The Why Factor

The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions

World Service,408 episodes

Episodes

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Millennials and business
Why are millennials so attracted to starting their own businesses?
03 Feb 2020,23 mins
Why do we text instead of talk?
The popularity of texting is changing how we communicate and relate to each other
27 Jan 2020,24 mins
Why do physical scars matter?
What do the marks on our skin tell us about ourselves and our place in the world?
20 Jan 2020,23 mins
Dystopias
Why is dystopic fiction so appealing?
13 Jan 2020,23 mins
Victim blaming
In cases of sexual assault, why do people so often blame the victim?
06 Jan 2020,24 mins
Parties
Why is party planning so hard?
16 Dec 2019,23 mins
Resilience
Why are we resilient?
09 Dec 2019,23 mins
Why does music affect the way we feel?
An exploration of why and how music can exert a powerful effect on our emotions
02 Dec 2019,22 mins
Why do we need to talk about men?
Michael Blastland investigates talk of a crisis in masculinity.
25 Nov 2019,24 mins
Why grandparents are important
Why do grandparents care for their grandchildren and what effect does it have on them?
18 Nov 2019,24 mins
Why do we cheat on our partners?
Could the answer lie in our DNA, our upbringing or our lack of self control?
11 Nov 2019,24 mins
Why are we conscious?
What evolutionary advantage does consciousness bestow upon us?
04 Nov 2019,23 mins
Why are we conscious of so little?
Why are humans conscious of so little of what goes on around us?
28 Oct 2019,24 mins
Why are we shy?
Why do we feel shy and what can we do about it?
21 Oct 2019,23 mins
Intuition: Why should we be cautious of it?
Why do we get so attached to our intuitions? And can they mislead us?
14 Oct 2019,23 mins
Intuition: Why should we trust it?
What exactly is intuition? And why should we trust it?
07 Oct 2019,24 mins
Why do we love camping?
Why do people ditch the comforts of modern life to go and sleep under the stars?
30 Sep 2019,24 mins
Why do some people reject society?
Why do some people reject traditional forms of education, housing and even government?
23 Sep 2019,24 mins
Why are we so gloomy about the world?
Sandra Kanthal asks if human nature is wired to fixate on the downsides of life.
16 Sep 2019,23 mins
Why do we (still) wear make-up?
What’s the power of make-up? Why can't many of us leave the house without it?
26 Aug 2019,23 mins
Why learn to be happy?
Happiness is a fundamental human desire, yet we often struggle to achieve it.
19 Aug 2019,23 mins
Why do funerals matter?
Why funerals matter so profoundly to us, as individuals and societies
12 Aug 2019,24 mins
Why do we blend?
Blending is a distinctly human activity. Why do we do it?
05 Aug 2019,23 mins
Why does nature calm anxiety?
We find out how the natural world affects our mental health
29 Jul 2019,22 mins
Why do we care so much about games?
Why do so many people care so much about their sports teams?
22 Jul 2019,23 mins
Why do some people become hermits?
What makes people choose a life of isolation and silence?
15 Jul 2019,24 mins
Why should we work together?
Have we become obsessed with the idea of collaboration?
08 Jul 2019,23 mins
Schadenfreude
Why do we enjoy the misfortunes of others?
01 Jul 2019,23 mins
Why aren’t more women in computer science?
Computing history is filled with the accomplishments of women. But where are they now?
24 Jun 2019,23 mins
Why do we care where we come from?
The need to discover our past and what this tells us about ourselves
17 Jun 2019,23 mins