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Science

A Question of Science

Science you can trust. Questions that matter.

Join Professor Brian Cox and a panel of the world’s top scientists and experts as they tackle your questions about some of the biggest science challenges facing society today.

Can we cure cancer? How do you separate nutrition fact from fiction? What do climate change and the march of AI mean for our future? Could we live forever? Each episode is recorded in front of a live audience and it’s their questions that drive the debate.

Hear from the experts who actually know what they’re talking about, including Adam Rutherford, Helen Sharman, George Monbiot, Giles Yeo, Jeanette Winterson, Rory Cellan-Jones, Paul Nurse, Kevin Fong and You, Me and the Big C’s Lauren Mahon.

With a focus on accuracy, openness, and debate, A Question of Science brings you the latest on what we know, what we don’t, and where science might take us next.

A BBC Studios production for the Francis Crick Institute, an independent charity and world-leading research lab.

Latest Episodes:

How does biological sex affect health? Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

Our biological sex affects every cell in our body, so how does it influence our health - from embryo development through to the risk of disease and diagnosis? How and why do some conditions affect females and males differently? And what can we do to ensure medicine is safe and effective for everyone, after decades of male biology bias?

Across autoimmune disorders, cancer, dementia, heart disease and even responses to everyday medications, sex‑based biological differences can shape who becomes ill, how symptoms appear and what treatments work.

Join our expert panel as they explore sex differences in biology, hormones and gene regulation.

Panel:

Prof Edith Heard, CEO of the Francis Crick Institute

Natasha Karp, Biostatistician at Astra Zeneca

Prof Petter Brodin, Garfield Weston chair of Neonatology and Professor of Paediatric Immunology, Imperial College, London

Caroline Criado Perez, Author of Invisible Women

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Can we cure addiction? Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

Why do people become addicted? When does a habit turn into self harm and what makes recovery so hard? From drugs and alcohol to gambling and social media, join our panel of experts as they explore the causes of addiction, what it looks like in the brain and potential new treatments, including psychedelic therapies.

Panel:

Prof Sally Marlow: Professor of Public Understanding of Mental Health at KCL

Matt Willis: Musician/actor and podcaster in recovery from addictions

Dr Nicky Kalk: Psychiatrist and addiction specialist at Maudsley NHS Trust

Prof David Nutt: Director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Imperial College, London

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How is AI transforming medicine? Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

How is AI revolutionising medicine and drug discovery and could it really improve diagnosis and treatment for everyone? Could the role of doctors and nurses change forever, with AI taking care of admin and analysis at the touch of a button? Can we trust it to safeguard our health and our personal data – and who gets to control it?

Join a panel of experts as they answer your questions and explore how AI is rapidly changing medicine and healthcare, now and in the future.

Panel:

Prof Mihaela van der Schaar: Chief AI Scientist, The Francis Crick Institute

Dr Indra Joshi: Chief Product Officer, Optum UK

Lord Patrick Vallance: Former Minister of State for Science

Prof Samra Turajlic: Group Leader, Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute and Director, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute

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A Question of Science Series 2 - Coming Soon... May 06, 2026

Show notes

A Question of Science is back - with free tickets to live recordings available now!

Join Professor Brian Cox in person and put your questions to a panel of leading scientists and experts on a huge range of topics.

We’ll be exploring how A.I. is changing medicine, what’s really happening inside the teenage brain, how can science help save our oceans, beat superbugs, tackle addiction, and what elite sport science can teach us about human strength and endurance.

The series is being recorded in June and July at the Francis Crick Institute in London, one of the world’s leading centres for biomedical research.

To book your tickets visit: crick.ac.uk/tickets

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Ancient Egyptian DNA, Cheddar Man and wolves as pets Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of ancient DNA, with two experts returning to answer more of your questions.

How far can we go back in time using DNA? How accurate is ancient DNA when it comes to understanding our past? Why was diversity in DNA vital for the survival of early humans? Do we really share 60% of our genetic code with bananas?

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Rethinking sex, artificial wombs and how to up your sperm count Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of fertility, with a panel of returning experts answering more of your questions.

Should we sequence the DNA of embryos and use A.I. to choose which to implant? Are ultra-processed foods and microplastics really effecting fertility? And will new technologies mean humans could one day reproduce like squid?

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Decarbonising flying, cleaning up A.I. and the personal cost of climate change Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of global warming and how society should adapt, with two experts returning to answer more of your questions.

Will new green technologies really help us reach net zero? What is solar forcing? Which regions of the planet will become uninhabitable and when?

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Cancer vaccines, tumour-killing cells and does fasting work as a treatment? Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of cancer, with a panel of returning experts answering more of your questions.

Do tumours communicate with the brain, is glucose carcinogenic and could our immune system’s natural killer cells be used to combat cancer?

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Ultra processed foods, weight loss jabs and why don’t we eat enough fibre? Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of nutrition, with a panel of returning experts answering more of your questions.

What is food noise, what is the impact of artificial sweeteners on the gut and why do many women turn from a pear to an apple shape during menopause?

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Longevity by luck, vaccines for dementia and how fame ages you Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of ageing, with two experts returning to answer more of your questions. How do men and women age differently? Why is it healthy to forget things? What’s the latest research on regenerating old cells?

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