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.
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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
502
Camilla Pang: How can science guide my life?
Bioinformatician Camilla Pang discusses how her neurodiversity has affected the way she works.
36 min
503
Kevin Fong: What happened to Apollo 13?
In this Science Focus Podcast episode, we talk to Kevin Fong about the new series of his award-winning podcast 13 Minutes to the Moon.
34 min
504
Aleks Krotoski: What happens to your data when ...
We ask social psychologist and host of BBC Radio 4's Digital Human Aleks Krotoski about life after death.
41 min
505
Professor Fay Dowker: What is the problem of qu...
Einstein’s general relativity explains gravity, but it contradicts quantum theory – is there a solution to one of modern physics’ greatest problems?
51 min
506
Jim Davies: How do you use your imagination?
What happens in your brain when your imagination runs wild? Cognitive scientist Jim Davies explains the science behind this extraordinary mental power.
36 min
507
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
508
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
509
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
510
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
511
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
512
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
513
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
514
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
515
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
516
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
517
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
518
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
519
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
520
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
521
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
522
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
523
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
524
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
525
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