What in the World

Is university worth the cost?

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Some university students in Kenya have been protesting a new funding model which, they say, favours the rich. The government says the changes are need...

Are we too obsessed with celebrities like Chappell Roan?

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Chappell Roan has posted on TikTok about "creepy behaviour" she's experienced in person and online. She’s one of this year’s most successful popst...

Class of ChatGPT?

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Millions of students around the world will be starting a new term of school or university this month. And one thing they might notice is more conversa...

Are more men wearing makeup?

02 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The market for men’s beauty and grooming is blowing up, with more masculine beauty products on the shelves than ever before. It’s not uncommon to ...

Why has the founder of Telegram been arrested?

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pavel Durov’s arrest could impact free speech, and the war between Russia and Ukraine.Over the last few years the social media and messaging app Tel...

Are diamonds losing their sparkle?

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For the past 100 years diamonds have been the ultimate symbol of love, luxury and opulence. But then, a darker side to them was exposed. Diamond minin...

Israeli settlers are seizing land in the West Bank. Will it be permanent?

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The war in Gaza has lead to a surge in settler violence. Extreme Israeli settlers are the perpetrators behind the attacks. Not only have they become m...

Paris Paralympics 2024: Let the games begin!

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With the Olympics over the eyes of the sporting world are back on Paris once again ahead of the start of the Paralympic Games. More than 4000 athletes...

How bad are private jets for the environment?

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last week the newly announced CEO of Starbucks landed in hot water when it emerged that he’d be commuting from his home in California to the Starbuc...

Black Myth: Wukong - what does it tell us about Chinese gaming?

23 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’ve had the release of what is, right now, the most popular game in the world - but it’s not a new version of GTA or Minecraft - this ...

What’s it like living with disability in Somalia?

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Somali Parliament recently passed the National Disability Act. Twelve percent of the population in Somalia are estimated to be living with a disab...

How a Disney+ contract led to arguments around a woman’s death

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A legal battle has been raging after a woman suffered a severe allergic reaction and died at Disney World Orlando in Florida. The restaurant she ate a...

Why are some passports worth more than others?

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Research shows that people in Africa are disproportionately rejected for visas over other nationals. While passport holders from Singapore can sail st...

How a hospital murder led to India’s doctors going on strike

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor in India, there have been protests across the country. She was killed at work. Doctors held a nat...

Stunt philanthropy: Who is it really good for?

16 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

MrBeast is the world's biggest YouTuber with more than 300 million subscribers. He’s built an empire partly through so-called “stunt philanthropy,...

Diplomatic immunity: What happens when things go wrong?

15 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A school girl in Zimbabwe was recently killed in a road accident which involved a US diplomat. Ruvarashe Takamhanya’s family are calling for the per...

Cocaine sharks: Why are marine animals being tested for drugs?

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sharks off the coast of Brazil recently tested positive for cocaine in lab research by The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. It was the first study to detect c...

Ukraine takes the fight to Russia

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago, Ukrainian soldiers have advanced 30km inside Russia. President Zelensky says Ukraine is...

Paris Olympics Q&A: From viral mishaps to the Noah Lyles photo finish

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris have officially come to an end. Among the memorable moments are things like: that outstanding 100m photo finish, the...

How AI is changing K-pop

09 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

IITERNITI, formerly Eternity, is a South Korean pop group created entirely by artificial intelligence. The group first launched back in 2021, and now ...

Why do some of Africa’s most promising start-ups fail?

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are loads of podcasts about entrepreneurship, setting up a business or start-up, being your own boss and making money. According to the American...

How the search for Miss South Africa turned ugly

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student, has been facing online abuse since becoming a finalist in Miss South Africa 2024. Chidimma is South Afr...

How did student protests bring down Bangladesh's Prime Minister?

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are celebrations in Bangladesh following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation after weeks of violent unrest. Many have described the pas...

Oh rats! How cities from New York to Mombasa are taking on pests

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Animals are essential in maintaining ecosystem balance, but in some cases they can have the opposite effect. In the coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya, au...

Why are more people having surgery to be taller?

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leg-lengthening surgery was once reserved for people with a serious injury or physical deformity. But now more people are undergoing the procedure sim...

