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August 2009

As the Greek fires come under control Yoseph Araya explains how nature can spring back from fire.

July 2009

Rupert Everett is exploring the life of Lord Byron in Channel 4's The Scandalous Adventures of..... Rupert is following in the footsteps of Mark Steel. Find out what Mark made of Byron - and discover why Byron was the first of the international playboys.

June 2009

Let our experts guide you through the current financial miasma: Gerry Robinson on the motor industry; Leslie Budd on cash flow; and Evan Davis on... just about everything else.

May 2009

As we prepare for a new season of Reith Lectures, catch up on previous years: Onora O'Neill on trust, Alec Broers on the Triumph Of Technology, and Wole Soyinka on the Climate Of Fear

April 2009

Have you missed out on any of our free offers to order or download?

Looking for ideas to keep yourself entertained during the bank holiday weekend? We've got some holiday options.

March 2009

With more people out of work this month than at any time since 1997, are we heading for a re-run of 1964? How are small firms coping? And when the economy stutters, what happens to the wider to culture?

February 2009

Celebrate 200 years of Darwin with Open2.

January 2009

America wasn't the only country to get a new President this month. Giles Mohan reports on the elections in Ghana.

As Parliament debates the proposed third runway for Heathrow, how do you even make a decision like that? Chris Blackmore explains the process.

Whether you're seeing green shoots or just a failing economy, get a fresh perspective from the money & management audio commentaries.

2008

December 2008
What a year on Open2 - we' ve shared the dreams of young people aiming for gold in 2012, explored the Chinese education system and got to see the workings of the Bar up-close. We've helped you find your way through the credit crash, and got you to help James May make his way across the world. Here's just a few of the programmes the BBC and The Open University have brought you across 2008:

If you enjoyed Marcus DuSautoy on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, get to know him - and his relationship with maths a little better as he shares his story

November 2008
There's plenty of drama in The Devil's Whore on Channel 4 - but can it match the breadth and twists of the true story of the Civil War?

On the eleventh day, of the eleventh month - ninety years on - explore death in the face of peace; forgotten stories of the First World War and the lessons of The Somme.

The future of the Halifax and Bank Of Scotland is being fought over. How did a once-proud company wind up in such a mess? Martin Upton explains the collapse of the banks.

October 2008
This Friday [10th October] is World Mental Health Day. It's a timely reminder to look out for our mates: Think Friends.

September 2008
The death of Paul Newman has robbed the film world of one its true greats. He was a wonderful actor, certainly. But could he have done his Cool Hand Luke egg-eating feat in real life?

As scientists head off to hunt for rare frogs in Costa Rica, why are amphibians worldwide in decline?

August 2008
On last night's Big Brother, two contestants had to face the Prisoner's Dilemma. Could you have done better? Explore this philosophical experiment and try an online version of the game.

Invoked by Hillary Clinton in her Democratic Convention speech: but who has Harriet Tubman?

Open2 goes to the Olympics
Sport is often thought of as a young person's pursuit - but is there room for a few "golden oldies"?

As athletes continue to work in Beijing, don't forget the role of their coaches - confidants and carers.

Alex Partridge - one of the British Eights rowing team who qualified for their final yesterday [11th August] is also one of the sports stars who shared their insights into the psychology of sport with us.

The games continue in Beijing, and the football season starts up again. Great fun. But at its heart, major sport is all about business.

As the Olympics get under way, are we doomed to languish down the bottom of the medal table? Are we any good at sport?

July 2008
Gerry Robinson was one of the guests on this morning's [15th July] BBC Radio 4 programme The Cost Of Health, investigating NHS funding. It's a subject he became something of an expert in while making Can Gerry Robinson Fix The NHS?

June 2008
A team at Bletchley Park are rebuilding Colossus, one of the computers that played a key role in the Second World War. Discover how the war changed computing forever.

If you enjoyed Ian Kersahaw's appearance on this week's Start The Week [23rd June], you might want to explore his lecture on Hitler's Place In History - available to listen to online.

Part of the 42 day detention debate has focused on the magna carta. But why has an obscure document got such a pull today? In The Things We Forgot To Remember, Michael Portillo went to investigate Magna Carta.

There is some debate over the introduction of polyclinics. But why are there battles over polyclinics and walk-ins?

The Open University brings a vast array of free educational audio and video to iTunes.

