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Instant Genius
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... more

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Episodes

Food science: Why fermentation is the future of food

Humans have been fermenting foods for millennia, due to the process’s ability to enhance the flavours of what we eat... more

06 Apr 2025 · 25 minutes
The science behind the stunning phenomenon of the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights are surely one of the most awe-inspiring phenomena anyone can be lucky enough to witness occurring on... more

03 Apr 2025 · 28 minutes
Food Science: How to become an expert baker through science

Baking can be hard. Measurements need to be exact and techniques perfected. But with the right tricks and by understanding... more

30 Mar 2025 · 32 minutes
The biggest unsolved mysteries of the quantum realm

This year quantum physics celebrates its 100th anniversary. And while we’ve made great progress in understanding its many intricacies and... more

28 Mar 2025 · 27 minutes
Food Science: The fascinating science of cheesemaking

Whether it’s the crowning glory on the top of a pizza Margherita, layered between two pieces of bread in a... more

24 Mar 2025 · 36 minutes
How birds’ bizarre mating rituals have played a key role in their evolution

Be it the extravagant displays of peacocks fanning their tails, the beautiful, complex song of nightingales or the meticulous art... more

21 Mar 2025 · 34 minutes
Food Science: How eating chocolate boosts your brain, heart and gut health

Chocolate has a reputation. It is sugary and bad for you. But in its purest form, it can be beneficial... more

17 Mar 2025 · 25 minutes
Why OCD is a serious, debilitating mental condition, not just a need for cleanliness or order

We all experience distressing or intrusive thoughts at some point in our lives but for around two to three per... more

14 Mar 2025 · 29 minutes
How truth and honesty are key to tackling the climate crisis

Despite decades of international climate summits, the ongoing work of various campaign groups and open letters signed by some of... more

10 Mar 2025 · 34 minutes
How to combat uncertainty in a post-truth world

These days we’re bombarded with information and claims that purport to explain almost every conceivable aspect of our lives, be... more

07 Mar 2025 · 29 minutes
How AI is helping us to understand how our brains learn

The human brain is surely one of the most complex and fascinating creations in all of nature. It’s through them... more

03 Mar 2025 · 26 minutes
What our coastlines can tell us about the planet’s past and future

From the dramatic caves that bring to mind the pirates and smugglers of yore to the rolling sand dunes many... more

28 Feb 2025 · 34 minutes
How to see through misleading numbers and statistics

Whether it’s from our friends, workmates or via various media platforms, both social and traditional, these days we’re all faced... more

24 Feb 2025 · 43 minutes
Prostate cancer: What is it and why is it so often missed?

The prostate is often misunderstood. And yet, this small part of the body is crucial. However, it is also one... more

21 Feb 2025 · 39 minutes
Don't miss the upcoming Food Science miniseries!

Have you ever been frustrated when your carefully baked loaves come out of the oven looking more like pancakes? Or... more

19 Feb 2025 ·
What meteorites tell us about life on Earth and the Universe

Meteorites are one of the best indicators that we can get of what is out there in Space. Helen Gordon,... more

17 Feb 2025 · 29 minutes
How psychology can help us see through propaganda

It can be hard to know what is true and false in a world of disinformation. But there are some... more

14 Feb 2025 · 32 minutes
How psychology can help us unlock the power of saying ‘no’

Whether it’s accepting a work assignment we know we don’t have time for, attending a social occasion even though we’d... more

10 Feb 2025 · 36 minutes
How science is tackling one of the most common causes of sight loss

Dame Judi Dench has recently been in the news speaking about the long-term issue she’s been having with sight loss.... more

07 Feb 2025 · 28 minutes
How our brains create our sense of self

Over the last century or so neuroscientists around the world have been uncovering more and more about how our very... more

03 Feb 2025 · 37 minutes
How body image pressures lead to steroid use

Be it a Marvel superhero, a fashion model or a professional athlete, we likely all have an image in our... more

31 Jan 2025 · 30 minutes
Healthy Start: How small behavioural changes help manage stress

Whether it’s due to deadlines at work, an upcoming exam or a rocky personal relationship, we’ve no doubt all felt... more

