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The High Street, Home Births and Harry Potter Wizardry Jun 01, 2018

Show notes

Is WH Smith really the worst shop on the High Street? Harry Potter fans want to know how many wizards there are – we try to work it out. Is giving birth at home as safe as giving birth in hospital?

(Photo: Mother and baby. Credit: Shutterstock)

WS More or Less: Australia Calling May 28, 2018

Show notes

This week we tackle some of our listeners’ questions from Australia: do one in seven businessmen throw out their pants after wearing them once? This is a claim made by an expert talking about clothes waste – but what does it come from? Do horses kill more people than venomous animals? Australia is known for its dangerous wildlife, but how deadly is it for humans? Plus, a politician says lots of Australians have used cannabis – we take a look at the evidence.

Presenter: Tim Harford Producers: Charlotte McDonald and Sachin Croker

(Picture: Male models in underwear follow a businessman. Credit: Getty's Images)

Forecasting rain, teabags and voter ID trials May 25, 2018

Show notes

(00.28) Reading the BBC weather app – we explain the numbers on the forecast (06:55) University of Oxford Admissions: how diverse is its intake? (11:37) Voter idea trial at the local elections – counting those who were turned away from the polling station. (15:46) How much tea do Brits drink? We investigate a regularly cited estimate (20:06) Are pensioners richer than people of working age?

WS More or Less: James Comey - Basketball Superstar? May 21, 2018

Show notes

Former FBI Director James Comey is very, very tall – over two metres tall, or 6’8” - and many media outlets commented on his height during his recent run-in with President Trump.

But to what extent does being very tall improve your chances of becoming a professional basketball player?

In this week’s programme Tim Harford looks at the likelihood that James Comey – or any very tall person - might make it as a pro in the NBA. He speaks to data scientist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz who has crunched the numbers on height and class to find out who is more likely to make it as a pro baller.

Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Richard Fenton-Smith

(Picture: Former FBI Director James Comey, Credit: Shutterstock)

Poverty, Progress 8 and how green is grass? May 18, 2018

Show notes

(0.22) Are more children from working families in poverty? (6.50) Progress 8 – explaining the new school league tables for England (12.51) Can a garden product really make your grass 6 times greener? (18.03) ‘Data is’ versus ‘data are’ (20.21) Royal Wedding economics

WS More or Less: Tulipmania mythology May 14, 2018

Show notes

The story goes that Amsterdam in the 1630’s was gripped by a mania for Tulip flowers. But then there was a crash in the market. People ended up bankrupt and threw themselves into canals. This story is still being trotted out when people talk about financial markets, lately as a comparison to buying and selling bitcoin. But how much of what we know of the Tulip craze is fact, and how much is myth? We speak to Anne Goldgar at Kings College London who explains all.

Abortion, modern slavery, math versus maths May 11, 2018

Show notes

(00:26) The UK abortion statistics gaining attention in Ireland’s referendum debate (03:49) Superforecasting author Phillip Tetlock talks to Tim Harford (09:51) Modern Slavery figures in the UK (17:43) Should you say math or maths?

WS More or Less: Exposing the biases we have of the world May 07, 2018

Show notes

The great statistician, Hans Rosling, died in February last year. Throughout his life Hans used data to explain how the world was changing – and often improving – and he would challenge people to examine their own preconceptions and ignorance. Before he became ill, Hans had started working on a book about these questions and what they reveal about the mental biases that tend to lead us astray. Tim Harford speaks to his son Ola and daughter in law Anna who worked on the book with him.

Cancer screening, the Windrush Generation, Audiograms May 04, 2018

Show notes

(0:32) Breast screening – the Numbers: 450,000 women have accidentally not been invited for breast cancer screening

(07:26) Counting the Windrush Generation: What do we know about those who might be lacking documentation

(11:15) Has Nigel Farage been on Question Time too often? We chart his appearances over 18 years

(16:32) Painting a picture with an audiogram: Data journalist Mona Chalabi talks about her unusual approach to analysing numbers.

Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Charlotte McDonald Editor: Richard Vadon

WS More or Less: Puerto Rico - statistics versus politics Apr 29, 2018

Show notes

The government of Puerto Rico has developed a plan to strip the island’s statistical agency of its independent board as part of a money saving enterprise. But as the Caribbean island recovers from a debt crisis and the devastation of Hurricane Maria which struck last year, many are questioning whether the move could have long reaching implications.

Presenters: Tim Harford and Kate Lamble Producer: Kate Lamble

(Photo: Damage to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria: The La Perla neighbourhood, San Juan. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images.)

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