks why we need to understand more about pain.
Published on Monday, 12th February 2018.
Why would anyone allow a stranger to access their mind?
Published on Monday, 5th February 2018.
Why are more and more people giving up all food produced from animals?
Published on Monday, 29th January 2018.
Why do some sleep disorders turn normal dreams into terrifying nightmares?
Published on Monday, 22nd January 2018.
Why high levels of noise affects all of us and how to make our lives more tranquil
Published on Monday, 15th January 2018.
Around 2% of people claim they regularly hear voices in their heads. Are they all sick?
Published on Monday, 8th January 2018.
Bizarre bedtime behaviours that include a woman who went motorbiking while asleep
Published on Monday, 1st January 2018.
Catherine Carr asks why excessive drinking can sometimes seem to be socially acceptable
Published on Monday, 25th December 2017.
Why do so many societies demonise women by branding them witches?
Published on Monday, 18th December 2017.
Why we take courage from a crowd
Published on Monday, 11th December 2017.
Initiations can involve ordeals yet people put up with the pain. So why do we need them?
Published on Monday, 4th December 2017.
What politicians might learn from chimps and other primates about politics
Published on Monday, 27th November 2017.
Women apologise too much, men interrupt more. Are these stereotypes true?
Published on Monday, 20th November 2017.
Rhianna Dhillon finds out why so many films are dubbed into another language
Published on Monday, 13th November 2017.
Why do we visit sites of death, disaster and atrocity?
Published on Monday, 6th November 2017.
Why do some of us often feel like frauds?
Published on Monday, 30th October 2017.
Why do many of us find serial killers and their crimes so intriguing?
Published on Monday, 23rd October 2017.
Lucy Ash goes in search of her inner dolphin, as she asks why people hold their breath
Published on Monday, 16th October 2017.
Why do people decide to stay put when faced with a natural disaster?
Published on Monday, 9th October 2017.
Why is living space important and how much do we really need?
Published on Monday, 2nd October 2017.
Why would a woman choose to carry a baby for a complete stranger?
Published on Monday, 25th September 2017.
Why is it such an enduring concept and what does it mean in the modern world?
Published on Monday, 18th September 2017.
How much emphasis do we place on our jobs defining our identity?
Published on Monday, 11th September 2017.
Why do potentially life changing devices often feel so frustrating?
Published on Monday, 4th September 2017.
Why is storing and displaying human remains in museums contentious?
Published on Monday, 28th August 2017.
News has a powerful effect on people. But why do we have it? And what's it for?
Published on Monday, 21st August 2017.
Why do we eavesdrop?
Published on Monday, 14th August 2017.
Raising children is demanding, so why do we choose to raise other people’s children?
Published on Monday, 7th August 2017.
Lee Kumutat explores why deaf people are divided on the significance of Sign Language
Published on Monday, 31st July 2017.
Why do some people crave the limelight and what does it do to our bodies?
Published on Monday, 24th July 2017.
Why are men more violent than women?
Why do some people choose to remain childless?
Published on Monday, 10th July 2017.
Why do humans kiss?
Published on Monday, 3rd July 2017.
Why would anyone share their husband or wife with another partner?
Published on Monday, 26th June 2017.
Why do foreign migrants yearn to go home and does returning make them happy if they do?
Published on Monday, 19th June 2017.
Are exams a fair judge of ability and understanding, or just a memory test?
Published on Monday, 12th June 2017.
Why do some people cause physical pain to themselves as a way to manage their emotions?
Published on Monday, 5th June 2017.
In this Why Factor, Matthew Sweet asks who are we talking to when we talk to ourselves
Published on Monday, 29th May 2017.
Dotun Adebayo discovers why anyone does a job where lots of people hate you
Published on Monday, 22nd May 2017.
Are you a numbers person? Timandra Harkness explains how we get intimidated by numbers.
Published on Monday, 15th May 2017.