May 2008
With the Olympic torch attracting protests around the globe Giles Mohan asks what an Olympic boycott would achieve.

April 2008
In a bid to stop illegal trade in organs, The Philippines has banned overseas recipients from having operations. But why is selling a kidney such an ethical conundrum?

Will you be enjoying fish and chips tonight? You could follow our recipe at home, explore some secrets of seafood, and enjoy a podcast looking at fish as part of a diet. But are we over-exploiting the stocks and ruining the environment by over-fishing?

A gathering sense of gloom hangs over the UK housing market. We speak to experts about the credit crunch, risks of buy-to-let and what selling below the market means, as we look at the property slowdown ahead.

March 2008
Timewatch are currently taking part in the first archaeological dig at Stonehenge for fifty years. Follow the dig online, and share your views.

Today [27th March] the government has launched the findings of the Byron Review Safer Children In A Digital World. But what's the background? Jackie Marsh introduces the digital children while Keri Facer shows how children balance screen time and leisure time.

There was more than the apparent two-way road between Nazareth and Holby to think about while watching BBC One's Easter Passion.

If you enjoyed In Our Time's look at Søren Kierkegaard on BBC Radio 4 [or want to Listen again], join Jonathan Rée to discover the importance of Berlin in Kierkegaard's life.

Much more than a sci-fi writer: Dave Rothery pays tribute to Arthur C Clarke.

The Civil Aviation Authority has approved a large increase in the cost of landing fees at Heathrow, in part to pay for improved facilities. But will it solve Heathrow's problems? Watch BAA's CEO talk about development plans and explore the arguments for a third runway.

Explore the rich range of interactive and video & audio features on Open2.

February 2008
Dave Rotherey reports on the overnight earthquake in Market Rasen.

Troops are being drafted in to protect the Amazon Rainforest - so just how important is the region? And David Robinson files a report from the Amazon.

This week's Woman's Hour Drama on BBC Radio 4 is a reworking of the Faust legend [10.45am, 7.45pm daily from 18th February]. Get to grips with the original, Dr Faustus; discover how to to read a Renaissance play and follow Marlowe's life.

Although Rowan Williams' discussion of sharia and UK law has polarised opinion, there are precedents for balancing religious and civil law.

Nine areas in the UK have been identified as important sites for seaweed. But how useful is the stuff? Our Rough Scientists used it to make anti-bacterial cream, while seaweed proves a source of nourishment for a range of life.

January 2008
Is the press a little too keen to label Jerome Kerviel a rogue trader?

Discover why the iPhone owes a debt to some 1968 forward-thinking.

The Zoological Society of London have published a list of the world's most endangered Amphibians. Why are toads and frogs at risk?

2007

December 2007
As we reach another holiday period, join us for a look back at the great programmes brought to you by the Open University and the BBC over 2007:

November 2007
The latest figures for people living with HIV have been revised downwards. How can we tell how many people live with HIV worldwide?

On Thursday this week, twenty developing nations meet in Geneva to discuss free trade after earlier talks collapsed in June. Bring yourself up to speed on the World Trade Organisation with our introduction to free trade.

If you're enjoying Autumnwatch, go further: you can explore nature in autumn with our interactive calendar; visit OpenLearn to discover how creatures survive the winter and follow the OU team creating a Breathing Place at Foxcombe Hall.

October 2007
Watch video of our panel of experts as they predict the future of the UK housing market.

Chlamydia infection rates are rising in the UK. How should young people's services react? Explore the debate around the future of sex education.

September 2007
Nasa have launched a probe, Dawn, to fly close to asteroids as part of a study. This is a bit more restrained than their 2005 study of comets, which smashed a probe into Tempel 1. Discover why they went for a Deep Impact.

With changes being made to their health cover, the life for British workers living in France and planning early retirement might not be quite so belle. Are there other drawbacks to commuting across continents?

David Hume, the 18th Century Scottish philosopher, wrote widely on trust. Discover the heart of his philosophy and then explore OpenLearn's course sample looking at his Of The Immortality Of The Soul

August 2007
BBC Four celebrates 100 years of wildlife film-making with some classic natural history, including Life In The Undergrowth and Nation On Film on pioneer Cherry Kearton.

Internet Service Providers are worrying that web video is putting them under strain. Is this another challenge to the idea of free broadband services?

