While climate change, species extinctions, and increasing carbon dioxide levels might feel like media buzzwords at this point, they all remain very real threats to biodiversity across the globe, and by extension, the future of our planet. Some have even argued that these are warning signs that we are living through a sixth mass extinction.
Host Eleanor Higgs discusses Earth’s previous mass extinctions with palaeontologist Professor Michael Benton from the University of Bristol, and how we can use this history as a basis to understand what is happening again right before our eyes – and what might be done to stop it.
--------
38:07
--------
38:07
Would You Rather Go To Space Or The Bottom Of The Sea?
The expanse of space and the oceanic abyss hold a fascination for humanity; extreme environments where our bodies and technology are pushed to their limits, yet we continue to explore. We take this tongue-in-cheek question seriously and pose it to astronauts and explorers who have done both.
Join co-hosts Dr Alfredo Carpineti and Katy Evans as they share insights from space travellers and deep-sea visitors Luca Parmitano, Dr Kathy Sullivan, and Victor Vescovo on the challenges and rewards of exploring space and the deep ocean.
--------
31:23
--------
31:23
IFLScience The Big Questions - Season 5 Coming Soon
We're back! Here's what to expect this season, starting June 19, 2025.
If you missed any previous episodes, catch up here:
IFLScience The Big Questions
--------
1:10
--------
1:10
Why Do Humans Love Playing Competitive Games?
It’s the holiday season, and what better time to gather your loved ones together and absolutely trounce them in an hours-long board game marathon?
Humans have been playing and enjoying competitive games for centuries. For this special episode of The Big Questions, host Laura Simmons sat down with Kelly Clancy, neuroscientist and physicist, and author of recent book Playing with Reality: How Games Shape Our World, to find out more about why we love competition so much, and what our long history of gameplaying together can teach us about each other – and ourselves.
--------
25:34
--------
25:34
Britain’s Most Haunted Castle: IFLScience Takes On The Supernatural
Welcome to IFLScience’s first-ever Halloween podcast special, bringing you a feature-length episode of The Big Questions as we take on the UK’s most haunted castle. We journeyed to Northumberland up by the Anglo-Scottish border to spend the night in Chillingham Castle, a place that allegedly boasts an above-average number of ghosts. We wanted to explore what attracts people to sites such as this one, even inspiring folks to gear up with a host of ghost-hunting tools and try and communicate with spirits, despite the fact we’ve yet to find any evidence for their existence.
At IFLScience, we don’t do things by halves, so we threw it all at the wall: Ouija boards, dungeon immersion, dowsing rods, spirit boxes, and just a bit of old-fashioned wandering around in the dark. We also spoke to Emeritus Professor Chris French, an expert in anomalistic psychology, and the founders of the Recreational Fear Lab to top up on the science of fear and better understand why it is the paranormal has us all in such a choke hold.
So, join IFLScience's Chris Carpineti, Dr Beccy Corkill, Rachael Funnell, and Dr Russ Moul as they journey into the unknown in this very special episode of The Big Questions.
From saving the planet to understanding ourselves, this podcast sees experts discuss the major topics of our times. Hosted by IFLScience’s Dr Alfredo Carpineti, Rachael Funnell, and Eleanor Higgs.
México