The Why Factor Episodes Episode guide
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Why do People Take Risks?
Why do some people expose themselves to risks and why are we so bad at assessing them?
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How Chillies Became Hot
The origins and history of chillies and why we eat a food that burns
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Why do we Draw?
What makes us draw, how do we get good at it and what do we reveal through our drawings?
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The Evolution of Beards
How did beards evolve and what is their purpose?
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Blue Jeans
Why do blue jeans have such global appeal?
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The Y Chromosome
How the Y chromosome transforms a female embryo to a male one
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Television
Why does television have such a powerful influence on our lives?
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Collecting
What does collecting of inanimate objects bring to our lives?
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Jargon
Why do we use jargon?
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Animals Are Us?
Why do people try and project human qualities onto animals?
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The Circus
How did modern circuses develop? And why do they appeal to adults and children worldwide?
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Daydreaming
Does everyone鈥檚 mind wander? And why do we do it?
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Suicide
Every year, across the world, around a million people take their own lives. But why?
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The Refugee Journey
At the mercy of people smugglers, how do refugees make their often perilous journeys?
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Death Penalty
Why more than 50 countries around the world still execute certain criminals
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Forgetting
Why do we lose our memories, and why are there are some things we can not forget?
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Crime Fiction
Why do we love stories about criminals and the people who bring them to justice?
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Skyscrapers
Mike Williams asks why we build tall buildings
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Chasing Riches
Why do the rich want to get richer? What drives the wealthy to want more?
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Rejecting Riches
Why do some people give the vast majority of their money away?
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Why are watches enduring status symbols?
Watches have been an indicator of status since their invention. Mike Williams asks why
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Sad Music
Sad music has become more popular according to a recent study. Why do people listen to it?
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Why Do We Fly Flags?
From identity symbols to signalling tools, why human societies are fascinated by flags
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Loyalty
Mike Williams asks why are we loyal, and who are we really loyal to?
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Portrait Photography
Why do we want to capture human faces?
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The Moon
Why has the moon fascinated humans from every culture and for all time?
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Honour
People have fought for it and died for it. Why is this notion so powerful?
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Perfume
Why do we use perfume and what does it say about us?
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Sharing
Why do we share? And, what happens inside our brains when we do?
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Nudity
Why does the naked human form provoke such strong reactions?