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1. The Returning Soldier

In a few specific years across the 20th century, the proportion of boys born mysteriously spiked. Hannah Fry follows one researcher’s obsessive quest to find out why.

It’s 1973 and the UK is in crisis: runaway inflation, industrial strike action and political turmoil. Unnoticed at the time - in hospitals and front rooms around the country - something odd is happening with the country’s newborns. A higher proportion of boys are being born than ever before in the 20th Century. What was behind this puzzling trend?

Hannah Fry follows one researcher’s obsessive mission to unravel the mystery.

Episode Producer: Ilan Goodman
Sound Design: Jon Nicholls
Story Editor: John Yorke

A series for Radio 4 by BBC Science in Cardiff.

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15 minutes

Last on

Fri 22 Nov 202409:45
BBC Radio 4

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2. The Hockey Stick

See all episodes from Uncharted with Hannah Fry

Broadcasts

  • Mon 25 Sep 202313:45
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 19 Nov 202323:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Wed 3 Apr 202420:45
    BBC Radio 4 FM
  • Fri 22 Nov 202409:45
    BBC Radio 4 FM

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