Why? with Emma Kennedy
Episodes
Why everything you think about parasites is wrong
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Parasites. Just saying the word makes most of us recoil - we think worms, infestations, grim biology lessons and maybe even mind controlling fungi. Bu...
Are seed oils bad for us? – with ZOE's chief scientist Dr. Sarah Berry
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seed oils are everywhere. They’re in your chips, your salad dressing and even in your biscuits. But in the age of social media, they’ve become the...
Is listening to heavy metal a life hack?
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forget spa music and whale songs, turns out the real relaxing music might be a blast of heavy metal. Studies suggest towns with more metal bands have ...
Why do some people hate exercise?
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do some people love the gym while others hate it? A new study suggests it might be about personality, not willpower. Dr Flaminia Ronca, researcher...
Why is sunscreen suddenly controversial?
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For years, sunscreen was the dullest health advice around: slap it on, don’t burn, lower your cancer risk. Easy. But in the weird world of TikTok we...
Why can’t I pay attention to anything?
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From phones to laptops to smartwatches, modern life is constantly pulling us in a dozen directions at the same time and it’s leaving us stressed, di...
Why are antibiotics losing their powers?
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the next health crisis isn’t a new virus, but the slow erosion of the medicine we’ve taken for granted? For nearly a century, antibiotics ...
Why are we obsessed with protein?
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got some questions. Protein has taken over the supermarket. Crisps, popcorn, cereal and even coffee now boast about their pro...
Will we ever really understand evolution?
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got some questions. Evolution has shaped us into the odd-looking, brilliant creatures we are, but how exactly did it do it? W...
What are microplastics doing to our bodies?
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Microplastics are turning up everywhere; in our lungs, blood, even our brains. They’re tiny, toxic, and almost impossible to avoid. So what can we d...
How is Ozempic changing the world?
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got some questions. Weight-loss injections are reshaping more than waistlines. They’re changing the world we live in. Drugs...
Why do we fall for fake news?
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got some questions. How does fake news pull us in? From deepfakes to dodgy headlines, we’re constantly navigating a minefie...
Why do we laugh?
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got some questions. What is laughter? A joyful cackle, a nervous snort, a full-body wheeze. It’s how we react when life get...
Why are some of us gay?
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got some questions. Sex, attraction, identity all bring up strong debates. For years, scientists have tried to pin down why w...
Could we make a real Jurassic Park?
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got some questions. When Jurassic Park roared into cinemas in 1993, it wasn’t just the dinosaurs that captured our imaginat...
Why are we obsessed with being special?
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got some questions. Why are we so obsessed with being special?Today, we’re diving into the strange modern urge to define ou...
What happens if billionaires become immortal?
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got some questions. Billionaires want to live forever – and they might just pull it off. From young blood transfusions to g...
What is scrolling doing to our brains?
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got questions. Are you a doomscroller? Are you endlessly flicking through a feed of memes, photos of your coworker’s holida...
Why does medicine ignore women? with Naga Munchetty
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got questions. From misdiagnosed heart attacks to the gaslighting of chronic pain, women’s health has been stuck in triage ...
How could we talk to space aliens?
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got questions. We always imagine first contact with aliens as a conversation. But what if talking is the problem? How could w...
Why do swingers swing?
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back and we’ve got some questions. The rules around sex are changing: what was once considered taboo is becoming the norm – and even The G...
A taster of CRIME SCENE, our new podcast – Episode 1: Guns of London
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a new series of WHY? coming very soon… but in the meantime, try a bite-sized sample of our brand new CRIME SCENE. Every week ex-Met Polic...
Why do we have phobias?
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Phobias are the most common anxiety disorder in the world. We’re very familiar with the likes of arachnophobia and claustrophobia, but some people s...
Why can’t I upload my consciousness… yet?
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The concept of eternal life is a long-standing fantasy in science fiction, but will it ever be possible to upload our consciousness to an external hos...
Why are planets so weird?
