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.
501
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
502
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
503
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
504
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
505
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
506
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
507
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
508
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
509
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
510
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
511
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
512
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
513
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
514
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
515
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
516
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
517
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
518
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
519
Are Generation Z our only hope for the future? ...
If you think the future looks bleak, you’re not alone, but the next generation might have just the mentality we need for a rosier outlook on life.
38 min
520
Is an implantable electronic device the future ...
Researchers in Australia have developed an implantable thread – a sutrode – that could cure disease by stimulating nerve fibres.
18 min
521
How accurately can we predict the weather? – An...
We talk about the history of weather forecasts, why we shouldn’t trust the icons on weather apps, and whether we’ll ever have a minute-by-minute forecast.
33 min
522
What happened at Bluedot festival 2019? – Libby...
Now in its fourth year, Bluedot is a staple in our festival calendar. We chat to three speakers about science, their work and the Bluedot experience.
33 min
523
What does a world with an ageing population loo...
We can’t reverse the slow march of time, but as people live longer and the birth rate declines, how can we manage a world with an ageing population?
33 min
524
What does it mean to be a man? – Gary Barker
Male stereotypes are under increasing scrutiny. Psychologist Gary Barker explains why they are harmful, and what a progressive form of masculinity could look like.
38 min
525
Dr Guy Leschziner: What is your brain doing whi...
While your body switches off, your brain kicks in, and the quality of your sleep has a lot to do with what it’s working on.
33 min