IFLScience - The Big Questions

Are We In The Anthropocene?

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 Earth’s ecology and climate continues to mount up around us. So how could this decision make sense given everything going on in the world today?

To dig through the layers of confusion surrounding the Anthropocene, host Dr Russell Moul spoke to Professor Erle Ellis, from the Department of Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He explains how the idea of the Anthropocene was created and how it has value outside of debates over geological time.

What Will The Fossils Of The Future Look Like?

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 detritus that may come to represent the story of humanity in the geological record long after we’re gone.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Host Dr Russell Moul speaks to Professors Sarah Gabbott and Jan Zalasiewicz of the University of Leicester, authors of Discarded: How Technofossils Will be Our Ultimate Legacy, about the fascinating processes involved in turning our trash into fossils, but also how interest in these processes may help us change them.

Will We Ever Have A Universal Flu Vaccine?

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 current and future virus strains? Host Laura Simmons speaks to Dr Florian Krammer, a professor in vaccinology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, to find out just how far humanity has reached in our quest to finally conquer the flu with an all-purpose vaccine.

How Has The Internet Changed The Way We Use Language?

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, IRL?

Join host Tom Hale, senior journalist at IFLScience, as he discusses this and more with Internet linguist Dr Gretchen McCulloch, where they explore the origins of internet acronyms, interpreting tone via emojis, memes in real life, and the universal need for ironic punctuation marks. 

How Do Black Holes Shape The Universe?

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 their supermassive form in particular, they have influenced the formation and evolution of galaxies, and more. 

 

Host Dr Alfredo Carpineti sat down with astrophysicist, science communicator, and author Dr Becky Smethurst, to ask: How do black holes shape the universe?

Are We Living Through A Sixth Mass Extinction?

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 by extension, the future of our planet. Some have even argued that these are warning signs that we are living through a sixth mass extinction.

Host Eleanor Higgs discusses Earth’s previous mass extinctions with palaeontologist Professor Michael Benton from the University of Bristol, and how we can use this history as a basis to understand what is happening again right before our eyes – and what might be done to stop it.

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

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 tongue-in-cheek question seriously and pose it to astronauts and explorers who have done both.

Join co-hosts Dr Alfredo Carpineti and Katy Evans as they share insights from space travellers and deep-sea visitors Luca Parmitano, Dr Kathy Sullivan, and Victor Vescovo on the challenges and rewards of exploring space and the deep ocean. 

IFLScience The Big Questions - Season 5 Coming Soon

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?

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 games for centuries. For this special episode of The Big Questions, host Laura Simmons sat down with Kelly Clancy, neuroscientist and physicist, and author of recent book Playing with Reality: How Games Shape Our World, to find out more about why we love competition so much, and what our long history of gameplaying together can teach us about each other – and ourselves. 

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

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 by the Anglo-Scottish border to spend the night in Chillingham Castle, a place that allegedly boasts an above-average number of ghosts. We wanted to explore what attracts people to sites such as this one, even inspiring folks to gear up with a host of ghost-hunting tools and try and communicate with spirits, despite the fact we’ve yet to find any evidence for their existence.

At IFLScience, we don’t do things by halves, so we threw it all at the wall: Ouija boards, dungeon immersion, dowsing rods, spirit boxes, and just a bit of old-fashioned wandering around in the dark. We also spoke to Emeritus Professor Chris French, an expert in anomalistic psychology, and the founders of the Recreational Fear Lab to top up on the science of fear and better understand why it is the paranormal has us all in such a choke hold.

So, join IFLScience's Chris Carpineti, Dr Beccy Corkill, Rachael Funnell, and Dr Russ Moul as they journey into the unknown in this very special episode of The Big Questions.