The Rivals

History’s greatest rivals, and the creative and destructive sides of rivalry

• 17 mins

What is Charisma?

Why is it so hard to pin down what we mean by charisma?

• 17 mins

Brands

Why do we place so much trust in brands? And who benefits from them?

• 17 mins

Karma

Is Karma fatalism or guidance on how to improve your life?

• 17 mins

Embarrassment

What is embarrassment, why do we feel it and is it a good thing? Mike Williams finds out

• 17 mins

Chess

How has the 1500-year-old game mirrored politics and changes in society?

• 17 mins

Memorialisation

How do we remember the dead and why does it matter?

• 49 mins

Memorialisation

How we remember the dead, and why does it matter?

• 17 mins

Poetry

Why do we read, or write poetry, as opposed to prose?

• 17 mins

Letters

The disappearing art of the hand-written letter and three stories of love

• 17 mins

Cookery

Why do we cook food rather than just eat it raw?

• 17 mins

Nudity

Why does the naked human form provoke such strong reactions?

• 17 mins

Sharing

Why do we share? And, what happens inside our brains when we do?

• 17 mins

Perfume

Why do we use perfume and what does it say about us?

• 17 mins

Honour

People have fought for it and died for it. Why is this notion so powerful?

• 17 mins

The Moon

Why has the moon fascinated humans from every culture and for all time?

• 17 mins

Portrait Photography

Why do we want to capture human faces?

• 17 mins

Loyalty

Mike Williams asks why are we loyal, and who are we really loyal to?

• 17 mins

Why Do We Fly Flags?

From identity symbols to signalling tools, why human societies are fascinated by flags

• 17 mins

Sad Music

Sad music has become more popular according to a recent study. Why do people listen to it?

• 17 mins

Why are watches enduring status symbols?

Watches have been an indicator of status since their invention. Mike Williams asks why

• 17 mins

Rejecting Riches

Why do some people give the vast majority of their money away?

• 17 mins

Chasing Riches

Why do the rich want to get richer? What drives the wealthy to want more?

• 17 mins

Skyscrapers

Mike Williams asks why we build tall buildings

• 17 mins

Crime Fiction

Why do we love stories about criminals and the people who bring them to justice?

• 17 mins

Forgetting

Why do we lose our memories, and why are there are some things we can not forget?

• 17 mins

Death Penalty

Why more than 50 countries around the world still execute certain criminals

• 17 mins

The Refugee Journey

At the mercy of people smugglers, how do refugees make their often perilous journeys?

• 17 mins

Suicide

Every year, across the world, around a million people take their own lives. But why?

• 17 mins

Daydreaming

Does everyone’s mind wander? And why do we do it?

• 17 mins