IFLScience - The Big Questions
Episodes
Can Magic Be Used As A Tool In Science?
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is magic? Rabbits out of hats? Card tricks? Someone in a sparkly outfit getting sawn in half? Well, yes, but it’s also about defying expectatio...
Searching For Nessie: IFLScience Takes On Cryptozoology
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus Halloween special episode of The Big Questions, IFLScience takes on the “mystery” of the Loch Ness Monster. Although it’s been nea...
Why Do People Believe In The Paranormal?
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone loves a good ghost story. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, there’s something about the eerie and the uncanny that we all enjoy. Bu...
What Is Time And How Do We Measure It?
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Time is everything to us: in terms of physical laws, in how we experience the world, and how society works. Still, its true nature remains beyond us. ...
Is De-extinction Really Possible?
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
De-extinction. It’s not a word many of us were thinking about just a decade ago, but it’s one that we’re getting ever more familiar with. The de...
Are We In The Anthropocene?
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In March 2024, geologists rejected the proposal that we are in a new geological era: the Anthropocene, a time dominated by human activity on the plane...
What Will The Fossils Of The Future Look Like?
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s rubbish may well be the fossils of tomorrow. Plastic bags, old pens, cheap clothing, or even chicken bones are all examples of possible “t...
Will We Ever Have A Universal Flu Vaccine?
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lining up for your seasonal flu shot is an annual ritual, but what if it didn't have to be this way? Wouldn't it be great if we could develop a univer...
How Has The Internet Changed The Way We Use Language?
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Language can evolve surprisingly quickly, and nothing has sped it up quite like the invention of the Internet. So, how does it affect how we communica...
How Do Black Holes Shape The Universe?
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Of all the celestial bodies, none induce awe and fear in equal measure quite like black holes. They are incredible astrophysical objects and there are...
Are We Living Through A Sixth Mass Extinction?
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While climate change, species extinctions, and increasing carbon dioxide levels might feel like media buzzwords at this point, they all remain very re...
Would You Rather Go To Space Or The Bottom Of The Sea?
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The expanse of space and the oceanic abyss hold a fascination for humanity; extreme environments where our bodies and technology are pushed to their l...
IFLScience The Big Questions - Season 5 Coming Soon
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Questio...
Why Do Humans Love Playing Competitive Games?
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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? H...
Britain’s Most Haunted Castle: IFLScience Takes On The Supernatural
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 mo...
Are Octopuses Sentient?
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s no secret that octopuses are intelligent – but are they sentient? And how is that reflected in the way that they’re treated? Host Rachael F...
What Would A Human On Mars Look Like?
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are humans done evolving – or could settling on an alien world with an environment unlike Earth’s take us on a different evolutionary trajectory? ...
Are The Drugs Of The Future Coming From The Deep Ocean?
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Antibiotic resistance is a major health concern. We now have several harmful microbes that have evolved into versions unaffected by common treatments....
Introducing 'We Have Questions' Our New Science Podcast
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Coming soon: join IFLScience as we explore the questions nobody thought to ask but everyone wants the answers to. Get the behind-the-scenes conversati...
How Did Dinosaurs Have Sex?
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Where do baby dinosaurs come from? It’s a question that’s been burning in the collective brain of the IFLScience team for some time. In this episo...
How Will The Solar System End?
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our Solar System is very stable. Planets, dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets go forth in their orbit without trouble. But it won't be like this fore...
Can We Make Dogs Live Longer?
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hinging our happiness on animals known to have a significantly shorter lifespan than our own was, in hindsight, a bad idea. Saying goodbye to a pet is...
Is Evolutionary Biology Sexist?
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Science can’t be sexist, we hear you cry, it’s methodical, rational. And yet science is carried out by humans who are often a product of the time ...
How Is Climate Change Impacting Our Health?
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s no secret that the planet is getting warmer, but how are our bodies responding to increased exposure to extreme conditions? From record-breakin...
Why Are We The Only Surviving Human Species?
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Homo sapiens – us – are the only surviving human species. The question, and it is a big one, is why? Who were the species that came before us, or...
IFLScience - Break It Down
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Here is a little teaser for our brand new podcast: Break It Down! Coming soon to a podcast app near you...
Would You Eat Plant-Based Meat For Christmas Dinner?
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
During the holiday season, many of us will be tucking into delicious meals which may well include a whole host of meats. But have you ever thought abo...
