Instant Genius

Why we shouldn’t be afraid of personal data collection

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

These days, pretty much every move we make online is tracked in one way or another. Whether it’s through our social media accounts or online shoppin...

The story of black holes, with Marcus Chown

02 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Black holes are surely one of the most fascinating and mysterious phenomena in the known Universe. But few people know that the story behind their dis...

The surprising ways the microbiome affects our brain development, emotions, and sex lives

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We humans are never truly alone. This is because our bodies are colonised by vast numbers of microscopic organisms that can be found living everywhere...

How animals took to the air and conquered the skies

26 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The existence of flight in the animal kingdom is something that many of us take for granted. But on closer inspection, it can perhaps be thought of as...

How to spot and fight misinformation

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The internet is full of false facts and misinformation, but how can you tell what is real or fake? We spoke to Alex Edmans, author of May Contain Lies...

How the James Webb Space Telescope is helping us discover the secrets of the cosmos

19 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the short time since its launch in 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope has produced some absolutely breathtaking images of the cosmos. And there’...

How dreaming affects our creativity

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever had a difficult decision to make and after much thought and deliberation decided that you should sleep on it and see how you feel in the...

What happens in our brains when we dream?

12 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The chances are most of us will remember at least one dream we’ve had recently. But where do dreams come from, why is their content often universal ...

How the evolution of eggs has shaped life on Earth

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If most of us hear the word ‘egg’ it’s likely our minds will immediately turn to the hens’ eggs that we enjoy fried, poached or scrambled for ...

How our everyday rituals affect our happiness and wellbeing

05 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you brush your teeth before you shower in the morning, or do you shower first? Perhaps you like to give yourself a pep talk in the bathroom mirror ...

How making the right dietary choices can help to keep us healthy in every stage of our lives

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From the time that we are first developing in the womb right through until we are in our old age, the food we eat has a huge impact on our health and ...

The psychology and neuroscience of nostalgia

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether they’re triggered by looking through old family photographs, hearing a piece of music you haven’t heard for years or eating a favourite ch...

The neuroscience of remembering and forgetting

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We all forget things from time to time, it’s a normal part of everyday life. But according to the latest research in neuroscience, it is forgetting,...

Is our orbital space at breaking point?

21 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to thinking about sustainability, most of us usually keep our feet on the ground. But as we extend our reach beyond this small rocky pla...

How to build a quantum computer

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There is little doubt that the advent of the computer has had one of the most far-reaching impacts of any invention in the history of mankind. These d...

How to keep your immune system healthy

14 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We often hear about the importance of our immune system, but how can we maintain it and keep it healthy? The answer is easier than you might think. We...

The potential health benefits of green tea

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Be it drank first thing in the morning, as an afternoon pick-me-up or to soothe our souls after hearing some bad news, we Brits love a cup of tea. Bu...

How the mind affects physical health and vice versa

07 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For years researchers around the world have viewed the brain and body as separate entities, to be treated using different methods and even in differen...

How AI will make the world a better place, not bring it to an end

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial Intelligence can seem scary, especially with rapid advancements, but what if it actually improves our future? We spoke to Nick Bostrum, a l...

Busting social media diet and nutrition myths

31 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

These days as many as 60 per cent of us are turning to the Internet or social media to get health advice. It’s a staggering number, especially when ...

What happens in our bodies as we age? And is it possible to turn back the clock?

29 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Be it biology, psychology or philosophy, ageing and death are undoubtedly two of the most difficult concepts to tackle in any field of research, so wh...

How science can help you have better conversations

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever find yourself in a meeting at work or in a social occasion and notice how someone in the room seems able to effortlessly and succinctly pu...

Synaesthesia: How some of us experience music as shapes and colours and words as flavours

22 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you experience sounds or music visually as certain shapes? Or perhaps you are able to ‘taste’ words or ‘hear’ colours. If so, it sounds li...

Why you’re not actually addicted to your phone

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Just about everywhere we look today, screens, and in particular social media, are being called addictive, and being blamed for causing mental health p...

How personalised medicine is about to change healthcare

15 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s no doubt new advances in science and technology are having a huge impact on the way we live our lives these days. From Big Data and artifici...

How some of the most fascinating discoveries in astronomy were made by accident

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For those of us on the outside, scientific discoveries can often appear to be neat, tidy and well thought out in advance. Theorists come up with a hyp...