Why would anyone be a goth? What is the appeal of this dark and spooky subculture?
Published on Monday, 8th May 2017.
Shiulie Ghosh explains why we are all creatures of habits.
Published on Monday, 1st May 2017.
Why do some short people lie about their height?
Published on Monday, 24th April 2017.
Lane Greene explains how the words we choose can tell us a great deal about ourselves.
Published on Monday, 17th April 2017.
What lures people to delve deep beneath the earth, into the dark recesses underground?
Published on Monday, 10th April 2017.
Becky Milligan uncovers the secrets of applause and how it can be used to infect us all.
Published on Monday, 3rd April 2017.
Why do men all over the world crave these six bumps on their stomach?
Published on Monday, 27th March 2017.
Valley Fontaine asks why do we do yoga, and how has it become so popular?
Published on Friday, 24th March 2017.
Whether it is making or fixing something, why do we enjoy working with our hands?
Published on Friday, 10th March 2017.
Why is listening different from hearing? And how can we develop that skill?
Published on Friday, 3rd March 2017.
Why does this speech disorder cause so much shame amongst the millions affected by it?
Published on Friday, 24th February 2017.
Whether a toothy grin, a megawatt beam or a faint curve of the lips, why do we smile?
Published on Friday, 17th February 2017.
What is hypochondria, and why don’t we take this misunderstood malaise more seriously?
Published on Friday, 10th February 2017.
Does torture actually work, and can its use ever be justified?
Published on Friday, 3rd February 2017.
Why do some people choose to be frozen at death, hoping to be brought back to life?
Published on Friday, 27th January 2017.
Why do we feel regret – is it right to live with it, or should we get over our mistakes?
Published on Friday, 13th January 2017.
In the countries where it’s legal, why do people choose to bear arms?
Published on Saturday, 7th January 2017.
Why do some people take the law into their own hands?
Published on Friday, 30th December 2016.
From shopping lists to to-do lists – why do we make lists and what do they say about us?
Published on Thursday, 29th December 2016.
Could you forgive the person who killed your child or who raped or tortured you?
Published on Friday, 23rd December 2016.
Why does driving bring out the worst in some people?
Published on Friday, 16th December 2016.
Why did this type of aggressive behaviour evolve? And what purpose does it serve?
Published on Friday, 9th December 2016.
Why do we understand so little about female sexual pleasure?
Published on Monday, 5th December 2016.
Why do cities make us rude? What makes us behave so badly in urban areas?
Published on Friday, 25th November 2016.
Why are so many people obsessed with discovering their family origins?
Published on Friday, 18th November 2016.
Why do some people fill their homes and their lives with stuff?
Published on Friday, 11th November 2016.
Why do we make judgments about people without even realising?
Published on Friday, 4th November 2016.
Mike Williams asks why scientists and courts are so worried about eye-witness testimony
Published on Friday, 28th October 2016.
Why do we donate organs and will we still need to in the future?
Published on Friday, 21st October 2016.
Why do we write farewell letters? And how do we find the words to say goodbye?
Published on Friday, 14th October 2016.
Why do we feel so many different emotions when someone close to us dies?
Published on Friday, 7th October 2016.
Is it ever right to take a life? Mike Williams explores the dilemmas of assisted death.
Published on Friday, 30th September 2016.
What explains the success of the Hula-Hoop, Rubik’s Cube and Pokemon Go?
Published on Monday, 26th September 2016.
Why are we so fascinated with the superheroes which populate our comic books and movies?
Published on Friday, 23rd September 2016.
Why is it that we find some voices more annoying than others?
Published on Monday, 12th September 2016.
What do our voices reveal about ourselves?
Published on Friday, 2nd September 2016.
People are often labelled as shy, but introversion is very much misunderstood. Why?
Published on Friday, 26th August 2016.
The strange success of pets on the internet. Why?
Published on Friday, 19th August 2016.