27 Jan 2025 · 30 minutes
How music therapy can heal our bodies and brains

Many of us listen to music every day, perhaps to help us relax in the evening after a hard day’s... more

24 Jan 2025 · 36 minutes
Healthy Start: How taking up new hobbies can boost your mental health

Whether it’s a sport, painting or spending hours buried in puzzles, there is a clear link between our experience of... more

20 Jan 2025 · 26 minutes
How science can help us tackle racism

Most of us like to think we live in an equal society that offers the same opportunities to all. But... more

17 Jan 2025 · 44 minutes
Healthy Start: How to cut down your social media use

With a smartphone in our pockets at all times, social media is only ever a few clicks away. With this,... more

13 Jan 2025 · 30 minutes
Why smell is our most underrated sense

It’s commonly thought that when compared to other members of the animal kingdom we humans have a particularly poor sense... more

10 Jan 2025 · 32 minutes
Healthy Start: How to make goals and stick to them

This time of the year lots of us will be setting new goals for the future. Be it getting fitter,... more

06 Jan 2025 · 29 minutes
The power of optimism

Be it the recent outbreak of wars around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic or the unfortunate personal events that will... more

03 Jan 2025 · 32 minutes
Don't miss the upcoming Healthy Start miniseries!

Would you like to learn how to set goals and stick to them? How about cutting down the time you... more

01 Jan 2025 ·
What happens in your body when you eat

What’s your favourite food? A hamburger, a slice of cake, a pizza? Eating is something we all do every day... more

20 Dec 2024 · 32 minutes
How to combat flooding

Anyone who has switched on the news even briefly this year will no doubt have seen scenes of extreme flooding... more

16 Dec 2024 · 34 minutes
How belonging to tribes shapes our culture

Be it down to our professions, taste in music or favourite sports teams we all belong to several different tribes.... more

13 Dec 2024 · 45 minutes
The science of manipulation

Why do we humans seem to be so easily influenced or even fooled? On one hand this can be done... more

09 Dec 2024 · 33 minutes
How the internet shaped how we speak

Through emojis, memes, acronyms and inside jokes, the internet has forever changed how we communicate. But what is the result... more

06 Dec 2024 · 32 minutes
Feeding the world’s growing population

The Earth’s population currently stands at more than 8 billion and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.... more

02 Dec 2024 · 25 minutes
How extinction can protect future animals

Living through a mass extinction means the end of a species’ existence inevitably collides with significant events in our personal... more

29 Nov 2024 · 34 minutes
How opening our eyes, ears and noses can help us deepen our relationship with wildlife

From the distinctive caw of a crow to the musky scent of a beaver, the world around us is filled... more

25 Nov 2024 · 37 minutes
The psychology of anger

It’s likely that even the most virtuous amongst us has experienced feelings of anger at some point in our lives.... more

22 Nov 2024 · 29 minutes
How to beat the winter blues

As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, many of us find ourselves feeling a little less jolly and... more

18 Nov 2024 · 34 minutes
Why being cynical is harming your health

While being cynical can feel safe, and prepared for the worst outcome, it could actually be harming your health. We... more

15 Nov 2024 · 32 minutes
How to Hack Your Sleep: How not getting enough sleep affects your health

Lots of us will have at some points in our lives woken up feeling groggy after getting a poor night’s... more

11 Nov 2024 · 28 minutes
The genetic evolution and future of humankind

Understanding who we are and where we came from is one of the most fascinating questions in science. But it’s... more

08 Nov 2024 · 30 minutes
How to Hack Your Sleep: The science of bizarre sleep phenomena

Research over the past few decades has proven that getting a good night’s sleep is essential for our health and... more

04 Nov 2024 · 28 minutes
The fascinating history of science

We may pride ourselves on our intelligence, but humans perhaps actually have to thank our ability to process and communicate... more

01 Nov 2024 · 28 minutes
How to Hack Your Sleep: What to eat to get better sleep

We all know we should be eating a good diet to keep ourselves healthy, but did you know your diet... more

28 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
How the James Webb Space Telescope is peering deeper into the cosmos than ever before

Since its launch on Christmas Day 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope has delivered some of the most stunning images... more

24 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
How to Hack Your Sleep: Optimising your body clock

Our bodies have in-built clocks that allow us to sync our daily activities to a roughly 24-hour cycle. This determines... more

20 Oct 2024 · 29 minutes
How the history of all life on Earth is written in DNA, with Richard Dawkins

Since the discovery of the double helix by Francis Crick, James Watson and Rosalind Franklin in the 1950s, human knowledge... more

17 Oct 2024 · 32 minutes
Don't miss the upcoming How to Hack Your Sleep miniseries!

Do you find it hard to get out of bed first thing in the morning? Maybe you feel your energy... more

15 Oct 2024 ·
How to keep your dog calm, safe and happy

We all love our dogs and want to do what’s best for them but, unfortunately, they aren’t able to talk... more

13 Oct 2024 · 28 minutes
When we’ll actually move to Mars

If you’re anything like Kelly and Zach Weinersmith, the idea of a mass human migration to space is exciting but,... more

10 Oct 2024 · 38 minutes
Exploring the diversity of England’s distinctive habitats

For a relatively small country, England is home to an astonishing variety of habitats. From the low-lying grasses, gorse and... more

06 Oct 2024 · 41 minutes
How listening to our animal minds can help us overcome stress and anxiety

Did you know that according to some psychologists we have two minds, not one? The first of these is our... more

03 Oct 2024 · 30 minutes
How to easily trigger your flow state

A state of absolute focus, able to complete a single task or activity effortlessly, flow states are desirable. But how... more

29 Sep 2024 · 35 minutes
Why smartphones really aren’t that bad for your kids

Thanks to the advent of the smartphone, we now have in our pockets more computing power than NASA needed to... more

26 Sep 2024 · 38 minutes
How changes in our chromosomes could lead to the end of men

The Y chromosome is responsible for making people male, but according to recent research, we could see it disappear in... more

22 Sep 2024 · 24 minutes
How to think about uncertainty more scientifically

Often, we’ll hear it said that we live in an uncertain world. Upon hearing this, most of us respond, well... more

19 Sep 2024 · 32 minutes
Free will is an illusion. Here’s why

Free will, as defined by the Encyclopedia Britannica, is the “supposed power or capacity of humans to make decisions or... more

15 Sep 2024 · 42 minutes
What is toxic positivity, and how can you avoid it?

Being a positive person can be good for your health and social relationships. But can you take it too far?... more

12 Sep 2024 · 32 minutes
Life as a brain surgeon

Thanks to the years and years spent poring over textbooks to study the inner workings of the brain, the high... more

08 Sep 2024 · 35 minutes
The healing power of nature

Do you ever feel a bit stressed and think that taking a walk in the woods is just the thing... more

05 Sep 2024 · 33 minutes
How science is helping us restore the Earth’s atmosphere

In his book, Into The Clear Blue Sky, Rob Jackson asks an important question, can we really restore the Earth’s... more

01 Sep 2024 · 32 minutes
Why you're probably not getting enough fibre – and how to fix it

New, so-called ‘superfoods’ frequently find their own moment in the spotlight. But what if there was one type of food... more

29 Aug 2024 · 35 minutes
Surprising facts about weird animal abilities

Animals can do some pretty cool things, but the world is full of bizarre adaptations you’ve probably never heard of... more

25 Aug 2024 · 37 minutes
How thinking more radically can help us see the bigger picture

These days we’re constantly bombarded with information, be it from television, social media, friends and family or simply from the... more

22 Aug 2024 · 35 minutes
Why your plants are more intelligent than you think

Right now, in labs and lecture halls all around the world, there’s a war raging. Not a physical war of... more

18 Aug 2024 · 37 minutes
How science can help us predict the future

The future can be scary, but what if there was a way for us to understand it a little better?... more

15 Aug 2024 · 30 minutes
Why we form one-sided 'parasocial' relationships with celebrities

It is easy to feel like we know celebrities, and even love them. But these people don’t know who we... more