British Airways has been found guilty of colluding with Virgin on fuel surcharges and given a hefty fine from the Office of Fair Trading. Devendra Kodwani explains why Virgin took a strategy of cooperating with the investigations.

July 2007
Scientists from Rothamsted Research have reported that gardens are vital to survival of the bumblebee. Discover how you can make your own patch of land a bumblebee paradise.

Take a closer look at the smallest details of life - explore a stack of slides with our digital microscope; compare how a cell works like a city and get to grips with mixing molecules.

If Live Earth left you wanting to make a change to your own environmental impact, but you don't know where to start, get some inspiration from our energy house.

Twenty five years ago today [4th July 1982], Terence Higgins became the first person to die from an AIDS-related condition in the United Kingdom. Today, we know a lot more about HIV/AIDS - partly due to the work done by the charity which bears Terence Higgins' name - but how do we know about infection levels? Discover the story behind the HIV/AIDS statistics.

June 2007
As one Prime Minister steps aside for another, when better to take a crash course in democracy? Is it simply rule by the people? Does democracy work? And - as the world changes - is the planet better served by democracy or dictatorship in our common social future?

Chinua Achebe has been awarded this year's Booker International Prize, honouring his career. His most famous work, Things Fall Apart was one of our earlier Books of the Month, and we're keen to hear what you think of it on the book club forum.

The government is to spend £180m over the next three years teaching entrepreneurial skills in schools. But what is that makes an entrepreneur? And could you be one?

June 5th is UN World Environment Day. Explore your planet's future with Open2: if we don't act now, What will we tell our children?; what will be the Climate change's economic impact? and How do you predict climate change?

May 2007
One of the world's oldest-surviving cameras has been sold at auction for £400,000. Find out more about the early history of photography and, if your equipment is slightly more contemporary, get some tips on improving your digital photos.

This weekend, David Attenborough will accept the Peter Scott Memorial Award from the British Naturalists Assocation. Celebrate by enjoying the highlights of David's Life In The Undergrowth and hear the man himself lecture about the making of the programme.

Bill Tutte, the mathematician, was born ninety years ago today [14th May, 1917]. He was part of the team at Bletchley Park who helped crack the Enigma code during the Second World War, and as such had a hand in the birth of modern computing.

May is Museums and Galleries Month. Join John Senior as he examines the role these repositories have played in our culture and traces the rise of museums.

The brightest supernova ever witnessed, SN2006gy, could be followed by the first supernova in the Milky Way for 400 years. Find out how astronomers follow these cosmic events - and perform other feats of extreme astronomy.

Sunday [6th May] is International Dawn Chorus Day. Listen for the sound of birdsong - and then discover how we eavesdrop on nature and what we miss.

Today [3rd May] the Natural History Museum in London launches its Lyme Regis fossil festival. Discover more about these messages from the past with the Open2 guide to fossils - and consider taking it further with the OU course fossils and the history of life.

April 2007
Ten years ago today [25th April 1997] European nations signed up to the Hague Declaration designed to prevent human trafficking. But human trafficking remains a major problem - one of many aspects of modern-day slavery. And can we ever beat slavery?

Charles Darwin died 125 years ago [19th April 1882]. Read an extract from On The Origin Of Species; explore what he really believed; look at natural selection in more depth and discover what the future of evolution might be.

This morning [16th April] BBC Radio 4's Today programme asked 'if summer's here, where are the bees?' [Real Audio link]. Find out how you can help these industrious creatures by creating your own bee habitat.

It's Grand National weekend - the most popular time of the year for having a flutter. But what are the prospects of making a living from gambling? Alvin Hall asks if we can beat the bookies, while Elizabeth Daniel takes a close look at online poker.

Returning to work after a four day bank holiday weekend can be inspirational - time to reconsider your career, perhaps? Are you thinking of change in your work-life balance? Maybe relocating to somewhere warmer and commuting across the continent? And would taking a break from work to care for children be a wise move?

Return to Gleneagles: As Gordon Brown revisits the site of the 2005 G8 meeting, have the promises made there been kept? Watch Hilary Benn on aid budgets; discover if Africa can escape a disaster-aid cycle and if the continent is sinking deeper in debt.

4th April, 1975 was a surprisingly significant day - it saw the incorporation of Microsoft as a company, and the very first episode of The Good Life transmitted. Thirty-two years on, and Microsoft has just launched its latest operating system, while Tom and Barbara's early attempt at a green lifestyle proved to be ahead of its time - inspiring our own A Land Worth Loving.

