The Digital Human

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Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Aleks Krotoski explores the digital world

BBC Radio 4 LW

The Digital Human: Series 22: Treasure

Treasure

Series 22

BBC Radio 4 - The Digital Human, Series 22, Treasure

Aleks Krotoski hunts for treasure in the digital world.

Searching for treasure, it’s what drives us although we might nor be looking for literal gold. Offline and on what does it look like and how do we find it? And is it ever cursed?

Every time we seek treasure and eventually find, we get a hit of endorphins that tickles the happy parts of our brains.

There are tales of extraordinary discoveries; King Tut’s tomb, The Mona Lisa, Viking gold. Incredible things that took ingenuity and dedication to uncover. Wouldn't it be remarkable to strike it lucky and find real treasure buried for hundreds or even thousands of years?  Every rabbit hole we go down, every mystery we try to solve scratches that itch. It might be offline, or on. What does it look like? How do we find it? And is it wise to do so?

Archaeologist Peter Reavill tells us about the discovery of an astonishing Viking hoard in Herefordshire, but like so many tales of treasure warn, it became a curse to those who found it.  They chose to value secrecy about what they discovered digging up the hoard, higher than its historical value. 

Stefan from Germany is sitting on an unbelievable hoard of digital treasure - $371,000,000  but with only two goes left on his flash drive to guess the password, it became such a curse it drove him to contemplate ending it all.    

And alternate reality game developer Dan Hon introduces us to Perplex City, an online and offline treasure hunt which led Andy Darley to dig up a metal cube claim a£100,000 prize.  Dan draws similarities between alternate reality games and how QAnon works and we hear from Leila who after becoming obsessed with QAnon explains how a search for information, patterns and connections became the digital equivalent of seeking treasure but became so toxic it started affecting her mental health until she managed to pull herself out of it.

Producer Kate Bissell 
Researcher Juliet Conway

The Digital Human: Series 22

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

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The Digital Human

Series 22

Treasure

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