A Question of Science

Our biological sex affects every cell in our body, so how does it influence our health - from embryo development through to the risk of disease and diagnosis? How and why do some conditions affect females and males differently? And what can we do to ensure medicine is safe and effective for everyone, after decades of male biology bias? Across autoimmune disorders, cancer, dementia, heart disease and even responses to everyday medications, sex‑based biological differences can shape who becomes ill, how symptoms appear and what treatments work. Join our expert panel as they explore sex differences in biology, hormones and gene regulation. Panel: Prof Edith Heard, CEO of the Francis Crick Institute Natasha Karp, Biostatistician at Astra Zeneca Prof Petter Brodin, Garfield Weston chair of Neonatology and Professor of Paediatric Immunology, Imperial College, London Caroline Criado Perez, Author of Invisible Women See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do people become addicted? When does a habit turn into self harm and what makes recovery so hard? From drugs and alcohol to gambling and social media, join our panel of experts as they explore the causes of addiction, what it looks like in the brain and potential new treatments, including psychedelic therapies. Panel: Prof Sally Marlow: Professor of Public Understanding of Mental Health at KCL Matt Willis: Musician/actor and podcaster in recovery from addictions Dr Nicky Kalk: Psychiatrist and addiction specialist at Maudsley NHS Trust Prof David Nutt: Director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Imperial College, London See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is AI revolutionising medicine and drug discovery and could it really improve diagnosis and treatment for everyone? Could the role of doctors and nurses change forever, with AI taking care of admin and analysis at the touch of a button? Can we trust it to safeguard our health and our personal data – and who gets to control it? Join a panel of experts as they answer your questions and explore how AI is rapidly changing medicine and healthcare, now and in the future. Panel: Prof Mihaela van der Schaar: Chief AI Scientist, The Francis Crick Institute Dr Indra Joshi: Chief Product Officer, Optum UK Lord Patrick Vallance: Former Minister of State for Science Prof Samra Turajlic: Group Leader, Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute and Director, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Question of Science is back - with free tickets to live recordings available now! Join Professor Brian Cox in person and put your questions to a panel of leading scientists and experts on a huge range of topics. We’ll be exploring how A.I. is changing medicine, what’s really happening inside the teenage brain, how can science help save our oceans, beat superbugs, tackle addiction, and what elite sport science can teach us about human strength and endurance. The series is being recorded in June and July at the Francis Crick Institute in London, one of the world’s leading centres for biomedical research. To book your tickets visit: crick.ac.uk/tickets See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of ancient DNA, with two experts returning to answer more of your questions. How far can we go back in time using DNA? How accurate is ancient DNA when it comes to understanding our past? Why was diversity in DNA vital for the survival of early humans? Do we really share 60% of our genetic code with bananas? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of fertility, with a panel of returning experts answering more of your questions. Should we sequence the DNA of embryos and use A.I. to choose which to implant? Are ultra-processed foods and microplastics really effecting fertility? And will new technologies mean humans could one day reproduce like squid? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of global warming and how society should adapt, with two experts returning to answer more of your questions. Will new green technologies really help us reach net zero? What is solar forcing? Which regions of the planet will become uninhabitable and when? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of cancer, with a panel of returning experts answering more of your questions. Do tumours communicate with the brain, is glucose carcinogenic and could our immune system’s natural killer cells be used to combat cancer? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of nutrition, with a panel of returning experts answering more of your questions. What is food noise, what is the impact of artificial sweeteners on the gut and why do many women turn from a pear to an apple shape during menopause? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of ageing, with two experts returning to answer more of your questions. How do men and women age differently? Why is it healthy to forget things? What’s the latest research on regenerating old cells? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing More Questions of Science – bite-size episodes where we revisit some of the biggest ideas from the first 12 episodes of the series and take the conversation even further. Professor Brian Cox will be in his home studio, catching up with some of the expert panellists from earlier in the series. Together, they’ll tackle your follow-up questions, explore new angles and go deeper into the topics that sparked your curiosity. And because science never stops, we’ll also bring you the latest breakthroughs, discoveries and developments. Send your follow up questions on cancer, fertility, ageing, ancient DNA, climate change and nutrition to the team: aquestionofscience@bbc.co.uk More Questions of Science arrives on YouTube and podcast platforms in early 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the frontier of human bioengineering and building, replacing, and enhancing our bodies. Will we ever have bionic brains and cloned humans? Is there a danger of science fiction getting too close for comfort? From mechanical implants to lab-grown organs to whether humans could evolve to live in space, the discussion delves into what’s possible today and where science might take us next. Panellists Mark Pollock – Explorer, motivational speaker and Chairman of Collaborative Cures George Malliaras – Prince Philip Professor of Technology, University of Cambridge Madeline Lancaster – Group Leader, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology Robin Lovell-Badge – Group Leader, Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/buildahuman A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute. Music by John Biddle ©…

