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
-
![]()
What are the chances of an asteroid hitting earth in 2032?
Sat 22 Mar 2025
Why the likelihood of planetary impact changed as asteroid 2024 YR4 approached.
-
![]()
What are the chances of an asteroid hitting earth in 2032?
Sat 22 Mar 2025
Why the likelihood of planetary impact changed as asteroid 2024 YR4 approached.
-
![]()
Why are more people claiming disability benefits?
Wed 19 Mar 2025
Plus, UK v Russia on free speech and the collapse of the Labour Force Survey.
-
![]()
How did lockdown impact children?
Mon 17 Mar 2025
Five years on, Tim Harford looks at the data on the effect of lockdown
-
![]()
What is an IQ map and can we trust them?
Sat 15 Mar 2025
We investigate maps that suggest extremely low average IQs in developing countries
-
![]()
What is an IQ map and can we trust them?
Sat 15 Mar 2025
We investigate maps that suggest extremely low average IQs in developing countries
-
![]()
DOGE, apples and irregular migrants
Wed 12 Mar 2025
Fact-checking government efficiency claims in the US.
-
![]()
Is there really $500bn of Rare Earths in Ukraine?
Sat 8 Mar 2025
Trump wants access to Ukraine鈥檚 Rare Earth deposits.
-
![]()
Is there really $500bn of Rare Earths in Ukraine?
Sat 8 Mar 2025
Trump wants access to Ukraine鈥檚 Rare Earth deposits.
-
![]()
Defence Spending, Rare Earths and Trunk Truths
Wed 5 Mar 2025
The numbers behind Ukraine鈥檚 rare earth worth and the UK鈥檚 defence spending ambitions.
-
![]()
Has the US really given Ukraine more aid than Europe?
Sat 1 Mar 2025
Donald Trump says the US has given Ukraine more aid than Europe - what does the data say?
-
![]()
Has the US really given Ukraine more aid than Europe?
Sat 1 Mar 2025
Donald Trump says the US has given Ukraine more aid than Europe - what does the data say?
-
![]()
Are 150 year olds getting social security payments?
Sat 22 Feb 2025
Is this 鈥榯he biggest fraud in the whole of history'?
-
![]()
Are 150 year olds getting social security payments?
Sat 22 Feb 2025
Is this 鈥榯he biggest fraud in the whole of history鈥�?
-
![]()
Has the US sent $50 million worth of condoms to Gaza?
Sat 15 Feb 2025
Are Hamas bombing Israel with condoms sent by the US?
-
![]()
Has the US sent $50 million worth of condoms to Gaza?
Sat 15 Feb 2025
Are Hamas bombing Israel with condoms sent by the US?
-
![]()
Are black babies in the US really more likely to die under the care of white doctors?
Sat 8 Feb 2025
How baby mortality statistics gave a misleading impression about racism in healthcare
-
![]()
Are black babies in the US really more likely to die under the care of white doctors?
Sat 8 Feb 2025
How baby mortality statistics gave a misleading impression about racism in healthcare
-
![]()
Are quantum computers already super-powerful?
Sat 1 Feb 2025
We investigate what a big claim about the speed of a quantum chip really means.
-
![]()
Are quantum computers already super-powerful?
Sat 1 Feb 2025
We investigate what a big claim about the speed of a quantum chip really means
-
![]()
Did Trump make billions with his meme-coin?
Sat 25 Jan 2025
We investigate if the US president鈥檚 crypto is really worth tens of billions of dollars.
-
![]()
Did Trump make billions with his meme-coin?
Sat 25 Jan 2025
We investigate if the US president鈥檚 crypto is really worth tens of billions of dollars.
-
![]()
Can redheads handle 25% more pain than brunettes?
Sat 18 Jan 2025
We investigate if people with red hair have a hidden pain-blocking superpower
-
![]()
Can redheads handle 25% more pain than brunettes?
Sat 18 Jan 2025
We investigate if people with red hair have a hidden pain-blocking superpower
-
![]()
Do 79% of Swedish asylum seekers go on holiday to the country they fled from?
Sat 11 Jan 2025
We investigate a refugee claim that is often being taken out of context.
-
![]()
Do 79% of Swedish asylum seekers go on holiday to the country they fled from?
Sat 11 Jan 2025
We investigate a refugee claim that is often being taken out of context.
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
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?
麻豆社 Ideas discovers three easy ways to help make sense of statistics.
