The Thought Show

Latest Episodes:

Transgender in the US Military, India’s Midnight Selfies and Eavesdropping Aug 17, 2017

Show notes

President Trump recently announced that the US Government "will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. military." This provoked criticism from Congressman Mark Pocan who said that there were 15,000 transgender people serving in the military today. That number was widely reported – but is it true?

A visual protest accompanied by a viral hashtag has sparked a new twist in the fight for women's rights in India. It began with one woman driving in her car late at night, and has resulted in the country's ruling party facing embarrassment and possible damage to their reputation.

On trains, in cafes, offices and in the street, we cannot help overhearing conversations not intended for our ears. Catherine Carr explores why we eavesdrop, and whether it is a harmless habit or a dangerous invasion of privacy.

(image: US Joint Service Honor Guard, Washington DC. Credit: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

Raising Other People's Children Aug 10, 2017

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Raising children is demanding. It takes time, money and devotion. So, why would anyone want to raise another person's child? Can mothers who adopt or foster have the same connection to their children as a birth mother would? We explore what it means to be a parent.

Mathematician Matt Parker on the unsung prime numbers such as the Mersenne 49 - the largest ever found.

Whistleblowers from inside YouTube's voluntary Trusted Flagger scheme, which helps identify potential child groomers, tell us that the company are failing to respond to the vast majority of reports from them and the public. An unsolved murder of a young man in Washington DC last year has sparked widespread conspiracy theories online. But these aren't just any kind of conspiracy theories – they are linked to people in positions of power. Why has one murder led to such a huge response online?

(image credit: Shutterstock/family)

More Boys than Girls in Sweden? Aug 03, 2017

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Last year it was reported that there could soon be up to 123 boys aged 16 to 17 for every 100 girls the same age in Sweden. This disparity was thought to be caused by an influx of teenage boys claiming asylum in the country. We look at whether age testing of asylum seekers has had an impact and skewed the sex ratio in Sweden.

China's Livestreaming: The Super Fan: BBC Trending brings you the second half of a strange love story involving one of China's most well-known live streamers, and a fan who pays to watch her live stream every single day. Last week we introduced you to Lele Tao, a well-known live streamer in China. This week we meet Shage, who is a devoted fan of Lele's and witness their first ever face-to-face interaction.

Every country in the world has at least one Sign Language. Each is a complete communication system with its own grammar, lexicon and structure and has evolved over centuries, just like their verbal counterparts. Although many have legal status under disability legislation, only four have been given the status of a recognised official language. But not everyone who is deaf uses sign language, and not everyone who uses sign language is deaf. Some deaf rights campaigners say that Sign language is a signifier of belonging to a Deaf community, with a rich cultural legacy. But does the choice to use hearing aids and cochlear implants to help use verbal language really mean a rejection of deaf culture and a deaf identity?

(image: teenagers enjoying themselves outdoors. Credit: Shutterstock)

A Genius of Maths Jul 27, 2017

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The only woman to win the maths world’s biggest prize has died at the age of 40. As the only female winner of the Fields Medal – the maths equivalent to the Nobel Prize – Iranian mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani inspired a generation of female mathematicians. We look at her life and her legacy.

The first of two special reports reveals a unique Chinese love story involving one of China's most well-known live streamers, and a fan who watches her on a screen every single day. Live streaming is big business in China, with half of the online Chinese community using livestreaming apps in 2016.

And why do some people crave the limelight? Jordan Dunbar undergoes an experiment to find out what the limelight does to our bodies, to get a chemical answer.

(Photo: Front pages of Iranian newspapers on 16 July 2017, bearing portraits of the top female mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani. Credit: Atta Kenare/Getty Images)

Calling the Shots at Wimbledon Jul 20, 2017

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We discover how every shot at the Wimbledon tennis championships is counted, analysed and makes its way to our phones, desktops and TV screens. How useful is this information for players and their coaches? The statistics prove and disprove some of the received wisdom of the game.

New Chinese regulations have resulted in a crackdown on online videos. Chinese censors have banned around 84 categories of material including prostitution, drug addiction, and extra marital affairs, and the classification of homosexuality as an 'abnormal' sexual activity has caused anger online.

