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.
451
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
452
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
453
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
454
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
455
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
456
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
457
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
458
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
459
Anthony David: Why is there still such stigma a...
Neuropsychiatrist Professor Anthony David talks about why mental health stigma exists and whether it’s getting any better.
36 min
460
Luck, the paranormal and the Moon landings - Ev...
Richard Wiseman reveals what studying illusions can tell us about the human mind, why magicians make great psychologists and how you can make your own luck.
27 min
461
Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac: Has ...
Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac were major figures in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and say we must meet net-zero carbon emissions targets.
42 min
462
Illusions and Magic - Everything you ever wante...
Richard Wiseman reveals what studying illusions can tell us about the human mind, why magicians make great psychologists and how you can make your own luck.
24 min
463
Elisa Raffaella Ferrè: What happens to the brai...
Psychologist Dr Elisa Raffaella Ferrè explains how a lack of gravity might change the way we think.
31 min
464
Sonia Contera: How will nanotechnology revoluti...
One of the world’s leading nanotech pioneers explains how it could help us target cancer cells, deliver drugs and fight antibiotic resistance.
36 min
465
Neil Shubin: How do big changes in evolution ha...
Evolutionary biologist Neil Shubin explains how life made the jump from land to water and how dinosaurs took to the air.
35 min
466
Your questions – Everything You Wanted To Know ...
Prof Jim Al-Khalili answers listeners’ questions about physics, the Universe and everything else.
32 min
467
Mysteries in physics – Everything You Wanted To...
Prof Jim Al-Khalili reveals some of the biggest unsolved mysteries. We talk about the plausibility of time travel, whether there are multiple universes and what we need to discover a ‘theory of everything’.
29 min
468
Energy – Everything You Wanted To Know About…Ph...
Prof Jim Al-Khalili tackles thermodynamics – the study of energy. Together, we unravel the idea of entropy, talk about the direction of time and muse upon the inevitable heat death of the Universe.
27 min
469
Quantum physics – Everything You Wanted To Know...
Prof Jim Al-Khalili demystifies the strange world of quantum physics. We discuss the key experiments, how quantum effects play out in the real world and, of course, Schrödinger's infamous cat.
30 min
470
Space & Time – Everything You Wanted To Know Ab...
Prof Jim Al-Khalili helps us get to grips with the big concepts in cosmology. We talk space time, relativity and, of course, the end of the Universe.
34 min
471
The Fundamentals – Everything You Wanted to Kno...
Prof Jim Al-Khalili breaks down the building blocks of the Universe and reveals what simplicity, beauty and elegance have to do with physics.
34 min
472
Everything You Wanted To Know About Physics, wi...
Let your curiosity run wild. No question is off-limits in this new podcast series from the team behind BBC Science Focus magazine.
1 min
473
Sandro Galea: What is the difference between he...
Sandro Galea explains the surprising factors that influence public health and which countries are doing it well.
33 min
474
Toby Ord: What are the odds civilisation will s...
Philosopher Toby Ord explains how, as a species, we are at a point in time that we are teetering on the edge of extinction, and what we can do about it.
32 min
475
Anthony Warner: Are we really too fat?
Chef and food writer Anthony Warner explains the science behind why we need fat, why fad diets are destined to fail, and what we can do to stay healthy.
44 min