March 2007
The RSPB's Birdwatch reports fewer songbirds in UK gardens this winter. Find out how you can make your patch of land more attractive to feathered visitors with our birdbox plans - and how to watch them via videolink.

Thursday 22nd March is the UN's World Water Day. Take a closer look at the stuff of life: the science of H₂O; discover the way to catch water in the desert and watch DIY water purification.

Isaac Newton died 280 years ago today [20th March, 1727]. Discover more about the man who was so lost in thought, it's claimed he once led a bridle up a hill without noticing the horse had escaped in our biography and get to grips with Newton's first law.

There's a second chance to see Stephen Fry's acclaimed and personal Secret Life of the Manic Depressive on BBC Two this week [Monday 12th, 11.35pm/Tuesday 13th, 11.20pm]. Over our lifetimes, one in four of us will have mental health problems.

If you've been enjoying - or intrigued - by Sleep Clinic [BBC One Mondays 10.35pm/ BBC Two Tuesdays 7pm] why not bury more deeply under the duvet and explore the science of sleep?

February 2007
Reports are finding that broadband Britain is "getting faster", but if you're still on the starting blocks, find out what broadband is - and what it could do for you.

This Thursday [22nd February], BBC Radio 4's In Our Time explores the life and legacy of William Wilberforce, celebrated for his role in the abolition of slavery. Find Wilberforce on our Hidden Slave Trail of the North, and discover why a vibrant popular press, education and a new approach to Christianity combined to turn Britain from leading the slave trade to a nation pushing for abolition.

It's National Chip Week - and you're going to be in trouble if you've forgotten to send a card. Enjoy this one week a year when we get to celebrate our obsession with fried spuds by exploring our recipes and guide to the science of fish and chips.

We're covered in bacteria - researchers have discovered more than 200 different types in a single sample of human skin. Roughly fifteen of them were previously unknown. But this doesn't mean we're filthy - before you rush to the showers, discover why 'germs' can be good for you.

January 2007
The wreck of the ship Napoli has brought forward a crowd of scavengers paying little heed to the law. However, you can find treasures on any seashore - and without committing any crime - by following our guide to beachcombing and our beachcombing tips.

Talking on the Today programme this morning [19th January], Gordon Brown suggested we need a "declaration of Interdependence" - but what does that mean? Interdependence Day was an event exploring just this; it even suggested what a Declaration of Interdependence might look like.

2003 EL61 seems to be on its way turning from a dwarf planet into a comet. Find out what it's letting itself in for with our guide to comets.

If you enjoyed - or were enraged - by Gerry Robinson's efforts to shorten waiting lists at Rotherham NHS, try some of our other health features: A former Hospital Trust chair explores the people behind "bed blockers"; could prevention save money spent on cures?; and just how national is the NHS?

This week's Top 40 singles chart [7th January] was the first to count downloads without the need for an equivalent physical product being available. Is this the first step towards a digital, mobile music future?

2006

December 2006

To mark the turn of the year, we featured some of our favourite Open University programmes and projects from across 2006:

Britain is in talks with NASA to put a human back on the moon by 2020. But are manned missions worth the risk and expense?

November 2006
Steven Ladyman, minister for roads, is embarking on a quest to find out what motorists want from service stations. But is turning lay-bys into attractions a good idea?

BBC Radio 4 is reporting on Living With Aids: The Global Challenge this week. Explore the science, politics and implications of HIV AIDS with us, from the origins to the difficulty of finding a cure; how scientists count the figures and what development agencies can do.

Much of the growth in BT's profits, announced today [9th November], is down to their broadband services. But they're finding the market increasingly competitive as a range of "free" offers eat into their business. Will customers who switch get what they're promised, though? Is free broadband a free lunch?

And if you're interested in business matters, why not drop by the money and management forum?

Happy Birthday to Gordon Ramsay, who's 40 today [8th November]. He's achieved this grand old age despite having been sent by us to investigate the traditional British menu a while back...

This week, many US voters will take part in the Mid-Term elections. With rogue pastors, botched jokes and unseated dictators being dragged into campaigning, what really swings elections? And with the flag and the nation at heart of the ballot battles, are Americans unusually patriotic?