What lies behind our often overwhelming fear of harmless animals?
Published on Friday, 12th August 2016.
Are we living in an age where messages of fear dominate and the truth goes unheard?
Published on Friday, 5th August 2016.
As auto-piloted cars begin tests Mike Williams asks if we will miss driving
Published on Friday, 29th July 2016.
Published on Friday, 22nd July 2016.
Mike Williams examines the Flynn Effect and finds out why we are all getting smarter.
Published on Friday, 15th July 2016.
Digital news is threatening newspapers, so why do they survive and what is their future?
Published on Friday, 8th July 2016.
Why are we attracted to some people and not to others?
Published on Monday, 27th June 2016.
What is loneliness and why do we feel it?
Published on Friday, 17th June 2016.
Mike Williams asks what exactly is a safe space?
Published on Monday, 13th June 2016.
Why do people copy famous works of art and who buys them?
Published on Friday, 10th June 2016.
Mike Williams asks why so many people want to be thin in a world grappling with obesity.
Published on Friday, 27th May 2016.
They help us in homes, hospitals and factories, so do we have reason to fear robots?
Published on Friday, 20th May 2016.
Mike Williams asks why some weeks just fly by but sometimes minutes can seem like hours?
Published on Friday, 13th May 2016.
To some statues pay homage to gods, to others they are attempts at immortalising man
Published on Friday, 6th May 2016.
What is the American Identity and why is it a portrait recognized around the world?
Published on Saturday, 30th April 2016.
What does the world see when it looks towards America?
Published on Friday, 29th April 2016.
Gemma Cairney explores our eclectic tastes in music and where those tastes come from
Published on Saturday, 23rd April 2016.
How America's sense of national identity is perceived by the American people
Published on Friday, 22nd April 2016.
Music fans and radio stations from Mexico to Myanmar explain the appeal of radio requests
Published on Friday, 15th April 2016.
Lee Kumutat asks why blind people must either be inspirational or deserving pity
Published on Friday, 8th April 2016.
The Why Factor examines one simple question: Who are you?
Published on Friday, 1st April 2016.
What is fanfiction and who writes it?
Published on Tuesday, 29th March 2016.
Mike Williams asks why supernatural beliefs have such a hold over different societies
Published on Friday, 18th March 2016.
Who are the magicians and why do they enjoy performing for us?
Published on Friday, 11th March 2016.
The Why Factor asks why some people believe in conspiracy theories and whether it matters.
Published on Friday, 4th March 2016.
Why do humans need to understand the infinite and the infinitesimal?
Published on Friday, 26th February 2016.
Why does pleasure and desire lead to addiction in some people but not others?
Published on Friday, 19th February 2016.
The science of pleasure and why we like the things that we like
Published on Friday, 12th February 2016.
What does water mean to us?
Published on Friday, 5th February 2016.
Examining the world of the Impersonators, con-artists and entertainers
Published on Friday, 29th January 2016.
Why does the age of consent for homosexual relationships differ?
Published on Friday, 22nd January 2016.
Angie Hobbs asks why do we want or need heroes?
Published on Friday, 15th January 2016.
Is hypocrisy part of the human condition?
Published on Friday, 8th January 2016.
Why do we hunt? Why kill animals when we no longer need to do so to eat?
Published on Friday, 1st January 2016.
Why do we succumb to 'Groupthink' and how do we overcome the urge to be part of a crowd
Published on Friday, 25th December 2015.
Published on Friday, 18th December 2015.
Author Jung Chang explains how the skirt was dangerous during the cultural revolution
Published on Friday, 11th December 2015.
Why does the tie symbolise a desire to belong and conform as well as individuality?
Published on Friday, 4th December 2015.
The suit, it’s survived for the three centuries. But what’s its appeal?
Published on Friday, 27th November 2015.
Mike Williams asks why these simple garments are so appealing
Published on Friday, 20th November 2015.
