How many seasons does Bang Goes the Theory have?

Bang Goes the Theory has 8 seasons with 64 episodes.

What network is Bang Goes the Theory on?

Bang Goes the Theory airs on BBC One.

When did Bang Goes the Theory premiere?

Bang Goes the Theory premiered on July 27, 2009.

Bang Goes the Theory

Name: Bang Goes the Theory
Cast: Liz Bonnin, Yan Wong, Jem Stansfield, Dallas Campbell

BBC One Ended

8 Seasons · 64 Episodes · Premiered July 27, 2009 · Ended May 5, 2014

Investigating the science behind the headlines and making sense of the issues that matter.

Where to Watch: BBC One

Official Site

Next Air Time: No upcoming air date

Seasons & Episodes

Season 1

10 episodes

E01

Vortex Cannon

Mon, Jul 27 2009 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem Stansfield builds a vortex cannon, and Dallas Campbell takes on the technology that will track every one of us simply by the way we walk.

E02

Jet Pack

Mon, Aug 3 2009 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem Stansfield puts his life in his hands by tying himself to a water jet pack, while Liz Bonnin finds out if insects are the future of food.

E03

Vacuum Climber

Mon, Aug 10 2009 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Dallas Campbell traces the journey of 30,000 plastic ducks, while Liz Bonnin goes on manoeuvres in the Royal Navy's new search and rescue sub.

E04

Rockets & Space

Mon, Aug 17 2009 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Liz Bonnin investigates recent research into the magnetic qualities of cows, while Dallas Campbell puts psychological priming to the test.

E05

Adrenaline Junkie

Mon, Aug 24 2009 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem Stansfield attempts to defeat the US Navy's latest weapon with no more than some foam and a crash helmet, while zoologist Liz Bonnin gets in contact with her frog brain.

E06

Helicopters

Mon, Sep 7 2009 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem Stansfield takes to the air with the Royal Navy to explain how helicopters work, while Liz Bonnin tests brain-training devices.

E07

Braking Systems & Origins of Speech

Mon, Sep 14 2009 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem Stansfield tests new braking systems, Liz Bonnin looks into the origins of speech and Dallas takes part in a sea race with Dame Ellen MacArthur.

E08

Microwave Death Ray & Gyroscopes

Mon, Sep 21 2009 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem Stansfield builds a microwave death ray, Liz Bonnin takes on the nature versus nurture debate with monkeys, and Dr Yan Wong uses office chairs to explain how gyroscopes work.

E09

Spider Silk & Flight School

Mon, Sep 28 2009 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem Stansfield puts spider silk to the test, Liz Bonnin joins the RAF's flight school, Dr Yan Wong experiments with sodium acetate and Dallas Campbell reveals the science of magic.

E10

Toffee Powered Rocket & Sense of Smell

Mon, Oct 5 2009 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem Stansfield decides to build a rocket powered by toffee and then thinks it would be a good idea to ride it.

Season 2

8 episodes

E01

Land Speed, Oil and CSI

Mon, Mar 15 2010 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem tries to smash a land speed record with a fire extinguisher, a go kart and a well-oiled spanner.

E02

G-Force, Sport Relief and Atoms

Mon, Mar 22 2010 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Engineer Jem becomes a crash test dummy to discover how much g-force his body can take.

E03

Charles Darwin, Hydrofoil and 3D

Mon, Mar 29 2010 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Dallas takes on lie detection technology and Liz looks at the dilemma that threatened to undermine Darwin.

E04

Steel, Immortality, Dolphins

Mon, Apr 12 2010 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem hits the furnace to make steel, while Liz investigates whether science can help humans live forever.

E05

Ash, Ice and Carbon

Mon, Apr 19 2010 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team look at the science behind the volcanic ash crisis that has grounded Europe's planes, and Jem Stansfield finds out why steam is still powering the country.

E06

Happiness, Climate Change and Avalanches

Mon, Apr 26 2010 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Dallas hits the streets to find what makes people happy, and Liz travels to Norway to investigate the latest technology combatting climate change.

E07

Free Diving, Horsepower and Antimatter

Mon, May 3 2010 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem straps a race horse to his car to explain what horsepower is, while Liz sets Dallas a free diving challenge that leaves him gasping for air.

E08

Smell, Life and Junk Fuel

Mon, May 10 2010 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Liz launches a huge experiment into the nation's sense of smell, and Dallas investigates evidence that the origins of life on earth might have begun in space.

Season 3

6 episodes

E01

Oil Spill Disaster

Wed, Sep 8 2010 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Bang Goes the Theory returns to put more science to the test. In this episode, the team investigate the recent Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, and Liz Bonnin travels to Louisiana.

E02

Sunburn, Smarter, Square Wheels

Wed, Sep 15 2010 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Liz Bonnin looks at the science behind sunburn, while Dallas Campbell tries to make museum visitors younger and smarter.

