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All Episodes

Instant Genius — 654 episodes

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Title
1

How parasites play a vital role as caretakers of Earth’s ecosystems

2

How to keep your body younger for longer

3

Why wasps are one of the planet’s most misunderstood insects

4

Why you probably don’t need to be taking dietary supplements

5

Why this tiny organism is essential for the health of the planet

6

What happens in our bodies when our hormones misfire

7

What we can learn about parenting from the animal kingdom

8

Don’t miss the upcoming Nature’s Unsung Heroes miniseries!

9

Why bisexuality is everywhere

10

The past, present and future of DNA science

11

Why ecoacoustics is the future of conservation

12

Unlocking the invisible rainbows of the Universe

13

Why birdsong is the pop music of the natural world

14

Why walking more is the best thing you can do to boost your health

15

How ultrasound tech could save hedgehogs

16

Why ADHD is so challenging to diagnose

17

Inside the project helping the hard of hearing listen to music

18

Why your Neanderthal genes may be affecting your health

19

Don't miss the upcoming Science of Sound Miniseries!

20

How to help your brain thrive in a rapidly changing world

21

How to break free from imposter syndrome

22

The dawn chorus – why birds sing at the break of day

23

How to save the planet’s forests

24

How flowers played a key role of the evolution of life on Earth

25

How chemistry underpins every area of our lives

26

How to engage more deeply with the natural world

27

You’ve been pooping wrong, but here’s how to fix it

28

Why it’s not too late to reverse Earth’s extinction crisis

29

Why gout is on the rise, and how to lower your risk

30

How our intimate relationship with animals shaped human evolution

31

Why our brains struggle to keep up with a rapidly changing world

32

Why we need to save ugly, creepy, scary and misunderstood animals

33

How we look at the Universe with a radio

34

The best ways to spot a liar

35

Why understanding what makes us hungry is key to weight loss

36

How to slash your dementia risk in 12 weeks

37

Why connecting with others is vital for our mental health

38

How metabolism really affects your health, weight and wellbeing

39

What faces reveal about us and the societies we live in

40

How our planet connects to the Solar System around it

41

How AI could help us create life from scratch

42

What happens in our brains and bodies when we fall in love

43

Why gradual change is the true driving force of innovation

44

Why we need to rethink our concept of evil

45

The hidden ways the Internet and social media are shaping healthcare

46

How to break free from the negative cycle of overthinking

47

How paleoartists bring dinosaurs to life

48

Why mental resilience is a skill we can all learn

49

The hidden scoring systems running our lives

50

How to beat burnout in an increasingly fast-paced world

51

Why your next best friend may be an AI

52

How the arts can keep our bodies and brains healthier for longer

53

Why social connection is vital for our health and well-being

54

Why the new era of life-saving drugs starts with plants

55

How to beat the alarming increase in childhood allergies

56

Our Universe could be trapped inside a black hole with no way out

57

The real story behind Jurassic Park’s most controversial dinosaur

58

How neuroscience is reshaping our understanding of free will

59

How to listen to what animals are trying to say

60

How widening our palates can help feed, and save, the planet

61

Why not getting enough sleep plays havoc with our emotions

62

How to combat the planet’s growing issue of food waste

63

The hidden forces driving the AI bubble

64

Earth is heading for a food emergency. Can we stop it?

65

How whales may be using their haunting songs as a navigation system

66

How personalised nutrition is transforming our understanding of diet and health

67

What we all need to know about menopause

68

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales on what AI and Elon Musk mean for the site's future

69

How psychedelics could kickstart the next mental health revolution

70

Don't miss the upcoming Future of Food miniseries!

71

How our bodies are host to mysterious cells that came from other people

72

How human consciousness emerged from the fundamental processes of nature

73

The hunt for the first stars in the Universe

74

The weird and wonderful science behind why humans are different

75

The key role psychologists can play in the fight against ecological crime

76

The psychology of paranormal experiences

77

Inside the hunt for life-changing medicines

78

From asteroids to aliens - how space is threatening our planet

79

Why we treat our pets and possessions like human beings

80

How bats became one of the planet’s most successful animals

81

Why penguins are one of the planet’s most unique bird species

82

Busting the biggest myths in neuroscience

83

The positive tipping points that can help us solve the climate crisis

84

How cats became one of our most-loved domestic pets

85

How the health of the oceans is vital for the health of the planet

86

The tiny molecules tackling the planet’s biggest challenges

87

How to build a healthier, longer-living society

88

The psychology of making the most of your time

89

How to overcome fear, according to a neuroscientist

90

How connecting with nature can help neurodivergent lives

91

The science behind PMS, and how to beat it

92

How the world needs to adapt to a changing climate

93

How humans learned to speak and why

94

The biggest unsolved mysteries in cosmology

95

The hidden ways money has shaped human civilisation

96

A neuroscientist’s guide to living with dementia

97

The hidden life in the air we breathe

98

How future tech will help you stay healthier for longer

99

Why your brain might be wired for extremism

100

How working too hard is damaging your health and productivity

101

How the maths of sameness and difference can change the way you view the world

102

Busting the biggest weight loss myths

103

Better Sleep: The hidden power of napping

104

The new science of music as medicine

105

Better Sleep: How psychology can help you beat insomnia

106

How your brain builds your picture of reality

107

Better Sleep: How snoring affects our health

108

The science behind Agatha Christie’s poisons

109

Better Sleep: The deep connection between sleep and memory

110

How to harness the healing power of the body’s largest nerve

111

The evolution of music, its impact on human culture and its future

112

Why we should rethink our relationship with alcohol

113

Don't miss the upcoming Better Sleep miniseries!

114

How humans may soon become an interplanetary species

115

The listening hacks that can transform your health

116

How new research is combatting Alzheimer’s disease

117

How microbes are vital for life on Earth, and may even help save the planet

118

How climate change is disrupting nature’s ancient symbiotic relationships

119

How catastrophes have shaped the world as we know it

120

How mathematics shapes human creativity

121

How climate change impacts the world’s most vulnerable people

122

How future materials will help save the planet

123

How we can engineer humans for life beyond Earth

124

What contraception is doing to our bodies – and what we’ll use in future

125

How to hack your brain to make better decisions

126

How to actually see the Northern lights

127

Why a healthy ocean is vital for the survival of the human race and planet Earth

128

Food science: Why fermentation is the future of food

129

The science behind the stunning phenomenon of the Northern Lights

130

Food Science: How to become an expert baker through science

131

The biggest unsolved mysteries of the quantum realm

132

Food Science: The fascinating science of cheesemaking

133

How birds’ bizarre mating rituals have played a key role in their evolution

134

Food Science: How eating chocolate boosts your brain, heart and gut health

135

Why OCD is a serious, debilitating mental condition, not just a need for cleanliness or order

136

How truth and honesty are key to tackling the climate crisis

137

How to combat uncertainty in a post-truth world

138

How AI is helping us to understand how our brains learn

139

What our coastlines can tell us about the planet’s past and future

140

How to see through misleading numbers and statistics

141

Prostate cancer: What is it and why is it so often missed?

142

Don't miss the upcoming Food Science miniseries!

143

What meteorites tell us about life on Earth and the Universe

144

How psychology can help us see through propaganda

145

How psychology can help us unlock the power of saying ‘no’

146

How science is tackling one of the most common causes of sight loss

147

How our brains create our sense of self

148

How body image pressures lead to steroid use

149

Healthy Start: How small behavioural changes help manage stress

150

How music therapy can heal our bodies and brains

151

Healthy Start: How taking up new hobbies can boost your mental health

152

How science can help us tackle racism

153

Healthy Start: How to cut down your social media use

154

Why smell is our most underrated sense

155

Healthy Start: How to make goals and stick to them

156

The power of optimism

157

Don't miss the upcoming Healthy Start miniseries!

158

What happens in your body when you eat

159

How to combat flooding

160

How belonging to tribes shapes our culture

161

The science of manipulation

162

How the internet shaped how we speak

163

Feeding the world’s growing population

164

How extinction can protect future animals

165

How opening our eyes, ears and noses can help us deepen our relationship with wildlife

166

The psychology of anger

167

How to beat the winter blues

168

Why being cynical is harming your health

169

How to Hack Your Sleep: How not getting enough sleep affects your health

170

The genetic evolution and future of humankind

171

How to Hack Your Sleep: The science of bizarre sleep phenomena

172

The fascinating history of science

173

How to Hack Your Sleep: What to eat to get better sleep

174

How the James Webb Space Telescope is peering deeper into the cosmos than ever before

175

How to Hack Your Sleep: Optimising your body clock

176

How the history of all life on Earth is written in DNA, with Richard Dawkins

177

Don't miss the upcoming How to Hack Your Sleep miniseries!

