BBC World Service - CrowdScience, Can I unlock my car using my head? Homepage Accessibility links * Skip to content * Accessibility Help Close menu BBC World Service CrowdScience * Home * Episodes * Clips * Podcast * Contact CrowdScience * Join us on Facebook Main content Listen now Can I unlock my car using my head? CrowdScience The range of a wireless key can apparently double when held against your head, rather just being held in your hand. Could this really be true, and if so why? Show more CrowdScience listener Doug has been experimenting with holding his wireless garage key to his chin. Why? Because he's testing a strange trick of physics. The range of a key can apparently double when held against your head rather just being held in your hand. Could this really be true, and if so why? Presenter Caroline Steel goes on a wavy journey of self-experimentation with antennas. She follows the story of Doug as he wanders the streets of Calgary in Alberta, Canada testing the key on his head from different distances and even testing it on his dog Maura’s head. To understand the physics behind all this, Caroline meets Dr Lina Mohjazi, Lecturer of Autonomous Systems and Connectivity at the University of Glasgow and Guy Vandenbosch, Professor of Electromagnetic Radiation at KU Leuven University in Leuven, Belgium. Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Tom Bonnett Editor: Ben Motley (Photo: Hand holding a car key remote in front of a red car - stock photo Credit: vadishzainer via Getty Images) Show less Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) Available now 26 minutes Last on Mon 23 Mar 2026 13:32 GMT BBC World Service Australasia, East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa only More episodes Previous Can I really manifest the future? Next Could AI present CrowdScience? See all episodes from CrowdScience Featured * . Broadcasts * Fri 20 Mar 2026 20:32 GMT BBC World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview & Europe and the Middle East only * Fri 20 Mar 2026 21:32 GMT BBC World Service except Online, Americas and the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East & UK DAB/Freeview * Mon 23 Mar 2026 02:32 GMT BBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean * Mon 23 Mar 2026 05:32 GMT BBC World Service Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean, South Asia & East Asia only * Mon 23 Mar 2026 09:32 GMT BBC World Service * Mon 23 Mar 2026 13:32 GMT BBC World Service Australasia, East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa only Show more / Show less Podcast * CrowdScience Answering your questions about life, Earth and the universe Related Content Similar programmes By genre: * Factual > Science & Nature > Science & Technology By format: * Discussion & Talk * Online schedule * Help & FAQs * Contact us * News in more than 40 languages * Terms of Use * About the BBC * Privacy Policy * Privacy Policy * Cookies * Cookies * Accessibility Help * Parental Guidance * Contact the BBC * Make an editorial complaint * Careers * BBC emails for you * Advertise with us Copyright (c) 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.