Mysteries of Science
73 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 88 ratingsThe team behind The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine investigate unexplained phenomenon with the help of expert guests.
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Episodes
Dinosaurs
April 26, 2024 07:32 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBThis week we're investigating a mystery requested by one of our listeners – could dinosaurs still walk among us? These terrible lizards went extinct after an asteroid hit Earth 66 million years ago, but is there more the story? Join us and some expert guests as we find out whether or not we're walking with dinosaurs... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How to read minds
April 11, 2024 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBStevie and Michael dive into the topic of telepathy – the (supposed) strange ability to transmit thoughts or read minds! Joining the team to probe the psychic powers of the human mind are emeritus professor Chris French, and journalist and author Kathryn Hulick. We chat about Elon Musk's futuristic Neuralink project, which claims to be able to harness the power of the brain, and hear the story of a clever horse. Are you ready for things to get weird? See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...
The Big Bang theory
March 29, 2024 00:00 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBHosts Dan and Michael kick off this new season of Mysteries of Science with a Big Bang: the theory that explains the origin of the universe. Fred Hoyle coined the term to mock a theory he didn't believe in. Now, expert guests Dr. Maggie Lieu and Ethan Siegel shed light on the Big Bang theory and its evidence – and what might happen next... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Your Mysteries
March 01, 2024 12:00 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBIt's a Mysteries of Science season finale! In this episode, Michael and Dan tackle some of your biggest mysteries including ones about intelligent species and the first ever living organisms. We even have an answer from the one and only Professor Brian Cox! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Octopuses
February 16, 2024 00:00 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MBWe're going under the sea and chatting to top tentacle geniuses in the form of Chris Packham and friends as we investigate the mystery of octopuses... There's something incredibly unique about these eight-legged creatures that's got us suckered. Can Dan and Michael get to the bottom of it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dark Matter
February 02, 2024 00:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MBJenny and Michael venture into the cosmos to unravel the secrets of dark matter. As astronomers observe stars and galaxies moving under the influence of an unseen force, we ask: What is dark matter? Why can't we see it? And just how much of the universe does it comprise? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Time Machines
January 19, 2024 00:00 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBWe're going back to the future in a brand new episode of Mysteries of Science, investigating the antikythera mechanism – a strange artefact from the past that looks like it could be made today! Plus, we're telling you how to add to the Fun Kids Time Capsule. Enter online at https://funkidslive.com/timemachine See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BONUS: Mysteries of Science Christmas Cracker
December 22, 2023 00:00 - 15 minutes - 14 MBIt's a Christmas special of Mysteries of Science! We're recapping the best bits of 2023 and diving into the archive, playing some previously unheard bits from past interviews. Thanks for spending the year with us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ötzi the Iceman
December 08, 2023 00:00 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBTwo hikers stumble upon something in the ice: a mummy. Over the next few days, the mummy's extracted and examined by experts. It turns out to be 5,000 years old. Who was this person? How did they get there? And what can we learn from the body in the ice? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Immortality
November 24, 2023 00:00 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MBIs it possible to live forever? Expert guests author Ross Welford and biologist María Pascual Torner unlock the secrets to turning back time. Could a jellyfish hold the key to anti-aging? What would the world be like if nobody died? We find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Teleportation
November 10, 2023 07:39 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBCartoonist Dr. Jorge Cham and author Kathryn Hulick investigate the mystery of teleportation. Is it possible to travel somewhere else in the blink of an eye? Dan and Michael investigate what might be possible, from robots in other cities to 3D printing people and even ferrying information across the universe in a flash. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Slime
October 27, 2023 10:12 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MBMichael, Jenny, and a team of top experts investigate one of the stickiest, gungiest mysteries we’ve ever explored: slime. From snails to slippery fish, the gang get to the bottom of this gooey, gloopy, natural puzzle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Your Space Mysteries
October 05, 2023 23:00 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBMichael and Jenny sit down with top scientists to talk about some of the most mind-bending mysteries in the universe — quite literally. This time, we’re answering your most pressing space-themed questions, including what shape the space is, and whether aliens might be on Jupiter’s moon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Deepfakes
September 21, 2023 23:00 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBThey look, sound, and might even move like someone you know – but they're not. Deepfakes are images, videos, and audio recordings that are increasingly used to trick people. Michael and Dan enter the mirror world and try to decipher what's real and what's deepfake. How can you tell the difference? And what does the future look (and sound) like in a world where we can't be sure of what's right in front of us? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Beast of Exmoor
September 07, 2023 23:00 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MBTales of a strange creature loping around the British countryside have existed for quite some time but is there any truth in them? Michael and Jenny investigate stories of a beast in Exmoor... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is magic real?