Why is private tutoring becoming so commonplace? And what impact does it have?
Published on Friday, 13th November 2015.
Why are food allergies increasing in the rich world?
Published on Friday, 6th November 2015.
How did the bicycle change the world?
Published on Friday, 30th October 2015.
How did the trainer become an acceptable item of clothing?
Published on Friday, 23rd October 2015.
Why do sports fans follow club teams, even when they may live thousands of miles away?
Published on Friday, 16th October 2015.
Why does commuting make us the people we are and how?
Published on Friday, 9th October 2015.
Graffiti is both an ancient and modern activity, but why do we do it?
Published on Friday, 2nd October 2015.
Despite all the new entertainments on offer, dolls endure. Why?
Published on Friday, 25th September 2015.
Why tea is the second most popular drink in the world after water.
Published on Friday, 18th September 2015.
Why do we have such a complicated relationship with the space we live in?
Published on Friday, 11th September 2015.
Where do Human Rights come from and how are they used?
Published on Friday, 4th September 2015.
An exploration of the meaning of sacrifice to mark the centenary of World War One
Published on Saturday, 29th August 2015.
Why do people give their lives for a nation? For a cause?
Published on Friday, 28th August 2015.
It’s something that will come to all of us. So why is it so hard to talk about death?
Published on Friday, 21st August 2015.
They hold our secrets, and preserve our memories, but why do we need diaries?
Published on Friday, 14th August 2015.
Mike Williams asks why do we leave the comfort of our homes to go travel?
Published on Friday, 7th August 2015.
Why is a home so important and how does it shape us?
Published on Monday, 3rd August 2015.
What is encryption and why do we do it?
Published on Friday, 24th July 2015.
Why do we lose the ability to do routine tasks under pressure?
Published on Friday, 17th July 2015.
How would you define yours and how much does it matter?
Published on Friday, 10th July 2015.
We have all used cash but what exactly is it and do we still need it?
Published on Friday, 3rd July 2015.
Why do some people expose themselves to risks and why are we so bad at assessing them?
Published on Friday, 26th June 2015.
The origins and history of chillies and why we eat a food that burns
Published on Friday, 19th June 2015.
What makes us draw, how do we get good at it and what do we reveal through our drawings?
Published on Friday, 12th June 2015.
How did beards evolve and what is their purpose?
Published on Wednesday, 10th June 2015.
Why do blue jeans have such global appeal?
Published on Friday, 29th May 2015.
How the Y chromosome transforms a female embryo to a male one
Published on Friday, 22nd May 2015.
Why does television have such a powerful influence on our lives?
Published on Friday, 15th May 2015.
What does collecting of inanimate objects bring to our lives?
Published on Friday, 8th May 2015.
Why do we use jargon?
Published on Friday, 1st May 2015.
Why do people try and project human qualities onto animals?
Published on Friday, 24th April 2015.
How did modern circuses develop? And why do they appeal to adults and children worldwide?
Published on Friday, 17th April 2015.
Does everyone’s mind wander? And why do we do it?
Published on Friday, 10th April 2015.
Every year, across the world, around a million people take their own lives. But why?
Published on Friday, 3rd April 2015.
At the mercy of people smugglers, how do refugees make their often perilous journeys?
Published on Saturday, 28th March 2015.
Why more than 50 countries around the world still execute certain criminals
Published on Saturday, 21st March 2015.
Why do we lose our memories, and why are there are some things we can not forget?
Published on Saturday, 14th March 2015.
Why do we love stories about criminals and the people who bring them to justice?
Published on Saturday, 7th March 2015.
Mike Williams asks why we build tall buildings
Published on Saturday, 28th February 2015.
Why do the rich want to get richer? What drives the wealthy to want more?
Published on Saturday, 21st February 2015.
Why do some people give the vast majority of their money away?
Published on Saturday, 14th February 2015.
