Show Notes
Can we really get swallowed by a black hole? And what would actually happen if we did? Black holes are really mysterious and there is still so much we don’t know about them. So, grab your space helmet because we’re getting into some of the biggest questions scientists are still trying to answer. We speak to science journalist, Caroline Steel, to clear up some of the mysteries around black holes. How do they distort time? Are wormholes real? We also hear from astrophysicist and postdoctoral researcher Rowina Nathan - she separates fact from fiction and busts some of the most common black hole myths, answering questions from members of the Cosmic Girls Foundation, a global community helping teenage girls engage with space, science and technology. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Baldeep Chahal, William Lee Adams and Rita Behadini Editor: Emily Horler
More from What in the World
El Niño has been strengthening for several months now and is already having a significant impact on global weather patterns. Countries including Indonesia, India and the United States have been experiencing droughts, floods and heatwaves in line with projections about how extreme weather events will be supercharged by the phenomenon. The World Meteorological Agency says the record-breaking El Niño will strengthen further and persist until at least 2027. BBC reporter William Lee Adams speaks with BBC weather presenter and meteorologist Sarah Keith-Lucas. She explains five ways its impact is already being felt around the world. Plus we hear from people experiencing the impact of extreme weather events in Singapore, India and Japan. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Emma-Louise Amanshia Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Emily Horler
After drinking alcohol, some people don’t just have a headache - they feel guilt, dread, low mood and a deep sense of embarrassment. It’s known as ‘hang-xiety’ or hangover anxiety, and science backs up that it’s a real phenomenon. Alcohol affects all systems in the body, including the brain. so it can cause psychological symptoms. Millie Gooch, author of Hangxiety and speaker breaks down how the nervous system and brain are impacted when the effects of alcohol wear off. She also tells us how hangxiety played a role in her sobriety journey. We also hear about some people’s experience with anxiety, and how it changed their relationship with alcohol. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde
Protests are still ongoing across France, but now it’s no longer just about schools. People of all ages are protesting over a high cost of living. But there was violence and riots over the weekend, with thousands of arrests. Dramatic pictures of wreckage, fires and police clampdowns have spread online and have had a huge response internationally. But what exactly is happening and why have things shifted since earlier protests this month? We hear from BBC reporter Pierre-Antoine Denis, about what has caused this intense shift. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde
Have a look at the label in the clothes you’re wearing today. Chances are, you’re wearing some polyester. It’s the most- produced synthetic fibre on the planet and it’s having a bit of a moment on socials. In a bad way…people are giving it up and swapping for more natural fibres. You might’ve seen claims that polyester is linked to diseases like cancer and can cause fertility issues. But how worried should we be? Professor Mohamed Abdallah from the University of Birmingham breaks it down for us and Chelsea Coates from the What in the World team explains how we can make better clothing choices. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Chelsea Coates and Emily Horler Editor: Verity Wilde
Is educational content about women’s reproductive and sexual health being removed or restricted on social media apps? Content moderation tools are meant to flag specific words and imagery that breach platform guidelines, like showing nudity or explicit content, but posts that use clinical terms like ‘vagina’ are getting blocked too. BBC reporter, Ashitha Nagesh has been speaking to charities, campaigners and businesses about this issue. We hear from three creators, Dr Aziza Sesay, Samantha Hadadi and Gigi Engle about their experience of being shadowbanned on social media and how it’s impacted their work. And Martha Dimitratou is the founder of Repro Uncensored, a non profit that tracks censorship online, she tells us how this is impacting content creators on a global scale. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde