Instant Genius

Whether you’re curious about getting healthy, the Big Bang or the science of cooking, find out everything you need to know with Instant Genius. The team behind BBC Science Focus Magazine talk to world-leading experts to bring you a bite-sized masterclass on a new subject each week.


New episodes are released every Monday and Friday and you can subscribe to Instant Genius on Apple Podcasts to access all new episodes ad-free and all old episodes of Instant Genius Extra.


Watch full episodes of Instant Genius on BBC Science Focus Magazine's YouTube channel.

Science
Technology
301
Seashells with Dr Helen Scales
Marine biologist, broadcaster and author Dr Helen Scales tells us all about seashells, where to find them, and what they can reveal about their inhabitants.
27 min
302
Inside the mind of a bee, with Prof Lars Chittka
<p>How smart can an insect be? Lars Chittka, a professor of sensory and behavioural ecology and Queen Mary, University of London unpacks the incredible depth of intelligence exquisitely packed into the mind of a bee.</p><br><p>Once you’ve mastered the basics with Instant Genius, dive deeper with Instant Genius Extra, where you’ll find longer, richer discussions about the most exciting ideas in the world of science and technology. Only available on Apple Podcasts.</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
37 min
303
Deepfakes, with Sam Gregory
Technologist Sam Gregory explains what deepfakes are and why they have seen a sudden rise.
20 min
304
The evolution of human childhood, with Dr Brenn...
Anthropologist Brenna Hassett, author of Growing Up Human, explains why our super-long childhood is so weird compared to the rest of the animal kingdom.
26 min
305
The science of crabs, with Peter Davie
<p>Marine ecologist Peter Davie, author of Crabs: A Global Natural History, tells us about the biology and behaviour of these crustaceans.</p><br><p>Once you’ve mastered the basics with Instant Genius, dive deeper with Instant Genius Extra, where you’ll find longer, richer discussions about the most exciting ideas in the world of science and technology. Only available on Apple Podcasts.</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
32 min
306
Meteorites, with Dr Tim Gregory
Cosmochemist Dr Tim Gregory tells about the exciting science of space rocks.
26 min
307
Animal senses, with Ed Yong
Science writer Ed Yong tells us about the staggering diversity of animal senses, from dogs’ powerful sense of smell to birds’ incredible colour vision.
25 min
308
Sloths, with Dr Rebecca Cliffe
Dr Rebecca Cliffe, founder and executive director of the Sloth Conservation Foundation, busts the myths around these loveable animals and explains just how bizarre their biology is.
31 min
309
Bitcoin, with Brett Scott
Brett Scott, author of Cloudmoney, explains how cryptocurrencies work, and why he believes Bitcoin will never be a true currency.
21 min
310
COVID numbers, with Professor Sir David Spiegel...
What story do the statistics tell about the pandemic? Sir David Spiegelhalter, the non-executive director the UK Statistics Authority, explores what lessons we’ve learned over the last two years.
24 min
311
The science of dreams, with Sidarta Ribeiro
Neuroscientist Sidarta Ribeiro speaks to us about what is going on in our brains when we dream.
29 min
312
The body clock, with Prof Russell Foster
Neuroscientist Prof Russell Foster explains how our circadian rhythms control functions throughout our entire bodies.
29 min
313
Dog intelligence, with Jules Howard
Zoologist Jules Howard, author of the new book Wonderdog, tells us how smart our pet pooches really are.
33 min
314
The first stars in the Universe, with Dr Emma C...
Physicist Dr Emma Chapman tells us everything we know – and everything we don’t – about the first stars to exist after the Big Bang.
23 min
315
Lichens, with Kerry Knudsen
Lichenologist Kerry Knudsen, from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, tells us all about the biology of lichens.
22 min
316
The origins of religion, with Robin Dunbar
Robin Dunbar, a professor of evolutionary psychology, explains why spirituality and religion took root in early humans
34 min
317
Sound in the animal kingdom, with David George ...
Biologist David George Haskell, author of Sounds Wild and Broken, explains how and why the animal kingdom evolved to communicate by sound.
29 min
318
Corals, with Dr Jamie Craggs
Coral expert Dr Jamie Craggs tells us all about the biology of corals and reveals why they are so important for the planet.
19 min
319
Oral Health, with Dr Kami Hoss
Dentist Dr Kami Hoss explains how to take care of our teeth, debunking myths about plaque, cavities, fluoride and more.
34 min
320
The animal kingdom’s mathematicians, with Brian...
Brian Butterworth, author of Can Fish Count, explains how animals approach counting and mathematics, and how they are more like humans than you might expect.
20 min
321
Blood sugar and your health, with Jessie Inchauspé
Jessie Inchauspé, author of Glucose Revolution, explains how spikes in our blood sugar are affecting how well we function on a day-to-day basis, and even speeding up the ageing process.
20 min
322
The Neuroscience of Grief, with Mary-Frances O’...
Neuroscientist and psychologist Mary-Frances O’Connor explains the latest thinking on what happens to our brains when we experience grief and loss.
26 min
323
Hyenas with Prof Adam Hart
Prof Adam Hart explains why zoologists find Hyenas so fascinating, why they're so unlike other mammals and how having a few hyenas around isn't such a bad thing.
24 min
324
How biology got females wrong, with Lucy Cooke
Zoologist Lucy Cooke explains how biologists often overlook the female animal when it comes understanding the sexes in the natural world. She dispels some of the most stubborn myths that surround the female of the species and reveals what happened when...
28 min
325
Preparing for disaster, with Michał Zalewski
Computer security expert Michał Zalewski explains what disasters we should be preparing for, and what simple, straight-forward things we can do to have the biggest impact.
20 min