Venezuela elections: What you need to know

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Thousands of Venezuelans have been protesting after President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory in the country's disputed election. The opposition says ...

Your questions answered — from vaccines to vacations in North Korea

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dearest gentle listener: It’s our first birthday! To celebrate one year of our What in the World podcast, we asked you what burning questions you ha...

Will Nigeria leave Afrobeats behind?

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Afrobeats originated in Nigeria and Ghana, starting to get popular in the 2010s. It’s generally seen as a blend of West African music styles with We...

How South Sudan's basketball team is making history at the Paris Olympics

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

South Sudan — the world’s youngest nation — endured the longest civil war in Africa. Now, in their debut Olympic Games, its men’s basketball t...

How do you clean up an oil spill?

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Philippines is racing to contain the oil from a tanker that sank on Thursday in the midst of heavy rains from Typhoon Gaemi. It was carrying 1.5 m...

How green are the Olympics?

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Olympics have a huge impact, in many ways. Whether that’s tears, screaming at the TV, or inspiring you to take up rhythmic gymnastics. There’s...

Sunscreen is safe - here’s why…

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

White cast, nostalgic smell, never quite rubbed in enough. Yep, that’s sunscreen. It can be the stuff of nightmares when sand is involved. But recen...

Why are the Taliban welcoming tourists to Afghanistan?

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last year, Afghanistan attracted 7,000 tourists from abroad. That’s despite many governments warning citizens not to visit the country because it’...

Joe Biden has dropped out, so now what?

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After vowing that nothing could stop him from running for re-election, US President Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endors...

How do I become an Olympian?

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of us dream about becoming a professional athlete and the ultimate athletes in sport are at the Olympic Games. But what does it take? The Olympi...

Why are students in Bangladesh protesting?

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Since the start of the month, university students have been protesting across Bangladesh, asking for quotas in government jobs to be removed. 30% of r...

Mpox: What does the new strain mean for you?

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A new strain of the mpox virus is spreading quickly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and experts say it is the most dangerous variant they have se...

The Ambani wedding and India’s super rich

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This weekend, traffic in a key part of Mumbai came to a standstill to make way for a convoy of VIP guests attending one of the year’s most talked ab...

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On Saturday evening someone tried to kill Donald Trump. The former president was giving a speech at a political rally in Pennsylvania when a gunman to...

How are people making music in prison?

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

JailTime is a record label that aims to get prisoners away from crime and into the music industry. It operates from a studio in New Bell prison, a hig...

Will AI really be worth the cost?

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Over the last 18 months the world has gone pretty crazy about AI. Apple has been jumping into the space and Samsung is forecasting higher profits than...

Why are some places fed up with tourists?

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After the Covid pandemic, global tourism numbers have been on the rise again, but so are concerns about the impact of tourism.We will take you to Spai...

Tetanus Vaccines: What you need to know

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s loads of misinformation online about vaccines. For years, there have been false claims about the tetanus jab causing infertility. One of our...

Why France’s election result was a surprise

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On Sunday night, a surprising exit poll was announced for France’s parliamentary election. It showed that the New Popular Front was about to win the...

Are we falling out of love with dating apps?

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Match have changed the way many of us date, offering convenience, choice and connection at your finger tips. T...

How do crowd crushes happen?

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On Tuesday 2nd July, over 120 people died in a crowd crush at a religious event in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. According to police reports, the...

Tropical cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons: What's the difference?

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hurricane Beryl has been tearing through the southeast Caribbean and is now moving towards Jamaica. It’s expected to reach Mexico after.Hurricanes f...

Space Jams: Why is it so tricky to blast off from Earth?

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A growing number of private companies are wading into the global race for space dominance. Space X, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, Axiom, Vast and Boei...

Why the strength of the US dollar has a big impact on you

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You might not live in the US but the value of America’s currency most likely affects how much you pay for stuff, wherever you are. In this episode w...

Is Uganda and Tanzania’s oil pipeline worth the human impact?

28 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The East Africa crude oil pipeline - also known as EACOP - is facing ongoing backlash. The pipeline, which will pass through Uganda and Tanzania, is b...

Julian Assange: Who is he and what did he do?

