About this episode

This episode explores the 2018 Gatwick Airport drone sightings and the science behind the expectation effect with guest David Robson.

In December 2018 Gatwick Airport shut down. 109 eyewitnesses reported sighting 170 drone flights over the airport. All flights were grounded, and the nation braced for a terrorist attack. But what if those sightings weren’t real but instead an imagination caused by expectations? In today’s episode with award-winning science journalist David Robson, we explore the science of the expectation effect. Link to the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/86d3e39845 Become an FSB member: https://get.fsb.org.uk/nudge/ Read the Expectation Effect: https://amzn.to/4dvkb3s David’s website: https://davidrobson.me/ David’s Substack: https://davidarobson.substack.com/ --- Today’s sources: Benedetti, F., Durando, J., & Vighetti, S. (2014). Nocebo and placebo modulation of hypobaric hypoxia headache involves the cyclooxygenase-prostaglandins pathway. Pain, 155(5), 921–928. Job, V., Dweck, C. S., & Walton, G. M. (2010). Ego depletion—Is it all in your head? Implicit theories about willpower affect self-regulation. Psychological Science, 21(11), 1686–1693. Langer, E., Djikic, M., Pirson, M., Madenci, A., & Donohue, R. (2010). Believing is seeing: Using mindlessness (mindfully) to improve visual…

More episodes of Nudge

• Can balsamic vinegar make beer better? · July 20, 2026 · 29 min
• 88 out of 90 people fall for this bias. Do you? · July 13, 2026 · 20 min
• Will the UK’s social media ban backfire? · July 6, 2026 · 27 min
• Katy Milkman: Learn how to change habits in 39 minutes · June 29, 2026 · 39 min
• Do broken windows cause crime? · June 15, 2026 · 24 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Nudge podcast page.