Nature

Life Without

What if, one day, something essential to our world suddenly vanished? No warning. No explanation. Just gone. What happens next?

Life Without is a roundtable-style podcast that explores this fascinating and thought-provoking question with insight, evidence-based assumptions and a range of perspectives. Hosted by Alan Davies, each episode brings together 2 guests, scientists, psychologists, economists, sociologists and journalists to discuss the unexpected consequences of losing something vital to our world.

Each episode starts with a bold, imaginative question: What would happen if something fundamental—like the moon, salt, sleep, or even something as random as rats—suddenly disappeared from the world? What’s the immediate fallout? How does society cope? And how long would it take before things started unravelling?

Latest Episodes:

Life Without Tears Nov 06, 2026

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No more tears, for sore eyes or sad films. In this episode of Life Without, Alan Davies turns off the tap. What happens when humanity loses the tears that protect our eyes as well as the ones we cry?

Alan examines how tears keep eyes working, why artificial replacements may not be enough, and what changes when emotional weeping vanishes too. From courtrooms to funerals, can society show distress and find comfort without them?

Featuring Marc Baker, a psychology researcher at the University of Portsmouth, and actor and theatre maker Andreea Tudose, co-creator of the dystopian cabaret Cry For Me.

An ITN production for BBC Radio 4

Life Without Plankton Oct 30, 2026

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The ocean’s tiniest drifters disappear. In this episode of Life Without, Alan Davies removes plankton from the sea. They may be hard to see, but what happens when the foundation of ocean life is suddenly gone?

Alan explores the food webs that begin with plankton, from fish to seabirds and whales. He also looks at the familiar things they shape, including the smell of the seaside and glowing blue tides, and at their broader role in climate and ocean science.

Featuring Dr Clare Ostle, marine biogeochemist at the Marine Biological Association, and environmental journalist Anna Turns.

An ITN production for BBC Radio 4

Life Without Memory Oct 23, 2026

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No new memories. In this episode of Life Without, Alan Davies takes away our ability to form them. We can still live in the moment, but what happens when that moment will not stay with us?

Alan explores different kinds of memory, from knowing how to ride a bike to recalling a personal experience. Can technology, routines and support help us cope? And what might memory loss reveal about how people learn, build relationships and make sense of their lives?

An ITN production for BBC Radio 4

Life Without Bats Oct 16, 2026

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No bats in the night sky. In this episode of Life Without, Alan Davies imagines a world where bats suddenly disappear. From tiny insect-eaters to fruit bats, what would humanity miss when these remarkable mammals are gone?

Alan explores the role bats play in controlling insects, pollinating plants and dispersing seeds. He also examines their surprising social lives, their unusual immune systems, and what they might teach us about disease and ageing.

Featuring Professor Kate Jones, Professor of Ecology and Biodiversity at UCL, and Dr Christina Stanley, Associate Professor in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Chester.

An ITN production for BBC Radio 4

Life Without S2 - Trailer Oct 09, 2026

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What if, one day, something essential to our world suddenly vanished? No warning. No explanation. Just gone. What happens next?

Life Without North America Apr 17, 2026

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What would happen to the world if the USA disappears? In this episode of Life Without, Alan Davies explores a planet earth without the land mass of North America. How would opening up the Atlantic impact us in the UK and what would the disappearance of North American produce and people mean for the rest of the world?

This episode features Dr. Anjana Khatwa an award winning Earth Scientist and author, and Tori Tsui, a climate justice activist, author, and mental health advocate.

An ITN production for BBC Radio 4

Life Without Standard Time Apr 10, 2026

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Spring Forward, Fall Back or what if we just didn’t? In this episode of Life Without, Alan Davies looks at how our circadian rhythms would be impacted if we simply stopped changing the clocks.

Some scientists have argued to do away with the twice-yearly clock change in order to see some beneficial impacts on our health. So why have some parts of the world adopted this system while places like Russia and Mexico don’t use it at all?

This episode features Aarti Jagannath, a leading chronobiologist and Associate Professor at the University of Oxford, and Dr Rebecca Struthers who is a watchmaker, author, historian and Honorary Research Fellow at University of Birmingham.

An ITN production for BBC Radio 4

Life Without Sleep Apr 03, 2026

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We all know the importance of sleep, but what happens if we literally can’t? In this episode of Life Without, Alan Davies breaks down how long a world full of sleepy people could function.

From memory loss to hallucinations, sleep is keeping all our brains working and our bodies functioning. Without it, we would surely die, but what might happen before we do and has tech found solutions to life without sleep?

This episode features Derk-Jan Dijk a expert in sleep and Professor at the University of Surrey, and Dr Sophie Bostock an educator dedicated to the science of sleep and performance.

An ITN production for BBC Radio 4

Life Without Writing Mar 27, 2026

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How many of us even use a pen these days and what if we never picked one up ever again? In this episode of Life Without, Alan Davies looks at our ancient skill of handwriting. If we could no longer write, would it really matter?

From the feather with ink to our daily ballpoint, writing has been the most personal and poetic way to communicate throughout human history. But as less of us pick up a pencil, would life without writing work?

This episode features Nels Abbey a critically acclaimed writer and Dominic Wyse a Professor of Early Childhood and Primary Education at the UCL Institute of Education.

An ITN production for BBC Radio 4

Life Without Sex Mar 20, 2026

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Gen Z are famously having less of it. Do we even need it all? In this episode of Life Without, Alan Davies looks at what happens when we lose one of our most primal instincts?

Where do we currently stand in reproductive technology and how important is sex in understanding our biological function?

This episode features Miranda Kane a comedian, writer, and former sex worker who uses her platform to destigmatise the sex industry and Sarah Johns, a biological anthropologist at Kent and Medway Medical School with specialized expertise in human sexual behaviour.

An ITN production for BBC Radio 4