Discovery

As we grow older, it is assumed we will all become more forgetful, slower witted and much less useful members of society. Geoff Watts looks at the latest research showing this is not the case. In fact one new theory suggests older people might be slower at psychologists’ intelligence tests, merely because they know more.

Jack Stewart meets the engineers inventing vehicles that drive themselves, including Google’s new car without a steering wheel or pedals and Stanford University’s fast moving Shelley

Jack Stewart reports on the connected car pilot in Michigan.

ITER, the world's effort to harness nuclear fusion, and the most complex experiment ever

Dr Tiffany Jenkins explores what neuroscience knows about art

Alf Adams remembers his small idea that changed the world, with Jim Al-Khalili.

Mark Miodownik talks nuclear weapons, 3D printers and smart materials with Jim Al-Khalili

Jim Al-Khalili talks to forensic scientist Sue Black about identifying human bodies

Gaia Vince asks if we can ever run our vehicles on biofuels from algae or bacteria.

Gaia Vince asks can we make biofuels from sugars in the inedible parts of plants.

Peter Higgs opens up to Jim Al-Khalili, admitting that he failed to realise the full significance of the Higgs boson and a theory that later changed the face of physics.

Jim Al-Khalili talks to psychiatrist Vikram Patel about the global campaign he leads to tackle mental health.

Western Australia is killing big sharks to prevent attacks on swimmers. Can science offer much better solutions to protect people - and sharks?

As part of the Freedom2014 season, Entomologist Professor Adam Hart asks if what humans call free will, exists in other organisms, from chimps, all the way down to the cells in our bodies.

Dr Mark Porter asks is fructose a "toxic additive" or a healthy fruit sugar?