August 24, 2023 23:00 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBThe team behind Mysteries of Science present a very special episode, recorded live at Cheltenham Science Festival, all about magic and whether or not it's real! You can watch some of the tricks featured in this episode at sciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk/magic! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BONUS: The Space Programme
August 06, 2023 23:00 - 8 minutes - 8.09 MBFun Kids, the UK's children's radio station, has a brand new series called The Space Programme? Life on the Isle of Lune is about to get out-of-this-world! It's a radio drama all about a brand new UK spaceport and the story of a soon-to-be child-astronaut. Hear The Space Programme every Friday from 4pm on Fun Kids, the UK's children's radio station, and as a podcast too. Plus, Fun Kids Podcasts+ subscribers get all 20 episodes right now, ad-free! Listen to the whole series before anyone...
Why do we laugh?
July 28, 2023 16:00 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBKnock, knock. Who's there? Another episode of Mysteries of Science! This week, Michael and Dan explore the mystery of laughter. Find out where laugher comes from and why it's surprisingly good for us. Plus, we're joined by top comedian Olaf Falafel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Secrets of Sharks
July 14, 2023 05:00 - 19 minutes - 18 MBMichael and Jenny dip their toes into a brand new mystery, exploring the secrets of sharks – and discover that what lies beneath the surface might not be all that sinister after all... 🦈 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
UFOs
June 30, 2023 06:24 - 18 minutes - 16.5 MBIs it a bird? Is it a plane? If you're not sure, it's a UFO! With World UFO Day right around the corner, Michael and Dan explore the mysteries of Unidentified Flying Objects. Could these ariel phenomena be aliens from another planet or could it be something more easily explained? We're also launching a podcast survey for parents and guardians to help us better understand our listeners. It's 24 questions and will take just 10 minutes. You can also enter a prize draw to win a £50 Amazon gift...
Can you run as fast as The Flash?
June 16, 2023 06:55 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBBarry Allen – The Flash – can run pretty fast... but can you? Kicking off season six of Mysteries of Science, Michael and Dan chat to top experts from a fitness trainer to a physics professor to try and work out what the speed limit of the human body is. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Talking animals and dinosaurs coming back to life (Your mysteries answered)
May 05, 2023 11:29 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBIt's the end of Season 5 of Mysteries of Science and we've had a blast! In this final episode, the team answer mysteries you are desperate to know the answers to... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Weird Weather
April 21, 2023 11:00 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBMeteorologist Kirsty McCabe and author Tamsin Mori sit down with Michael and Stevie to talk about weird weather. From lightning that looks like carrots to the perfect conditions for rainbow spotting, we're asking 'why is the weather so weird?' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do you have a double?
April 07, 2023 11:00 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBDo you have a lookalike – someone that looks just like you, but isn't actually you? In this episode of Mysteries of Science, we're exploring doppelgängers: people who look remarkably alike! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Was King Arthur a real person?