The surprising role of clouds in climate change

08 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Clouds aren’t just the harbingers of bad weather. Turns out, they are crucial players in the climate – and so, too, in climate change. In this epi...

Why giraffes are undergoing a silent extinction

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There can be few animals that are as iconic and instantly recognisable as giraffes. But despite their unique, almost mystical appearance and enduring ...

Why we are seeing the return of infectious diseases

01 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the first quarter of 2024, infectious diseases including measles, plague, and cholera have all reared their ugly heads again. Are we seeing an unpr...

How to overcome social paranoia and anxiety

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you often find yourself worrying that people are talking about you behind your back? If so, don’t worry: according to our guest, Prof Daniel Free...

How feelings of listlessness and aimlessness has become an epidemic, and how we can beat it

23 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you feeling demotivated and aimless and struggling to figure out why? If so, it sounds like you might be languishing – a term used to describe t...

Placebo: Why this miraculous experience really works

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The placebo effect is a seemingly wonderful experience, healing people with no apparent cure - but how does it really work? We spoke to Jeremy Howick,...

How to cope with whatever life throws at you

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We all have a breaking point. But how close we come to it – and how we cope – comes down to our unique blend of genetics and life experiences. In ...

How understanding your boredom can improve your life

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's easy to try to ignore feelings of boredom, but it can actually be trying to tell you something. We spoke to James Danckert, a professor of cognit...

How animals speak to each other

09 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From birdsong to wolf howls, from dolphins’ clicks and whistles to gibbons’ whoops and wows, the natural world is filled with a myriad of animal v...

How to perfect your coffee routine

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Coffee is a drink favoured by billions of people around the world, but doing it right isn't easy.  We spoke to Christopher Hendon, a computational m...

Why humans need laughter

02 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Laughter is a fundamental part of our lives, but why do we do it? We spoke to Sophie Scott, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University Co...

Why hedgehog numbers are falling and how we can stop it

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether it’s from reading Beatrix Potter’s Mrs Tiggy-Winkle or from encounters in our own gardens, many of us have a special place in our hearts f...

How to lose weight the scientific way

26 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Chances are, many of us will have tried to drop a few pounds at some point in our lives. And it’s likely that to do so we will have cut down on the ...

Avocados: Nutritional superfood or environmental disaster?

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Since their first appearance on our supermarket shelves several decades ago, avocados have gone from being a mere exotic curiosity to a regular featur...

How to pace yourself in an exhausting world

19 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How can we rearrange our lives to get a bit more energy? In her new book Pace Yourself: How to have energy in an exhausting world, Amy Arthur traces t...

The science of the paranormal: Why we see ghosts, UFOs and visions of our past lives

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

UFOs, tarot cards, and ghostly figures. The paranormal world is all around us, but how can the unexplainable be explained? We spoke to Chris French, t...

Has the Moon entered a new epoch?

12 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In our short history of space exploration, humans have already changed the Moon significantly. From the cultural heritage of our first footprints to t...

Email overload: How a full inbox affects your mental health, and what you can do to take back control

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a feeling most of us will have experienced at some point: you arrive at work in the morning and open your email client only to be overwhelmed b...

The anti-ageing wonder drugs of the near future

05 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Could you ever take a pill that actually prevents ageing? If we’re lucky, absolutely. In fact, such a pill might be available within the next decade...

Simple ways to slow your biological age (and maybe even reverse it)

29 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How would you like to slow, stop or even reverse your body’s ageing? Although that might sound like science fiction, a growing body of research sugg...

How finding moments of awe can bolster your mental health

22 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Great mountains, beautiful movies and moments to appreciate life in all its glory. These are all experiences that make us feel a sense of awe, but wha...

Tinnitus: What causes the persistent ringing or buzzing of the ears and how can we treat it?

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us will have experienced a ringing or whining noise in our ears at some point, perhaps after going to a concert or working a long shift in a l...

Simple ways to prevent (and reverse) type 2 diabetes

15 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A staggering 415 million people around the world today are living with diabetes, with almost half of those cases undiagnosed. In fact, it’s perfectl...

Aphantasia: How people with no mind’s eye see the world

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you hear the word ‘horse’ do you find it difficult to conjure up a mental image of what a horse looks like? If so, it sounds like you’re an...

