Mysteries of Science

Black holes are small regions of space where a great amount of matter is packed in and their gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light can escape.  But what’s inside a black hole? What would happen to someone if they got sucked in? And are they eating up the universe? Mysteries of Science is a multi-award-winning, fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Scien...

How far back can you remember? I bet you can't remember being a baby. Most people can't and it's a total mystery as to why. Why does this happen? Where did my memories go? And is there any way we can get them back?  In this episode, Michael and Dan chat to experts Sally and Carole about where our earliest childhood memories go and whether there's any way we can re-remember them. Mysteries of...

What’s got loads of tentacles and, according to legend, snacks on gigantic sailing ships? It’s not a trick question and it’s no joke either. The answer is one of the most mythical sea creatures of all, an animal so enormous that it's rumoured to have sunk ocean vessels and terrorised sailors for centuries. It’s known as the Kraken.  Mysteries of Science is a multi-awar...

We're heading to one of the world's most isolated and mysterious places – Easter Island! That's what a group of Dutch explorers called Rapa Nui when they came across the island on Easter Sunday in 1722.  Rapa Nui is home to around a thousand large stone statues which have faces carved into them – called moai . People from outside the island have long wondered how its original...

Welcome to Season 3 of Mysteries of Science! On this podcast we take a look at the strange phenomena and bizarre events that have left scientists scratching their heads and, despite their best efforts, remain well and truly unsolved.  Since this brand new series is being released on April Fool’s Day, we thought we would celebrate by looking at three of the biggest hoaxes of all time, an...

We're finishing the second season of Mysteries of Science by looking at some of your mysteries. From unicorns to black holes and even the Big Bang, we're looking at some of the stuff that's thoroughly perplexed you and are on the hunt for answers! This episode might finish Season 2 but it doesn't spell the end of Mysteries of Science. We'll be back soon and looking at some of the most mind be...

Astronauts who have been far enough to see Earth from the stars often come back expressing a very peculiar feeling. It has become such a phenomenon that it now has its own name: The Overview Effect.  Some get a feeling of interconnectedness while others get a feeling of awe. International Space Station astronaut Nicole Stott describes an overwhelming feeling of beauty.  Today, Michael an...

Some scientists think there may be a countless number of universes, all with their own laws of physics and their own unique map of the stars, separate from the one we know. It’s an idea that challenges everything about the way we think, and there are even several different theories as to how these multiple universes might be created... This is the theory of the multiverse. Mysteries of Scien...

Dan and Stevie chat to Angus and Laura at the National Trust all about an inland ship burial and stories of ghosts and mysterious treasure!  Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine and Fun Kids. Tap follow or subscribe wherever you're listening to this to make sure you never miss an episode. Get three copies of The Week Junior's Scien...

Ciaran and Dan delve into one of the biggest mysteries of all time: Are we alone in the universe?  With the help of Voyager Golden Record artist Jon Lomberg and more, we try to discover how we might know if something else was out there and if we ever did discover alien life, how would we talk to it?  Plus, we tell you about a very special project called Mission Transmission. Fun Kids is...

We're always chatting to clever people on Mysteries of Science but not all of their interviews make the cut; sadly, sometimes we have to chop bits out! We're looking back at our favourite mysteries of 2021 and we're playing some never-before-heard, extra-special clips from some of our favourite episodes... We'll be back in the new year with more Mysteries of Science, including episodes on alien co...

Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric moments around but its age also hides lots of its secrets. How old is Stonehenge? Who was it built by? What was it used for? Why does it align perfectly with the summer and winter solstices?  In this episode of Mysteries of Science, we find out.  Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature maga...

How is it possible for many different cultures around the world, all living at different times, to come up with the same stories? Dragons come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and nearly every country has its own tale to tell. Does that mean these mythical beasts could have been real? Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine and Fun Kids. T...

There's a mysterious place on Earth where planes and ships frequently go missing... The space has become known as the Bermuda Triangle but is there something untoward happening in there or are the events just statistical probabilities?  Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine and Fun Kids. Tap follow or subscribe wherever you're liste...

It's a brand new season of Mysteries of Science and we're kicking it all off with a Halloween special. Stevie, Ciaran and Dan tackle three spooky mysteries of science, all united by a single theme.  Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine and Fun Kids. Tap follow or subscribe wherever you're listening to this to make sure you never mi...

It sounds like something from a very popular dinosaur theme park film series, but the idea of a prehistoric shark still swimming the seas today is one that has popped up every now and then in recent history. As recently as 2013, a film – promoted as being a documentary – suggested an animal known as the megalodon could still be alive... Is it? Dan and Ciaran find out. Mysteries of Scie...

This wraps up our first series of Mysteries of Science. Thank you so much for all of your comments, reviews, and to all of our contributors who spoke to us for the series.  Series two of Mysteries of Science is well underway so it won't be long before you hear from us again.  Until then...  Stay curious. Tap follow or subscribe wherever you're listening to this to make sure you neve...

Today, we're going on one of the biggest treasure hunts in history. There's something very special about this treasure hunt though. It was created by Forrest Fenn – an art dealer and author in the US – and unlike the treasure hunts you might read of in books or see in movies, he was very much alive and giving out clues. No pirates here... Just a stash of goodies worth thousands of doll...

Ciaran and Dan look at what makes a planet and whether there's a mysterious extra planet – Planet X – just beyond Neptune, lurking in our cosmic neighbourhood.  Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine and Fun Kids. Tap follow or subscribe wherever you're listening to this to make sure you never miss an episode, and get rea...

This is the case of a curious creature known as Bigfoot. Could the rumours of a hairy, human-like ape wandering the North American wilderness be true, or are they just folk stories that have been passed down for generations? Dan and Ciaran try to find out...  Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine and Fun Kids. Tap follow or subscrib...

Have you ever felt like you were living through a memory all over again, even though it couldn't have possibly have happened before? That feeling is known as deja vu, a French term that means 'already seen'...  In this episode of Mysteries of Science, what causes deja vu, and might it have anything to do with ghosts, past lives, and alien encounters?  Mysteries of Science is a fortnightl...

ASMR is a mysterious sensation... It stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. People who feel it describe it as a tingling, sparkly feeling in the brain, triggered by soft sounds, watching slow, repetitive movements or moments of positive personal attention. In this episode of Mysteries of Science, Dan and Ciaran investigate ASMR, and ask how it works and why doesn't everyone experience it...

It sounds like magic – a pill that makes you feel better, even though it contains no medicine. Yet, strangely enough, fake drugs called placebos really do work. In this episode, Ciaran and Dan explore why the pills can fool us, and why we should be wary of their evil cousins, the nocebos.  Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine...

Amelia Earhart was one of the best pilots of her age. An American pioneer, she was the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic and broke countless records. Then, one day, she took off and never landed at her intended destination. In this episode, we explore what might have happened on that now infamous flight... Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's S...

Was a deadly curse hidden in an ancient Egyptian tomb for centuries? If not, why were so many deaths connected to the discovery of King Tut's tomb? Dan and Ciaran have called on archaeologists, authors and someone who guards a real-life curse to help them solve the mystery.  Mysteries of Science is a fortnightly podcast created by The Week Junior's Science+Nature magazine and Fun Kids Radio....