Should we kill animals for conservation?
'Killing animals' and 'conservation' sound mutually exclusive, but when it comes to managing populations that are having a negative environm...
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Science & Medicine
Oxford Sparks Big Questions
'Will my bacon sandwich kill me?', 'Is vaping better than smoking?', 'How do you become an astronaut?' - just some of the Big Questions we ask some of the brightest minds behind Oxford scien...
Oxford Sparks Big Questions Podcast Guide
Listen to Oxford Sparks Big Questions, a Science & Medicine podcast by Fiona Jones. Stream 101 episodes in United Kingdom, follow new audio stories, and play episodes online on Radio and Podcast.
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Browse this show under Science & Medicine podcasts.
Episodes
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Episodes
20 of 101 episodes
Can you predict the lottery?
"It's as likely as winning the lottery." A phrase used in situations where something is, well, pretty near impossible. But is there anything...
How does reading work?
Aside from the odd unfamiliar or complicated word, a lot of us won't think twice when it comes to reading. It's a skill we take for granted....
What's it like for women working in F1?
Historically, only two women have ever started a Grand Prix race, and as of the 2026 season, no women are competing in Formula One. This mal...
How do you convert CO2 to rock?
We're living in an age of rapid technological development which - alongside many benefits - comes at an environmental cost. We speak to Dr S...
From the Milk on the Move podcast: Purity and Danger
This week we are featuring a special bonus episode from our friends at the Milk on the Move podcast. Milk on the Move explores milk's deep c...
What was Einstein doing in Oxford?
If you've had the chance to visit Oxford's History of Science Museum, you may have found yourself gazing upon a rather special blackboard. F...
Where do baby penguins come from?
For this year's Valentine's Day episode, we are getting up close and personal with those most beloved of birds - penguins. Giving us an insi...
How can I use AI to raise my salary?
How much more money could you earn - doing the exact same role - if you're in possession of some solid AI skills? That's one of the core que...
Could stuff be living on Saturn's moon?
Are we alone in the Universe? It's surely one of the biggest questions out there. In our first episode of 2026 we chat to Dr Carly Howett, A...
What happened to the birds in 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'?
We all know it. We've all sung it. Perhaps we've even answered a quiz question about it*. The Twelve Days of Christmas has become as quintes...
What is quantum computing?
Want to make something feel immediately complicated, inaccessible or downright mysterious? Stick the word 'quantum' in front of it. Or, at l...
Could vaccinations stop people from getting cancer?
Finding a cure for cancer is unarguably one of the biggest medical challenges that we face. But what if we could find a way to prevent cance...
Why do I bite my nails?
Many of us will be familiar with Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours (BFRBs), perhaps without even realising it. Such behaviours - which incl...
How do you find a theoretical particle?
How do you detect a particle that emits no light - in other words, something invisible? This is the intriguing challenge faced by scientists...
Is there a better way to screen blood?
What's the best gift you can give? To the millions of people whose lives have been saved by complete strangers, the answer would be simple:...
How does Ozempic actually work?
Whether you've been served an advert for it, or just heard about it in the media, it's likely that 'Ozempic' isn't a totally unfamiliar word...
Why does a stranger's phone noise annoy me?
We've all been there...you're on the train, maybe tired after a long day, and all you can hear is one side of a fellow passenger's not-too-i...
What's the origin of water on Earth?
With more than 70% of its surface covered in water, Earth is rightly known as the "blue planet". But where did this water - so essential to...
How can robots investigate underwater volcanoes?
What do you do when the subject of your research lies deep beneath the waves? Send down an underwater robot, of course! We chat to volcanolo...
Questions About Oxford Sparks Big Questions
Where can I listen to Oxford Sparks Big Questions episodes?
You can listen to Oxford Sparks Big Questions episodes online on Radio and Podcast. Open an episode and the site player will stream the available audio.
What is Oxford Sparks Big Questions about?
Oxford Sparks Big Questions is listed as a Science & Medicine show. The show language is listed as United Kingdom.
How many Oxford Sparks Big Questions episodes are listed?
This page lists 101 episodes for Oxford Sparks Big Questions. More episodes are available from the View more button when the list continues.