Mozambican officials say that disinformation on cholera recently led to a ferry disaster in which more than 90 people died. Why is it still proving to be a challenge to control outbreaks of cholera in southern Africa? What can be done?
How lack of basic hygiene in health facilities could be costing Sub-Saharan Africa billions of dollars.
Popular Nigerian celebrity Bobrisky pleads guilty to abuse of the naira. What's really at play?
Presenter: Richard Kagoe
Producers: Charles Gitonga, Bella Hassan, Yvette Twagiramariya and Paul Bakibinga
Editor: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
Today there are over eight billion people on Earth. That’s an awe-inspiring figure… but how does it compare to the vast numbers who came before us? Listener Alpha wants to know how many people have ever existed, so CrowdScience sets out to do a historical headcount.
The Population Reference Bureau in the USA estimated this number back in the 90s, and have been updating their calculations ever since. Demographer Toshiko Kaneda explains how their model works, the assumptions it makes – and the huge uncertainties around the number it comes out with.
We first need a date for when ‘humans’ first began, so Caroline travels to the Natural History Museum in London to meet human evolution expert Chris Stringer, and marvel at his collection of replica fossil skulls. Chris demonstrates how to distinguish our species, Homo sapiens, from other species like Neanderthals. When did these species first appear - and which of them count as human?
And once you know where to start the clock, how do you estimate the numbers of people alive at different points in history? For a population demographer like Walter Scheidel, it helps that some ancient civilisations kept detailed censuses, a few of which have survived to the present day. Caroline and Walter pour over one of these census fragments, and learn how to combine them with other archaeological clues to get some very rough numbers.
And finally: what does the future of our population look like? Poonam Muttreja from the Population Foundation of India discusses developments in the world’s most populous country, as well as the big demographic trends ahead for humanity.
Presenter: Caroline Steel
Producer: Phil Sansom
Additional Recording: Umaru Fofana
Editor: Cathy Edwards
Production Co-ordinator: Connor Morgans
Studio Manager: Sue Maillot
Featuring:
Toshiko Kaneda, Technical Director of Demographic Research, Population Reference Bureau
Chris Stringer, Research Leader in Human Evolution, Natural History Museum London
Walter Scheidel, Professor of Classics and History, Stanford University
Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India
An underage girl has been placed under police protection in Ghana after it emerged she had been married to a 63-year-old traditional high priest. There was public outrage after footage of the customary wedding went viral. The office of the priest defended the marriage, saying it was only ceremonial. What's going on?
Also we hear a moving conversation between two Rwandans, 30 years after the genocide
And we visit London's first ever Nigerian Michelin star restaurant!
Presenter: Richard Kagoe
Producers: Charles Gitonga, Susan Gachuhi, Patricia Whitehorne, Nyasha Michelle
Compliance: Karnie Sharp
Editor: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
In a year when billions of people have been to the ballot box, what do stickleback fish have to do with it? Alex Lathbridge, Tristan Ahtone and Candice Bailey discuss some unexpected elements of electoral studies.
Can ancient geology really map election outcomes? What has machine learning done for polling? Psychologist Sandra Obradović drops in to share some of her expertise in the psychology of voting with the team.
Plus, what does a solar eclipse have to do with dragons?
Presenter: Alex Lathbridge, with Tristan Ahtone and Candice Bailey
Producer: Katie Tomsett, with Harrison Lewis, Alex Mansfield and Phil Sansom
A powerful earthquake hit Taiwan on Wednesday morning, but thanks to the country’s early warning system and engineering-preparedness, there was little destruction and few deaths. Seismologist Ross Stein, CEO of earthquake consultancy Temblor, Inc., shares his analysis.
The highly pathogenic bird flu H5N1 has been detected in cattle in the US and in a cattle handler in Texas. To learn more about this special animal-to-human transmission, Roland speaks to virologist Richard Webby of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee and Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals.
French Space Institute Supaero in Toulouse is collaborating with Japan’s space agency JAXA to send and land a rover on Phobos, one of Mars’ tiny moons. Roland travels to the University of Toulouse to learn more about building this wheeled Rover from Supaero’s Naomi Murdoch.
Transitioning to a clean energy future requires mining materials like rare earth minerals, but how will this impact our environment? Jessi Junker of the ecology charity ReWild explains her research and concerns for great apes as mining for these materials expands in Africa.
Presenter: Roland Pease
Producers: Roland Pease, Ella Hubber, Jonathan Blackwell
Researcher: Imaan Moin
Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
(Photo: Damaged building caused by the earthquake in Hualien on April 4, 2024. Credit: SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)
Gabon has opened up, what it calls, an inclusive national dialogue. Catholic Archbishop Jean-Patrick Iba-Ban who is leading the initiatve, said it should heal the wounds inflicted on the people of Gabon by former leaders who were more interested in power than the people they were called upon to lead. We'll hear analysis.
Also Ghana's newly appointed health minister tells us how drones have revolutionised the delivery of critical medical supplies.
And a ride with Pelumi Nubi, the PhD student driving from London to Lagos. Could she be the first known black woman to complete the journey?
Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Stefania Okereke and Bella Hassan
Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa
Senior Producer: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
South Africa opens a new border authority to curb illegal crossings from neighbouring countries. We hear from the BBC team that visited a town on the border with Zimbabwe.
Ghana's new health minister has published a new book on the lessons learnt from the Covid pandemic in his country, and the experience of fear, facts, faith and fortune.
And we explore the global potential and profitability of Africa fashion.
Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Stefania Okereke and Victor Sylver
Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa
Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
