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Discovery

The weirdness of water, Part 2 of 2

Discovery

BBC

Science

4.31.2K Ratings

🗓️ 3 January 2022

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“I don’t really understand why water has so many properties on different scales ranging from very large and cosmic to very small quantum and quarky - Could you help by zooming in and out on water to explain what is known about it? Asks Neil Morton in Stirling.

“Why does boiling water sound different to cold water?’ asks Barbara Dyson in Brittany in France

Ollie Gordon, in Christchurch in New Zealand, wants to know ‘why water is essential for all life as we know it?’

And many more questions on the weirdness of water are tackled by super science sleuths Hannah and Adam helped by quantum physicist Professor Patricia Hunt, at the Victoria University in Wellington in New Zealand, science writer and author of ‘H2O – a biography of water’ Philip Ball and physicist and bubble expert in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UCL, Dr Helen Czerski.

Presenters: Hannah Fry & Adam Rutherford Producer: Fiona Roberts

Transcript

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0:00.0

Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to tell you why I love podcasting.

0:04.3

I'm Sasha Johansson, I'm an Assistant Commissioner for the BBC and I work on making podcasts.

0:11.1

My real passion is discovering unbelievable unheard stories and working with the biggest

0:16.8

stars who can really bring those stories to life.

0:20.0

I love the whole process of making podcasts from the spark of an idea to hearing the final

0:25.9

edit.

0:26.9

There's nothing like it.

0:27.9

What makes BBC podcast special is that we're working for you, so whatever we commission

0:32.6

has to reflect the things that you care about and love, wherever you are in the UK.

0:37.0

So if you like this BBC podcast, there's so much more to discover.

0:40.6

Have a listen on BBC Sounds.

0:42.8

Hello and welcome to the curious cases of Rutherford and Fry on Discovery for the BBC.

0:48.0

This is the programme where you send us in the queries, questions and conundrums that

0:52.4

you are curious about, and we will look into them on your behalf using the power of science.

0:57.9

So please do send us your questions, curious cases at bbc.co.uk and on with the show.

1:12.1

Today the second part of our curious cases quest to uncover the unending weirdness of one

1:16.5

of the weirdest substances on earth.

1:18.4

Yes, it's completely unusual, incredibly strange and yet also completely ubiquitous and

1:24.0

absolutely essential for life to exist.

1:27.6

We are, of course, talking about water.

1:30.3

Last week we dove into its peculiar physical properties and its strange molecular structure.

1:35.5

Do you have a quick recap?

...

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