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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鈥檚 obsessive quest to find out why.

It鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 obsessive mission to unravel the mystery.

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

A series for Radio 4 by 大象传媒 Science in Cardiff.

Available now

15 minutes

On radio

Friday 09:45

Broadcasts

  • Mon 25 Sep 2023 13:45
  • Sun 19 Nov 2023 23:00
  • Wed 3 Apr 2024 20:45
  • Friday 09:45

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