Are We Ready For The Next Massive Solar Flare?
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Solar activity goes through cycles. The main one is about 11 years long and its maximum is marked by powerful eruptions of electromagnetic radiation k...
How Are Glaciers Changing In A Warming World?
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The climate crisis is affecting glaciers across the world in myriad ways. Dramatic melting, steep declines, and overall reduction in mass are some...
Are E-fuels The Future Of Aviation?
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As much as everyone enjoys flying abroad for their holidays, the cost of the climate impact might be making people think twice. So what can we do? Asi...
What Is Ancient Ice Telling Us About The Future?
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are many methods that allow us to look back into Earth’s past and study its climate, including the collection of ice cores. Extracting ancient...
What Is Space Weather And How Does It Affect Us?
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Sun shapes what goes on in space around our planet. Plasma from our star is continuously thrown at Earth in the form of solar winds or coronal mas...
How Does A Quantum Computer Work And How Will They Change The World?
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The path beyond the limits of regular computers, even the most powerful supercomputer, lies with the theory of quantum mechanics. Quantum computing ...
Can We Save A Species On The Very Brink Of Extinction?
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this age of climate change, habitat loss, and destruction of the natural world, we take an in-depth look at one endangered species in particular: t...
Why Is Space Junk Such A Big Deal?
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Space junk is a problem and it’s only set to get worse. In 2018, there were over 2,000 satellites in orbit. Now, thanks to mega-constellations like ...
How Is Climate Change Affecting Polar Bear Populations?
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Polar bears have long been the poster animal and early warning system for all things climate change. We asked experts what is really going on with the...
Is Jurassic Park Possible?
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the 30 years since the Spielberg movie came out, people from all walks of life have wondered if bringing back dinosaurs is possible, and we couldn’...
What Do Alcohol and Drugs Do To The Brain?
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For as long as humans have walked this Earth, we have been using chemicals to alter our state of mind. Drugs and alcohol have been used in rituals and...
What Are The Limits Of Computers And Supercomputers?
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Computers and supercomputers, whether we like them or not, run our lives. They have revolutionized every aspect of society and we rely on their techno...
How Does Your Diet Impact The Body’s Ability To Fight Disease?
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What and how we eat plays a huge role in keeping us healthy. The role of diet in helping us when we are fighting off diseases is also enormous, but no...
Is Math The Greatest Subject In The World?
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In school, math is one of those polarizing subjects that people either love or hate. For each person complaining they will never use Pythagoras theore...
How Does Imagination Work?
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Every second of every day, whether we’re actively aware of it or not, we’re using our imagination: from what we might have for dinner to life on o...
Why Is The Universe Made Of Matter And Not Antimatter?
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Everything we see, from galaxies to capybaras, is made of matter. But matter has a mirrored version of itself known as antimatter. If the two come int...
How Do We Know When A Species Is Extinct?
09 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s no secret that species extinction and biodiversity loss are making our environment increasingly less stable. As it feels like we inch closer to...
Can Humans Live Forever?
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We live in a society that idolizes youth for sure, but also with age comes wisdom. However, aging is not all it’s cracked up to be. Could we keep ge...
Is The Future Of Farming Underwater?
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As the human population increases so too does our demand for food, but in the face of the climate crisis scientists are seeking alternative and sustai...
How Will The Universe End?
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Studying the Universe told us the cosmos began with the Big Bang. But how will everything end? In a cold and desolate nothingness? Or will everything ...
What Is The Universe Made Of?
28 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Everything we see and interact with, regular matter, is only a small fraction of what the universe contains. In fact, the vast majority of the univers...
Can We Achieve Unlimited Energy?
14 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Humanity's ever-growing need for energy has led to a world that is dramatically changing, ravaged by extreme weather events. The way we get power has ...
What Is Consciousness?
30 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Of all the mysteries of the universe, none is closer to us as human beings than this one: what is consciousness? How does our brain turn electrical si...
Can We Stop Or Reverse Climate Change?
16 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The climate crisis is unfolding around us with extreme weather events becoming more common and living organisms having to survive or perish in a chang...
Are We Alone In The Universe?
02 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From extraterrestrial intelligence to simple life forms, the Universe might be teeming with life. Can we find and communicate with these life forms? I...
The Big Questions Trailer
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A little teaser for our upcoming podcast