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

Jan 31, 2022 · 28 min
Crows, rooks and ravens, with Dr Kaeli Swift
Ornithologist Dr Kaeli Swift tells us all about corvids, from their lifestyle and intelligence to how you can befriend a crow.
Jan 24, 2022 · 38 min
The science of Intimacy, with Dr Michelle Drouin
Psychologist Dr Michelle Drouin, author of Out of Touch: How to Survive an Intimacy Famine, explains why intimacy, both physical and emotional, is essential for our mental health.
Jan 17, 2022 · 32 min
Breathing, your hidden superpower, with James Nestor
Science journalist James Nestor explains why so many of us are breathing wrong, and why it matters.
Jan 10, 2022 · 31 min
The origin and evolution of mammals, with Dr Elsa Panciroli
Palaeontologist Dr Elsa Panciroli takes us 300 million years back in time to an age long before the rise of the dinosaurs to chart the evolution of some of our most ancient ancestors.Once you’ve mastered the basics with Instant Genius, dive deeper w...
Jan 3, 2022 · 25 min
Gut health, with Dr Megan Rossi
Dietician and nutritionist Dr Megan Rossi explains why your gut health is important, and how you can improve it without cutting out your favourite foods.
Dec 27, 2021 · 27 min
The science of ageing, with Dr Andrew Steele
Dr Andrew Steele, computational biologist and author of Ageless, explains what happens in our bodies as we get older, and why some species don’t seem to age at all.
Dec 20, 2021 · 29 min
The James Webb Space Telescope, with Stuart Clark
Astronomer and science journalist Stuart Clark tells us everything we need to know about the most important, high-risk space mission of the decade.
Dec 13, 2021 · 27 min
Algae, with Ruth Kassinger
Science writer Ruth Kassinger, author of Bloom: From Food to Fuel, The Epic Story of How Algae Can Save Our World, tells us everything we need to know about this bizarre organism, from the animal that grows algae in its fur to why we should be inc...
Dec 6, 2021 · 34 min
Consciousness and comas, with Dr Adrian Owen
Cognitive neuroscientist Dr Adrian Owen explains how he’s been able to communicate with patients in vegetative states and comas, and what consciousness is like for a patient in this condition.
Nov 29, 2021 · 34 min
Eating for your brain, with Kimberley Wilson
Kimberley Wilson, a psychologist, nutrition expert and Great British Bake Off finalist, explains what we should eat to keep our brains healthy.
Nov 22, 2021 · 31 min
Gravity, with Marcus Chown
Science writer Marcus Chown tells us everything we need to know about gravity, from Isaac Newton’s apple falling from a tree to Einstein’s general relativity.
Nov 15, 2021 · 30 min
Brain myths with Dr Lisa Feldman-Barrett
Lisa debunks some common misconceptions about the brain and explains how our grey matter really works.
Nov 8, 2021 · 34 min
Dog behaviour, with Mat Ward
Mat Ward, author of What Dogs Want, debunks the myths of dog behaviour, and explains how to get your pup ready for your return to the office.
Nov 1, 2021 · 33 min
Health hacks, with Dr Michael Mosley
Dr Michael Mosley, host of the podcast Just One Thing, explains the simple lifestyle changes we can all make to improve our health and wellbeing.
Oct 24, 2021 · 34 min
UK wildlife, with Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin
The presenters of Autumnwatch and Chris and Meg's Wild Summer tell us about all the different types of wildlife you can see right here in the UK.
Oct 17, 2021 · 37 min
Psychology of evil, with Dr Julia Shaw
Criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw tells us how false memories can sway a trial and whether evil truly exists.Once you’ve mastered the basics with Instant Genius, dive deeper with Instant Genius Extra, where you’ll find longer, richer discussions a...
Oct 10, 2021 · 36 min
Mental Shortcuts, with Prof Marcus du Sautoy
Professor of mathematics Marcus du Sautoy reveals how thinking like a mathematician can help you make better decisions in all aspects of life.
Oct 3, 2021 · 31 min
Endangered foods, with Dan Saladino
Food journalist Dan Saladino tells us all about endangered foods, and what we could stand to lose if these foods disappear.
Sep 26, 2021 · 32 min
Poisons, with Dr Raychelle Burks
Chemist Dr Raychelle Burks tells us all about poisons, from how to tell what substance was used, to whether there are any poisons that are undetectable.
Sep 19, 2021 · 30 min
The nature of time, with Colin Stuart
Astronomy author and speaker Colin Stuart explains why time has an arrow, its intimate relationship with space, and why it's impossible to go back in time and kill Hitler.