The truth about bodyfat

08 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

At this time of year most of us will likely be a little concerned about piling on a few pounds after overindulging in food and drink over the holidays...

Can we predict the future of the climate?

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The climate is notoriously unpredictable and hard to plan for, but can and should we try to understand its future, or simply prepare for what is to co...

The strange science of near-death experiences

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What happens after we die is one of the biggest questions we ask. Over centuries it’s been asked not only by scientists, but by philosophers, theolo...

How AI is going to transform the classroom

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Royal Institution has been putting on the science spectacles for children known as the Christmas Lectures almost every year since 1825. For 200 ye...

Chris Packham wants you to be a scientist – and then forget the science

24 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we hear about Chris Packham’s guide to saving the planet. Think of the most iconic creature in the world. Now put that creature int...

How using science can make you a better cook

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Never mind so-called molecular gastronomy. Even without Michelin-Starred chefs’ use of spherification, sous vide and meat glues, there’s more than...

Inside the brain of a thrill seeker

17 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Whether its jumping out of planes or climbing giant mountains, some people live for the thrill. But are their brains different and can you become a th...

Why we find cuteness so appealing

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do so many of us find babies, kittens and puppies so cute? How did the now-widespread Japanese notion of kawaii end up transcending cultural bound...

Intrusive thoughts – why we get them and how to cope with them

10 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever find yourself going about your daily business when suddenly an unpleasant thought pops into your head? These are known as intrusive though...

How black holes’ even stranger siblings could be the source of dark matter, with Carlo Rovelli

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

These days, largely thanks to science fiction movies, most of us will be familiar with the idea of black holes – regions of spacetime where gravity ...

How to beat burnout

03 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Whether its from work, home life or just general pressure, more and more people are suffering from burnout. But what is it, and how can you beat it? W...

Why are the world's plants disappearing – and can we save them?

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In October, Kew Gardens released a report inspired by a dream of Charles Darwin’s. Described as the most comprehensive plant database ever produced,...

The future of panda conservation

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There can be few animals as iconic and instantly recognisable as pandas. The black and white bears are beloved the world over thanks to their distinct...

Becoming an artist with robotics and AI

22 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sougwen Chung is one of the TIMES 100 most influential people in AI. Through the use of AI, robotics and other forms of futuristic tech, she creates m...

How the successful return of beavers to UK rivers is a positive argument for rewilding

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Around a decade ago, beavers were spotted in the rivers of southwest England for the first time in 400 years. But exactly what impact have they made o...

How learning to fail better can help us to succeed

15 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Not all failures are equal. In fact, some of them can present us with valuable opportunities to learn new things and make new discoveries. The trick i...

Will we be able to have babies in space?

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Future human races may indeed live extra-terrestrial lives. But how will we reproduce and continue survival once we’re in space? To find out, we spo...

Can AI ever really be ethical?

08 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial intelligence has grown drastically in recent years, entering everything from art to medicine. We talk to Nigel Cannings, an expert in artif...

What clean energy will look like after renewables

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to the climate crisis, energy is one of the biggest and most complex topics. To help us break it down into something more manageable, we...

The future of drug discovery

01 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If we learnt anything from the COVID-19 pandemic it was that, as a society, we owe a huge debt to the scientists around the world that work, day in, d...

Sustainability Special – Why ‘biodegradable’ doesn’t mean what you think

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We humans depend on the Earth’s natural resources for our very existence so it’s vital that we take as good care of them as we can. However, it’...

Sustainability Special - The potential of smart materials

24 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We humans depend on the Earth’s natural resources for our very existence so it’s vital that we take as good care of them as we can. However, it’...

Sustainability Special - Solving the world’s plastic pollution problem

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We humans depend on the Earth’s natural resources for our very existence so it’s vital that we take as good care of them as we can. However, it’...

Sustainability Special – How can we make our food more secure?

17 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Like it or not, food plays a central role in all of our lives. It’s so important that whole societies and economies have formed around it, wars are ...

What mass extinctions can teach us about the future of life on Earth

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us are aware that an asteroid strike led to the extinction of the dinosaurs some 66 million years ago. But fewer are aware that this was just ...

Neil DeGrasse Tyson explains the Universe’s greatest mysteries

10 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What’s beyond our Universe? Will time travel ever be possible? And what might aliens look like? All huge questions that today we’re asking a speci...

