Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of

Happiness Podcast.

For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want

to share that science with you.

And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.

I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that

calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. There were years when I just believed that, you know, there's a shadowy cabal of people who are secretly running the government and running business.

And it just really sounded believable to me. You're listening to Crowd Science on the BBC World Service. I'm Marnie Chesterton and this is a science show.

And science is a system of thought, a way of trying to understand the world that values

rational thinking and testable ideas about how everything works.

The thing is, humans aren't as logical as the scientific

method we've created. We crave knowledge but sometimes it's possible to put

bits of information together to form a beguiling and fantastically wrong view of how the world works.

I'm talking about conspiracy theories.

You just heard from Ellen, for example. She's a smart woman and you'll hear more

from her later on because for some of her life she believed a secret society called

the Illuminati around the world.

And Ellen is not alone.

Many people believe conspiracy theories at some point in their life,

including someone very close to listener Avalon from Perth, Australia.

So she emailed crowd science for some assistance.

Why do conspiracy theories exist and why there seems to be so many around COVID-19.

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