What in the World

Helping you make sense of what’s happening in your world.

World Service,754 episodes

Episodes

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Can AI save dating apps?
Downloads of apps like Tinder are down, so could AI boost the numbers?
07 Mar 2025,12 mins
Why speaking multiple languages is good for your brain
And how music can help you learn a language
06 Mar 2025,13 mins
Could China replace the US as a global aid giver?
Since Donald Trump froze USAID, there is a gap in global financing
05 Mar 2025,13 mins
How TikTok makes money from sexual livestreams in Kenya
A BBC investigation reveals dark side of TikTok
04 Mar 2025,13 mins
Could an asteroid hit the earth in 2032?
The European Agency says the chances it’ll hit earth are very low (but not impossible)
03 Mar 2025,12 mins
Naomi Watanabe: The Japanese comedian on body image, sex and dating
“I want to be famous Naomi, but I want to be ‘have more sex Naomi’ “.
28 Feb 2025,14 mins
How have older reality tv shows aged?
Spoiler alert: Not well
27 Feb 2025,16 mins
Ne Zha 2: The Chinese film breaking the box office
We explain how this animated film became such a success.
26 Feb 2025,10 mins
Oscars 2025: What you need to know about this year's film awards
There’s less than a week until the 97th Academy Awards.
25 Feb 2025,12 mins
Ukraine: Where the war stands three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion
From the battlefield to the negotiating table
24 Feb 2025,15 mins
Fog harvesting: What is it?
Can foggy air solve global water shortages?
21 Feb 2025,12 mins
Why is space junk such a big problem?
...and could it wipe out our satellites?
20 Feb 2025,13 mins
Why is a new land law in South Africa controversial, and why is Trump involved?
We debunk false information about white farmers being forced off their land
19 Feb 2025,13 mins
Do women in India face barriers in sports?
Plus: We hear from the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year
18 Feb 2025,12 mins
Are AI influencers the future of social media?
The content creators that don’t actually exist
17 Feb 2025,13 mins
What’s the point of meme coins?
President Trump and the Central African Republic have them - but who’s buying them?
14 Feb 2025,13 mins
Skincare trends: Are they causing harm to young people?
Children as young as eight are buying anti-ageing serums, creams and moisturisers.
13 Feb 2025,14 mins
Sudan: What’s life like two years into the civil war?
Social media is being used to keep the world’s eyes on the conflict
12 Feb 2025,16 mins
Guillain-Barre syndrome: What is it?
And what’s happening with cases in India?
11 Feb 2025,11 mins
Why are people in Nigeria being accused of witchcraft?
Witch hunts are still common across rural parts of Africa
10 Feb 2025,10 mins
Why the trade of cocaine is booming in Europe
And the organised criminal gangs fuelling the demand.
07 Feb 2025,14 mins
Do female politicians do things differently from men?
We examine the evidence on female lawmakers around the world
06 Feb 2025,13 mins
USAID: Can the world live without it?
Donald Trump and Elon Musk want to shut it down.
05 Feb 2025,13 mins
Vasectomies: Why men get the snip and how it works
We bust the myths surrounding sex, semen and erections
04 Feb 2025,11 mins
Why people are ‘swiping right’ on matchmakers in South Korea
Professional matchmakers services are on the rise for those looking for love
03 Feb 2025,11 mins
How cow vaccines sparked conspiracy theories in Kenya
And why Bill Gates has been dragged into the conversation
31 Jan 2025,13 mins
Why are more people getting allergic to stuff?
And how peanut powder is being used to treat some allergies.
30 Jan 2025,12 mins
How DeepSeek is shaking up the world of AI
Some people are concerned about security and censorship
29 Jan 2025,13 mins
The DRC conflict: What you need to know
Who are M23? And what have they got to do with Rwanda?
28 Jan 2025,12 mins
Auschwitz: How Holocaust survivors are preserving history
Denial and distortion are present on all online platforms
27 Jan 2025,14 mins