The bizarre science of cat behaviour

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why is it that cats sleep so much? Can they be taught any tricks? And are dogs actually smarter than cats? These are just some of the questions you mi...

The truth about fasting and time-restricted eating

03 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lose weight, gain more energy, boost your metabolism and even live for longer: these are some of the claims made by the adherents of fasting and time-...

Why we should be doing more to prepare for contact with alien civilisations

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are we alone in the Universe? It’s probably one of the most hotly debated questions in science today. In this episode we catch up with theoretical p...

Busting testosterone myths

27 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mere mention of the word ‘testosterone’ is likely to bring to mind images of bodybuilders with bulging muscles or angry, aggressive men that are c...

The Science of De-extinction

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When an animal is extinct that means we’ll never see the likes of it again, right? Well, not quite. Not if biotechnology and genetic engineering com...

How science can help you make better decisions

20 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From picking out what to wear in the morning, to choosing your profession or where to live, life is full of decisions, both big and small. But what ca...

How dementia affects the brain, and how we’ll one day beat it

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

According to the World Health Organization, dementia currently affects an estimated 55 million people worldwide. But despite its prevalence, there is ...

How AI is changing the world of scams

13 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

AI, deepfakes and advanced technology has made scams more advanced than ever. We spoke to Oli Buckley, a professor of cyber security at the University...

How False Memories can trick your mind

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you consider yourself to have a good memory? Perhaps you can recall the minor details of events that occurred years ago. But how about remembering ...

What we’re all getting wrong about ADHD

06 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all heard of ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But there’s actually a lot scientists don’t for sure know about the condit...

The new world of AI relationships, with Marco Dehnert

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial intelligence has a new role. It is acting as people’s friends, mentors and even romantic partners. But what are the ethics of this, and i...

Why the next gold rush is happening at the bottom of the ocean

30 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We now know that the deep sea is full of bizarre creatures, and these have found a special place in our imaginations. But some people have their eyes ...

Weight loss: What actually works?

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

 If you’re looking to lose a bit of weight, it’s easy to get lost in the complex and often contradictory health advice you can find online, from ...

Simple ways to overcome imposter syndrome

23 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel like a fraud in your everyday life, and everyone’s about to find out you don’t really belong? If so, you’ve likely experience i...

Global heatwave: Could our taps soon run dry?

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Last month saw the hottest June on record – and, while July has seen heavy downpours in the UK, much of Europe and the US experienced life-threaten...

How loneliness can affect your health, and what you can do to combat it, with Prof Andrea Wigfield

16 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study found that nearly 50 per cent of adults in the UK reported having feelings of loneliness, at least occasionally. It’s a fairly shocki...

The Mysteries of the Octopus, with Prof David Scheel

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Octopuses are surely one of the most unusual animals on Earth. They have eight limbs, three hearts, a doughnut-shaped brain and bleed blue blood. It’...

Why touch is our most misunderstood sense, with Prof Michael Banissy

09 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Would you call yourself a bit of a hugger? Or does the mere thought of a stranger brushing past you in a cafe make your skin crawl? When it comes to b...

Allergies, with Theresa MacPhail

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re talking about allergies. Everything from hay-fever to serious nut allergies plague our daily life, but why do we get them? I’m jo...

The argument for a four-day workweek, with Alex Pang

02 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For many, working only four days a week – and enjoying a longer weekend – might sound like a pipe dream: However, some workplaces are now experime...

The intriguing science of phages, with Tom Ireland

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Even before the global COVID pandemic, simple mention of the word ‘virus’ was likely to send shivers down most of our spines. But it turns out not...

The race to bury nuclear waste in hidden bunkers, with Lewis Blackburn

25 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As the UK builds more nuclear reactors, there is an increasing pressure to find somewhere to put the waste. But what actually is nuclear waste? Does i...

How mental imagery training could boost your motivation, with Dr Jon Rhodes

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Whether your goal is mastering a new skill or losing weight, you’ll know the importance of motivation and effective planning. And one intriguing new...

The fascinating chemistry of fermentation, with Andrea Sella

18 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From kimchi to kombucha to kefir, you’ve probably noticed that fermented foods are trendy right now. They appeal to the daring, but also to people w...