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Julian Assange, one of the world’s most notorious hackers and the face of the website Wikileaks, is now a free man. He’s been in a high security p...

How do you evacuate whales from a warzone?

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A pair of beluga whales have been evacuated from the besieged city of Kharkiv in Ukraine. They were taken to Europe’s largest aquarium — the Ocean...

Why are there protests in New Caledonia?

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s been a lot of unrest in New Caledonia this year and it’s down to a proposed voting reform bill. Buildings have been set on fire, nine peop...

Why do some Hajj pilgrims go to Saudi Arabia without official permits?

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hajj — the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca — took place last week during an extreme heatwave. Officials in Saudi Arabia say that at least 1,301...

Kenya’s Gen Z protests: What are they about?

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Young Kenyans are leading demonstrations against a controversial finance bill, organising via TikTok and X. They are unhappy about proposals to raise ...

Why’s everyone talking about Ozempic and Wegovy?

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hollywood has gone into overdrive trying to guess which celebrities are using weight loss drugs. Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, and Rebel Wils...

Panda express: Why does China send pandas around the world?

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For decades China has used pandas as a way to improve diplomatic relations with other countries. Now, China’s Premier has offered Australia two, to ...

Japa Syndrome: Why are so many young people leaving Nigeria?

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nigeria is Africa’s economic powerhouse - so why are so many young people trying to leave and find opportunities in other countries? It’s become s...

Could nuclear be the answer to our power problems?

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nuclear power counts for just ten percent of the world’s total power supply and only 33 countries currently have nuclear power stations. But those n...

Feel the burn: Why does spicy food hurt so much?

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

South Korea’s Buldak noodles are super spicy - and Denmark’s food regulator has now recalled some types of them, saying they could cause "acute po...

Have you ever been ghosted like Billie Eilish?

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

She may be one of music's biggest stars, but it turns out even Billie Eilish is not immune to being ghosted. The ‘Bad Guy’ singer recently opened ...

Why is pregnancy so dangerous in Nigeria?

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Despite the latest data showing fewer women are dying in childbirth globally, maternal mortality remains a huge issue for women across Africa. The Wor...

Why is feminism taboo in South Korea?

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Being a feminist in South Korea is often associated with being a man-hater. And people who are thought to look like feminists - by for example having ...

Why is ‘All Eyes on Papua’ spreading across social media?

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Similar to the viral image "All Eyes on Rafah," the image "All Eyes on Papua" has been spreading across social media. It’s turning attention to Papu...

How Junior Pope’s death got Nollywood looking at its safety record

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In April, a top Nollywood star, Junior Pope, was killed in a boat crash, while being transported from a film set. He starred in more than a hundred Ni...

Help! My phone’s been stolen

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Phone theft is really common - but what happens to your phone after it’s stolen? Nowadays it’s not just about taking the phone to sell on, or stri...

Everest: How dangerous is it really?

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For many, it’s a dream to fly to Nepal and reach the top of the highest peak in the world. But climbing Mount Everest is considered extremely risky ...

Africa and FGM: When will it end?

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Female genital mutilation affects around 230 million women and girls globally, with rates highest in Africa. FGM is considered a human rights violatio...

Why has South Africa fallen out of love with the ANC?

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

South African politics faces a big change for the first time in 30 years, after its election results. The ruling African National Congress party lost ...

Donald Trump guilty verdict: What just happened?

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in his historic criminal trial in New York. It is the first time a ...

All Eyes on Rafah: What does it mean?

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The slogan “All Eyes on Rafah” has been trending on social media. One image in particular, of white tents spelling out that phrase, has gone viral...

Is climate change making plane turbulence worse?

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two flights have made the headlines recently after being hit by severe turbulence. Early investigations into a Singapore Airlines flight say that the ...

How the far right is using TikTok in Germany

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In June Europeans will go to the polls to decide the make-up of the next European Parliament. Far-right parties are expected to make significant gains...

Is South Korea stealing Chinese culture?

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

China and South Korea are arguing on social media. This time it’s over K-pop group IVE’s new video for HEYA: some people in China claim that the g...

In hot water: What’s turning the world’s coral white?

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Coral around the world is turning white and even dying as recent record ocean heat takes a devastating toll. It has triggered the fourth “global mas...

