Crowdscience

What do scientists think is outside our universe? Asks Rebecca Standridge from San Francisco in the US. It’s a question which goes right to the limits of human understanding.We look for the answer using balloons, bubbles and the world’s oldest radio telescope.If you have a question about science that you'd like us to investigate email crowdscience@bbc.co.uk.Photo: Lovell telescope Jodrell Bank

Is it possible to get power from lightning? This was the first CrowdScience question posed by listener John Emochu in Kampala, Uganda.Presenter Marnie Chesterton goes hunting for the answer at a lightning lab in Cardiff, Wales. What is a lightning lab? And how was she able to make a tiny – but very loud – lightning bolt? Marnie also discovers humanity's early history with lightning, how aeroplanes are protected from lightning strikes, and where the greatest number of thunderstorms occur in the world. With contributions from John Emochu, Rhys Phillips, Chris Stone, Rachel Albrecht, Shaaron Jimenez and Manu Haddad.Picture: Photograph of lightning from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Credit: Eric Vance, EPA