Instant Genius

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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.

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665 episodes
Updated Sunday

Episodes665

Newest first

Jun 19, 2022 · 34 min
Sloths, with Dr Rebecca Cliffe
Dr Rebecca Cliffe, founder and executive director of the Sloth Conservation Foundation, busts the myths around these loveable animals and explains just how bizarre their biology is.
Jun 12, 2022 · 24 min
Bitcoin, with Brett Scott
Brett Scott, author of Cloudmoney, explains how cryptocurrencies work, and why he believes Bitcoin will never be a true currency.
Jun 5, 2022 · 27 min
COVID numbers, with Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter
What story do the statistics tell about the pandemic? Sir David Spiegelhalter, the non-executive director the UK Statistics Authority, explores what lessons we’ve learned over the last two years.
May 29, 2022 · 31 min
The science of dreams, with Sidarta Ribeiro
Neuroscientist Sidarta Ribeiro speaks to us about what is going on in our brains when we dream.
May 22, 2022 · 32 min
The body clock, with Prof Russell Foster
Neuroscientist Prof Russell Foster explains how our circadian rhythms control functions throughout our entire bodies.
May 15, 2022 · 36 min
Dog intelligence, with Jules Howard
Zoologist Jules Howard, author of the new book Wonderdog, tells us how smart our pet pooches really are.
May 8, 2022 · 26 min
The first stars in the Universe, with Dr Emma Chapman
Physicist Dr Emma Chapman tells us everything we know – and everything we don’t – about the first stars to exist after the Big Bang.
May 1, 2022 · 25 min
Lichens, with Kerry Knudsen
Lichenologist Kerry Knudsen, from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, tells us all about the biology of lichens.
Apr 24, 2022 · 37 min
The origins of religion, with Robin Dunbar
Robin Dunbar, a professor of evolutionary psychology, explains why spirituality and religion took root in early humans
Apr 17, 2022 · 32 min
Sound in the animal kingdom, with David George Haskell
Biologist David George Haskell, author of Sounds Wild and Broken, explains how and why the animal kingdom evolved to communicate by sound.
Apr 10, 2022 · 22 min
Corals, with Dr Jamie Craggs
Coral expert Dr Jamie Craggs tells us all about the biology of corals and reveals why they are so important for the planet.
Apr 3, 2022 · 37 min
Oral Health, with Dr Kami Hoss
Dentist Dr Kami Hoss explains how to take care of our teeth, debunking myths about plaque, cavities, fluoride and more.
Mar 27, 2022 · 23 min
The animal kingdom’s mathematicians, with Brian Butterworth
Brian Butterworth, author of Can Fish Count, explains how animals approach counting and mathematics, and how they are more like humans than you might expect.
Mar 21, 2022 · 22 min
Blood sugar and your health, with Jessie Inchauspé
Jessie Inchauspé, author of Glucose Revolution, explains how spikes in our blood sugar are affecting how well we function on a day-to-day basis, and even speeding up the ageing process.
Mar 14, 2022 · 29 min
The Neuroscience of Grief, with Mary-Frances O’Connor
Neuroscientist and psychologist Mary-Frances O’Connor explains the latest thinking on what happens to our brains when we experience grief and loss.
Mar 7, 2022 · 27 min
Hyenas with Prof Adam Hart
Prof Adam Hart explains why zoologists find Hyenas so fascinating, why they're so unlike other mammals and how having a few hyenas around isn't such a bad thing.
Feb 28, 2022 · 31 min
How biology got females wrong, with Lucy Cooke
Zoologist Lucy Cooke explains how biologists often overlook the female animal when it comes understanding the sexes in the natural world. She dispels some of the most stubborn myths that surround the female of the species and reveals what happened when...
Feb 21, 2022 · 23 min
Preparing for disaster, with Michał Zalewski
Computer security expert Michał Zalewski explains what disasters we should be preparing for, and what simple, straight-forward things we can do to have the biggest impact.
Feb 14, 2022 · 21 min
The metaverse, with Prof David Reid
Virtual reality expert Prof David Reid explains the metaverse – a new form of internet focused on interactivity that we could all be experiencing very soon.
Feb 7, 2022 · 39 min
Mindwandering, with Moshe Bar
Cognitive neuroscientist Moshe Bar explains what the brain does when it goes wandering and how you can use the act of mindwandering – or daydreaming as some might call it – to give your mood and creativity a boost.