A Question of Science

The Francis Crick Institute•www.crick.ac.uk

Science you can trust. Questions that matter.

Join Professor Brian Cox and a panel of the world’s top scientists and experts as they tackle your questions about some of the biggest science challenges facing society today.

Can we cure cancer? How do you separate nutrition fact from fiction? What do climate change and the march of AI mean for our future? Could we live forever? Each episode is recorded in front of a live audience and it’s their questions that drive the debate.

Hear from the experts who actually know what they’re talking about, including Adam Rutherford, Helen Sharman, George Monbiot, Giles Yeo, Jeanette Winterson, Rory Cellan-Jones, Paul Nurse, Kevin Fong and You, Me and the Big C’s Lauren Mahon.

With a focus on accuracy, openness, and debate, A Question of Science brings you the latest on what we know, what we don’t, and where science might take us next.

A BBC Studios production for the Francis Crick Institute, an independent charity and world-leading research lab.

Last refreshed: January 7th, 2026 at 10:43 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Introducing.... More Questions of Science

Introducing More Questions of Science – bite-size episodes where we revisit some of the biggest ideas from the first 12 episodes of the series and take the conversation even further. Professor Brian Cox will be in his home studio, catching up with some of the expert panellists from earlier in the series. Together, they’ll tackle your follow-up questions, explore new angles and go deeper into the topics that sparked your curiosity. And because science never stops, we’ll also bring you the latest ...

Dec 10, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 13

Can We Build A Human?

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the frontier of human bioengineering and building, replacing, and enhancing our bodies. Will we ever have bionic brains and cloned humans? Is there a danger of science fiction getting too close for comfort? From mechanical implants to lab-grown organs to whether humans could evolve to live in space, the discussion delves into what’s possible today and where science might take us next. Panellists Mark Pollock – Explorer, motivational speaker and Ch...

Dec 03, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 12

What is consciousness?

This episode delves into the elusive science of consciousness, with a panel defining it as subjective experience and examining its neural correlates. Discussions range from how imagination and hallucinations are processed in the brain to the intricate connection between consciousness and memory, highlighted by cases of amnesia. The experts also tackle the contentious topics of animal consciousness, the scientific utility of philosophical theories like panpsychism, and the profound ethical dilemmas posed by the potential for artificial intelligence to achieve consciousness.

Nov 26, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 11

Can We Trust The Science Of Nutrition?

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel dive into the complex world of diet, nutrition and food choices. With new probiotic and high-protein products appearing on supermarket shelves every day and conflicting nutritional advice coming from every direction, it’s difficult to cut through the noise when it comes to what we eat. Our panel uses expertise from their roles as nutritionists, geneticists, gastroenterologists and policymakers to answer audience questions about food advertising, wellness ...

Nov 19, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 10

Can We Repair The Ageing Brain?

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the science of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other conditions that cause dementia. More than 55 million people around the world are living with dementia, with the number set to rise in ageing populations. How close are we to effective, affordable treatments? What are the genetic risks? Can we prevent it developing? The panel takes a deep dive into dementia research and where it’s headed, from early detection to the latest drug trials and whether di...

Nov 12, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 9

What Is The Future Of Fertility?

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the science of fertility. Making babies is big business but our scientific understanding of fertilisation, pregnancy and embryo development is surprisingly limited. In this episode, our panel discuss emerging technologies that could shape the future of fertility and tackle audience questions on declining sperm counts, egg freezing and the ethics of genetic screening. Panellists: Joyce Harper – Professor of Reproductive Science, UCL Gunes Taylor – ...

Nov 05, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 8

Who Owns Space?

Professor Brian Cox and an expert panel tackle the technology, politics and ethics of space exploration. From space tourism to the search for life on Mars, space is a rapidly expanding, multi-trillion-pound global industry, driven by scientific, commercial and often political goals. But what are the rules of space and who makes them? In this episode, the panel answers audience questions on how Earth’s geopolitics are reflected in space, when asteroid mining might become a reality, and whether th...

Oct 29, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Who Are Our Ancestors And Why Does It Matter?

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel are talking all things ancient DNA. Over the past 50 years, new technology has allowed researchers to sequence and study centuries-old DNA taken from ancient, long-buried human remains. This new insight into our past has led to a whole new understanding of our ancestors, from our migration across the globe, to the environmental changes we’ve experienced, and even the spread of ancient deadly pandemics like the black plague. Our panel of scientists answers...

Oct 22, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Will We Survive Climate Change?

Professor Brian Cox and a panel of experts discuss how to curb rising global temperatures and what life could be like in a warmer world. Our planet is hotting up. But as temperatures climb, can we cope with a climate emergency? What can science and technology to do help us, and will social and political change make a difference? Our panel answers the audience’s questions on everything from carbon capture to climate sceptics. Panellists Myles Allen – Head of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Phy...

Oct 15, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Are We Prepared For The Next Pandemic?

Professor Brian Cox and a panel of experts discuss COVID-19 and whether we are prepared for the next pandemic. Where or when could it happen? How could we control it? What would we do differently? In this episode, a lively studio audience quizzes world-leading scientists and doctors working on the frontline, specialising in infectious disease, vaccines and protecting us from the next deadly outbreak. Panellists Teresa Lambe – Head of Vaccine Immunology, University of Oxford and co-designer of th...

Oct 08, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Can We Harness A.I. For Good?

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the reality and possibilities of artificial intelligence, and how it's changing our lives. A.I. and machine learning are now part of our everyday lives, but where are they headed and who is in charge? Our panel of scientists, writers and policymakers answers audience questions about the hopes and fears surrounding A.I. and how it can be controlled, and whether it creates new problems – or just amplifies the ones we already have. Panellists Adrian ...

Oct 01, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Can We Cure Cancer?

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel are discussing the future of cancer research and treatment. With nearly 1 in 2 of us in the UK now expected to receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime, pursuing a cure is more important than ever. Our panel brings expertise from the lab, the clinic and their own experiences to answer audience questions about lifestyle and genetic risks, treatment side effects, and what they see as the biggest areas for hope. Panellists Gerard Evan – Principal Group Lea...

Sep 24, 2025•45 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Can We Live Forever?

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore ageing, longevity and the science behind our lifespans. Human life expectancy has increased steadily over the last 200 years, but we may be reaching a ceiling. Is this our biological limit, or could the next big scientific breakthrough push it even further? Might repurposing existing drugs help extend our lifespans? Our panel of researchers answers audience questions about the societal impacts of longer lives, our cellular ticking clock, and wheth...

Sep 17, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Introducing A Question of Science

Professor Brian Cox and panels of the world’s top scientists and experts will be tackling your questions in a new series, launching 17 September. Can we cure cancer? How do you separate nutrition fact from fiction? What do climate change and the march of A.I. mean for our future? Could we live forever? Each episode is recorded in front of a lively audience and it’s their questions that drive the debate. Hear from the experts who actually know what they’re talking about, including Adam Rutherford...

Sep 03, 2025•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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