E03

Jetlag, Solar System, Square Wheeled Motorbike

Wed, Sep 22 2010 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Liz conducts an experiment into jetlag, while Dallas demonstrates the size of the solar system using a bicycle and a fruit bowl.

E04

Weather, Wave Power and Evolution

Wed, Sep 29 2010 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Dallas looks at the origins of weather and explains how the emergence of seasons allowed life to form, with the help of a grenade launcher.

E05

Icelandic Volcano Eruption, Gambling in Vegas, Solar Furnaces

Wed, Oct 6 2010 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Liz visits the volcano that brought Britain to a standstill, while Dallas visits Vegas to explain why people are bad at predicting probabilities.

E06

Ice Boat, Comets, Hypothermia

Wed, Oct 13 2010 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem is challenged to build a boat made out of ice, and take it and the rest of the team for a spin in one of the UK's busiest stretches of water.

Season 4

8 episodes

E01

Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami

Mon, Mar 14 2011 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team looks at the science behind the recent Japanese earthquake and the tsunami it triggered. Plus the technology that attempts to protect us from the power of our planet.

E02

IVF, Playground Swing and a Special Mirror

Mon, Mar 21 2011 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team take on more scientific challenges. Liz looks at the new IVF research that may increase success rates, and Jem tries to go 360 degrees on a playground swing.

E03

Supersonic, Sticky Stuff and an Optical Illusion

Mon, Mar 28 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team take on more scientific challenges. Dallas goes supersonic and meets the team behind a 1000mph car, Jem tests some homemade glues and Dr Yan puzzles commuters.

E04

Calories, Risk and Antibiotics

Mon, Apr 4 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem demonstrates what a calorie is, Dr Yan tests the ability of MPs to calculate risk, and Liz investigates whether we are running out of antibiotics and what will happen if we do.

E05

Light, Lasers and Citizen Science

Mon, Apr 11 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

On the 50th anniversary of the invention of the laser, Jem Stansfield explains how they work and builds himself one. Dallas Campbell looks at the rise of Citizen Science.

E06

GM Crops, Dust Allergy and Shattering Glass

Mon, Apr 18 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Liz looks at the controversial science of genetically modified crops in Hawaii, while Dallas tries to remedy Jem's dust allergy by making him eat worms.

E07

Singing Road, Dad Dancing, DNA Family Tree

Mon, Apr 25 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The science series takes on a royal wedding theme. Jem builds a singing road as a present for the royal couple, while Dr Yan explains the science of dad dancing.

E08

Recycling, GPS and Magic Tricks

Mon, May 2 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team put science to the test. Jem visits a mega-plant in Sussex to investigate the future of recycling, while Dallas explains how GPS works and how it is changing our world.

Season 5

8 episodes

E01

Diamonds, Popcorn and Cancer

Mon, Aug 15 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem makes his own diamond and then proves they aren't forever. Dr Yan explains the science of popcorn, and Dallas investigates why we haven't cured cancer yet, meeting the team that hope to change that.

E02

Rip Currents, Evolution and Making Gold

Mon, Aug 22 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

In the second episode of the science series, Liz hits the beach with the RNLI to experience the power of rip currents; Dr Yan attempts to demonstrate evolution by drawing a couple of lines; and Jem is back in the workshop, turning everyday scrap into gold.

E03

Rockets, Robots

Mon, Aug 29 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem witnesses the awesome power of rockets with the Bloodhound land speed record project, Yan re-enacts an Ancient Greek experiment to measure the earth's circumference with a couple of sticks, and Dallas goes in search of a robot to call his own.

E04

Stem Cell Research, Memory

Mon, Sep 5 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team puts more science to the test, including new stem-cell research and the Nocebo effect (placebo's evil twin). And Dallas Campbell goes to a memory boot camp.

E05

Bedbugs, Gravitational Lensing and Statistics

Mon, Sep 12 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Liz investigates an increasingly common and unwelcome guest - the bedbug. Meanwhile, Yan explains why statistics are not to be trusted, and Dallas goes stargazing in California.

E06

Tooth Decay and Refreezing Food

Mon, Sep 19 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Dallas downs his toothbrush to discover what causes tooth decay and gum disease, Yan explains why refreezing food is not a great idea, and Jem investigates new research that electric lights can play havoc with the way we sleep.

E07

Helium Shortage, Radiation and Airport Security

Mon, Sep 26 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Dallas investigates a potential global helium shortage, Dr Yan tests shoppers on how much they know about radiation, and Liz tries out the new airport security technology that can see beneath your clothes.

E08

Nuclear Power

Mon, Oct 3 2011 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team examines nuclear power. Jem Stansfield climbs into a reaction chamber to show how a nuclear power station works and looks at the Fukushima radiation scare.

