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.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

665 episodes
Updated Sunday

Episodes665

Newest first

May 4, 2020 · 38 min
Neil Shubin: How do big changes in evolution happen?
Evolutionary biologist Neil Shubin explains how life made the jump from land to water and how dinosaurs took to the air.
Apr 29, 2020 · 35 min
Your questions – Everything You Wanted To Know About…Physics, episode six
Prof Jim Al-Khalili answers listeners’ questions about physics, the Universe and everything else.
Apr 28, 2020 · 32 min
Mysteries in physics – Everything You Wanted To Know About…Physics, episode five
Prof Jim Al-Khalili reveals some of the biggest unsolved mysteries. We talk about the plausibility of time travel, whether there are multiple universes and what we need to discover a ‘theory of everything’.
Apr 27, 2020 · 29 min
Energy – Everything You Wanted To Know About…Physics, episode four
Prof Jim Al-Khalili tackles thermodynamics – the study of energy. Together, we unravel the idea of entropy, talk about the direction of time and muse upon the inevitable heat death of the Universe.
Apr 26, 2020 · 32 min
Quantum physics – Everything You Wanted To Know About…Physics, episode three
Prof Jim Al-Khalili demystifies the strange world of quantum physics. We discuss the key experiments, how quantum effects play out in the real world and, of course, Schrödinger's infamous cat.
Apr 25, 2020 · 37 min
Space & Time – Everything You Wanted To Know About…Physics, episode two
Prof Jim Al-Khalili helps us get to grips with the big concepts in cosmology. We talk space time, relativity and, of course, the end of the Universe.
Apr 24, 2020 · 37 min
The Fundamentals – Everything You Wanted to Know About…Physics, episode one
Prof Jim Al-Khalili breaks down the building blocks of the Universe and reveals what simplicity, beauty and elegance have to do with physics.
Apr 22, 2020 · 4 min
Everything You Wanted To Know About Physics, with Prof Jim Al-Khalili
Let your curiosity run wild. No question is off-limits in this new podcast series from the team behind BBC Science Focus magazine.
Apr 20, 2020 · 35 min
Sandro Galea: What is the difference between health and medicine?
Sandro Galea explains the surprising factors that influence public health and which countries are doing it well.
Apr 6, 2020 · 35 min
Toby Ord: What are the odds civilisation will survive the century?
Philosopher Toby Ord explains how, as a species, we are at a point in time that we are teetering on the edge of extinction, and what we can do about it.
Mar 30, 2020 · 47 min
Anthony Warner: Are we really too fat?
Chef and food writer Anthony Warner explains the science behind why we need fat, why fad diets are destined to fail, and what we can do to stay healthy.
Mar 23, 2020 · 38 min
Camilla Pang: How can science guide my life?
Bioinformatician Camilla Pang discusses how her neurodiversity has affected the way she works.
Mar 16, 2020 · 37 min
Kevin Fong: What happened to Apollo 13?
In this Science Focus Podcast episode, we talk to Kevin Fong about the new series of his award-winning podcast 13 Minutes to the Moon.
Mar 9, 2020 · 44 min
Aleks Krotoski: What happens to your data when you die?
We ask social psychologist and host of BBC Radio 4's Digital Human Aleks Krotoski about life after death.
Mar 2, 2020 · 53 min
Professor Fay Dowker: What is the problem of quantum gravity?
Einstein’s general relativity explains gravity, but it contradicts quantum theory – is there a solution to one of modern physics’ greatest problems?
Feb 24, 2020 · 38 min
Jim Davies: How do you use your imagination?
What happens in your brain when your imagination runs wild? Cognitive scientist Jim Davies explains the science behind this extraordinary mental power.
Feb 17, 2020 · 34 min
Mark Miodownik: Are biodegradable plastics really better than traditional plastic?
Materials scientist Mark Miodownik explains why a knee-jerk switch from single-use plastic to biodegradable alternatives could actually make things worse.
Feb 13, 2020 · 28 min
Dr Erin Macdonald: Is there any science in Star Trek?
Star Trek’s science consultant Dr Erin Macdonald talks about supernovae, what a science consultant really does, and whether warp drive is possible.
Feb 6, 2020 · 38 min
Adam Rutherford: Can science ever be rid of racism?
Geneticist Adam Rutherford refutes ‘scientific’ claims made to affirm racist beliefs, and tells us why science needs to stand up to racism.
Jan 30, 2020 · 42 min
Ross Barnett: Why should we be interested in prehistoric animals that aren’t dinosaurs?
Dinosaurs get plenty enough coverage. Instead, we take a look at creatures that lived in the Pleistocene era with palaeontologist Ross Barnett.