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 23, 2020 · 44 min
Samantha Alger: What can we do to save the bees?
Pollinator specialist from the University of Vermont Samantha Alger explains the threats facing our bees, and why that’s a problem for us.
Jan 16, 2020 · 26 min
Marcel Danesi: Why do we want to believe lies?
Linguist Marcel Danesi reveals the shocking truth about liars, why we lie and what we can do to protect ourselves from them.
Jan 9, 2020 · 49 min
Dr Becky Smethurst: How do you actually find a black hole?
Astrophysicist and Youtuber Dr Becky discusses black holes, reveals what astronomers do all day, and explains why we need to flood Youtube with scientists.
Dec 26, 2019 · 28 min
Hannah Fry: How much of our lives is secretly underpinned by maths?
Mathematician, BBC presenter and host of this year’s Royal Society Christmas Lectures explains how mathematics props up everything that we do.
Dec 19, 2019 · 26 min
Adam Kay: Is Christmas really the most wonderful time of the year on labour ward?
Doctor turned comedian Adam Kay gives us a warts-and-all account of what it’s like to work on the frontline of the NHS on Christmas Day.
Dec 12, 2019 · 33 min
Kathryn D Sullivan: What is it really like to walk in space?
On 11 October 1984, astronaut Kathy Sullivan made history by becoming the first American woman to walk in space. We find out what it was like.
Dec 5, 2019 · 42 min
Brian Switek: How did bones evolve?
Fossil fanatic Brian Switek explains what a bone actually is, and why they are so important in human history.
Nov 28, 2019 · 38 min
Chris Lintott: Can members of the public do real science?
BBC Sky at Night presenter and astrophysicist Chris Lintott explains how, in just a few minutes in your lunch break, you can contribute to fields from astronomy to zoology.
Nov 21, 2019 · 46 min
Dean Burnett: What’s going on in the teenage brain?
Neuroscientist, comedian and science writer Dean Burnett explains what’s really going on in our brains when parents and teens clash.
Nov 14, 2019 · 36 min
Randall Munroe: How do you find the worst solution to any problem?
The creator of the webcomic xkcd, talks about why the worst solution to a problem can be the most interesting.
Nov 7, 2019 · 44 min
Gaia Vince: What part does culture play in our evolution?
Journalist and broadcaster Gaia Vince tells us how culture evolution played a big part in Homo sapiens dominance over the other hominins.
Oct 30, 2019 · 31 min
Jim Al-Khalili: Why should we care about science and scientists?
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.
Oct 23, 2019 · 44 min
Bill Bryson: What should we know about how our bodies work?
We speak to Bill Bryson, OBE, about his latest book uncovering the biological mechanisms hidden underneath our skin.
Oct 16, 2019 · 30 min
Gretchen McCulloch: How has the internet affected how we communicate?
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.
Oct 9, 2019 · 39 min
Robert Elliott Smith: Are algorithms inherently biased?
Algorithms are everywhere, but are they coded in such a way that makes them racist bigots that are easily manipulated, without us even knowing?
Oct 2, 2019 · 37 min
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.
Sep 25, 2019 · 41 min
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.
Sep 18, 2019 · 42 min
Richard Dawkins: Can we live in a world without religion?
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.
Sep 11, 2019 · 42 min
Does data discriminate against women? – Caroline Criado Perez
We talk to Caroline Criado Perez about the gender data gap and how it causes everything from mild inconvenience to potential fatality.
Sep 4, 2019 · 52 min
How do you launch a successful space mission? – Mark McCaughrean
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.