80. Do unicorns exist? Why do rhinos have horns? How do narwhals use their horns? With special guest Ofra Magidor, professor of philosophy at Oxford University

Full Episode description

In this week’s show we answer questions from Maggie, Charlotte, Bertie and Quinn with help from special guest expert Ofra Magidor who is a professor of philosophy at Oxford University

Ofra Magidor is a philosophy expert and teaches at Oxford, he has all sorts of interesting questions and thoughts about unicorns and whether they’re real.

Next up we find out which species of rhino have two horns and which have only one, what they use them for and why their horns have got them into such trouble.

Thirdly we discuss the unicorns of the sea, narwhals and the different ideas that exist about the reasons why they have horns and how the horns are actually a really long tooth!

Check out Mel Kids here and try a subscription using the code SUN: https://melscience.com/GB-en/kids/sets/

If you’re wondering ‘Why a Subscription?’, well guess what – we asked an expert and this is what they said:

‘Subscriptions encourage spaced repetition which is critical for learning. A 1-time science box if fun, but it won’t change a child’s mindset or behaviour. For that we need to develop a habit of doing science on a regular basis. This is the real benefit of a MEL Science subscription, a regular hands-on kit, well explained, with interesting extra investigations and visualisations around it to develop scientific thinking. Over 9-12 months, kid’s brains develop the confidence to inspect their world scientifically. How to think like a scientist and apply the scientific method is the core skill we are trying to develop.’

Social media:

Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod

Twitter: @everythinguts

Facebook: @everythingunderthesunbyMollyOldfield

Website: www.everythingunderthesun.co.uk

Find out how to submit an answer on our website.

Molly Oldfield studied History at Oxford before becoming a QI elf, writing and researching questions for the BBC quiz show for twelve years. She has written three books. They are The Secret Museum, a book about all the things that are in museums that rarely, if ever, go on display; Wonders of the World’s Museums filled with things you can see, and Natural Wonders of the World about all kinds of creatures and places on our beautiful planet we call home. 

This podcast will also be published as Everything Under the Sun – A Year of Curious Questions in September 2021 by Ladybird at Penguin Random House. 

Check out the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460

Ofra Magidor: http://www.magidor.com

With thanks to Tyler Simmons Dale, Ash Gardner, The National Trust. 

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.