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The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry

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Factual: Science & Nature

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Science sleuths Dr Adam Rutherford and Dr Hannah Fry investigate everyday mysteries.

Science sleuths Dr Adam Rutherford and Dr Hannah Fry investigate everyday mysteries sent by listeners.

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The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry: Series 5

The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry: Series 5: The Astronomical Balloon

16/03/2017

The Astronomical Balloon

Series 5

BBC Radio 4 - The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry, Series 5, The Astronomical Balloon

'How far up can a helium balloon go? Could it go out to space?' asks Juliet Gok, aged 9.

'How far up can a helium balloon go? Could it go out to space?' asks Juliet Gok, aged nine. Hannah Fry and Adam Rutherford investigate.

"How far up can a helium balloon go? Could it go out to space?" asks Juliet Gok, aged 9.

This calls for some fieldwork! Adam travels to the Meteorology Department at the University of Reading where Dr Keri Nicholl helps him launch a party balloon and track its ascent. But this experiment doesn't quite go to plan.

Meanwhile, Hannah consults Public Astronomer Dr Marek Kukula, from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, to discover where space begins. 

And she decides to take matters into her own hands, with the help of a helium canister and some trusty equations, to help answer Juliet's question.

Send your Curious Cases for consideration to: curiouscases@bbc.co.uk

Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford
Producer: Michelle Martin.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Dr Adam Rutherford and Dr Hannah Fry investigate science mysteries sent by listeners.

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The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry

Series 5

The Astronomical Balloon

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