IFLScience - The Big Questions

IFLScience - The Big Questions

IFLScience

Episodes 53
Avg. Duration 27m
Activity Dormant
Apple Rating 3.7 (29)
Since Aug 2021
Latest Episode Dec 2025

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Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Consistency
56%
Hosting
feed.podbean.com

About This Podcast

From saving the planet to understanding ourselves, this podcast sees experts discuss the major topics of our times. Hosted by IFLScience’s Dr Alfredo Carpineti, Rachael Funnell, Dr Russell Moul, Laura Simmons, and Eleanor Higgs.

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Recent Episodes

Can Magic Be Used As A Tool In Science?

Dec 23, 2025 21m

What is magic? Rabbits out of hats? Card tricks? Someone in a sparkly outfit getting sawn in half? Well, yes, but it’s also about defying expectations. To psychologist and magician Dr Gustav Kuhn,…

Searching For Nessie: IFLScience Takes On Cryptozoology

Oct 31, 2025 35m

In this bonus Halloween special episode of The Big Questions, IFLScience takes on the “mystery” of the Loch Ness Monster. Although it’s been nearly 100 years since Nessie was first brought to…

Why Do People Believe In The Paranormal?

Oct 23, 2025 40m

Everyone loves a good ghost story. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, there’s something about the eerie and the uncanny that we all enjoy. But for many people, the things that go bump in the…

What Is Time And How Do We Measure It?

Oct 09, 2025 43m

Time is everything to us: in terms of physical laws, in how we experience the world, and how society works. Still, its true nature remains beyond us. As scientists search for a deeper understanding,…

Is De-extinction Really Possible?

Sep 25, 2025 41m

De-extinction. It’s not a word many of us were thinking about just a decade ago, but it’s one that we’re getting ever more familiar with. The de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences has set its…

Are We In The Anthropocene?

Sep 11, 2025 43m

In March 2024, geologists rejected the proposal that we are in a new geological era: the Anthropocene, a time dominated by human activity on the planet. And yet, the evidence of our impact on the…

What Will The Fossils Of The Future Look Like?

Aug 28, 2025 35m

Today’s rubbish may well be the fossils of tomorrow. Plastic bags, old pens, cheap clothing, or even chicken bones are all examples of possible “technofossils”, rapidly accumulating debris and…

Will We Ever Have A Universal Flu Vaccine?

Aug 14, 2025 31m

Lining up for your seasonal flu shot is an annual ritual, but what if it didn't have to be this way? Wouldn't it be great if we could develop a universal vaccine that could protect us against all…

How Has The Internet Changed The Way We Use Language?

Jul 31, 2025 30m

Language can evolve surprisingly quickly, and nothing has sped it up quite like the invention of the Internet. So, how does it affect how we communicate, not just on our devices but offline,…

How Do Black Holes Shape The Universe?

Jul 17, 2025 25m

Of all the celestial bodies, none induce awe and fear in equal measure quite like black holes. They are incredible astrophysical objects and there are plenty of reasons why they are so iconic. In…

Are We Living Through A Sixth Mass Extinction?

Jul 03, 2025 38m

While climate change, species extinctions, and increasing carbon dioxide levels might feel like media buzzwords at this point, they all remain very real threats to biodiversity across the globe, and…

Would You Rather Go To Space Or The Bottom Of The Sea?

Jun 19, 2025 31m

The expanse of space and the oceanic abyss hold a fascination for humanity; extreme environments where our bodies and technology are pushed to their limits, yet we continue to explore. We take this…

IFLScience The Big Questions - Season 5 Coming Soon

Jun 13, 2025 1m

We're back! Here's what to expect this season, starting June 19, 2025. If you missed any previous episodes, catch up here: IFLScience The Big Questions

Why Do Humans Love Playing Competitive Games?

Dec 20, 2024 25m

It’s the holiday season, and what better time to gather your loved ones together and absolutely trounce them in an hours-long board game marathon? Humans have been playing and enjoying competitive…

Britain’s Most Haunted Castle: IFLScience Takes On The Supernatural

Oct 28, 2024 1h 5m

Welcome to IFLScience’s first-ever Halloween podcast special, bringing you a feature-length episode of The Big Questions as we take on the UK’s most haunted castle. We journeyed to Northumberland up…

Are Octopuses Sentient?

Oct 17, 2024 32m

It’s no secret that octopuses are intelligent – but are they sentient? And how is that reflected in the way that they’re treated? Host Rachael Funnell is joined by Sy Montgomery, author of Secrets of…

What Would A Human On Mars Look Like?

Oct 03, 2024 31m

Are humans done evolving – or could settling on an alien world with an environment unlike Earth’s take us on a different evolutionary trajectory? Host Tom Hale is joined by Scott Solomon, author and…

Are The Drugs Of The Future Coming From The Deep Ocean?

Sep 19, 2024 28m

Antibiotic resistance is a major health concern. We now have several harmful microbes that have evolved into versions unaffected by common treatments. To find new antibiotics scientists are looking…

Introducing 'We Have Questions' Our New Science Podcast

Sep 10, 2024 1m

Coming soon: join IFLScience as we explore the questions nobody thought to ask but everyone wants the answers to. Get the behind-the-scenes conversations from CURIOUS magazine’s We Have Questions…

How Did Dinosaurs Have Sex?

Sep 05, 2024 33m

Where do baby dinosaurs come from? It’s a question that’s been burning in the collective brain of the IFLScience team for some time. In this episode, host Rachael Funnell speaks with science writer…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does IFLScience - The Big Questions have?

IFLScience - The Big Questions has published 53 episodes since August 2021, covering topics in Astronomy, Life Sciences.

Is IFLScience - The Big Questions still active?

IFLScience - The Big Questions is currently dormant with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 27m.

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