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Mortgages, birth rates and does space contribute 18% to UK GDP?
Mortgage rates have risen to 6%. But are things as bad as when rates were much higher in the 1970s and 80s? We look at just how much pain today's rises mean. Also will there be just 6 grandchildren f…
Published on 2 years, 6 months ago
Is breastfeeding the key to exam success?
A new study by researchers at Oxford University has linked better exam results at school with being breastfed as a baby. But how much faith can we put in the findings? Tim Harford speaks to Emily Ost…
Published on 2 years, 6 months ago
Electric vehicles, 600 million bottles and does oral sex cause cancer?
There's been a lot of coverage about the risks electric cars may pose to infrastructure like bridges and car parks. We look at how much heavier EVs are. Plus we look at a new study that suggests a li…
Published on 2 years, 6 months ago
Counting Hunger in India
How prevalent is hunger and malnutrition in India? With Indian data journalist Rukmini S, we interrogate recent claims that hunger has worsened dramatically in recent years, and explore how malnutrit…
Published on 2 years, 6 months ago
Lib Dem ambulance claims, affordable rent and goat meat
The Liberal Democrats say 120 people a day in England died last year whilst waiting for an ambulance. We investigate whether the claim stands up to scrutiny. Also Rishi Sunak's pandemic-era scheme E…
Published on 2 years, 6 months ago
A short history of data
We live in a world where data is everywhere – informing if not governing our lives. But this wealth of data didn’t just turn up overnight. Tim Harford talks to academics Chris Wiggins and Matthew Jon…
Published on 2 years, 6 months ago
Food prices, net migration and beef about beef
Does Britain really have the most affordable food in Europe? That's a recent claim of the President of the National Farmers' Union. We ask if it's true and look in detail at what is driving rising fo…
Published on 2 years, 6 months ago
Are young people more single than ever before?
What’s the definition of being single – and how easy is it to measure? There’s a perception that young people today are more single – in a relationship sense - than ever, and dating apps are to blame…
Published on 2 years, 7 months ago
NHS waiting lists, Voter ID and measuring divorce
The government has trumpeted a big fall in those waiting over 18 months for hospital treatment in England. But total numbers on waiting lists have hit a new high. Also we look at how much impact the …
Published on 2 years, 7 months ago
Detecting Bad Science with Data
For more than a decade there’ve been longstanding concerns about the credibility and reliability of science research. This “bad science” has often stemmed from poor data practice or worse. But statis…
Published on 2 years, 7 months ago