March 24, 2023 12:16 - 21 minutes - 20 MBYou’ve heard the legends — of the sword in the stone and the Knights of the Round Table — but how much of that is fact? Dan and Michael investigate the legend of King Arthur. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Quantum Weirdness
February 24, 2023 12:00 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBStevie and Michael are entering the realm of quantum physics in this episode of Mysteries of Science! It's all to celebrate the release of the new Ant-Man film. But what exactly is 'quantum physics' anyway? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mountains of The Deep
February 10, 2023 12:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBDeep beneath the ocean exist vast mountain ranges, some of which are bigger than the ones above water! To celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 10th 2023), we're looking at one very special person – Marie Tharp – and her quest to map the mountains of the deep... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Abominable Snowman
January 27, 2023 12:45 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBStories of wild giants living in the snow are part of growing up in the mountains. There’s a good chance you’ve heard these stories too; tales of large bipedal creatures (an animal that walks on two legs) living within the foothills of the Himalayan mountains have been around for over 2,000 years... What is this creature? And is it really possible such a giant might exist? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Humans' secret superpower
January 13, 2023 12:00 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MBHumans. We're everywhere! But how did we become the most advanced species on the planet and what is it about humankind that makes us stand out from the rest? Dan and Michael investigate in a brand new season of Mysteries of Science. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Christmas Bonus episode: How? What? Why? Expert Answers to Crazy Questions Live at Cheltenham Literature Festival
December 23, 2022 00:00 - 55 minutes - 50.8 MBMaggie Aderin-Pocock, Isabel Thomas, and Peter Gallivan answer some crazy questions live on stage at Cheltenham Literature Festival 2022, in this bonus Christmas edition of Mysteries of Science. See you in the new year for a BRAND NEW SERIES of Mysteries of Science. Until then – stay curious! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Your Mysteries: Chicken or the egg, wormholes, and more
December 09, 2022 00:00 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBWhat came first, the chicken or the egg? It's a question that's puzzled people for centuries – including you! Dan and Michael sit down and answer some of your biggest mysteries of 2023. Do you have a mystery for us? Tell us at FunKidsLive.com and you might hear yourself in a future episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Inside the pyramids
November 25, 2022 16:00 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBThey’re the most recognisable symbols of Ancient Egypt and the only ancient wonder still in existence. Although some of the secrets of the pyramids have been unearthed, the Great Pyramid still holds many mysteries… Dan and Stevie chat to some top Egyptologists to find out more about them and discover a mysterious void located inside. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Climate change
November 11, 2022 12:00 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBRight now, world leaders are gathering in Egypt at the COP27 climate conference to discuss what can be done about climate change... The planet's environment is changing and the safe conditions in which we can live are at risk. But what is climate change? What's causing these changing weather patterns? And is there anything we can do about it? Dan and Michael chat to experts to find out these answers and speak to climate activists on the frontline of the fight for a better future. See omn...
Ghost busting
October 28, 2022 11:00 - 19 minutes - 18 MBHalloween's upon us and that means lots of creepy, spooky goings on... right? Michael and Stevie chat to Chris French and paranormal investigator Yvette Fielding about the supernatural world and whether or not ghosts actually exist... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Looking for Atlantis
October 14, 2022 11:00 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBAtlantis. Just saying the name fills you with a sense of adventure. But where is it? And could a city really have sunk without a trace? Michael and Dan go looking for Atlantis with the help of Cinzia and David... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is your computer smarter than you?
September 30, 2022 11:00 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBYou might have heard of something called AI – which stands for Artificial intelligence. Smart machines have featured in a lot of movies and popped up in the news lately but what is it exactly? How does it work? And could computers become so smart that they could do everything for us humans? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is luck real?
September 16, 2022 11:00 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBWhat’s considered lucky might be different depending on where you live and who you are. But what is luck exactly and does luck actually exist? Or is it just something we’ve made up? Two top professors and famous illusionist Derren Brown tackle whether luck is real or not... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is time travel possible?
September 02, 2022 06:00 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBFor many of us, what we know about time travel comes from stories, whether those be books, films or TV shows where characters go from the present to the past to the future and then back again. But is it possible to time travel outside the world of fiction? Tim Peake, Karen Inglis and Ron Mallett sit down with Stevie and Michael to find out whether time travel is possible... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Shapeshifters
July 22, 2022 11:00 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBFantasy creatures that can morph and change their shape, size and appearance are known as shapeshifters... Creatures like werewolves, vampires, and even the Incredible Hulk are examples of this. Shapeshifting is something that’s captured the human imagination for centuries – with many classic stories about shapeshifting creatures – some real and others imaginary. But is it actually possible? And if so, how? Mysteries of Science is a multi-award-winning, fortnightly podcast created by Th...
Children raised by animals
July 08, 2022 09:52 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBYou might be familiar with the story of Tarzan or Romulus and Remus, the children who founded Rome. But did you know there are also real-life stories of children being raised by animals? That’s our mystery today – we're going to investigate these tales of so-called 'feral children' and find out whether or not it would actually be possible to be raised by animals. Mysteries of Science is a multi-award-winning, fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine and Fu...
