More or Less Podcast
Tim Harford explains - and sometimes debunks - the numbers and statistics used in political debate, the news and everyday life.
Episodes to download
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Lib Dem ambulance claims, affordable rent and goat meat
Wed 7 Jun 2023
Did 120 people a day in England die last year whilst waiting for an ambulance?
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A short history of data
Sat 3 Jun 2023
How the evolution of data over centuries has shaped today’s world
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A short history of data
Sat 3 Jun 2023
How the evolution of data over centuries has shaped today’s world
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Food prices, net migration and beef about beef
Wed 31 May 2023
Does Britain really have the most affordable food in Europe?
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Are young people more single than ever before?
Sat 27 May 2023
How to define and measure being single – and are dating apps to blame?
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NHS waiting lists, Voter ID and measuring divorce
Wed 24 May 2023
Why a fall in those waiting longest for treatment in England isn't telling the whole story
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Detecting bad science with data
Sat 20 May 2023
Uncovering fraud, malpractice and incompetence in science
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Detecting Bad Science with Data
Sat 20 May 2023
Uncovering fraud, malpractice and incompetence in science
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Do 94% of marriages in Portugal really end in divorce?
Sat 13 May 2023
We examine a social media post that claims to outline rates of divorce across the world.
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Do 94% of marriages in Portugal really end in divorce?
Sat 13 May 2023
We examine a social media post that claims to outline rates of divorce across the world.
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Why is life expectancy falling in the USA?
Sat 6 May 2023
We ask why average life expectancy in America is falling so quickly.
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Why is life expectancy falling in the USA?
Sat 6 May 2023
We ask why average life expectancy in America is falling so quickly.
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How much is the Coronation crown worth?
Sat 29 Apr 2023
King Charles will be anointed with St Edward’s Crown – but what’s its true value?
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How much is the Coronation crown worth?
Fri 28 Apr 2023
King Charles will be anointed with the St Edward’s Crown – but what is its true value?
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The Pentagon leaks and Fox News
Sat 22 Apr 2023
Why did Tucker Carlson say far more Ukrainian troops than Russian are dying in the war?
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The Pentagon Leaks and Fox News
Sat 22 Apr 2023
Why did Tucker Carlson say far more Ukrainian troops than Russian are dying in the war?
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How accurate is baby's due date?
Sat 15 Apr 2023
This week we investigate how a baby's due date is calculated
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How accurate is baby's due date?
Sat 15 Apr 2023
This week we investigate how a baby's due date is calculated
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How to better understand and explain numbers
Sat 8 Apr 2023
Professor Oliver Johnson discusses the use of statistics in the pandemic and in life.
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How to better understand and explain numbers
Sat 8 Apr 2023
Professor Oliver Johnson discusses the use of statistics in the pandemic and in life.
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A groundbreaking new proof for Pythagoras’ Theorem?
Sat 1 Apr 2023
Two high school students say they’ve discovered a new trigonometric proof for the theorem
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A groundbreaking new proof for Pythagoras’ Theorem?
Sat 1 Apr 2023
Two high school students say they’ve discovered a new trigonometric proof for the theorem
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Covid vaccines and false claims about miscarriage
Sat 25 Mar 2023
We debunk viral claims that incorrectly link covid-19 vaccines with a risk of miscarriage
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Covid vaccines and false claims about miscarriage
Sat 25 Mar 2023
We debunk viral claims that incorrectly link covid-19 vaccines with a risk of miscarriage
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Do fungi kill three times as many people as malaria?
Sat 11 Mar 2023
We investigate the claim that fungal infections are a much bigger killer than malaria.
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Do fungi kill three times as many people as malaria?
Sat 11 Mar 2023
We investigate the claim that fungal infections are a much bigger killer than malaria.
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Does British jewellery contain stolen Brink’s-Mat gold?
Sat 4 Mar 2023
We ask what happened to the 3 tonnes of pure gold after the infamous robbery of 1983
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Does your jewellery contain stolen Brink’s-Mat gold?
Sat 4 Mar 2023
We ask what happened to the 3 tonnes of pure gold after the infamous robbery of 1983
Unlock the history and truth behind the data with The OU
Explore how numbers shape, and sometimes mislead us, with The Open University.
When can you trust statistics?
BBC Ideas discovers three easy ways to help make sense of statistics.
