A Question of Science

Our biological sex affects every cell in our body, so how does it influence our health - from embryo development through to the risk of disease and diagnosis? How and why do some conditions affect females and males differently? And what can we do to ensure medicine is safe and effective for everyone, after decades of male biology bias?
Across autoimmune disorders, cancer, dementia, heart disease and even responses to everyday medications, sex‑based biological differences can shape who becomes ill, how symptoms appear and what treatments work.
Join our expert panel as they explore sex differences in biology, hormones and gene regulation.
Panel:
Prof Edith Heard, CEO of the Francis Crick Institute
Natasha Karp, Biostatistician at Astra Zeneca
Prof Petter Brodin, Garfield Weston chair of Neonatology and Professor of Paediatric Immunology, Imperial College, London
Caroline Criado Perez, Author of Invisible Women
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Why do people become addicted? When does a habit turn into self harm and what makes recovery so hard? From drugs and alcohol to gambling and social media, join our panel of experts as they explore the causes of addiction, what it looks like in the brain and potential new treatments, including psychedelic therapies.
Panel:
Prof Sally Marlow: Professor of Public Understanding of Mental Health at KCL
Matt Willis: Musician/actor and podcaster in recovery from addictions
Dr Nicky Kalk: Psychiatrist and addiction specialist at Maudsley NHS Trust
Prof David Nutt: Director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Imperial College, London
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How is AI revolutionising medicine and drug discovery and could it really improve diagnosis and treatment for everyone? Could the role of doctors and nurses change forever, with AI taking care of admin and analysis at the touch of a button? Can we trust it to safeguard our health and our personal data – and who gets to control it?
Join a panel of experts as they answer your questions and explore how AI is rapidly changing medicine and healthcare, now and in the future.
Panel:
Prof Mihaela van der Schaar: Chief AI Scientist, The Francis Crick Institute
Dr Indra Joshi: Chief Product Officer, Optum UK
Lord Patrick Vallance: Former Minister of State for Science
Prof Samra Turajlic: Group Leader, Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute and Director, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute

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A Question of Science is back - with free tickets to live recordings available now!
Join Professor Brian Cox in person and put your questions to a panel of leading scientists and experts on a huge range of topics.
We’ll be exploring how A.I. is changing medicine, what’s really happening inside the teenage brain, how can science help save our oceans, beat superbugs, tackle addiction, and what elite sport science can teach us about human strength and endurance.
The series is being recorded in June and July at the Francis Crick Institute in London, one of the world’s leading centres for biomedical research.
To book your tickets visit: crick.ac.uk/tickets

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Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of ancient DNA, with two experts returning to answer more of your questions.
How far can we go back in time using DNA? How accurate is ancient DNA when it comes to understanding our past? Why was diversity in DNA vital for the survival of early humans? Do we really share 60% of our genetic code with bananas?
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