October 2006
Last weekend, viewers in the North of England enjoyed a special programme exploring the connections between their regions and the slavery industry. Why not join us on the Hidden Slave Trail?

100 years ago today [23rd October 1906] the first official European flight by an object heavier than air was made by Alberto Santos-Dumont in Demoiselle. Planes may have come a long way since, but still rely on the same scientific principles of flight.

Sixty years ago this week [16th October 1946], the Nuremburg Trials came to their conclusion. It was while watching the prosecution of the Nazi elite that Hannah Arendt started to develop her theory on the nature of evil.

In an opinion piece for BBC News Online's Green Room, Rupert Howes of the Marine Stewardship Council argues that fish may have a future on our plates. Get the background on the seafish industry; discover the science behind fish and chip suppers; download our fish podcast or remix our chip shop video.

This Wednesday [11th October], the mid-morning treat What The Ancients Did For Us looks at India. Our science eventually caught up with theirs, but we were behind the loop with steel, rockets - and even numbers.

Norwegian scientists have discovered a slew of fossilised remains of sea creatures from 150 million years ago. But what do fossils actually tell us?

September 2006
What can we learn from animals? Do crocodiles hold the secret to swifter healing? What do relationships between parents and children teach us? And how could counting snails warn us about climate change?

This Sunday [24th, 9pm] BBC ONE launches a new adaptation of Jane Eyre. You can read our introduction to Charlotte Bronte's novel and discuss it in the book club.

Small Island was our Book Club choice earlier this year, and this week BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour drama features an adaptation of the novel [From Monday 18th, 10.45 am & 7.45pm]. Read our introduction to Andrea Levy's prizewinning book, and join in the debate on its merits.

Two reports for the British Medical Journal suggest that acupuncture could be a cost-effective treatment for some sorts of backpain. We explore the history and modern application of acupuncture.

As another call rings out for something to be done about young people's drinking, discover how alcohol affects your body, and revist our debate on parents with alcohol and substance dependencies.

Burberry's taken legal action against a tuk-tuk motorised rickshaw decorated in its distinctive check pattern and titled "The Chavrolet" is the latest step in their battle to protect the Burberry brand's integrity.

BBC Radio 4's Tom Mangold is currently exploring a world Driven By Oil. How far do our lifestyles depend on oil? Can we live without it? And does Adam Hart-Davis and the Science Shack team have a solution to living it up after oil runs out?

Who Do You Think You Are? returns to BBC ONE tonight [Wednesday 6th, 9pm]. If you're serious about tracing your family's past, the OU runs a course in family history, and you can try a sample section online.

Patsy Byrne traced her own family's story for the OU's Personal Passions, and you can share her handy list of genealogy contacts. Historian Nick Barratt has advice on how to start researching your roots. And that's just part of our rich collection of family history resources.

You may have heard Mark Radcliffe discussing Vermeer's use of photography with guests Camera Obscura on his BBC Radio 2 programme on Thursday night [31st August]. Find out more - in particular, why his innovation is the subject of intense artistic debate: Was Vermeer a cheat?

August 2006
As protesters close in on the Drax Power Station, calling for its closure, explore the implications of the alternatives to current power stations and discover the impact of your life on the future of the British coast.

1,927 years ago this Thursday [24th August], Vesuvius erupted, destroying Pompeii and Herculaneum and killing Pliny the Elder. By the 18th century, this murderous reputation had turned the still-active volcano into a tourist attraction. What drew people to the shadow of the Vesuvius?

Saudi Arabia's decision to purchase 72 Eurofighter aircraft is a major coup for the manufacturers of the plane. We followed the Eurofighter as it went into production, exploring how BAe planned to make it pay and hoped to make the plane futureproof.

Mark Steel delivers his lecture on Leonardo this weekend on BBC FOUR [12.45am, Sunday morning 20th]; enjoy our expert view or explore the DaVinci timeline and much more about Leonardo.

Plans to film Monica Ali's debut novel on Brick Lane have been abandoned. Discover some of the background to the book, or join in literary debate with our Book Club.

July 2006
Now that Top of the Pops comes to the end, does the song remain the same? Is music heading for mobile phones?; can music heal conflicts? and just what is music, anyway?

As the nation remembers the suicide bombs of July 7th, 2005, we explore multiculturalism in London inside and out and ask how we should mourn the dead.

