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Discovery: Why do we faint?

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The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry: Fainting & Counting

12/09/2016 GMT

Why do we faint?

BBC World Service - Discovery, Why do we faint?Search BBC

Why do we faint and what evolutionary purpose does it serve? And, can animals count?

Swooning maidens and clever horses feature in today's Curious Cases, sent in by listeners to curiouscases@bbc.co.uk.

The Squeamish Swoon
Science sleuths Hannah Fry and Adam Rutherford investigate the following question sent in by Philip Le Riche:

'Why do some people faint at the sight of blood, or a hypodermic needle, or even if they bash their funny bone? Does it serve any useful evolutionary purpose, or is just some kind of cerebral error condition?'

Adam is strapped onto a hospital tilt table in an attempt to make him blackout and Hannah receives an aromatic surprise.

Featuring consultant cardiologists Dr Nicholas Gall and Dr Adam Fitzpatrick and cardiac physiologist Shelley Dougherty.

The Counting Horse
Our second case was sent in by retired primary school teacher Lesley Marr, who asks: 

"Can horses count? I think they can. Any ideas about which animals can count and which can't?”

The team considers the case of Clever Hans, and hears from Dr Claudia Uller who has been conducting modern studies on equine counting.

Mathematician Prof Marcus Du Sautoy explains the basic concept of counting to Adam, and Hannah looks across the animal kingdom to find the cleverest mathematical creature.

If you have any questions you'd like the duo to investigate, please email curiouscases@bbc.co.uk

Producer: Michelle Martin

Image: A Canadian guard faints, Credit: Carolo Allegri/AFP/Getty Images

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