logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2017
30m 55s

Rudolph castrated: what you didn’t hear ...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Reindeer castration, plants get chatty and more quirky science revealed in this Christmas special of CrowdScience where we will also be hearing from the people that make this series possible. That’s you – our listeners.

CrowdScience has been on air for just over a year which means we’ve had over 60 adventures. Every time we put a show together there’s a heart-breaking process where amazing facts we wanted to share end up on the cutting-room floor. To celebrate the holidays we’ve gone scavenging for the best untold stories, edgy science facts and incidents from behind the scene. Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producer: Louisa Field

Picture: Reindeer in Snow Credit: Getty Images

Up next
Aug 22
How does camouflage work?
CrowdScience listener Paul from Uganda is fascinated by military uniforms. The outfits of so many different armies, from different countries all around the world, often look remarkably similar – mottled shades of olive green camouflage. Where did it come from? How does it work as ... Show More
36m 39s
Aug 15
How long does light last?
When listener Rob from Devon, UK, heard of a newly detected planet light years away, he was struck by the sheer scale the light must travel to reach us here on Earth. It got him wondering: How long does light last? What’s the oldest light we’ve ever observed? And does light ever ... Show More
26m 29s
Aug 8
Can we stop the rain?
CrowdScience listener Rit, from Pune in India, is staring out of his window at the falling rain. It’s been pouring for four days now, and shows no sign of stopping. The laundry is piling up, all his shoes are wet, and he’s worried about the effect it’s having on the environment, ... Show More
32m 21s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
12 days of Christmas - science version
Marnie Chesterton & Victoria Gill embark on a science-themed version of the classic Christmas song ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ in this festive edition of BBC Inside Science. Twelve of the biggest moments of the year in science include discussion about a very special treefrog disco ... Show More
28m 20s
Jan 2024
The science stories you missed over the holiday period
In this episode of the Nature Podcast, we catch up on some science stories from the holiday period by diving into the Nature Briefing.We chat about: an extra-warm sweater inspired by polar bear fur; the fossil find revealing what a juvenile tyrannosaur liked to snack on; why scie ... Show More
29m 42s
Jun 2010
Popular Science
Physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince return for a new series of Radio 4's witty, irreverent and unashamedly rational look at the world according to science. In a special programme recorded as part of this year's Cheltenham Science Festival, Brian and Robin are joined by sp ... Show More
28m 5s
Dec 2021
Christmas Music Psychology, Most Influential Films, Mistletoe Science
Learn about why Christmas music sounds like Christmas; the most influential films ever; and the truth behind mistletoe.The stories in this episode originally aired on these dates:December 21, 2018: "Scientists Have Determined the Most Influential Film of All Time" and "Mistletoe ... Show More
23m 14s
Dec 2023
Titans of Science: Chris Hadfield
Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.In today’s programme: Nausea in pregnancy, scientists have solved why it happens and what we can do about it. Also, COP28 is over, but what was actually achieved And what scien ... Show More
52m 45s
Dec 2022
When Science and Superstitions Collide
This is the THIRTEENTH season of the show! So we’re diving into stories about superstitions and luck. We’ll share the eerie tale of a 13-legged sea creature. We’ll talk about a hot new telescope that’s trying to look back 13 billion years ago to uncover the secrets of the univers ... Show More
40m 10s
Jan 2022
The Snow Show: Making Snowflakes with Peter Veals and Twila Moon
How do you make snow? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly learn some cold, hard facts about snow and ice with atmospheric scientist and snow maker Peter Veals, PhD and glacial scientist Twila Moon, PhD. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch ... Show More
1 h