Why are Gen Z protesting in Georgia?

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Thousands of young people have been out protesting in Georgia. But this isn’t organised by the opposition or a political party - these demonstration...

B-girl Raygun explains breakdancing ahead of the Paris Olympics

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This year’s Olympics will, for the first time, feature breaking – a style of street dance that originated in 1970s New York City. It’s character...

Is AI blurring reality in the Indian elections?

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As India votes in the general election, it is impossible to avoid the wealth of AI-generated content being created - from campaign videos, to personal...

The death of Iran’s president

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, and several other officials, including the foreign minister, have died in a helicopter crash. Mr Raisi was widely ti...

Is the Premier League going to give VAR the red card?

17 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Premier League may vote to scrap the use of video assistant referees (VAR) from next season. Adam Chowdhury, from the What in the World team, expl...

Electric vehicles: Charging up or powering down?

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The electric car industry is sending mixed signals. On one hand, sales of electric vehicles in Europe overtook diesel vehicles for the first time last...

Why is ChatGPT so flirty?

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Open AI has just revealed the latest version of the AI chatbot ChatGPT. It’s called GPT-4o and is faster, more friendly, and even flirtatious. Tech ...

Is the world experiencing more flooding?

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Several nations have suffered flooding in just the last few months. Brazil, Kenya, Indonesia and China are just some of those that have been hit. Many...

Why was Eurovision so controversial this year?

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Eurovision Song Contest is the biggest music competition in the world. Countries from all over Europe, and some from outside (we’re looking at y...

Why North Korea’s TikTok hit is so catchy

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve been scrolling on TikTok recently, you might have come across the viral song out of North Korea called ‘Friendly Father’. It’s been ...

Where does our rubbish go?

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We throw tonnes of rubbish away and globally we’re throwing away more than ever. But what happens to it? Well, that depends on where in the world yo...

Drake v Kendrick Lamar: What’s the beef?

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two of the biggest names in hip-hop right now, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, are certainly not friends anymore. Their beef is escalating as they release d...

Can social media apps help you save money?

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Social media platforms, like Instagram and Xiaohongshu, are full of shopping tips to help you spend. But they can also help you save, partly by provid...

Where’s all the sex gone in movies?

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Challengers. Poor Things. Saltburn. Three Hollywood movies released in the last six months which haven't held back on sex. However, the stats tell us ...

Why are so many people in gaming losing their jobs?

03 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Epic Games. Microsoft. Riot Games; owners of the biggest computer game titles in the world and part of a gaming industry which has been valued at $200...

Why is Zimbabwe launching a new currency?

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Zimbabwe has a brand new currency; it’s called the ZiG (Zimbabwe Gold) and it’s backed by the country’s gold reserves. This is the third time th...

Why are student protests in the US spreading?

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Demonstrations over the war in Gaza have taken place at several universities in the US over the past few weeks. They have spanned from Columbia Univer...

From pangolins to plants: how we’re getting better at protecting nature

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nature conservation is effective at protecting animals and plants - and we’re getting better at it. That’s according to a new major study publishe...

Modest fashion is on the rise

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Modest fashion has been steadily gaining more global recognition over the past decade, with longer hemlines spotted on the runway. It’s now estimate...

What’s causing the blackouts in Sierra Leone?

26 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown and other cities have been suffering blackouts for weeks. It’s disrupted hospitals and daily life for many. Most o...

How will the US TikTok ban affect me?

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden has just signed a law that says TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance has nine months to sell the app or it will be blocked in the US. W...

Nuclear weapons: who has them and how do they work?

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nuclear weapons have been back in public conversation recently - partly due to rising tensions between Iran and Israel. Outside of the news, they have...

Is extreme weather the new normal?

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s been massive flooding in Dubai, with twice the annual amount of rain in a single day. Roads, runways and shopping malls were flooded. Meanwh...

Why I won’t switch to the metaverse as a professional gamer

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The metaverse has been talked about as the next big thing in technology: a virtual world which will become a part of our daily lives (think Ready Play...

South Korea’s shamans are now online

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Korean shamans hold significant cultural importance in Korean society. They are often shown in Korean dramas and films, adorned in shiny and colourful...