Why do we behave differently when we are in a large crowd? Read more
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The Mob
Why do we behave differently when we are in a large crowd?
Black
Mike Williams peers into the world of black and asks why it has so many different meanings
Why are Open Plan Offices the Norm?
Why has the open plan office become the norm in many places, despite the distractions?
Cultural Memory
We all have memories but do we share some of those, socially or collectively? If so, why?
PTSD
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and why is it so controversial?
Silence
What role does silence play in our lives and why can it be so poignant or so awkward?
Sleep
The first of two programmes which looks at human behaviour and sleep.
Why do we get insomnia?
The second of two programmes about humans and sleep.
Retirement
Why do we retire?
Ageing
Why are attitudes towards older people often so negative?
The Kiss
Why do humans kiss?
Singing
Singing is a way of bringing people together, expressing joy or sadness. Why do we sing?
Gold
Why are we so fascinated by gold?
Pets
Why do we live with cats and dogs?
Disgust
Why do we experience disgust?
The Lie
Why do we lie? How do different cultures define telling the truth?
The Ball
Why play with a ball? Mike Williams finds out how ball games first evolved
Make-up
Why millions of women - and some men - paint their faces
The Sea
The compelling attractions of the sea through literature and science
Bathing: Supernatural Waters
Why can the ubiquitous act of bathing mean so many different things for different people?
Bathing: Water, Health and Well-being
The second of two programmes looking at why we bathe: the rituals and practices.
The City
Why do humans live in cities? And, what are the pros and cons of the modern metropolis?
Fire
Why are we fascinated with fire and what do myths tell us about how we view its power?
Tattoos
What motivates people to decorate their bodies with ink?
Violent Entertainment
What explains our enduring attraction to violent entertainment?
Mountains
What draws people to mountains and take risks scaling dangerous peaks?
Celebrity
Why has the modern world become so obsessed with celebrity culture?
Monogamy
Does true love have to be monogamous? We hear three very modern love stories.
Female Body Hair
The history of hair removal and what it tells us about notions of female beauty
Memory
How human memory works and why some memories are remembered more easily than others