Podcast Episodes

What are the chances of an asteroid hitting earth in 2032?

On 27 December 2024, astronomers spotted an asteroid that was potentially heading towards earth. Named 2024 YR4, it was estimated to be between 40m and 90m across, with the potential to cause massi…

Published on 9 months ago

Why are more people claiming disability benefits?

More working age people are claiming disability benefits. What's driving the trend?

Is it true that the UK imprisons more people for their social media posts than Russia does?

One of the country’s most…

Published on 9 months, 1 week ago

How did lockdown impact children?

In March 2020, the covid pandemic forced the UK into lockdown. Schools closed, universities went online and the economy shut down.

It slowly became clear that young people were not falling victim to t…

Published on 9 months, 1 week ago

What is an IQ map and can we trust them?

You may have seen a map circulated on social media that claims to show the average IQ of different nations.

If you look closely these numbers vary dramatically, with incredibly low scores in developi…

Published on 9 months, 1 week ago

DOGE, apples and irregular migrants

It’s been 12 weeks since President Trump announced the formation of DOGE, the so-called department of Government efficiency. We fact-check various claims connected with the drive to route out ineffic…

Published on 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Is there really $500bn of Rare Earths in Ukraine?

As part of the fast-moving argument over US military support to Ukraine, the US demanded $500bn worth of access to what was variously reported as Ukraine’s rare earths or rare metals or rare minerals…

Published on 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Defence Spending, Rare Earths and Trunk Truths

Has the US really sent Ukraine $350 billion for its war effort? Is a $500billion cut of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals a good deal? How will the UK fund the governments ambitions to raise defence spen…

Published on 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Has the US really given Ukraine more aid than Europe?

As negotiations to end the Ukraine war rumble on, Donald Trump seems equally interested in talking about the past, repeatedly claiming that the US has given much more aid to Ukraine than Europe has, …

Published on 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Are 150 year olds getting social security payments?

Last week Elon Musk revealed that he had been through the Social Security Agencies database and found millions of people aged over 100.

The vast majority of these people are dead, but their accounts…

Published on 10 months ago

Has the US sent $50 million worth of condoms to Gaza?

On the 25th January, the US Press Secretary announced that in their bid to stop ‘fraud’ and waste DOGE had cancelled $50 million worth of condoms being sent to Gaza by the United States Agency for In…

Published on 10 months, 1 week ago