The sea walls have been breached at Wallsea Island - beside restoring a new salt wetland environment, the project will help defend parts of the East coast against flooding. Hold back the tide explains this apparent paradox.

June 2006
Open2's World Cup 2006
Ghana's defeat by Brazil saw the last African team leave the World Cup yesterday [27th June], but the possibility of a nation from the continent one day lifting the trophy no longer seems remote. This is partly because of the growing popularity of soccer amongst young people like Shem Kageye.

Open2's World Cup 2006
With England progressing through to the Quarter Finals of the World Cup in Germany, the focus is firmly on the field. Join us for a look into the boardroom, and the business of football.

Open2's World Cup 2006
With news of World Cup sponsor 'police' removing fans' trousers, brands are in the news again. Just what are the value of brands?

Open2's World Cup 2006
The World Cup isn't just a festival of football; it's also an opportunity to sell a lot of replica kit. Discover how the manufacturers try to beat the football shirt scammers.

Open2's World Cup 2006
For some reason, the world appears to have gone football crazy today. After some of the experiences in the recent past, let's hope Sven has brought our investigation into the psychology of taking the perfect penalty to his team's attention.

The manufacturers of Cristal champagne aren't entirely pleased at being the drink of choice for the rap world. It's a problem they share with Burberry - protecting exclusive brand images. But should they embrace the opportunity - can bad boys be good for brands?

May 2006
The formation of a new group to fight for the rights of the over-50s could be timely, as the world ages. But is the world able to cope with demographic shifts - as a people, are we the wrong age?

Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, bosses of Enron, have been found guilty of fraud following a trial by jury. How could they have got away with lying about their profits, and how did their auditors, Arthur Andersen, come to be shredding documents to cover their trail? What causes such deep-rooted failures in corporate ethical behaviour?

The status of migrant labourers has become a key debating point in America in the last few weeks, with legal and illegal immigrants holding a protest "Day without immigrants". But do successful economies need migrant labour?

Never mind the DaVinci Code - why bother with the fiction when the facts are so interesting? Get to know the real Leonardo; explore a Leonardo timeline; or take a different look at the man with Mark Steel's DaVinci.

April 2006
It's Easter weekend - in the past, as a nation we'd have been shuffling down to the DIY supercentre to spend our time plastering, painting and swearing. So why has DIY lost its attraction?

Easter eggs show no dip in popularity. Explore with us and discover egg secrets; if you could really eat as many as Steve McQueen or try some home science with eggs in your kitchen. And if it's chocolate eggs which do it for you, discover what makes for an addictive food.

On this day [12th April] 45 years ago, the Russians won the Space Race. But... did they?

March 2006
The BAFTA award nominations have been announced today, and there's a lot of support for the Bleak House. It shouldn't be too surprising, though: the Dickens adaptation proved popular with our Book Club forum when it was broadcast last Autumn.

The BBC's Orla Guerin reported yesterday [22nd] from Lesotho following a Save The Children report into the millions of children orphaned by the HIV-AIDS crisis. But what is HIV, and why does there seem to be a higher rate of HIV-AIDS in the developing world?

February 2006
As the news comes in that Manchester United have been overtaken at the top of the football revenue league by Real Madrid, PY Gerbeau explains the business behind soccer.

Pride and Prejudice has just been released on DVD. What better time to return to the source and rediscover Jane Austen's novel?

Most companies would be happy with an 82% rise in profits, but analysts and the managers at Google are disappointed with their results. However, the income of "only" £209million in the last quarter - and the anger over some aspects of Google's entry into China - seem unlikely to derail the company's plans for the future. But how did we get here, and what will Google do next? Our Money Programme brief considers the men who searched the world.

January 2006
The Australian Institute of Marine Sciences are installing an alarm system to protect coral reefs - something, of course, which our Rough Science team were challenged to do last year. See how they set about building an alarm - and how Mike Bullivant dealt with the challenge of salty sea water.

Religion is never far from the headlines, and it seems that everyone's got an opinion on the subject. But what about the basics?. What is religion? Can too much religion be bad for you? And how do children develop their sense of spirituality?

2005

December 2005
As part of the Africa Lives season this summer, Open2 met some of the pupils and teachers at a Ugandan School. If you're a teacher and would be interested in linking your pupils up with others in Africa, find out how to twin your school.