What drives women – and men – to choose to be childless, especially as they often face suspicion, abuse even, for being selfish or materialistic. Women, in particular, who decide not to have children can experience the full force of this near-universal stigma. Mary-Ann Ochota reports.

(image: Venus Williams plays a backhand during the Ladies Singles at Wimbledon. Credit: Getty Images)

Is Steph Curry Cheap, and Fake Football News Jul 13, 2017

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The American basketballer Stephen Curry has just signed the biggest contract in NBA history for $200 million over 5 years but amazingly, according to fellow superstar player Lebron James, he’s probably being underpaid. We look at the economics of superstar sports salaries.

Rumours in football and the fake news generated by these rumours are nothing new, but we’ll be looking at the way these stories impact clubs, players and fans.

And what’s in a kiss? Charlotte McDonald examines the biochemistry, psychology, anthropology and history of kissing. Where does it come from and is it innately human?

(Image: NBA Finals: Game Four, Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Making Penalty Shoot-outs Fairer Jul 06, 2017

Show notes

UEFA, European football's governing body, is currently trialling a new system for penalty shoot-outs that is based on mathematical research. Currently 60% of penalty shoot-outs are won by the team going first, so can this unfairness be overcome?

The death of a teenager in India at the hands of a mob led to an online campaign, which within days sparked a trending hashtag and worldwide street protests. We pick apart the #NotInMyName campaign.

And when many people struggle to maintain one relationship, why do some people enter into multiple simultaneous marriages? Lucy Ash speaks to polygamists around the world to find out why they were drawn to these complex relationships and what impact they have on the people involved.

(Photo: Various numbers. Credit: Shutterstock)

Deadly Tower Block Fires Jun 29, 2017

Show notes

Grenfell Tower, a residential block in London, made headlines around the world when at least 79 people died there in a fire while many are still missing. But how unusual are such lethal fires? Are tower blocks really dangerous? Or are they safer than houses?

We investigate some of the fake victim images which appear online in the wake of deadly attacks and disasters. Who are the victims and perpetrators, and why are these images circulated?

Why do foreign migrants yearn to go home and what happens when they do? Some have had no choice, but others are influenced by nostalgia for their early lives. When they go back, can the old country live up to their hopes and dreams? Shivaani Kohok hears emotional tales from those returning to Jamaica, Sierra Leone, India and Ghana.

(Photo: Smoke rises from the 24 story Grenfell Tower in West London. Photo: Leon Neal/Getty images)

Post UK Election Special Jun 22, 2017

Show notes

The results of the UK general election are in – but what do they mean? Did more young people vote than expected? How many extra votes would the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have needed to become Prime Minister? Would planned boundary changes have made a difference? Tim Harford and team give the latest analysis. Quilting – it’s an innocent-sounding traditional art, and one with a rich social and political history. But it’s not immune to America’s fractious political climate, as a conflict has erupted online amongst those within the quilting world. And all over the world this summer young people are sitting exams which will have a big impact on their future. However, is this one-size-fits-all approach to assessment really a good judge of ability and understanding? Or do exam results only tell us about a candidate’s ability to memorise material and perform under stressful exam conditions? Caroline Bayley investigates.

(Photo: young voters arriving at a polling station in Glasgow to vote in the General Election. Credit Andy Buchanan/Getty Images)

Are African Football Players More Likely to Die on the Field? Jun 15, 2017

Show notes

Cheick Tiote, the much loved former Newcastle United player collapsed and died while training with Chinese side Beijing Enterprises earlier this month. His death and that of other black footballers have caused some commentators to ask if cardiac arrest – one of the most common causes of death on the field – is a greater risk factor for people of African heritage.

The conflict in Venezuela has now moved beyond the country’s borders – both on and offline. It involves Venezuelan exiles publicly shaming people living abroad who are connected to the government. We hear from those who are targeted and targeting. Also, offensive messages on social media have resulted in some students having their admissions revoked from one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Why do some people deliberately inflict pain on themselves as a way of managing how they feel? Catherine Carr explores the impact self-harming has on those who do it and those close to them, and she hears from people who have recovered by finding alternative coping strategies.

(Photo: Cheick Tiote of Newcastle United in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St James Park Credit: Getty Images)

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