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 two bite-sized masterclasses 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.
Follow us on X: @SFIGPod
551
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
552
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
553
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
554
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
555
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
556
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
557
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
558
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
559
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
560
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
561
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
562
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
563
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
564
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
565
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
566
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
567
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
568
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
569
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
570
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
571
What can the father of Gaia theory tell us abou...
On the eve of the visionary scientist's 100th birthday, James Lovelock, creator of Gaia theory, reflects on his life and career.
28 min
572
Could leaving nature to its own devices be the ...
Rewilding Britain is calling for vast swathes of land to be restored to nature, we get the lowdown from environmental researcher Mark Lynas.
18 min
573
Is there really no such thing as a fish? – Andr...
We get meta and do a science podcast about doing science podcasts with two of the stars of the hugely popular, er, podcast, No Such Thing As A Fish.
36 min
574
Is racism creeping into science? – Angela Saini
According to Angela Saini’s new book, Superior, there is an ongoing revival of race science, which is being fuelled by a rise in extremism and right-wing views.
42 min
575
Can we really predict when doomsday will happen...
How long does the human species have left? William Poundstone explains the controversial formula that thinks it might be sooner than you think (or not).
36 min