Investigations into the explosion at the oil depot are having to wait until the fire is dealt with, but already work will be starting to get to the truth of what happened yesterday morning. Find out how forensic engineering approached the unravelling of a much earlier industrial accident, The Tay Bridge Disaster, and why it's not such a simple task.

If you're waiting for your local shop to get in some more Xbox360s, why not fill in the time discovering why the launch of the new games machine is so crucial for Microsoft.

November 2005
As the Montreal Climate Change Conference gets underway, what might shifts in global climate mean for Britain? Is the coast facing a climate of change?

Sixty years after the start of the Nuremburg Trials, discover how watching those accused of war crimes shaped Hannah Ardent's philosophy on the nature of evil.

Kansas schools are now officially obliged to be sceptical about evolution. What better time to discover the links between turtle urine and the theory of evolution with Mark Steel's guide to Darwin?

October 2005
Mars comes close to Earth this Sunday morning - 43.1 million miles; it won't be this near again for another thirteen years. If you'd like to get a look, sample our hints for starting astronomy. Or, if you'd prefer a lie in, explore Mars through your screen.

Bexhill's glorious De La Warr Pavilion reopens on Saturday, after an £8million renovation. The Pavilion is one of the stars of From Here To Modernity, our survey of early 20th century British architecture. Aptly, you can see the programmes again on BBC TWO from this Saturday morning. [15th October; 4.30am]

With the world watching the spread of avian flu with a nervous eye, how much do you know about viruses in general? Take a moment to discover the science at the heart of our biggest smallest threat.

If you've been enjoying Radio 4's Classic Serial, why not try our introduction to Northanger Abbey? And, as one of our book club choices, you can drop by and add your voice to the debate on the novel at any time. Looking for something else to read? How about a crack at Jane Eyre?

September 2005
Global warming might not be restricted to Earth - NASA thinks it may have found evidence of climate change on Mars. And that's before humans have gone there, which NASA has revealed as a long-term aim.

Discover the secrets of the red planet: explore Mars with us; and find out: are manned missions are worth it?

With schools heading back, and universities gearing up for a new academic year, take a fresh look at learning and education.

Why not discover your own personal learning style; find out how we get to grips with understanding numbers - or discover the differences and similarities between a British School Day and life in an African School.

August 2005
Tonight [30th, 7pm & 3.05am] Jonathan Meades' Abroad Again in Britain on BBC FOUR visits Portsmouth Dockyard; our Portsmouth posctards from the past give an insight into how the port has changed over the years.

And tomorrow [31st, 9pm & 0.10am] Ben Anderson takes one of his Holidays In The Danger Zone on the Amazon - but why is this river so important?

BBC News reports that American scientists think they've found an explanation for the placebo effect. The way patients respond to treatments without any apparent medical value is fascinating, and something our alternative medicine series The Other Medicine explored last year. Anna Ford heard a selection of the latest placebo theories.

As piles of bras and jumpers build up while the EU accuses China of breaking trade quotas, explore how the World Trade Organisation attempts to regulate international deals.

Reports in The Guardian suggest American and Sri Lankan scientists believe the devastation caused by the Boxing Day tsunami was highest where poachers had removed coral; untouched reefs apparently absorbed much of the power of the wave before it hit the shoreline.Find out more about these fascinating living organisms with the Rough Science guide to coral.

Tonight [15th, 9.00pm] on BBC TWO, Ian Hislop goes in search of his military ancestors in Who Do You Think You Are? Find out how you can trace your own family history, what you can discover from family photographs, and how you can add your wartime memories to the People's War project.

With oil prices breaking records, now might be a good time to look at conserving energy: get some tips from our energy house. Should we try and avoid the stuff altogether - but can we live without oil? And if we did decide to change to "cleaner" fuels, would there still be an environmental impact from greener energy?

BBC FOUR celebrates the long-running Sky At Night (48 years and counting) with an evening of space-themed programming this Saturday [6th August]; join in the stargazing with our August sky notes and astronomy forum.

This weekend [6th August], the West Dean Estate in Chichester celebrates the hot stuff with its Chilli Feista. Why not join in with a bowl of our Butter Bean Chilli... or one of our other recipes?

July 2005
BBC ONE is currently inviting you to discover the Secrets Of The Sexes - but what makes 'boys' and 'girls'? Unravel the process of gender development in children.

And as a new season of Proms gets underway, tune in to the links between the coast and classical music.

