Mysteries of Science

If you could transform into anything, what would you become? And could shapeshifting ever be possible? That's what we're asking in this archive episode of Mysteries of ScienceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

Sutton Hoo is one of Europe's most amazing discoveries. This ancient burial site once held a ship packed with treasure – but no body. Who was buried there? And why have ghostly visions of helmeted warriors been reported on the site? With the help of expert archaeologists, Dan and Stevie explore the story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2025

Ciaran and Dan look at what makes a planet in this classic episode of Mysteries of Science, and whether there's a mysterious extra planet – Planet X – just beyond Neptune, lurking in our cosmic neighbourhood. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 February 2025

We're off to the deepest part of the ocean today – the Mariana Trench – on the quest to find out what lurks in its waters and why it's so hard to explore... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 January 2025

Michael and Stevie become interplanetary detectives as they investigate the solar system's hottest and most deadly murder mystery. Venus is often referred to as Earth's twin because the two planets are so similar. But if that's the case, then why is Venus is so inhospitable to life? We take a trip into space and find out what killed Venus... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2024

To celebrate the release of Moana 2, coming soon to cinemas, Dan and Stevie go on a journey to Polynesia to find out how thousands of islands thousands of miles apart were settled without the use of typical instruments using a technique known as wayfinding... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 November 2024

Stevie and Michael sit down and chat with some top experts to find out how animals experience the world. From dolphins to octopuses to pets and more, we ask the question: are animals smarter than us?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 October 2024

Hosts Dan and Michael delve into the enigma of Oumuamua, a mysterious object that passed through our solar system in 2017. Initially thought to be a comet or asteroid, Oumuamua's unusual characteristics led to speculation about its origins, including the possibility of it being an alien spacecraft...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 September 2024

Michael and Stevie get answers to your burning questions in another episode of Mysteries of Science including a phenomena all about rainbows at night as well as what caused the extinction of the dinos.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 September 2024

Inspired by the Harry Potter series, hosts Stevie and Michael explore magic potions! They uncover the real-life inspiration behind Professor Snape, revealing that a real potions master named Henry Lloyd Snape existed in the late 19th century... We also meet illustrator Johnny Duddle and ask you for your own ideas for magical potions!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 August 2024

Are insects in our diets the new sustainable food source? We're sharing parts of our talk from Cheltenham Science Festival plus chatting to exports like dairy farmer, Rich.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 August 2024

Dan and Michael explore the concept of altruism. From vampire bats who share food to prevent each other from starving, to giving money to charity: why are people kind?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 July 2024

Dan and Michael are going down under to hunt for a thylacine. Also known as the tasmanian tiger or tasmanian wolf, could this supposedly extinct creature actually be secretly lurking in the nation's forests? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 June 2024

Michael and Dan are back after a mid-season break to take on perhaps one of the strangest mysteries we’ve ever encountered… What’s being hidden in a top secret US military base, thousands of miles from anywhere, in the middle of a desert? Could it be aliens? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 June 2024

In the middle of the desert in Nevada, USA, sits a top-secret military base. You probably know it as Area 51. Today, Michael, Dan, and a team of top experts are peeking over the fence to see what they can spot...  Will they find mysterious alien spacecraft? And what's this about a strange airline? Or is the whole thing nothing more than a good story?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 May 2024

This 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.

Transcribed - Published: 26 April 2024

Stevie 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 privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 April 2024

Hosts 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.

Transcribed - Published: 29 March 2024

It'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.

Transcribed - Published: 1 March 2024

We'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.

Transcribed - Published: 16 February 2024

Jenny 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.

Transcribed - Published: 2 February 2024

We'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.

Transcribed - Published: 19 January 2024

It'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.

Transcribed - Published: 22 December 2023

Two 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.

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2023

Is 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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2023

Cartoonist 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.

Transcribed - Published: 10 November 2023

Michael, 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.

Transcribed - Published: 27 October 2023

Michael 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.

Transcribed - Published: 5 October 2023

They 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.

Transcribed - Published: 21 September 2023

Tales 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.

Transcribed - Published: 7 September 2023

The 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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 August 2023

Fun 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 else. Get a 30-day free trial of Fun Kids Podcasts+ by tapping 'Try Free' in Apple Podcasts or by heading to FunKidsLive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2023

Knock, 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.

Transcribed - Published: 28 July 2023

Michael 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.

Transcribed - Published: 14 July 2023

Is 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 card! The survey is open until 18 August: https://sciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk/podcast-survey See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 June 2023

Barry 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.

Transcribed - Published: 16 June 2023

It'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.

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2023

Meteorologist 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.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2023

Do 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.

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2023

You’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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2023

Stevie 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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2023

Deep 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.

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2023

Stories 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.

Transcribed - Published: 27 January 2023

Humans. 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.

Transcribed - Published: 13 January 2023

Maggie 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.

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2022

What 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.

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2022

They’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.

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2022

Right 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 omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 November 2022

Halloween'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.

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2022

Atlantis. 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.

Transcribed - Published: 14 October 2022