Watches have been an indicator of status since their invention. Mike Williams asks why
Published on Saturday, 7th February 2015.
Sad music has become more popular according to a recent study. Why do people listen to it?
Published on Saturday, 31st January 2015.
From identity symbols to signalling tools, why human societies are fascinated by flags
Published on Saturday, 24th January 2015.
Mike Williams asks why are we loyal, and who are we really loyal to?
Published on Saturday, 17th January 2015.
Why do we want to capture human faces?
Published on Saturday, 10th January 2015.
Why has the moon fascinated humans from every culture and for all time?
Published on Saturday, 3rd January 2015.
People have fought for it and died for it. Why is this notion so powerful?
Published on Saturday, 27th December 2014.
Why do we use perfume and what does it say about us?
Published on Saturday, 20th December 2014.
Why do we share? And, what happens inside our brains when we do?
Published on Saturday, 13th December 2014.
Why does the naked human form provoke such strong reactions?
Published on Saturday, 6th December 2014.
Why do we cook food rather than just eat it raw?
Published on Saturday, 29th November 2014.
The disappearing art of the hand-written letter and three stories of love
Published on Saturday, 22nd November 2014.
Why do we read, or write poetry, as opposed to prose?
Published on Saturday, 15th November 2014.
How we remember the dead, and why does it matter?
Published on Saturday, 8th November 2014.
How do we remember the dead and why does it matter?
Published on Thursday, 6th November 2014.
How has the 1500-year-old game mirrored politics and changes in society?
Published on Saturday, 1st November 2014.
What is embarrassment, why do we feel it and is it a good thing? Mike Williams finds out
Published on Friday, 24th October 2014.
Is Karma fatalism or guidance on how to improve your life?
Published on Friday, 17th October 2014.
Why do we place so much trust in brands? And who benefits from them?
Published on Friday, 10th October 2014.
Why is it so hard to pin down what we mean by charisma?
Published on Friday, 3rd October 2014.
History’s greatest rivals, and the creative and destructive sides of rivalry
Published on Friday, 26th September 2014.
Would you risk your life for a stranger?
Published on Friday, 19th September 2014.
What brings people out into the streets to take direct action against the powerful?
Published on Friday, 12th September 2014.
Celebrating the 100th edition of The Why Factor
Published on Friday, 5th September 2014.
Why do people have gardens and do gardening?
Published on Friday, 29th August 2014.
Why do we like to gossip – and is it good for us?
Published on Friday, 22nd August 2014.
Why do so many people claim to see ghosts?
Published on Friday, 15th August 2014.
Associated with morality, modesty, politics and religion why is chastity so complicated?
Published on Friday, 8th August 2014.
Why do we go on pilgrimages?
Published on Friday, 1st August 2014.
Why do we go on long walks? Mike Williams finds out
Published on Friday, 25th July 2014.
Published on Friday, 18th July 2014.
Why do we say sorry – and what do we really mean by it?
Published on Friday, 11th July 2014.
What is coincidence and why do we attach meaning to it?
Published on Friday, 4th July 2014.
The power of patriotism from WW1 to today and truths and myths of the modern nation state
Published on Friday, 27th June 2014.
What do our accents say about us? Why do they matter?
Published on Friday, 20th June 2014.
Why is making eye contact so important?
Published on Friday, 13th June 2014.
Mike Williams asks why the fool or jester has been an important figure in many cultures
Published on Friday, 6th June 2014.
How to get ahead in diplomacy, from negotiations to polite language and secret code words
Published on Friday, 30th May 2014.
Why are we competitive? Is it a natural instinct?
Published on Friday, 23rd May 2014.
Why does symmetry exist and why do we see such beauty in it?
Published on Friday, 16th May 2014.
What makes snippets of popular songs go round and round in our heads?
Published on Friday, 9th May 2014.
Published on Friday, 2nd May 2014.
Does luck exist and does believing in luck help or hinder us in life?
