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The End of the World

Curious CasesSeries 14

What would become the dominant species if humans go extinct? Science sleuths Drs Rutherford and Fry investigate. From 2019.

"What would become the dominant species if, or when, humans go extinct?"

This cheery question leads Drs Rutherford and Fry to embark on an evolutionary thought experiment.

Zoologist Matthew Cobb questions whether humans really are the dominant species. Ecologist Kate Jones explains why some species are more extinction-prone than others. Plus Phil Plait, AKA The Bad Astronomer, busts some myths about why the dinosaurs went extinct.

Send your questions for future series, along with any Curio correspondence for the podcast, to: curiouscases@bbc.co.uk

Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford
Producer: Michelle Martin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2019.

Available now

43 minutes

Last on

Thu 24 Mar 202221:45
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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Broadcasts

  • Wed 4 Dec 201909:30
    BBC Radio 4
  • Wed 4 Dec 201920:45
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sat 7 Dec 201905:45
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 20 Mar 202210:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 20 Mar 202221:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 24 Mar 202211:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 24 Mar 202221:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

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