Discovery

Cultural entomologist Bridget Nicholls investigates an intriguing natural phenomenon.An ant becomes infected by a fungus which takes over its nervous system, turning the ant into a vehicle for the fungus’s reproduction and killing the ant in the process. It sounds like science fiction, but it's happening in rainforests around the world.It's a parasitic relationship that has inspired the TV series The Last of Us, but it also reveals a great deal about control, autonomy and the interconnectedness of the natural world.With: Merlin Sheldrake, mycologist and writer Philip Ball, science writer Mark Brown, director of the University Museum of Zoology at Cambridge University Nura Sidarus, Lecturer in Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London Lore Lixenberg, mezzo-soprano and sound artist, and Jason Singh, sound artist and composer. Jason's recordings and compositions feature throughout this documentary.Zombie Ant Fungus: The chemistry of Control is a show created and produced by Bridget Nicholls, and written and directed by Wade McCollum who also performs in the show and composed its music. The original production premiered as a Pestival commission at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.Presenter: Bridget Nicholls Producer: Eliane Glaser

Design is never neutral and small choices can have a big impact. Dr Ella Hubber and journalist Katie Silver explore how consumer products marketed to women are frequently developed without fully understanding their needs. Along with expert insight, they look at everything from footwear based on male anatomy to menstrual products tested with unrealistic methods, revealing how these decisions can affect comfort, performance and even health.As awareness grows, they also ask what change can look like and whether everyday products can finally reflect women’s real needs.Presenter/producer: Ella Hubber Assistant Producer: Scarlett Victoria Researcher: Elliott Prince Editor: Ilan Goodman

CPR mannequins, medical implants and surgical tools. These are life changing and lifesaving medical devices. But when they are built around male bodies, what does that mean for everyone else?Through expert insight, Dr Ella Hubber and journalist Candice Bailey uncover how gaps in research can lead to higher complication rates in women, why the “one-size-fits-all” design method falls short, and how even the operating theatre can fail women. As awareness grows, they also ask what change can look like and whether the tools used in healthcare can finally serve every body.[EH1.1]Presenter/producer: Ella Hubber Researcher: Elliott Prince Editor: Ilan Goodman

Dr Ella Hubber and journalist Katie Silver unpack how artificial intelligence is far from neutral, and why that matters. They speak to experts who reveal how some AI is trained with bad data and how this means it can often reflect the same inequalities found in society be that in voice assistants, hiring tools, or translation apps.As awareness grows, they also ask what change can look like. Better training, better regulation, and the technologies shaping our future working fairly for everyone.Presenter/producer: Ella Hubber Researcher: Elliott Prince Editor: Ilan Goodman

On every street corner, at every bus stop, in every public toilet the message is clear: this city is not built for women. Along with journalist Chhavi Sachdev, Dr Ella Hubber explores how urban design often fails to reflect the realities of women’s lives. They unpack issues like why women spend longer queuing for toilets, how safety concerns shape the way women move through cities, and why transport systems built around linear commutes fail those juggling care, work and home. As awareness grows, they also ask what change can look like. More inclusive planning, policies shaped by lived experience, and cities finally designed to work for everyone. Presenter/producer: Ella Hubber Researcher: Elliott Prince Editor: Ilan Goodman