Four Thought

Novelist Clare Allan asks why lying gets such a bad press. The truth, she argues, can be far more dangerous. Can lies both liberate and illuminate? As a novelist she discusses how she takes full advantage of her position to tell stories, to invent the facts. But in so doing so, she says, fiction can lead us closer to the truth.

Entrepreneur Judith Clegg Judith Clegg argues that the special culture of technology start-ups could make the world a dramatically better place, if adopted more widely. The start-up culture of pay-it-forward, decent treatment of staff, enthusiasm and hard work is just what we need in every sector in these hard economic times, she says.

Social trends analyst Paul Flatters argues that childhood today is better than ever before, and he explains why - wrongly - thinking the reverse is bad for us as individuals and as a society.

Founder of The Eden Project Tim Smit says Britain is very far from broken. In fact, he argues, we are a really good country, and if we learn to trust one another again, we could be wonderful.

Alcohol and drug researcher James Lange describes how YouTube videos of drug use have improved the speed and quality of his research, and argues that they can be a vital tool for scientists.

Author Anthony McGowan thinks that the world would be a better place if we cast ourselves as the villains rather than the heroes of our own life stories - and he has a personal confession to make.

David Perks, state school physics teacher and founder of the Physics Factory in London, believes current science teaching is depriving children of the academic science education they deserve.

Science writer Angela Saini confesses that as a late adopter of new technology, she struggles to reconcile a deep human desire to make, mend and recycle with the throwaway culture on which the development of new computers, gadgets and phones seems to depend.

David Bainbridge, clinical veterinary anatomist at Cambridge University and science writer, celebrates middle age as a distinctive human phenomenon, central to the success of our species.

James Daunt issues a ringing defence of printed books, and argues that libraries and local bookshops - the "purveyors of the written word" - are vital social and cultural spaces. He argues that book chains should continue to play a vital role in introducing readers to books, but will only succeed if they re-connect with their communities.

American designer Aza Raskin proposes a design renaissance in healthcare, making it easier and more enjoyable. Comparing video recorders with antibiotics - they are both badly designed - he argues that by applying cognitive psychology, design, and feedback loops to some of our most intractable medical problems, we can dramatically improve our health.

Author Dreda Say Mitchell argues that the importance of cultural institutions like family, faith and community has been ignored in the debate about social mobility. Born into an extended working class family, she found her own upbringing was influenced by each of these institutions, and she believes their importance in promoting social mobility has been underestimated.

Novelist and former paediatric nurse Christie Watson asks whether there are some things worse than death. She describes the extraordinary medical breakthroughs which allow children to be kept alive today who previously would have died. But she asks whether community care and medical ethics have kept up with the increasing number of technology-dependent children - that is, children who cannot breathe without life support machines.

Science journalist and blogger Ed Yong explores the physical and philosophical implications of being host to billions of microbes. He reports the latest science showing how the bacteria we come into contact with can profoundly affect our lives - from the ability to digest different foodstuffs to our susceptibility to asthma, diabetes and even stress and anxiety.

Social anthropologist Kate Fox argues that we need to re-learn much of what we think we know about the effects of alcohol. Alcohol does not make us disinhibited, violent or anti-social, she says. Many cultures around the world, some of which drink more than we do, have none of these problems. So what causes them here?