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

Aug 28, 2019 · 44 min
What does our skin tell us about ourselves? – Dr Monty Lyman
We talk to Dr Monty Lyman about what the skin is for, why vanity is good for you, and what kind of creatures inhabit our skin.
Aug 21, 2019 · 41 min
Are Generation Z our only hope for the future? – John Higgs
If you think the future looks bleak, you’re not alone, but the next generation might have just the mentality we need for a rosier outlook on life.
Aug 14, 2019 · 21 min
Is an implantable electronic device the future of medicine? – Gordon Wallace
Researchers in Australia have developed an implantable thread – a sutrode – that could cure disease by stimulating nerve fibres.
Aug 7, 2019 · 36 min
How accurately can we predict the weather? – Andrew Blum
We talk about the history of weather forecasts, why we shouldn’t trust the icons on weather apps, and whether we’ll ever have a minute-by-minute forecast.
Jul 31, 2019 · 36 min
What happened at Bluedot festival 2019? – Libby Jackson, Tom Shakespeare and Danielle George
Now in its fourth year, Bluedot is a staple in our festival calendar. We chat to three speakers about science, their work and the Bluedot experience.
Jul 24, 2019 · 36 min
What does a world with an ageing population look like? – Sarah Harper
We can’t reverse the slow march of time, but as people live longer and the birth rate declines, how can we manage a world with an ageing population?
Jul 17, 2019 · 41 min
What does it mean to be a man? – Gary Barker
Male stereotypes are under increasing scrutiny. Psychologist Gary Barker explains why they are harmful, and what a progressive form of masculinity could look like.
Jul 10, 2019 · 36 min
Dr Guy Leschziner: What is your brain doing while you sleep?
While your body switches off, your brain kicks in, and the quality of your sleep has a lot to do with what it’s working on.
Jul 3, 2019 · 31 min
What can the father of Gaia theory tell us about our future? - James Lovelock
On the eve of the visionary scientist's 100th birthday, James Lovelock, creator of Gaia theory, reflects on his life and career.
Jun 26, 2019 · 20 min
Could leaving nature to its own devices be the key to meeting the UK’s climate goals? - Mark Lynas
Rewilding Britain is calling for vast swathes of land to be restored to nature, we get the lowdown from environmental researcher Mark Lynas.
Jun 19, 2019 · 39 min
Is there really no such thing as a fish? – Andrew Hunter Murray and Dan Schreiber
We get meta and do a science podcast about doing science podcasts with two of the stars of the hugely popular, er, podcast, No Such Thing As A Fish.
Jun 12, 2019 · 44 min
Is racism creeping into science? – Angela Saini
According to Angela Saini’s new book, Superior, there is an ongoing revival of race science, which is being fuelled by a rise in extremism and right-wing views.
Jun 5, 2019 · 39 min
Can we really predict when doomsday will happen? – William Poundstone
How long does the human species have left? William Poundstone explains the controversial formula that thinks it might be sooner than you think (or not).
May 29, 2019 · 29 min
Is body positivity the answer to body image issues? – Phillippa Diedrichs
We live in a society that values looks, but only if they fit into a restrictive set of ideals. Is loving your body the key to defeating body image issues?
May 22, 2019 · 30 min
Why is the Moon landing still relevant 50 years on? – Kevin Fong
If you were to picture the Moon landing in your head right now, you could probably conjure up images of Neil Armstrong’s famous first steps, accompanied by his inspirational (and often misquoted) speech, despite it happening many years before most of u...
May 15, 2019 · 36 min
Can science explain everything? – Michael Blastland
Smoking kills - but it doesn't kill everyone. So why can't we predict which smokers will live? The answer is uncertainty in the data.
May 8, 2019 · 24 min
Is the cure for cancer hiding in human breast milk? – Professor Catharina Svanborg
Two decades ago a group of Swedish researchers chanced upon an intriguing compound with tumour-killing properties hidden within human breast milk. Dubbed HAMLET, short for Human α-lactalbumin, the substance has so far come through in vitro and animal t...
May 1, 2019 · 30 min
Why is Leonardo Da Vinci’s scientific legacy so often overlooked? – Martin Clayton
We talk to Martin Clayton, Head of Prints and Drawings for Royal Collection Trust at Windsor Castle, about Da Vinci’s lasting scientific legacy,500 years after his death.
Apr 25, 2019 · 33 min
Is gene editing inspiring or terrifying? – Nessa Carey
With gene editing we’re close to curing certain diseases, but at the same time, rogue scientists are experimenting in ways considered unethical by the wider medical community. What does the future look like for gene editing, and for the human race?
Apr 17, 2019 · 40 min
What if the Earth’s magnetic field died? – Jim Al-Khalili
What if we lost the Earth’s magnetic field? That’s the question Professor Jim Al-Khalili tackles in his new novel, Sunfall. What threats from space does that leave us vulnerable to, and how might we protect ourselves?