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Space is fundamentally quite weird, and seldom as weird as the thousands of “exoplanets” that – we’ve fairly recently discovered – exist...
Why aren’t men on the Pill?
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Since the first contraceptive pill came out in 1961, the burden of birth control has fallen overwhelmingly on women. While women have numerous birth c...
Why do we cry?
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Crying is a universal human experience. We can shed tears of joy, laughter, and sorrow - some of us even weep cutting onions. But what exactly are tea...
Why do we have fetishes?
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you can think of it, someone probably has a fetish for it. Whether you’re into feet, balloons, chair legs or latex, one thing’s for sure – fe...
Why is smell so important?
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You might not consider smell to be that important compared to some of your other senses. But, it’s intrinsic to our sense of taste, place, memory an...
Why can’t we time travel... yet?
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Time travel was once the holy grail of science fiction, but scientists have now shown that time travel into the future is theoretically possible – s...
Why are we drawn to evil?
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us are obsessed with true crime documentaries and podcasts, and actively seek out the most gruesome details of horrific murder, torture and ki...
Why do I have a ‘type’?
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us could list a few physical attributes for our ideal romantic partner – like preferring blondes or men over 6ft tall. But is having a ‘ty...
Why do we really need the moon?
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Moon captivates the human imagination, inspiring artistic creativity, religious fervour and scientific exploration. But what if it were destroyed ...
Why do people join cults?
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us think we’re too smart, stable and strong-willed to join a religious cult, or to cut ourselves off from our families to join a group devot...
Season 2 Trailer
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The podcast for curious minds. Every Thursday, Emma Kennedy delves into the science and psychology of why we are the way we are. Emma is joined by lea...
Will robot soldiers replace human armies?
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From Terminators and Cylons to the War Droids from Star Wars, military robots are staples of science fiction. But they’re already here in the real w...
Could we live on the moon?
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been 52 years since humans last stepped onto the moon, and NASA is determined to set up a permanent base there. But there are huge challenges t...
Should I be able to live forever?
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us would like to live for as long as possible, given we’re in good health. But the definition of a long life is changing, and the rapid adva...
Could we really live on Mars?
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Humanity has always been fascinated by the prospect of living on another planet – and our nearest neighbour is the prime candidate. Could we create ...
Would I survive a disaster?
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With the news full of war, terror and natural disasters, it’s increasingly looking like the so-called Doomsday Preppers were on to something after a...
When will humans go extinct?
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Everything goes extinct eventually. When will it be our turn? And will humans disappear because of shifting tectonic plates, catastrophic natural disa...
Am I living in a hallucination?
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You can trust what’s in front of your eyes, right? Turns out… not really. Everything we see is processed through a filter of our prior expectatio...
Why does music make us emotional?
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Music is a universal language, a connecting force during all of life’s highs and lows. But why does music make us emotional? From feelings of elatio...
The secret life of pets: How does my dog’s mind work?
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Your dog is really clever, right? You understand one another. Every pet owner thinks this. But can our pets really communicate with us beyond the basi...
What is the most powerful thing in the universe?
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
They shine as brightly as a trillion stars, they’re powered by supermassive black holes… and until 2023 we had no idea how they came into existenc...
How can I control my dreams?
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you could control your dreams, what would you do while you slept? Fly? Get romantic with some unattainable object of desire? Or embark on a fantasy...
Why am I addicted to spicy food?
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve probably eaten something so spicy it hurt before. But, across the globe, people still love eating spicy food – despite the discomfort. Why?...
Why can't we predict earthquakes?
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Without warning a 7.6 magnitude earthquake shook Japan on New Year’s Day, raising the sea floor above the water and causing devastating damage and d...
Can I outrun a T.Rex?
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever watched Jurassic Park, you’ve probably wondered how you’d fare against a dinosaur. If these prehistoric beasts did exist alongsid...
Can I trust my own eyes?
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Your eyes are your window to the world – but is what they’re seeing actually happening? When you’re driving at speed, being alert to the traffi...
