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CrowdScience

Does brain size matter?

CrowdScience

BBC

Science

4.81K Ratings

🗓️ 22 February 2019

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The size of brains in the animal kingdom is wildly different, from melon-sized in blue whales to pea-sized in shrews. But does a bigger brain mean a more powerful one? CrowdScience listener Bob wondered just this as he watched various sized dogs running amok in his local park: the Great Dane has a much larger brain than a Chihuahua’s, yet the job of ‘being a dog’ surely requires the same brain power. So why have a big brain if a small one would do? A search for the answer takes Geoff Marsh to dog agility trials, behind the scenes at London’s Natural History Museum and a laboratory that studies bumble bees. It turns out that size does matter, but not in the way you might think. Presenter: Geoff Marsh Producer: Dom Byrne

(Photo: Great Dane HARLEQUIN and a chihuahua Getty Images)

Transcript

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0:00.0

You're about to listen to a BBC podcast and maybe it's when I had a hand in.

0:04.0

I'm Tammy Walker and I produce podcasts for the BBC.

0:08.0

My role is to give new and diverse creators a voice with the opportunity to build a career.

0:12.0

That's the thing I love about podcasts.

0:14.4

You start with just a good idea, but then you have the space to see where it goes.

0:18.4

And doing that at the BBC means we can really run with the best stories

0:21.9

while developing the most unique audio talent.

0:24.3

So if you like what you hear, why not check out the huge range of podcast we've got on BBC

0:29.1

Sounds.

0:30.1

Hi I'm Linda and I'm Mercy.

0:32.1

With his bad girl. They don't even sound right.

0:34.0

Before you get to the podcast you've actually chosen to download,

0:37.0

we're here to tell you about our new podcast, Parentland.

0:40.0

It's a podcast for anyone interested in raising children.

0:43.5

The idea is that listeners email in their questions and we use scientific evidence and culture to try and find some answers.

0:49.0

Parent Land to the rescue.

0:50.0

We've been having a good old chat about what we're hoping to get from Parent Land.

0:53.8

So if you want to hear what we've been talking about, please search for Parent Land wherever you find your

0:57.9

podcasts.

0:58.9

I'm currently stood in a freezing cold barn in the Surrey countryside just outside

1:07.8

London surrounded by hundreds of people and as many dogs as you can probably hear and they're here to take part in a dog agility competition.

1:16.4

What's your name?

...

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