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.
376
Exploring the deep sea - Everything you ever wa...
Marine biologist Dr Jon Copley tells us about the weird and wonderful life that lives far below the waves, and what it's like to explore in a submarine.
26 min
377
Deep sea habitats - Everything you ever wanted ...
Marine biologist Dr Jon Copley tells us about the weird and wonderful life that lives far below the waves, and what it's like to explore in a submarine.
32 min
378
Deep sea creatures - Everything you ever wanted...
Marine biologist Dr Jon Copley tells us about the weird and wonderful life that lives far below the waves, and what it's like to explore in a submarine.
39 min
379
The Science Focus team: What's inside November'...
The team behind BBC Science Focus magazine discuss food myths, algorithms, hybrid cars and nudibranchs as we dive into the November issue.
43 min
380
Prof Linda Scott: Why is there still economic i...
Economist Prof Linda Scott talks about her work in women's economics and explains her idea for an '80 per cent Christmas' to close the gender pay gap.
40 min
381
Everything you ever wanted to know about… cance...
Dr Kat Arney explains exactly what cancer is, what causes it and the exciting future of treatment.
42 min
382
Hugo Zeberg: How could Neanderthal genes affect...
We talk to assistant professor Hugo Zeberg about his research into whether people with Neanderthal genes are more severely affected by COVID-19.
13 min
383
Matt Parker, Helen Arney and Steve Mould: What ...
We speak to the ‘three spoken nerds’ about science comedy, the incredible facts of ice, and their new Podcast of Unnecessary Detail.
51 min
384
Merlin Sheldrake: How have fungi shaped the world?
Our lives have always been entangled with fungi, says biologist Merlin Sheldrake, and the future of this relationship is full of possibility.
38 min
385
Sue Black: What stories do our skeletons tell?
Professor Sue Black reveals how forensic anthropologists search for the criminal secrets that are etched on the bones of victims.
44 min
386
Professor Trevor Cox: Was Stonehenge an ancient...
Engineers have 3D-printed a scale model of Stone Henge in order to investigate the effect its structure would have had on conversations, rituals, and music.
29 min
387
Dr Julia Shaw: Why do we do bad things?
Criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw says we should ditch the idea of ‘evil’ and instead try to understand people who do bad things.
42 min
388
James Hamblin: Should we all stop showering?
Five years ago, Dr James Hamblin stopped showering. He says most ‘skincare’ might actually be harming us, and wants to challenge what it means to be clean.
36 min
389
Katie Mack: How will the Universe end?
Astrophysicist Dr Katie Mack explains five possible apocalypses, from the Universe gradually fading out to a ‘quantum bubble of death’.
40 min
390
Rana el Kaliouby: What if computers could read ...
Rana el Kaliouby believes that software needs to be able to detect our emotions and cognitive states. She explains how she’s teaching AI to do just that.
34 min
391
Dr Rachel Brown: Why are some COVID-19 patients...
A recent study has found that some COVID-19 patients can suffer from neurological complications, including delirium, brain inflammation, stroke and nerve damage.
24 min
392
The Urban Birder: What wildlife can city-dwelle...
Having always been fascinated by birds, David Lindo, known as the Urban Birder, turned a hobby into a career to encourage everyone to look to the skies.
45 min
393
Dr Michael Mosley: Why is sleep so important?
BBC presenter and Science Focus columnist Dr Michael Mosley talks sleep: what it is, why we need it and how to get more of it.
33 min
394
Ritu Raman: Can you build with biology?
Mechanical engineer Ritu Raman explains how to integrate biology into engineering and what these remarkable devices can do.
28 min
395
Project Discovery: Could computer games help fi...
Find out how players of the online game Eve Online are using their gaming time to help unlock the mysteries of the coronavirus.
43 min
396
Dr Jacob Bleacher: Why do we need to go back t...
NASA's Chief Exploration Scientist for human exploration explains how deep space will affect astronauts and why now is the time to go back to the Moon.
32 min
397
Subhadra Das: What part has science played in r...
Historian and museum curator Subhadra Das explains how science history played a part in fuelling the racism seen in society today.
30 min
398
Brendan Walker: Where is the best place to sit ...
We say our feelings can be like a rollercoaster, but as it turns out, the psychology of our emotions has influenced rollercoaster design from the beginning.
46 min
399
Leonard Mlodinow: How did Stephen Hawking make ...
In this republished episode of the Science Focus Podcast we discuss the life of the great physicist Professor Stephen Hawking with one of his co-authors.
25 min
400
Pragya Agarwal: When does bias become prejudice?
Dr Pragya Agarwal explains where our biases come from and why it’s important to recognise and unlearn them to help make the world a better, fairer place.
40 min