Published on Friday, 25th April 2014.
Why do we read horoscopes?
Published on Friday, 18th April 2014.
Why are people racist and judged by the colour of their skin?
Published on Friday, 11th April 2014.
Why do we get bored and what does it say about how we engage with the world around us?
Published on Friday, 4th April 2014.
What is envy and why can it be dangerously destructive or make us strive for success?
Published on Friday, 28th March 2014.
Why does movement move us?
Published on Friday, 21st March 2014.
Could your last name determine your career? Mike Williams explains
Published on Friday, 14th March 2014.
Everyone has one, but what do names say about us?
Published on Friday, 7th March 2014.
Why is privacy so important to us?
Published on Friday, 28th February 2014.
Why the production and consumption of coffee matters so much around the globe
Published on Friday, 21st February 2014.
Why are our feelings about trees so mixed? Mike Williams explains
Published on Friday, 14th February 2014.
Why is adolescence so difficult?
Published on Friday, 7th February 2014.
How do different cultures view physical contact in everyday life?
Published on Friday, 31st January 2014.
Why does homosexuality exist? Is it nature or nurture? Mike Williams and guests discuss
Published on Friday, 24th January 2014.
Tracing the power and use of masks and what they mean for us culturally
Published on Friday, 17th January 2014.
Why do so many people drink alcohol? And why do some struggle to control it?
Published on Friday, 10th January 2014.
In the UK, running is increasing in popularity. So why are we running now more than ever?
Published on Friday, 3rd January 2014.
Fritz Haber harnessed nitrogen to feed billions, but was also the pioneer of gas warfare
Published on Friday, 27th December 2013.
How the way we borrow and lend money is changing
Published on Friday, 20th December 2013.
Artist Grayson Perry, a train driver and a detective novelist on why they cross dress
Published on Friday, 13th December 2013.
Crying emotional tears is uniquely human but why do we do it?
Published on Friday, 6th December 2013.
Where did the fascination with elevated footwear come from? Why wear high heels?
Published on Friday, 29th November 2013.
How far can or should we pursue solitude?
Published on Friday, 22nd November 2013.
They represent power, they can generate fear, but why do we have secrets?
Published on Friday, 15th November 2013.
Why do some people have a darker outlook on life while others have a brighter one?
Published on Friday, 8th November 2013.
How different cultures define telling the truth
Published on Saturday, 2nd November 2013.
Why are we obsessed with speed? Mike Williams investigates.
Published on Friday, 25th October 2013.
Why do we bully, why do some do it and others allow it?
Published on Friday, 18th October 2013.
Why some words have such power to shock and offend
Published on Friday, 11th October 2013.
Burial is a practice that’s been carried out for centuries – but why do we do it?
Published on Friday, 4th October 2013.
Why do we look back and yearn for the past, or recall sweet memories of our youth?
Published on Friday, 27th September 2013.
Published on Friday, 20th September 2013.
Why people choose to abstain from food for religious - and non-religious - reasons
Published on Friday, 13th September 2013.
How human memory works and why some memories are remembered more easily than others
Published on Friday, 6th September 2013.
The history of hair removal and what it tells us about notions of female beauty
Published on Friday, 30th August 2013.
Does true love have to be monogamous? We hear three very modern love stories.
Published on Friday, 23rd August 2013.
Why has the modern world become so obsessed with celebrity culture?
Published on Friday, 16th August 2013.
What draws people to mountains and take risks scaling dangerous peaks?
Published on Friday, 9th August 2013.
What explains our enduring attraction to violent entertainment?
Published on Friday, 2nd August 2013.
Why are attitudes towards older people often so negative?
Published on Friday, 26th July 2013.
What motivates people to decorate their bodies with ink?
Published on Friday, 19th July 2013.
Why are we fascinated with fire and what do myths tell us about how we view its power?
Published on Friday, 12th July 2013.
