CrowdScience listeners David and Tatiana have long been captivated by an unusual dinner table discussion: the peculiar change they’ve noticed over the past 16 years in the sunlight streaming through their bedroom window in Ostend, Belgium. They’re convinced that the room has not only become sunnier but that the actual angle of sunlight has shifted. Intrigued by their observations, we head to Ostend. Our mission: to investigate three of their theories, enlisting expert help along the way. Theory 1 – A celestial anomaly? René Oudmaijer at the Royal Observatory of Belgium considers whether our shifting position in the solar system might explain the change. Theory 2 – Movement in the Earth’s crust? Alejandra Tovar from the Geological Survey of Belgium examines tectonic data to see if the Earth’s crust is moving enough to alter the angle of sunlight. Theory 3 – Subsidence? Structural engineer Kath Hannigan helps us inspect the building for signs that it may be sinking or twisting. And we explore one final theory of our own, enlisting memory expert Julia Shaw to examine whether it could all be a trick of the mind. Will the team crack the case? Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Harrison Lewis Editor: Cathy Edwards Production co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano Studio Manager: Sarah Hockley (Photo: CrowdScience listeners David and Tatiana standing in front of a window in their house)
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.
So a neutron star is kind of about the size of Chicago.
Unexpected elements from the BBC World Service.
Search for unexpected elements wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
Sure.
Well, you can enter the first door, then you'll see a set of bells.
Our bell is number seven.
And then I'll open for you.
Oh, the door was open the whole time.
We'll see you very shortly, David.
Okay, yeah, look.
Sure.
Okay.
See you.
You're listening to Crowd Science from the BBC World Service with me, Caroline Steele.
For this episode, I visited Ostend, a small seaside town in northern Belgium, with producer Harry David.
Can we stop and can we record us saying hello?
We stepped into the apartment of two crowdscience listeners, David and Tatiana.
They reached out to us for help with a topic that's become a regular feature of their dinner conversations.
Not politics, not work, but.