Instant Genius

Our Media

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

Dec 28, 2020 · 49 min
Marcus Chown: Does the Big Bang really explain our Universe?
Science writer Marcus Chown tells us about the Big Bang, dark matter, inflation, and what we still don't know about the formation of our Universe.
Dec 24, 2020 · 44 min
End of year roundup: The non-COVID science that brought us joy in 2020
The team discusses the bright spots in 2020, including our favourite scientific developments and the books and documentaries we've enjoyed.
Dec 21, 2020 · 28 min
Prof John Drury: The psychology of lockdowns
Behavioural psychologist Prof John Drury tells us about why people respond to the restrictions differently and what the long-term effects lockdowns will be.
Dec 14, 2020 · 43 min
Dr Pete Etchells: Do video games encourage gambling behaviour?
We talk to psychology professor Pete Etchells about whether certain game mechanics might be encouraging gambling behaviour away from the TV.
Dec 7, 2020 · 36 min
Christmas Lectures 2020: How can we look after our planet?
We talk to Chris Jackson, Helen Czerski and Tara Shine about the fossil record, oceans and carbon emissions.
Nov 30, 2020 · 34 min
Inside the December issue with the BBC Science Focus team
The team behind BBC Science Focus Magazine discuss aliens, parasite-inspired medicine and an exciting new competition.
Nov 25, 2020 · 23 min
Genes and heredity - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the biology of life with Sir Paul Nurse
For part two of our biology podcast series, Sir Paul Nurse talks genes, heredity, evolution and Erasmus Darwin.
Nov 23, 2020 · 24 min
Cells - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the biology of life with Sir Paul Nurse
Geneticist Sir Paul Nurse explains why cells are the building blocks of life on Earth in part one of our biology podcast series.
Nov 16, 2020 · 30 min
Dr Douglas Vakoch: Should we try to contact aliens?
Dr Douglas Vakoch, President of Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence, talks about how and why we should signal our existence to alien civilisations.
Nov 13, 2020 · 29 min
Exploring the deep sea - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the deep sea with Dr Jon Copley
Marine biologist Dr Jon Copley tells us about the weird and wonderful life that lives far below the waves, and what it's like to explore in a submarine.
Nov 11, 2020 · 35 min
Deep sea habitats - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the deep sea with Dr Jon Copley
Marine biologist Dr Jon Copley tells us about the weird and wonderful life that lives far below the waves, and what it's like to explore in a submarine.
Nov 9, 2020 · 41 min
Deep sea creatures - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the deep sea with Dr Jon Copley
Marine biologist Dr Jon Copley tells us about the weird and wonderful life that lives far below the waves, and what it's like to explore in a submarine.
Nov 2, 2020 · 46 min
The Science Focus team: What's inside November's issue?
The team behind BBC Science Focus magazine discuss food myths, algorithms, hybrid cars and nudibranchs as we dive into the November issue.
Oct 26, 2020 · 43 min
Prof Linda Scott: Why is there still economic inequality between men and women?
Economist Prof Linda Scott talks about her work in women's economics and explains her idea for an '80 per cent Christmas' to close the gender pay gap.
Oct 19, 2020 · 44 min
Everything you ever wanted to know about… cancer with Dr Kat Arney
Dr Kat Arney explains exactly what cancer is, what causes it and the exciting future of treatment.
Oct 12, 2020 · 15 min
Hugo Zeberg: How could Neanderthal genes affect COVID-19?
We talk to assistant professor Hugo Zeberg about his research into whether people with Neanderthal genes are more severely affected by COVID-19.
Oct 6, 2020 · 54 min
Matt Parker, Helen Arney and Steve Mould: What links coffee, snowflakes and frogs?
We speak to the ‘three spoken nerds’ about science comedy, the incredible facts of ice, and their new Podcast of Unnecessary Detail.
Sep 28, 2020 · 40 min
Merlin Sheldrake: How have fungi shaped the world?
Our lives have always been entangled with fungi, says biologist Merlin Sheldrake, and the future of this relationship is full of possibility.
Sep 21, 2020 · 47 min
Sue Black: What stories do our skeletons tell?
Professor Sue Black reveals how forensic anthropologists search for the criminal secrets that are etched on the bones of victims.
Sep 14, 2020 · 31 min
Professor Trevor Cox: Was Stonehenge an ancient acoustic chamber?
Engineers have 3D-printed a scale model of Stone Henge in order to investigate the effect its structure would have had on conversations, rituals, and music.