So, the arguments have been weighed and votes have been counted - Radio 4 listeners have decided that Karl Marx is the greatest philosopher. But who was Karl Marx? Discover Marx's secret life with Mark Steel; retrace the young Marx's Journeys In Thought; find out the essentials of Marxist thinking and what inspired Marxism.

On Sunday [10th], the nation remembered the sacrifices of the Second World War, with a series of events culminating in a million poppies being dropped on the Mall. Acts of Remembrance are crucial to the legacy of any conflict - it's what's at the heart of the People's War project - but, as Michael Portillo discovered for Radio 4's Things We Forgot To Remember, what we don't remeber is just as significant. In particular, he investigated the reasons why the scuttling of the French navy isn't as celebrated as the Battle of Britain.

June 2005
As Scotland prepares to host the G8 summit, delve into International Development with Open2, from the role of agencies in fighting AIDS to the provocative question: should Africa be left alone?

Radio 3 launches a non-stop Beethoven season on Sunday [5th], working through every note he ever put down on paper. If you'd like to bring yourself up to speed on the composer's life and works, Fiona Richards offers an expert's view of Beethoven as part of the Mark Steel Lectures.

May 2005
May 31st is World No Tobacco Day, and by coincidence the Scottish Court of Sessions has rejected a test case against Imperial Tobacco. Amongst the court's reasons for finding the company not responsible for Alfred McTear's death from lung cancer was that when Mr. McTear started smoking, the negative effects of cigarettes were well-known. But how do scientists know about the risks of smoking? And why do people still smoke despite those dangers?

It's the Spring Holiday weekend - the perfect time to take a Walk Through Time; to sample interplanetary travel with a Mission To Brighton; or to explore some of the UK's modernist-era architecture with From Here To Modernity.

As the nation celebrates the 60th anniversary of VE Day, don't miss our perspectives on how the war changed our lives today in the People's War; and choose one of our 100 books from the Reading The War list.

Tonight [4th May, 7.30], BBC TWO's Places That Don't Exist travels to Somaliland. The Biq Question visited the area - midway between a territory and a country - earlier this year to discover how easy it is for refugees returning home.

April 2005
If you missed What The Industrial Revolution Did For Us, there's a chance for digital viewers to see it again on UKTV History this week (from Tuesday 19th at 7.00pm). And explore the impact of the Industrial Revolution on changing landscapes.

This Friday (15th April), Radio 2's 9.15pm reading takes listeners to George Orwell's dystopian future. You can prepare yourself with our introduction to 1984 and discuss the book in the Open2 Book Club.

And as the United Kingdom enters the second week of campaigning in the General Election, what better time to revisit The Big Question: Does democracy work?

It may have finished its run on the BBC World Service, but briefings for all the subjects explored by the Big Question are still available here on Open2.

And with a new series of Reith Lectures starting next week on BBC Radio 4, get to grips with last year's subject, the Climate of Fear?

March 2005
If your mind turns to spiritual matters during Easter Weekend, why not explore the subjects covered by the BBC World Service's Big Question on religion over the last year?

Have you heard about the harlequin ladybirds? There are worries this agressive type of ladybird could overwhelm our native species: it wouldn't be unprecedented. Find out more about invader species in our natural history section.

Good news from the BAFTA Awards - The Mark Steel Lectures has been nominated in the Best Comedy Programme or Series category; the programme has already won the Maeda Prize at the Japan Awards 2004 for the Aristotle episode.

From March 7th, it's China Week across the BBC with special editions and features in programmes from Breakfast to Question Time. The Big Question turns its attention to the nation and asks: Is This China's century?

Red Nose Day this year is on March 11th, and set to be a lot of fun. But Comic Relief helps solve serious problems - and you find out more about some of them in our Development site.

February 2005
What do dads do? How do young children discriminate between the genders? As the children we've tracked since birth reach school age, Child of Our Time returned to explore how they're getting to grips with the world.

January 2005
In January, we got our first glimpse of the surface of Titan: a world of methane rain and minus 268 degree temperatures. Stardate made sense of the returning data.

December 2004

The tsunami on December 26th horrified the world. But how did shifting plates lead to such devastation? Our expert Dave Rothery was on hand to answer your tsunami questions; for more background, read our feature on the Dynamic Earth.

Content last updated: 13/05/2003