A Question of Science

• What is consciousness?

  Professor Brian Cox and an expert panel explore the elusive science of consciousness – what it is, how it arises, whether it can be observed in the brain, and the most compelling theories explaining it. In a deep, often mind-bending discussion, the panel tackles the many ways of interpreting consciousness itself, and how fields like psychophysics can be used to quantify imagination and perception. With questions from the audience, the conversation delves into hallucinations and reality, how memory helps to build identity, and whether AI could ever be conscious too. Panellists Anil Seth – Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, University of Sussex Katharina Schmack – Consultant Psychiatrist and Group Leader, Neural Circuits and Immunity in Psychosis Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute Steve Fleming – Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL Alex O’Connor – Host of ‘Within Reason’ podcast Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/consciousness A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute. © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Can We Trust The Science Of Nutrition?

  Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel dive into the complex world of diet, nutrition and food choices. With new probiotic and high-protein products appearing on supermarket shelves every day and conflicting nutritional advice coming from every direction, it’s difficult to cut through the noise when it comes to what we eat. Our panel uses expertise from their roles as nutritionists, geneticists, gastroenterologists and policymakers to answer audience questions about food advertising, wellness advice, and whether it’s really possible – or worthwhile – to avoid food ‘additives’. Panellists Giles Yeo – Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Christina Vogel – Professor in Food Policy and Director of the Centre for Food Policy, City St George’s, University of London Saliha Mahmood Ahmed – Gastroenterologist and MasterChef winner, 2017 Nita Forouhi – Professor of Population Health and Nutrition, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/nutrition A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute. © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Can We Repair The Ageing Brain?

  Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the science of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other conditions that cause dementia. More than 55 million people around the world are living with dementia, with the number set to rise in ageing populations. How close are we to effective, affordable treatments? What are the genetic risks? Can we prevent it developing? The panel takes a deep dive into dementia research and where it’s headed, from early detection to the latest drug trials and whether diet, exercise or even doing puzzles like Sudoku really make a difference. Panellists Bart de Strooper – Professor and Group Leader, Cellular Phase of Alzheimer’s Disease Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute and UK Dementia Research Institute Julie Williams – Professor and Group Leader, Cardiff University and UK Dementia Research Institute Rory Cellan-Jones – Health and technology writer and presenter of the Movers and Shakers podcast Sonia Gandhi – Professor of Neurology, UCL, Assistant Research Director, Francis Crick Institute and Consultant Neurologist, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/ageingbrain A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute. © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• What Is The Future Of Fertility?

  Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the science of fertility. Making babies is big business but our scientific understanding of fertilisation, pregnancy and embryo development is surprisingly limited. In this episode, our panel discuss emerging technologies that could shape the future of fertility and tackle audience questions on declining sperm counts, egg freezing and the ethics of genetic screening. Panellists: Joyce Harper – Professor of Reproductive Science, UCL Gunes Taylor – Molecular Biologist, University of Edinburgh Naomi Moris – Group Leader, Developmental Models Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute Lucy van de Wiel – Senior Lecturer in Global Health & Social Medicine, King’s College London Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/fertility A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Who Owns Space?

  Professor Brian Cox and an expert panel tackle the technology, politics and ethics of space exploration. From space tourism to the search for life on Mars, space is a rapidly expanding, multi-trillion-pound global industry, driven by scientific, commercial and often political goals. But what are the rules of space and who makes them? In this episode, the panel answers audience questions on how Earth’s geopolitics are reflected in space, when asteroid mining might become a reality, and whether those star-buying kits are value for money. Panellists Carly Howett – Associate Professor of Space Instrumentation, University of Oxford Jill Stuart – Visiting Fellow, London School of Economics Helen Sharman – Chemist, science communicator and first British astronaut Sanjeev Gupta – Professor of Earth Sciences, Imperial College London Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/space A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute. © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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