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Why do we get bored?

CrowdScience reveals why boredom is anything but boring.

鈥淚鈥檓 bored!鈥 We can all relate to the uncomfortable - and at times unbearable - feeling of boredom. But what is it? Why does it happen? And could this frustrating, thumb-twiddling experience actually serve some evolutionary purpose? CrowdScience listener Brian started wondering this over a particularly uninspiring bowl of washing up, and it鈥檚 ended with Marnie Chesterton going on a blessedly un-boring tour through the science and psychology of tedium. She finds out why some people are more affected than others, why boredom is the key to discovery and innovation, and how we can all start improving our lives by embracing those mind-numbing moments.

Featuring: Prof James Danckert (University of Waterloo, Canada), Dr Elizabeth Weybright (Washington State University), Dr Christian Chan (Hong Kong University) and Annie Runkel (University of Dundee).

Presented by Marnie Chesterton
Produced by Samara Linton

Image: Young Asian girl feeling lonely and bored at home. Screen addiction withdrawal symptoms (Credit: Oscar Wong, Getty Images)

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Mon 10 Jan 2022 18:32GMT

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  • Fri 7 Jan 2022 20:32GMT
  • Fri 7 Jan 2022 21:32GMT
  • Mon 10 Jan 2022 02:32GMT
  • Mon 10 Jan 2022 09:32GMT
  • Mon 10 Jan 2022 13:32GMT
  • Mon 10 Jan 2022 18:32GMT

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