Season 6

8 episodes

E01

Fuel for Free

Mon, Mar 12 2012 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team investigates why petrol costs so much, and whether we can use science to make fuel for free. Plus, Liz experiences life on an oil rig.

E02

Is Life Too Loud

Mon, Mar 19 2012 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team asks whether modern life is damaging our ears. Dallas explores how safety-conscious scientists are putting the noise back into driving.

E03

Cyber Security

Mon, Mar 26 2012 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Liz asks how safe digital storage formats such as DVDs are, and looks at the Cloud. Maggie Philbin revisits phone security.

E04

Crowds

Mon, Apr 2 2012 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team looks at the science of crowds, discovering how architects control the flow of crowds and how people in them can co-operate subconsciously.

E05

Wireless Signals

Mon, Apr 16 2012 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team reveals how life surrounded by wireless signals affects us. Howard Stableford looks at the health risks, and Jem explores electricity without wires.

E06

Energy

Mon, Apr 23 2012 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem dreams of flying under his own power by pedalling a homemade plane into the air. He explores why muscles get tired, and if he can boost his with beetroot.

E07

Traffic

Mon, Apr 30 2012 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team looks at some of the biggest travel nightmares. Liz investigates what causes traffic jams, whether lane switching works, and how to beat travel sickness. Meanwhile Jem heads for his workshop to build his own solution to traffic jams: a home-made, man-powered aeroplane.

E08

Humans and Dogs

Mon, May 14 2012 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team sets out to discover what is behind our special bond with dogs. Liz visits researchers comparing dogs to wolves to see how domestication has shaped them.

Season 7

8 episodes

E01

Plastic

Mon, Mar 4 2013 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Bang Goes the Theory is back, with the first of eight episodes bringing you the science behind the headlines, and looking at the issues that have a real impact on all our lives.

E02

Antibiotics

Mon, Mar 11 2013 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

In response to recent fears about the future of antibiotics, the team investigates germs and infection.

E03

Sugar

Mon, Mar 18 2013 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team put sugar on trial, investigating whether it deserves its bad reputation. Plus Jem sets out to make some pure, white, granulated sugar of his own.

E04

Safety

Mon, Mar 25 2013 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team look at things that may threaten the safety of your family on a daily basis and Liz finds out why old and young pedestrians may never be safe.

E05

Food Technology

Mon, Apr 8 2013 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Following the horsemeat scandal, the team ask how much we really know about what's on our dinner plate, and investigate the world of food technology.

E06

Under Pressure

Mon, Apr 15 2013 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

With the population of the UK topping 63 million, what are scientists and engineers doing to reduce the strain on our ageing infrastructure? The team investigate.

E07

Personal Medicine

Mon, Apr 22 2013 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team explore the new era of personal medicine, as Maggie Philbin looks at the rise of online diagnosis tools and puts them to the test against a real doctor.

E08

Air Pollution

Mon, Apr 29 2013 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team investigate what air pollution is, where it comes from, and what it is doing to us. Jem Stansfield reveals that cleaner-looking air does not mean healthier air.

Season 8

8 episodes

E01

Energy

Mon, Mar 10 2014 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Jem Stansfield, Liz Bonnin and Maggie Philbin investigate how close Britain might get to running out of electricity.

E02

Cancer

Mon, Mar 17 2014 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Liz Bonnin explains how cells turn cancerous by blowing high-tech bubbles, and Jem Stansfield builds a radiotherapy gun.

E03

Big Data

Mon, Mar 24 2014 7:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Liz Bonnin sees how big data monitors Rolls Royce jet engines, and Jem Stansfield creates a low-tech computer system.

E04

Aging

Mon, Mar 31 2014 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team investigate the ill effects of old age. Maggie Philbin looks at how our muscles change as we get older, and Liz Bonnin explains how bones are made.

E05

Flu

Mon, Apr 7 2014 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team look at flu and its different strains. Jem Stansfield explains the disease on a cellular level, while Liz Bonnin witnesses the manufacture of vaccines.

E06

Flooding

Mon, Apr 14 2014 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Did global warming play a part in the recent floods, or is it the extreme end of the natural cycle? Maggie Philbin investigates the threat of storm surge.

E07

Trains

Mon, Apr 28 2014 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

The team look at the many measures engineers are taking to ensure Britain's ageing rail system stays on track.

E08

Disaster Relief

Mon, May 5 2014 6:30 PM GMT+0000 30 min

Maggie Philbin looks at the problems the humanitarian community faces when tackling a disaster.

Cast

View all 4 cast members →

Liz Bonnin as Presenter

Yan Wong as Presenter

Jem Stansfield as Presenter

Dallas Campbell as Presenter

Bang Goes the Theory

Seasons & Episodes

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

Season 7

Season 8

Cast

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