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.
351
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
352
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
353
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
354
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
355
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
356
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
357
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
358
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
359
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
360
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
361
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
362
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
363
The metaverse, with Prof David Reid
Virtual reality expert Prof David Reid explains the metaverse – a new form of internet focused on interactivity that we could all be experiencing very soon.
18 min
364
Mindwandering, with Moshe Bar
Cognitive neuroscientist Moshe Bar explains what the brain does when it goes wandering and how you can use the act of mindwandering – or daydreaming as some might call it – to give your mood and creativity a boost.
37 min
365
Crows, rooks and ravens, with Dr Kaeli Swift
Ornithologist Dr Kaeli Swift tells us all about corvids, from their lifestyle and intelligence to how you can befriend a crow.
25 min
366
The science of Intimacy, with Dr Michelle Drouin
Psychologist Dr Michelle Drouin, author of Out of Touch: How to Survive an Intimacy Famine, explains why intimacy, both physical and emotional, is essential for our mental health.
35 min
367
Breathing, your hidden superpower, with James N...
Science journalist James Nestor explains why so many of us are breathing wrong, and why it matters.
29 min
368
The origin and evolution of mammals, with Dr El...
Palaeontologist Dr Elsa Panciroli takes us 300 million years back in time to an age long before the rise of the dinosaurs to chart the evolution of some of our most ancient ancestors.Once you’ve mastered the basics with Instant Genius, dive deeper w...
28 min
369
Gut health, with Dr Megan Rossi
Dietician and nutritionist Dr Megan Rossi explains why your gut health is important, and how you can improve it without cutting out your favourite foods.
23 min
370
The science of ageing, with Dr Andrew Steele
Dr Andrew Steele, computational biologist and author of Ageless, explains what happens in our bodies as we get older, and why some species don’t seem to age at all.
24 min
371
The James Webb Space Telescope, with Stuart Clark
Astronomer and science journalist Stuart Clark tells us everything we need to know about the most important, high-risk space mission of the decade.
27 min
372
Algae, with Ruth Kassinger
Science writer Ruth Kassinger, author of Bloom: From Food to Fuel, The Epic Story of How Algae Can Save Our World, tells us everything we need to know about this bizarre organism, from the animal that grows algae in its fur to why we should be inc...
24 min
373
Consciousness and comas, with Dr Adrian Owen
Cognitive neuroscientist Dr Adrian Owen explains how he’s been able to communicate with patients in vegetative states and comas, and what consciousness is like for a patient in this condition.
31 min
374
Eating for your brain, with Kimberley Wilson
Kimberley Wilson, a psychologist, nutrition expert and Great British Bake Off finalist, explains what we should eat to keep our brains healthy.
32 min
375
Gravity, with Marcus Chown
Science writer Marcus Chown tells us everything we need to know about gravity, from Isaac Newton’s apple falling from a tree to Einstein’s general relativity.
28 min