Curious Cases

Fireworks have been lighting up our autumn skies for centuries - but what’s actually going on inside those dazzling bursts of colour, sound and stars?
Hannah and Dara set out to discover the science behind the sparkle. From the chemistry that creates vivid reds, greens and blues, to the physics that launches shells high above our heads before exploding into perfectly planned patterns, they learn that every firework is a carefully choreographed feat of engineering.
Along the way, they explore why some fireworks whistle while others crackle, trace the remarkable history of fireworks from ancient China to modern-day spectacles, and ponder whether drones and laser shows could one day replace the traditional fiery festivities.
If you have a curious question for our team, get in touch via curiouscases@bbc.co.uk.
Contributors:
Jackie Akhavan - Professor of Explosive Chemistry at Cranfield University
John Withington - histroian broadcaster and author of ‘A History of Fireworks from Their Origins to the Present Day’
Darryl Fleming - Director of Titanium Fireworks
Producer: Lucy Taylor
Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
A BBC Studios Production

Why do we find the young of other species cute?
Finding baby humans adorable makes evolutionary sense, ensuring that we care for them properly. But what about babies of other species? Hannah and Dara go down a fluffy rabbithole of cuteness: pondering the science behind things that make us go 'ahhhh'; exploring the phenomenon of 'cute aggression'; and discovering there can be such a thing as cuteness overload.
We also discover what Dara would look like as an elf, and what happens when you make Hannah scientifically less cute. Brace yourselves...
If you have a scientific mystery for the team to investigate, contact them on curiouscases@bbc.co.uk.
Contributors:
Anthony Little – Reader in Psychology at the University of Bath
Daniel Mills – Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine at the University of Lincoln
Chris Holliday – Senior Lecturer in Liberal Arts and Visual Cultures Education at King's College London
Producer: Lucy Taylor
Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
A BBC Studios Production

We may think of tessellation as being about how to tile a flat plane but this week we reveal how repeating patterns actually occur all over the place, and can even help us solve some of nature's most complex problems.
The presenters start with the simple principal that for shapes to fill a space without leaving any gaps or overlapping, the angles in the corners have to add up to exactly 360° - which means squares, triangles and hexagons are all strong contenders. Then they try their hand at creating their own tiles, based on a technique referred to as the 'Escher' method.
If you have an everyday mystery for the team to investigate, contact them on curiouscases@bbc.co.uk.
Contributors:
Dr Katie Steckles
Prof Mark Miodownik
Dr Vince Gallo
Producer: Lucy Taylor
Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
A BBC Studios Production

We often associate yawning with being tired or bored - but this week's episode explores whether it could be a clever way to cool down our brains?
Hannah and Dara discover humans aren't the only species that yawn. From cats to chimpanzees and even fish, plenty of other vertebrates engage in this ancient behaviour which scientists believe evolved hundreds of millions of years ago. And it doesn't always happen as a spontaneous reflex to feeling tired but can also be triggered by watching other people do it.
If you have an everyday mystery for the team to investigate, contact them on curiouscases@bbc.co.uk
Contributors:
Stephen Jackson - Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Nottingham

Laura Kelley - Associate Professor in Behavioural Ecology at University of Exeter
Dr Andrew Gallup - Professor of Behavioral Biology at Johns Hopkins University
Producer: Lucy Taylor
Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
A BBC Studios Production

What happens when you give water a really good shake? You might expect splashing, spilling and general aquatic chaos - but under exactly the right conditions, something much stranger can happen...
In this episode, Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain dive into the world of 'Faraday waves': amazing geometric patterns that, in certain circumstances, will appear on the surface of a vibrating liquid. They discover how the renowned physicist Michael Faraday accidentally discovered this remarkable phenomenon in the 19th Century; debate whether they could ever occur in a swimming pool; and find out what on earth alligators have to do with it.
Along the way, the pair encounter eerie ‘square’ seas and learn about new ways satellites are helping us to understand the ocean’s wildest waves!
If you have an everyday mystery for the team to investigate, contact them on curiouscases@bbc.co.uk.
Contributors:
Cédric Beaume - Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics at the University of Leeds
Lucy Bricheno - Group Head of Coastal Ocean at Liverpool’s National Oceanography Centre
Glynn Holt - Former Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Boston University
Producer: Lucy Taylor
Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
A BBC Studios Production