What in the World

Divine, a short-form video-sharing app, lets users create and share videos which are just six seconds long and repeat on a loop. It’s inspired by Vine, an app founded in 2012 that, at its peak, had more than 200 million monthly active users. It helped launch the careers of some of the internet's biggest stars, including Jake Paul and Lele Pons.
Laura Cress, a BBC tech reporter, explains how the app plans to shake up social media by banning AI and moving away from an algorithm that feeds people videos specific to their taste and browsing habits. Instead it uses an open, decentralized design that encourages people to engage with similar videos as other users.
Plus: Chelsea and Baldeep from the What in the World team re-enact some of the most iconic moments from the Vine era.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Iqra Farooq
Producers: Chelsea Coates and William Lee Adams
Editors: Verity Wilde

Niu Lai, a low-budget Chinese animation film about a cow in a dream sequence, is going viral. Released on August 5, it earned less than $1,500 in its first ten days. But then — following snarky comments, bad reviews and widespread mockery by Gen-Z — the film found a larger audience and has now brought in more than $1.6 million dollars.
We speak with William Lee Adams, a BBC culture reporter, and Mengchen Zhang from the BBC’s Global China Unit. They discuss the film’s plot, its rudimentary animation and how bad publicity has helped it go viral at home and abroad. We also hear about the origins of the film, which was made by a mother and son over the course of five years.
Plus: Chinese content creator Marcelo Wang offers his hot take, and Utah-based content creator Cameron Cowley shares three of his favourite “so bad they’re good” films.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Iqra Farooq
Producers: Benita Barden and William Lee Adams
Editors: Verity Wilde

Do you run without a a shirt on ever? Lots of people have opinions on this topic and in some parts of the world it’s something you’re just not allowed to do.
We hear from runners around the world for their take on the decision to run without a shirt one - for both men and women.
And Yijin Shim from BBC Korean tells us about how in South Korea “no shirtless running” signs have been popping up after more runners have been going shirtless in a heatwave.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler, Chelsea Coates and Adam Chowdhury
Video Producer: Baldeep Chahal
Editors: Verity Wilde

Across social media young women are discussing the "luteal uglies." These are changes in appearance and mood that women experience during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. We hear from women in Vietnam, the Philippines, and the UK about the symptoms they experience, from acne and bloating to fatigue and brain fog.
But what’s behind these changes? Dr Helen O'Neill, an associate professor in reproductive and molecular genetics at University College London, explains how changing hormone levels impact women’s bodies and their brains. She also offers some tips and coping strategies.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: William Lee Adams and Emma-Louise Amanshia
Editors: Verity Wilde

AI isn’t just occasionally going rogue…(Open AI and Meta we’re looking at you) it’s also changing the world of work. Nearly 70% of college students in the US said they thought AI would make it harder to find a job in a recent survey - and 22% said that they’ve changed what they’re deciding to study at university because of this. They’re not the only ones… students all over the world are thinking about how to AI-proof their future careers.
In this episode, we go to the University College London campus to speak to three students: Omer, who’s studying French and German, Zahra, who’s studying entrepreneurship, and Allie, who’s just graduated from Kings College after completing her law studies. They tell us how they think AI could change the course of their careers, how they’re adapting to the new technology, and if their degrees will still be helpful in the face of AI.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: William Lee Adams, Chelsea Coates and Benita Barden
Video Producer: Baldeep Chahal
Editors: Verity Wilde