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Curious Cases

BBC Radio 4
What? Seriously?
Neuroscience
Tardigrades
Psychology
Memory Transfer
Evolution
Spontaneous Combustion
Anomalistic Psychology
Gold
Synesthesia
Fungi
Viruses
Phantom Pain
Climate Change
NASA
Cognitive Neuroscience
BBC Radio 4
Rhys Nicholson
Georgia Toffalo
Stuart Mcconey

Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain tackle listeners' conundrums with the power of science!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes183Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Curious Cases

Latest Episodes

Why do we find the young of other species cute?

Finding baby humans adorable makes evolutionary sense, ensuring that we care for them properly. But what about babies of other species? Hannah and Dara go down a fluffy rabbithole of cuteness: ponderi... more

We may think of tessellation as being about how to tile a flat plane but this week we reveal how repeating patterns actually occur all over the place, and can even help us solve some of nature's most complex problems.

The presenters start with the s... more

We often associate yawning with being tired or bored - but this week's episode explores whether it could be a clever way to cool down our brains?

Hannah and Dara discover humans aren't the only species that yawn. From cats to chimpanzees and even fi... more

What happens when you give water a really good shake? You might expect splashing, spilling and general aquatic chaos - but under exactly the right conditions, something much stranger can happen...

In this episode, Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain dive ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Katie Steckles
Lecturer in mathematics at Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Episode: Tessellation Proliferation
Mark Miodownik
Professor of materials and society at University College London
University College London
Episode: Tessellation Proliferation
Vince Gallo
Visiting researcher at Green Mary University of London's Chitka Lab and amateur beekeeper
Chitka Lab
Episode: Tessellation Proliferation
Stephen Jackson
Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
Episode: Yawn Chorus
Laura Kelley
Associate Professor of Behavioural and Sensory Ecology at the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
Episode: Yawn Chorus
Andrew Gallup
Professor of Behavioral Biology at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: Yawn Chorus
Cédric Beaume
Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics at the University of Leeds, specializing in nonlinear fluid dynamics
University of Leeds
Episode: Making Waves
Lucy Bricheno
Group Head of Coastal Ocean at Liverpool's National Oceanography Centre
National Oceanography Centre
Episode: Making Waves
Glynn Holt
Former Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Boston University
Boston University
Episode: Making Waves

Hosts

Hannah Fry
Co-host and host of Curious Cases
Dara Ó Briain
Co-host and host of Curious Cases

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 7.9k ratings
  • Curiously satisfied

    Love Hannah Fry & Dara O’briain. Dynamic duo so much joy listening to banter, facts and jokes. Pure joy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Boxed Kaz
    Australia4 days ago
  • Imagine fueling a train

    Oil and gasoline

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cucucucufjd
    Israel12 days ago
  • Now Adam has been replaced with Dara I'm knocking off a star. The style and tone just not quite what is was. Now find myself skipping episodes.

    Always fun and interesting. Good chemistry between the presenters and I like the light hearted banter. Not sure the longer episodes work as well as the earlier ones as can feel a bit stretched at times.

    Podcast Addict
    4
    Janboa
    14 days ago
  • curious cases

    although i loved the original duo ,due to their unbelievable chemistry together, i still very much like the new series with dara. both duos are very funny and always make me laugh.

    i would recommend this podcast for people of all ages especially curious young people as it gives you tonnes of almost random facts and it can spark an interest in something quite peculiar

    thank you for this introduction to how spectacularly interesting science can be !

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    userfs11
    United Kingdom14 days ago
  • Great podcast. Rubbish adverts

    I’m in the uk. Don’t spoil the show with ads in the middle of sentences!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Dave 123456
    United Kingdom23 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the mix of rigorous science and approachable humor.
Some feedback notes a preference for certain hosts or formats, but overall positive reception.
Fans value the guest variety and engaging questions from the audience.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#89
United States/Science
Spotify
#6
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#231
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#4
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#30
Canada/Science
Spotify
#38
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tessellation Proliferation
Q: Why is the hexagon the shape that it ends up being?
Vince Gallo explains that bees are trying to pack cells closely, not draw geometrical hexagons. Adjacent bees initially form rounded cells, and their shared walls shift into straight sides as the cells are optimized for packing and warmth.
Tessellation Proliferation
Q: What's tessellation?
Katie Steckles describes it as covering a two-dimensional space with shapes without leaving gaps, while noting that tessellation can also be defined in higher dimensions.
Yawn Chorus
Q: Why do we yawn?
The cause is not settled. Spontaneous yawning may help regulate brain temperature or shift alertness, while contagious yawning may relate to social bonding, understanding others, or coordinating group behaviour.
Yawn Chorus
Q: What a waste of time this is. We all know that yawning is just to bring oxygen into the body. Am I correct?
No. Experiments found that changing oxygen or carbon dioxide levels did not affect yawn frequency, and yawning and respiration are controlled by separate mechanisms.
Making Waves
Q: And what about on the open sea, can they occur there and what happens?
Faraday waves are unlikely in the open ocean because conditions are too irregular. Ocean waves travel in many directions and at different scales, sometimes producing crossing seas and checkerboard-like patterns that can be dangerous to navigate.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Curious Cases

What is Curious Cases about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This science-focused show tackles listener questions with a mix of rigor and humor, drawing on experts across physics, chemistry, mathematics, and earth sciences. Episodes frequently explore natural phenomena, space, and everyday questions about how the world works, often weaving in real-world examples, experiments, and thoughtful speculation. A standout is the guest list, which ranges from university professors to space explorers and researchers, yielding a broad, accessible science conversation. This combination of deep-dive explanations and engaging storytelling makes it appealing to curious listeners who enjoy clear explanations, practical applications, and entertaining banter. A notable strength is how the hosts balance rigorous scienc... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Curious Cases?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Curious Cases:

1. The Infinite Monkey Cage
2. The Rest Is Science
3. No Such Thing As A Fish
4. More or Less
5. Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

How many episodes of Curious Cases are there?

Curious Cases launched 11 years ago and published 183 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Curious Cases?

Recent guests on Curious Cases include:

1. Katie Steckles
2. Mark Miodownik
3. Vince Gallo
4. Stephen Jackson
5. Laura Kelley
6. Andrew Gallup
7. Cédric Beaume
8. Lucy Bricheno

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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