Humans have split the atom, we can stream movies from space and are working towards everlasting life.
So why in the world are we still spending a third of our lives unconscious?
In this episode of The Rest Is Science, Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens ask a deceptively simple question: Can human beings cure sleep? Why do evolutionary forces cause us to lie helpless for eight hours a night when predators might lurk? Why can elephants survive on two hours but bats basically exist to nap? And what really happens inside human bodies when we try to cheat this essential system?
From WWII amphetamines to witch trial torture tactics, fatal insomnia to the strange possibility that dreams are just your brain…shivering, this episode explores the biology, history, and weirdness of unconscious human sleep.
What does IKEA mean? What language is Häagen-Dasz? Who came up with the name Adidas? Why is Danone spelled Dannon in the US? These questions answered, and many more, as Jess and Rob explore the origins of brand names.
Enjoy some more trademark word nerdery in this episode of Words Unravelled exploring Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Lego, Shell, ExxonMobil, Aldi and other famous product names.
China is Iran’s biggest oil buyer and has long been diplomatically close to the Islamic Republic, so how has Beijing reacted now that Tehran is under attack?
China has strongly condemned the US strikes on its strategic partner, but will Chinese support for Iran go beyond rhetoric?
And what does the conflict engulfing the Middle East say about China’s efforts to become a bigger diplomatic player in the region?
In this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi is joined by BBC China correspondent Laura Bicker and William Figuero, a China-Iran specialist at the University of Groningen to unpack how the world’s other superpower views the US-Israeli attacks on Tehran.
00:00 Introduction
01:15 China’s reaction to the US-Israeli attack on Iran
03:33 China and Iran alliance
06:03 Did China factor into the US decision to strike Iran?
10:46 Where does the Iran-China relationship stand?
12:51 What technical support does China provide Iran?
14:13 Military support between China and Iran
16:23 Beijing’s ties with Saudi Arabia and its role in restoring Iran-Saudi relations
18:40 Could US actions in Iran and Venezuela shift Beijing’s thinking on Taiwan?
19:50 What happens if there’s a disruption to oil supplies?
21:30 What might China do next in the Middle East crisis?
Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 • Asia Specific
Instagram: @bbcworldservice
Email: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Mariko Oi
Producers: Derek Cai
Camera: Khairul Danish Bin Mohd Roslee, Rosalehin Bin Rosli, Aimran Supardi
Editor: Bill Birtles
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