Why is my house getting sunnier?

CrowdScience

BBC

Science, Technology

4.8 • 985 Ratings

🗓️ 8 November 2024

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

CrowdScience listeners David and Tatiana have long been captivated by an unusual dinner table discussion: the peculiar change they’ve noticed over the past 16 years in the sunlight streaming through their bedroom window in Ostend, Belgium. They’re convinced that the room has not only become sunnier but that the actual angle of sunlight has shifted.

Intrigued by their observations, we head to Ostend. Our mission: to investigate three of their theories, enlisting expert help along the way.

Theory 1 – A celestial anomaly? René Oudmaijer at the Royal Observatory of Belgium considers whether our shifting position in the solar system might explain the change.

Theory 2 – Movement in the Earth’s crust? Alejandra Tovar from the Geological Survey of Belgium examines tectonic data to see if the Earth’s crust is moving enough to alter the angle of sunlight.

Theory 3 – Subsidence? Structural engineer Kath Hannigan helps us inspect the building for signs that it may be sinking or twisting.

And we explore one final theory of our own, enlisting memory expert Julia Shaw to examine whether it could all be a trick of the mind. Will the team crack the case?

Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Harrison Lewis Editor: Cathy Edwards Production co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano Studio Manager: Sarah Hockley

(Photo: CrowdScience listeners David and Tatiana standing in front of a window in their house)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	You are about to listen to a BBC podcast and I'd like to tell you a bit about what goes into making one.
0:06.5	I'm Sadata Sese, an assistant commissioner of podcasts for BBC Sounds.
0:11.2	I pull a lot of levers to support a diverse range of podcasts on all sorts of subjects,
0:16.0	relationships, identity, comedy, even one that mixes poetry, music and inner city life.
0:22.4	So one day I'll be helping host develop their ideas,
0:25.6	the next fact-checking, a feature,
0:28.3	and the next looking at how a podcast connects with its audience.
0:32.3	And maybe that's you.
0:33.6	So if you like this podcast,
0:35.5	check out some others on BBC Sounds.
0:38.9	Sure, well, you can enter the first door? Yes. So if you like this podcast, check out some others on BBC Sounds. Sure.
0:39.5	Well, you can enter the first door, then you'll see a set of bells.
0:43.2	Our bell is number seven, and then I'll open for you.
0:46.3	Oh, the door opened.
0:49.5	We'll see you very shortly, David.
0:51.5	Okay, yeah, look.
0:52.5	Sure, okay.
0:53.3	See you.
0:55.4	You're listening to Crowd Science from the BBC World Service, with me, Caroline Steele.
1:01.0	For this episode, I visited Ostend, a small seaside town in northern Belgium, with producer Harry.
1:08.7	David, can we stop and can we record us saying hello?
1:12.9	We stepped into the apartment of two crowd science listeners, David and Tatiana.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in -96 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.