Professor Brian Cox and an expert panel explore the elusive science of consciousness – what it is, how it arises, whether it can be observed in the brain, and the most compelling theories explaining it. In a deep, often mind-bending discussion, the panel tackles the many ways of interpreting consciousness itself, and how fields like psychophysics can be used to quantify imagination and perception. With questions from the audience, the conversation delves into hallucinations and reality, how memory helps to build identity, and whether AI could ever be conscious too. Panellists Anil Seth – Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, University of Sussex Katharina Schmack – Consultant Psychiatrist and Group Leader, Neural Circuits and Immunity in Psychosis Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute Steve Fleming – Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL Alex O’Connor – Host of ‘Within Reason’ podcast Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website:…

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel dive into the complex world of diet, nutrition and food choices. With new probiotic and high-protein products appearing on supermarket shelves every day and conflicting nutritional advice coming from every direction, it’s difficult to cut through the noise when it comes to what we eat. Our panel uses expertise from their roles as nutritionists, geneticists, gastroenterologists and policymakers to answer audience questions about food advertising, wellness advice, and whether it’s really possible – or worthwhile – to avoid food ‘additives’. Panellists Giles Yeo – Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Christina Vogel – Professor in Food Policy and Director of the Centre for Food Policy, City St George’s, University of London Saliha Mahmood Ahmed – Gastroenterologist and MasterChef winner, 2017 Nita Forouhi – Professor of Population Health and Nutrition, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge Watch the…

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the science of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other conditions that cause dementia. More than 55 million people around the world are living with dementia, with the number set to rise in ageing populations. How close are we to effective, affordable treatments? What are the genetic risks? Can we prevent it developing? The panel takes a deep dive into dementia research and where it’s headed, from early detection to the latest drug trials and whether diet, exercise or even doing puzzles like Sudoku really make a difference. Panellists Bart de Strooper – Professor and Group Leader, Cellular Phase of Alzheimer’s Disease Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute and UK Dementia Research Institute Julie Williams – Professor and Group Leader, Cardiff University and UK Dementia Research Institute Rory Cellan-Jones – Health and technology writer and presenter of the Movers and Shakers podcast Sonia Gandhi – Professor of Neurology, UCL, Assistant Research Director, Francis Crick…

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the science of fertility. Making babies is big business but our scientific understanding of fertilisation, pregnancy and embryo development is surprisingly limited. In this episode, our panel discuss emerging technologies that could shape the future of fertility and tackle audience questions on declining sperm counts, egg freezing and the ethics of genetic screening. Panellists: Joyce Harper – Professor of Reproductive Science, UCL Gunes Taylor – Molecular Biologist, University of Edinburgh Naomi Moris – Group Leader, Developmental Models Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute Lucy van de Wiel – Senior Lecturer in Global Health & Social Medicine, King’s College London Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/fertility A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute Music by John Biddle © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Brian Cox and an expert panel tackle the technology, politics and ethics of space exploration. From space tourism to the search for life on Mars, space is a rapidly expanding, multi-trillion-pound global industry, driven by scientific, commercial and often political goals. But what are the rules of space and who makes them? In this episode, the panel answers audience questions on how Earth’s geopolitics are reflected in space, when asteroid mining might become a reality, and whether those star-buying kits are value for money. Panellists Carly Howett – Associate Professor of Space Instrumentation, University of Oxford Jill Stuart – Visiting Fellow, London School of Economics Helen Sharman – Chemist, science communicator and first British astronaut Sanjeev Gupta – Professor of Earth Sciences, Imperial College London Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/space A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute. Music by John Biddle…

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel are talking all things ancient DNA. Over the past 50 years, new technology has allowed researchers to sequence and study centuries-old DNA taken from ancient, long-buried human remains. This new insight into our past has led to a whole new understanding of our ancestors, from our migration across the globe, to the environmental changes we’ve experienced, and even the spread of ancient deadly pandemics like the black plague. Our panel of scientists answers questions from a studio audience about the usefulness of commercial DNA tests, the true meaning of ancestry, and what our ancient genetic material could reveal about our future. Panellists Pooja Swali – Research Fellow in Pathogen Genomics, UCL Pontus Skoglund – Group Leader, Ancient Genomics Lab, Francis Crick Institute Adam Rutherford – Lecturer in Biology and Society, UCL Tom Booth – Senior Research Scientist and Archaeologist, Francis Crick Institute Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript…