11 Aug 2024 · 33 minutes
Superhumans and the end of ageing: Renowned futurist Ray Kurzweil's vision of 2050

Ray Kurzweil has made many accurate predictions about AI in the past. Having worked in the area of AI research... more

08 Aug 2024 · 28 minutes
How fungi is vital to life on Earth

Mention the word 'fungi' and it’s likely many of our minds will turn to the mushrooms we enjoy sliced on... more

04 Aug 2024 · 28 minutes
Peak Performance: Have we reached peak human athletics performance?

These days, top athletes are breaking fewer and fewer world records. But why is this occurring, and does it mean... more

01 Aug 2024 · 28 minutes
Peak Performance: How to recover faster and come back stronger

Whether we’re lifting weights in the gym, going for an outdoor run or competing in sports, any kind of physical... more

28 Jul 2024 · 29 minutes
Peak Performance: The secret tricks athletes use to strengthen their willpower, according to a sports psychologist

When we watch professional sports people, we’re no doubt in awe of their physical prowess. But how are their performances... more

25 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
Peak Performance: How to get the most out of your workout, whatever your level of fitness

Most of us know that we should probably be trying to get a bit more exercise, but fitting gym sessions... more

21 Jul 2024 · 28 minutes
How gases shaped life on Earth and helped human beings to prosper

From the oxygen in the air we breathe to the atmosphere that cloaks the Earth and protects us from the... more

18 Jul 2024 · 35 minutes
Don’t miss the upcoming Peak Performance miniseries special!

Looking to get the maximum possible benefits out of your gym time? Want to find out why what you do... more

17 Jul 2024 ·
How biology has shaped the history of the human race

There are currently more than eight billion human beings living on Earth, occupying nearly every corner of the planet. It’s... more

14 Jul 2024 · 35 minutes
How a heating planet is changing sports

We can see climate change in our food, holidays and even day-to-day life, but one area we rarely think about... more

11 Jul 2024 · 28 minutes
How maths can help us to understand the human brain

It’s often said that the human brain is the most complex structure in the known Universe. So how do we... more

07 Jul 2024 · 30 minutes
Here’s why science says you do have free will

Did you really choose to listen to this podcast? Or was the decision just the product of neurons firing in... more

04 Jul 2024 · 33 minutes
How triangles are hiding everywhere

From tortilla chips and ham sandwiches to teepees and the Great Pyramid of Giza, the world is filled with triangles.... more

30 Jun 2024 · 32 minutes
The gene therapy future has arrived

Right now, in hospitals around the world, patients are being cured of diseases once thought untreatable. The reason? A gene therapy... more

27 Jun 2024 · 30 minutes
How to form more meaningful relationships

It’s well established that human beings are social animals who thrive on making connections with others. But did you know... more

23 Jun 2024 · 33 minutes
Misophonia: Why some of us can’t bear the sound of chewing

It’s a scene many of us will have experienced: we’re at the cinema, the lights go down, the film begins... more

20 Jun 2024 · 30 minutes
How close are we to discovering aliens?

Finding alien life could be just around the corner. At least, that’s if the James Webb Space Telescope and other... more

16 Jun 2024 · 36 minutes
The story of human evolution, from the Big Bang to the advent of consciousness and beyond

Why are we here? Where did we come from? What are we even made from? These must be some of... more

13 Jun 2024 · 33 minutes
How thinking about addiction differently can help us find better treatments

Addiction can be devastating not only for the addict themselves, but also for their loved ones and anyone around them.... more

09 Jun 2024 · 33 minutes
Why we shouldn’t be afraid of personal data collection

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

06 Jun 2024 · 32 minutes
The story of black holes, with Marcus Chown

Black holes are surely one of the most fascinating and mysterious phenomena in the known Universe. But few people know... more

02 Jun 2024 · 29 minutes
Instant Genius
Here’s why science says you do have free willHere’s why science says you do have free willHere’s why science says you do have free willHere’s why science says you do have free will
Instant Genius
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Listen now on

Apple Podcasts
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Podcast Addict
Pocket Casts
Castbox
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Description

Did you really choose to listen to this podcast? Or was the decision just the product of neurons firing in your brain,... more