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Are half the words in English from French?
We ask whether almost half the words in the English language are of French origin.

Is the UK really ahead in cutting carbon emissions?
As the UK changes course in its path to net zero, how does it compare with other nations?

Which city has the longest canals?
We dive into the world of waterways after a listener asked who has the longest canals.

How to approach the world through numbers
Professor David Sumpter talks to Tim Harford about his new book

Did 35,000 Americans die building the Panama Canal?
We fact check a claim made by Donald Trump about the world famous canal

What percentage of our brain do we actually use?
Do we have access to some or all of our brain-power?

How safe is the release of Fukushima nuclear plant water?
We ask whether there are any risks posed by the release into the Pacific Ocean

How many butterflies are there in the world?
The world’s butterfly population doesn’t seem to be online – so what is it?

Why is it so hard to predict the outcome of competitions like the Premier League?
What variables do we look at when we try to predict the outcome of a sports competition?

Are the media exaggerating how hot it is in the Mediterranean?
A look at how accurately media report on the weather – especially recent heatwaves.