Professor Brian Cox and a panel of experts discuss how to curb rising global temperatures and what life could be like in a warmer world. Our planet is hotting up. But as temperatures climb, can we cope with a climate emergency? What can science and technology to do help us, and will social and political change make a difference? Our panel answers the audience’s questions on everything from carbon capture to climate sceptics. Panellists Myles Allen – Head of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, University of Oxford Kathryn Brown – Director of Climate Change and Evidence, The Wildlife Trust Hayley Fowler – Professor of Climate Change Impacts, Newcastle University George Monbiot – Environmental journalist and campaigner Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/climate If you have a follow up question about any of the episodes in the series, email us: aquestionofscience@bbc.co.uk A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute. Music by…

Professor Brian Cox and a panel of experts discuss COVID-19 and whether we are prepared for the next pandemic. Where or when could it happen? How could we control it? What would we do differently? In this episode, a lively studio audience quizzes world-leading scientists and doctors working on the frontline, specialising in infectious disease, vaccines and protecting us from the next deadly outbreak. Panellists Teresa Lambe – Head of Vaccine Immunology, University of Oxford and co-designer of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine Wendy Barclay – Head of the Department for Infectious Disease at Imperial College London Emma Wall – Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Francis Crick Institute and Consultant in Infectious Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Kevin Fong – Professor of Public Engagement and Innovation, UCL and Consultant Anaesthetist, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website:…

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the reality and possibilities of artificial intelligence, and how it's changing our lives. A.I. and machine learning are now part of our everyday lives, but where are they headed and who is in charge? Our panel of scientists, writers and policymakers answers audience questions about the hopes and fears surrounding A.I. and how it can be controlled, and whether it creates new problems – or just amplifies the ones we already have. Panellists Adrian Weller – Director of Research in Machine Learning, University of Cambridge and Head of Safe and Ethical A.I. at The Alan Turing Institute Jeanette Winterson – Writer and author of 12 Bytes: How Artificial Intelligence Will Change the Way We Live and Love Steph Wright – Head, Scottish A.I. Alliance Neil Lawrence – Professor of Machine Learning, University of Cambridge and author of The Atomic Human: Understanding Ourselves in the Age of A.I. Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website:…

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel are discussing the future of cancer research and treatment. With nearly 1 in 2 of us in the UK now expected to receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime, pursuing a cure is more important than ever. Our panel brings expertise from the lab, the clinic and their own experiences to answer audience questions about lifestyle and genetic risks, treatment side effects, and what they see as the biggest areas for hope. Panellists Gerard Evan – Principal Group Leader, Francis Crick Institute and King’s College London Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke – Deputy Director, Barts Cancer Institute at Queen Mary University of London Lauren Mahon – Cancer survivor and former host of You, Me and the Big C Charles Swanton – Oncologist, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, Chief Clinician, Cancer Research UK and Principal Group Leader, Francis Crick Institute and UCL Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/cancer If you have…

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore ageing, longevity and the science behind our lifespans. Human life expectancy has increased steadily over the last 200 years, but we may be reaching a ceiling. Is this our biological limit, or could the next big scientific breakthrough push it even further? Might repurposing existing drugs help extend our lifespans? Our panel of researchers answers audience questions about the societal impacts of longer lives, our cellular ticking clock, and whether we can learn anything from the 400-year-old sharks of the North Atlantic. Panellists Lynne Cox – Associate Professor, University of Oxford Paul Nurse – Director, Francis Crick Institute Linda Partridge – Professor, Institute of Healthy Ageing, UCL Andrew Steele – Author of Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/ageing If you have a follow up question about any of the episodes in the series,…

Professor Brian Cox and panels of the world’s top scientists and experts will be tackling your questions in a new series, launching 17 September. Can we cure cancer? How do you separate nutrition fact from fiction? What do climate change and the march of A.I. mean for our future? Could we live forever? Each episode is recorded in front of a lively audience and it’s their questions that drive the debate. Hear from the experts who actually know what they’re talking about, including Adam Rutherford, Helen Sharman, George Monbiot, Giles Yeo, Jeanette Winterson, Rory Cellan-Jones, Paul Nurse, Kevin Fong and You, Me and the Big C’s Lauren Mahon. With a focus on accuracy, openness, and debate, A Question of Science will bring you the latest on what we know, what we don’t, and where science might take us next. A BBC Studios production for the Francis Crick Institute, an independent charity and world-leading research lab. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.