Why do humans live in cities? And, what are the pros and cons of the modern metropolis?
Published on Friday, 5th July 2013.
The second of two programmes looking at why we bathe: the rituals and practices.
Published on Friday, 21st June 2013.
Why can the ubiquitous act of bathing mean so many different things for different people?
Published on Friday, 14th June 2013.
The compelling attractions of the sea through literature and science
Published on Friday, 7th June 2013.
Why millions of women - and some men - paint their faces
Published on Friday, 31st May 2013.
Why play with a ball? Mike Williams finds out how ball games first evolved
Published on Friday, 24th May 2013.
Why do we lie? How do different cultures define telling the truth?
Published on Friday, 17th May 2013.
Why do we experience disgust?
Published on Friday, 10th May 2013.
Why do we live with cats and dogs?
Published on Friday, 3rd May 2013.
Why are we so fascinated by gold?
Published on Friday, 26th April 2013.
Singing is a way of bringing people together, expressing joy or sadness. Why do we sing?
Published on Friday, 19th April 2013.
Published on Friday, 12th April 2013.
Published on Friday, 5th April 2013.
Why do we retire?
Published on Saturday, 30th March 2013.
The second of two programmes about humans and sleep.
Published on Friday, 22nd March 2013.
The first of two programmes which looks at human behaviour and sleep.
Published on Friday, 15th March 2013.
What role does silence play in our lives and why can it be so poignant or so awkward?
Published on Friday, 8th March 2013.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and why is it so controversial?
Published on Saturday, 2nd March 2013.
We all have memories but do we share some of those, socially or collectively? If so, why?
Published on Friday, 22nd February 2013.
Why has the open plan office become the norm in many places, despite the distractions?
Published on Friday, 15th February 2013.
Mike Williams peers into the world of black and asks why it has so many different meanings
Published on Friday, 8th February 2013.
Why do we behave differently when we are in a large crowd?
Published on Saturday, 2nd February 2013.
Mike Williams explores the myths and mysteries of the mirror
Published on Saturday, 26th January 2013.
Why are the men of Bukom in Accra so good at boxing?
Published on Friday, 18th January 2013.
Where did the fascination with elevated footwear come from and what do they tell us?
Published on Friday, 11th January 2013.
Why have we forgotten Fritz Haber?
Published on Friday, 4th January 2013.
The strange customs and conduct that make up ‘good manners’. Where do they come from?
Published on Friday, 28th December 2012.
The Sackman - a very different Father Christmas
Published on Friday, 21st December 2012.
Why do we find the beat of the drum so intoxicating?
Published on Friday, 14th December 2012.
Why do some of us enjoy and endure fear, horror and suspense?
Published on Friday, 7th December 2012.
What is fear? Are our fears universal and how do we go about facing our fears?
Published on Saturday, 1st December 2012.
What changes when taps come to town? Mike Williams travels to Ghana.
Published on Friday, 23rd November 2012.
The weird world of the colour blue.
Published on Friday, 16th November 2012.
Why do different cultures mark the advent of adulthood at different ages?
Published on Friday, 9th November 2012.
Millions of us use this gesture but where does this everyday ritual come from?
Published on Friday, 2nd November 2012.
Why do we care so much about the hair on our heads? Join Mike Williams to find out why.
Published on Friday, 26th October 2012.
What is it that actually triggers our laughter, do all of us find the same things funny?
Published on Friday, 19th October 2012.
The history and design of the bullet and why people use them
Published on Friday, 12th October 2012.
In this week's programme Mike Williams looks at why people start smoking.
Published on Friday, 5th October 2012.
This week, the lift. Why do we behave so oddly inside them?
Published on Friday, 28th September 2012.
Why do we do the things we do? This week, Mike Williams asks why we wear neckties.
Published on Monday, 24th September 2012.
Mike Williams on where tattoos come from and what they say about us.
Published on Friday, 14th September 2012.
