Although the world might not feel like a very kind place at the moment, this might be just the time when acts of kindness matter the most.

This week, Claudia Hammond reveals the results of the world's largest public science project on kindness. With over 60,000 participants from 144 countries, this unique study helps to fill some of the research gaps and learn more about how kindness is viewed within society at large. What is kindness? Are we more or less kind than before? Where do acts of kindness take place? Are certain types of people kinder than others? Is kindness good for us?

Professor Robin Bannerjee, University of Sussex, led the study and joins Claudia in the studio to unpick the results.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond