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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

Better Sleep: How snoring affects our health

More than four in ten of us in the UK are snorers. Far from being a trivial condition, snoring can... more

15 Jun 2025 · 33 minutes
The science behind Agatha Christie’s poisons

Humans are enthralled by stories about murder. And the mysteries we tell these days – like in the Glass Onion... more

12 Jun 2025 · 41 minutes
Better Sleep: The deep connection between sleep and memory

We humans spend roughly one third of our time sleeping. For the average person this adds up to around 26... more

08 Jun 2025 · 28 minutes
How to harness the healing power of the body’s largest nerve

It’s a little-known fact that we all have two long networks of nerves that run down either side of our... more

05 Jun 2025 · 42 minutes
The evolution of music, its impact on human culture and its future

There’s little doubt that music is an integral part of what it means to be human. But how did it... more

01 Jun 2025 · 31 minutes
Why we should rethink our relationship with alcohol

The shocking fact is that alcohol is responsible for around three times more deaths globally than any other drug combined,... more

29 May 2025 · 40 minutes
Don't miss the upcoming Better Sleep miniseries!

Studies show that around one in three of us aren't getting enough sleep, and this is having a huge impact... more

27 May 2025 ·
How humans may soon become an interplanetary species

It’s now been more than 50 years since any human being has set foot on the Moon, but the ambition... more

25 May 2025 · 38 minutes
The listening hacks that can transform your health

Our everyday lives are filled with sounds of all kinds – birdsong, traffic noise, the music we choose to listen... more

22 May 2025 · 36 minutes
How new research is combatting Alzheimer’s disease

One in three people born today will develop dementia of some form in their lifetimes. Of these, around 60 per... more

18 May 2025 · 35 minutes
How microbes are vital for life on Earth, and may even help save the planet

Although we can’t see them with the naked eye, the Earth is populated by vast numbers of tiny living organisms... more

15 May 2025 · 29 minutes
How climate change is disrupting nature’s ancient symbiotic relationships

Be it a pair of wolves that mate for life, a pod of female dolphins that hunt together, or a... more

11 May 2025 · 33 minutes
How catastrophes have shaped the world as we know it

The history of the Earth is littered with dramatic events that have shaped the planet itself and the lives of... more

08 May 2025 · 38 minutes
How mathematics shapes human creativity

It’s commonly believed that the arts and the sciences have little in common with each other. The distinction that’s most... more

04 May 2025 · 35 minutes
How climate change impacts the world’s most vulnerable people

When think about climate change, we may think about global temperatures escalating, extreme weather events occurring more and more and... more

01 May 2025 · 32 minutes
How future materials will help save the planet

Everywhere we look we’re surrounded by materials of all kinds – from the fabrics we use to make our clothing,... more

27 Apr 2025 · 37 minutes
How we can engineer humans for life beyond Earth

Like it or not, Earth won’t be our home forever. Whether it’s climate collapse, nuclear war, or the slow death... more

24 Apr 2025 · 38 minutes
What contraception is doing to our bodies – and what we’ll use in future

Millions of people around the globe pop a daily pill or live with pieces of metal or plastic inside their... more

20 Apr 2025 · 42 minutes
How to hack your brain to make better decisions

Every day we’re presented with hundreds if not thousands of decisions: What do we want for breakfast? Should we call our... more

17 Apr 2025 · 37 minutes
How to actually see the Northern lights

These days many of us have a bucket list, a set of experiences we’d like to have at least once... more

13 Apr 2025 · 32 minutes
Why a healthy ocean is vital for the survival of the human race and planet Earth

The ocean covers more than 70 per cent of our planet’s surface. Thanks to its ability to absorb the excess... more

10 Apr 2025 · 33 minutes
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
Instant Genius
How science is helping us restore the Earth’s atmosphere
Instant Genius
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Listen now on

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Overcast
Podcast Addict
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Description

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