Instant Genius
Whether you’re curious about getting healthy, the Big Bang or the science of cooking, find out everything you need to know in under 30 minutes 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.
326
Mark Miodownik: Are biodegradable plastics real...
Materials scientist Mark Miodownik explains why a knee-jerk switch from single-use plastic to biodegradable alternatives could actually make things worse.
31 min
327
Dr Erin Macdonald: Is there any science in Star...
Star Trek’s science consultant Dr Erin Macdonald talks about supernovae, what a science consultant really does, and whether warp drive is possible.
26 min
328
Adam Rutherford: Can science ever be rid of rac...
Geneticist Adam Rutherford refutes ‘scientific’ claims made to affirm racist beliefs, and tells us why science needs to stand up to racism.
36 min
329
Ross Barnett: Why should we be interested in pr...
Dinosaurs get plenty enough coverage. Instead, we take a look at creatures that lived in the Pleistocene era with palaeontologist Ross Barnett.
39 min
330
Samantha Alger: What can we do to save the bees?
Pollinator specialist from the University of Vermont Samantha Alger explains the threats facing our bees, and why that’s a problem for us.
41 min
331
Marcel Danesi: Why do we want to believe lies?
Linguist Marcel Danesi reveals the shocking truth about liars, why we lie and what we can do to protect ourselves from them.
23 min
332
Dr Becky Smethurst: How do you actually find a ...
Astrophysicist and Youtuber Dr Becky discusses black holes, reveals what astronomers do all day, and explains why we need to flood Youtube with scientists.
46 min
333
Hannah Fry: How much of our lives is secretly u...
Mathematician, BBC presenter and host of this year’s Royal Society Christmas Lectures explains how mathematics props up everything that we do.
25 min
334
Adam Kay: Is Christmas really the most wonderfu...
Doctor turned comedian Adam Kay gives us a warts-and-all account of what it’s like to work on the frontline of the NHS on Christmas Day.
24 min
335
Kathryn D Sullivan: What is it really like to w...
On 11 October 1984, astronaut Kathy Sullivan made history by becoming the first American woman to walk in space. We find out what it was like.
30 min
336
Brian Switek: How did bones evolve?
Fossil fanatic Brian Switek explains what a bone actually is, and why they are so important in human history.
40 min
337
Chris Lintott: Can members of the public do rea...
BBC Sky at Night presenter and astrophysicist Chris Lintott explains how, in just a few minutes in your lunch break, you can contribute to fields from astronomy to zoology.
35 min
338
Dean Burnett: What’s going on in the teenage br...
Neuroscientist, comedian and science writer Dean Burnett explains what’s really going on in our brains when parents and teens clash.
44 min
339
Randall Munroe: How do you find the worst solut...
The creator of the webcomic xkcd, talks about why the worst solution to a problem can be the most interesting.
34 min
340
Gaia Vince: What part does culture play in our ...
Journalist and broadcaster Gaia Vince tells us how culture evolution played a big part in Homo sapiens dominance over the other hominins.
41 min
341
Jim Al-Khalili: Why should we care about scienc...
To mark the 200th episode of BBC Radio 4’s The Life Scientific, we chat to host Jim Al-Khalili about the programme and his life in science.
28 min
342
Bill Bryson: What should we know about how our ...
We speak to Bill Bryson, OBE, about his latest book uncovering the biological mechanisms hidden underneath our skin.
42 min
343
Gretchen McCulloch: How has the internet affect...
We talk to an internet linguist about how sarcasm and humour drive our use of language, the value of emoji, and the history of lol.
27 min
344
Robert Elliott Smith: Are algorithms inherently...
Algorithms are everywhere, but are they coded in such a way that makes them racist bigots that are easily manipulated, without us even knowing?
36 min
345
Monica Grady: What is the future of space science?
For World Space Week, 4–10 October, Professor Monica Grady celebrates the innovations that have come from advances in space science and technology.
35 min
346
Dr Tilly Blyth: How has art influenced science?
Dr Tilly Blyth, Head of Collections & Principal Curator at the Science Museum, discusses art’s relationship with science: as an observer, friend and critic.
38 min
347
Richard Dawkins: Can we live in a world without...
We speak to Richard Dawkins, the leading voice on evolution and atheism, about how he lost his faith and found a new community with science.
40 min
348
Does data discriminate against women? – Carolin...
We talk to Caroline Criado Perez about the gender data gap and how it causes everything from mild inconvenience to potential fatality.
39 min
349
How do you launch a successful space mission? –...
When the European Space Agency launches a mission into space, Mark McCaughrean explains the hurdles they have to leap to finally get it off the ground.
50 min
350
What does our skin tell us about ourselves? – D...
We talk to Dr Monty Lyman about what the skin is for, why vanity is good for you, and what kind of creatures inhabit our skin.
41 min