The Lost City (Machu Picchu)
June 24, 2022 09:18 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBWe’re going high up into the Peruvian Andes in South America, more than 2,000 metres above sea level, to the ancient lost city of Machu Picchu, one of the world’s most spectacular places. It was named one of the seven wonders of the modern world in 2007. But it’s also one of the most mysterious. Who really built this awesome citadel and what it was used for has puzzled people for a long time... Mysteries of Science is a multi-award-winning, fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's ...
What did dinosaurs look like?
June 10, 2022 11:00 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MBThink you know about dinosaurs? Think again! Hollywood movies have lied to you. Are dinosaurs big, scaly creatures with tremendous roars? Maybe... Or, as Michael and Stevie discover in this episode of Mysteries of Science, perhaps they were feathered and sounded more like birds... Mysteries of Science is a multi-award-winning, fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine and Fun Kids. Tap follow or subscribe wherever you're listening to this to make sure you...
Is something eating the universe? (Black holes)
May 27, 2022 12:01 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MBBlack holes are small regions of space where a great amount of matter is packed in and their gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light can escape. But what’s inside a black hole? What would happen to someone if they got sucked in? And are they eating up the universe? Mysteries of Science is a multi-award-winning, fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine and Fun Kids. Tap follow or subscribe wherever you're listening to this to make sure ...
Why can't I remember being a baby?
May 13, 2022 04:00 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBHow far back can you remember? I bet you can't remember being a baby. Most people can't and it's a total mystery as to why. Why does this happen? Where did my memories go? And is there any way we can get them back? In this episode, Michael and Dan chat to experts Sally and Carole about where our earliest childhood memories go and whether there's any way we can re-remember them. Mysteries of Science is a multi-award-winning, fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature ...
Kraken
April 29, 2022 11:00 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBWhat’s got loads of tentacles and, according to legend, snacks on gigantic sailing ships? It’s not a trick question and it’s no joke either. The answer is one of the most mythical sea creatures of all, an animal so enormous that it's rumoured to have sunk ocean vessels and terrorised sailors for centuries. It’s known as the Kraken. Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine and Fun Kids. Tap follow or subscribe wherever you're listen...
The Kraken
April 29, 2022 11:00 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBWhat’s got loads of tentacles and, according to legend, snacks on gigantic sailing ships? It’s not a trick question and it’s no joke either. The answer is one of the most mythical sea creatures of all, an animal so enormous that it's rumoured to have sunk ocean vessels and terrorised sailors for centuries. It’s known as the Kraken. Mysteries of Science is a multi-award-winning, fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine and Fun Kids. Tap follow or subscribe ...
Mystery of the Moai (Easter Island heads)
April 14, 2022 23:00 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBWe're heading to one of the world's most isolated and mysterious places – Easter Island! That's what a group of Dutch explorers called Rapa Nui when they came across the island on Easter Sunday in 1722. Rapa Nui is home to around a thousand large stone statues which have faces carved into them – called moai. People from outside the island have long wondered how its original inhabitants could have built these statues and what purpose they serve... Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly pod...
Biggest Hoaxes Ever: Fairies, crop circles, zero gravity
April 01, 2022 00:00 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBWelcome to Season 3 of Mysteries of Science! On this podcast we take a look at the strange phenomena and bizarre events that have left scientists scratching their heads and, despite their best efforts, remain well and truly unsolved. Since this brand new series is being released on April Fool’s Day, we thought we would celebrate by looking at three of the biggest hoaxes of all time, and try and get to the bottom of why so many people fell for the pranks. Mysteries of Science is a fortnigh...
Your mysteries answered
March 04, 2022 12:00 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBWe're finishing the second season of Mysteries of Science by looking at some of your mysteries. From unicorns to black holes and even the Big Bang, we're looking at some of the stuff that's thoroughly perplexed you and are on the hunt for answers! This episode might finish Season 2 but it doesn't spell the end of Mysteries of Science. We'll be back soon and looking at some of the most mind bending stuff in the universe. Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Jun...
The Overview Effect
February 18, 2022 17:07 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBAstronauts who have been far enough to see Earth from the stars often come back expressing a very peculiar feeling. It has become such a phenomenon that it now has its own name: The Overview Effect. Some get a feeling of interconnectedness while others get a feeling of awe. International Space Station astronaut Nicole Stott describes an overwhelming feeling of beauty. Today, Michael and Dan investigate. Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+N...