Can I programme love with a pill?
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you could take a pill that would make you fall deeply in love with someone, would you do it? And if you could give someone a pill that would make t...
Could tiny robots stop the antibiotics apocalypse?
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The antibiotics that have saved humanity from extinction again and again are about to stop working. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are multiplying fast...
Why do I make bad decisions?
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our brains process over 35,000 conscious decisions every day – and let’s face it, they can’t all be good choices. So why do we make bad decisio...
Could my brain become part computer?
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brain implants have moved from science fiction to science fact thanks to innovative research into treatments for neurological illnesses. But could you...
Are we still evolving?
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our bodies are astonishing in all their beautiful, biological complexity – but do you ever wonder if this is as far as the human form can develop? M...
Can plants help us solve crimes?
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Every CSI fan knows that forensic analysis is crucial to criminal investigations. But it’s not just microscopic blood spatter or clothing fibres tha...
Why do animals have regional accents?
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does your cat meow in Geordie? Does your dog have a Yorkshire accent? Is “animal linguistics” a thing? Incredibly, it is – and the science of an...
Could an AI become my closest friend?
28 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the fantasy we revisit obsessively in movies and TV from Her to Humans to Blade Runner to, well, A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Could a thinking...
Are Dads wired differently?
25 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dads will often say that fatherhood changes you – but did you realise those changes happen at a physical, biological level as well as in fathers’...
Is there another me in a parallel universe?
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Multiverse theory inspired movie blockbusters like Marvel’s Dr Strange and Everything Everywhere All At Once – but the “Many Worlds” theory o...
Why do some animals have rhythm?
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As YouTube videos of bopping parrots and breakdancing baboons show, humans aren’t the only species with rhythm and musicality built in. Even dogs wa...
Is the Force really with me?
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Science usually rejects the existence of the soul, or any conscious entity that’s separate from our biology. But there’s increasing evidence that ...
Should we trust AI to run our lives?
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial Intelligence already controls complex systems that humans depend on, from keeping thousands of planes safe in the sky to autocorrect saving...
Why can’t I forget embarrassing memories?
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we always remember the worst things that happened to us and never the best? Excruciating memories of past mistakes have a tendency to haunt us,...
Are we the first intelligent life on Earth?
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We like to think we’re the pinnacle of intelligent life, but were humans really the first to evolve conceptual, self-aware, logical consciousness o...
Will living in space mess with my mind?
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We hear a lot about the technology of space travel, but what about the psychology of leaving Earth for the loneliness of space? If you were strapped i...
What's at the earth’s core and can we use it?
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At the very centre of the earth, scientists have just discovered a new, previously unknown geological layer inside our world’s dense inner core. Wha...
Can we stop our bodies ageing?
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Could you be forever young? Humans have fantasised about stopping or even reversing the ravages of age for as long as we’ve told stories – but no...
How can I travel faster than light?
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Faster-than-light space travel has been a staple of science fiction since before the Starship Enterprise first went warp-speed. But could it ever real...
What will humans look like in a million years?
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Humans now have more control over our long-term evolution than ever before. Developments in DNA research could mean we can by-pass natural selection a...
Is time real?
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Time seems pretty reliable in our everyday lives – but is it as dependable as we think? According to Einstein, both gravity and speed can warp time...
Are we already receiving messages from aliens?
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who hasn’t looked up at the stars at some point and thought maybe there are other intelligent creatures out there? Astronomers scan the cosmos and t...
How has our biology shaped world history?
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While the human race’s ploughs, tunnels and cities have rewritten the face of the planet, an even more fundamental force has been shaping our story:...
Why do we remember things that never happened?
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Memory is critical to human function. We simply can’t do anything without it. Yet most of us have memories of events that never occurred. How can th...
Is it wrong to have sex with Robots?
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re a sex-obsessed species, and now we’re building humanoid sex robots. But is there something psychologically, physically and even morally wron...