178

How to keep your dog calm, safe and happy

179

When we’ll actually move to Mars

180

Exploring the diversity of England’s distinctive habitats

181

How listening to our animal minds can help us overcome stress and anxiety

182

How to easily trigger your flow state

183

Why smartphones really aren’t that bad for your kids

184

How changes in our chromosomes could lead to the end of men

185

How to think about uncertainty more scientifically

186

Free will is an illusion. Here’s why

187

What is toxic positivity, and how can you avoid it?

188

Life as a brain surgeon

189

The healing power of nature

190

How science is helping us restore the Earth’s atmosphere

191

Why you're probably not getting enough fibre – and how to fix it

192

Surprising facts about weird animal abilities

193

How thinking more radically can help us see the bigger picture

194

Why your plants are more intelligent than you think

195

How science can help us predict the future

196

Why we form one-sided 'parasocial' relationships with celebrities

197

Superhumans and the end of ageing: Renowned futurist Ray Kurzweil's vision of 2050

198

How fungi is vital to life on Earth

199

Peak Performance: Have we reached peak human athletics performance?

200

Peak Performance: How to recover faster and come back stronger

201

Peak Performance: The secret tricks athletes use to strengthen their willpower, according to a sports psychologist

202

Peak Performance: How to get the most out of your workout, whatever your level of fitness

203

How gases shaped life on Earth and helped human beings to prosper

204

Don’t miss the upcoming Peak Performance miniseries special!

205

How biology has shaped the history of the human race

206

How a heating planet is changing sports

207

How maths can help us to understand the human brain

208

Here’s why science says you do have free will

209

How triangles are hiding everywhere

210

The gene therapy future has arrived

211

How to form more meaningful relationships

212

Misophonia: Why some of us can’t bear the sound of chewing

213

How close are we to discovering aliens?

214

The story of human evolution, from the Big Bang to the advent of consciousness and beyond

215

How thinking about addiction differently can help us find better treatments

216

Why we shouldn’t be afraid of personal data collection

217

The story of black holes, with Marcus Chown

218

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

219

How animals took to the air and conquered the skies

220

How to spot and fight misinformation

221

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

222

How dreaming affects our creativity

223

What happens in our brains when we dream?

224

How the evolution of eggs has shaped life on Earth

225

How our everyday rituals affect our happiness and wellbeing

226

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

227

The psychology and neuroscience of nostalgia

228

The neuroscience of remembering and forgetting

229

Is our orbital space at breaking point?

230

How to build a quantum computer

231

How to keep your immune system healthy

232

The potential health benefits of green tea

233

How the mind affects physical health and vice versa

234

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

235

Busting social media diet and nutrition myths

236

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

237

How science can help you have better conversations

238

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

239

Why you’re not actually addicted to your phone

240

How personalised medicine is about to change healthcare

241

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

242

The surprising role of clouds in climate change

243

Why giraffes are undergoing a silent extinction

244

Why we are seeing the return of infectious diseases

245

How to overcome social paranoia and anxiety

246

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

247

Placebo: Why this miraculous experience really works

248

How to cope with whatever life throws at you

249

How understanding your boredom can improve your life

250

How animals speak to each other

251

How to perfect your coffee routine

252

Why humans need laughter

253

Why hedgehog numbers are falling and how we can stop it

254

How to lose weight the scientific way

255

Avocados: Nutritional superfood or environmental disaster?

256

How to pace yourself in an exhausting world

257

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

258

Has the Moon entered a new epoch?

259

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

260

The anti-ageing wonder drugs of the near future

261

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

262

How finding moments of awe can bolster your mental health

263

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

264

Simple ways to prevent (and reverse) type 2 diabetes

265

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

266

The truth about bodyfat

267

Can we predict the future of the climate?

268

The strange science of near-death experiences

269

How AI is going to transform the classroom

270

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

271

How using science can make you a better cook

272

Inside the brain of a thrill seeker

273

Why we find cuteness so appealing

274

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

275

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

276

How to beat burnout

277

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

278

The future of panda conservation

279

Becoming an artist with robotics and AI

280

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

281

How learning to fail better can help us to succeed

282

Will we be able to have babies in space?

283

Can AI ever really be ethical?

284

What clean energy will look like after renewables

285

The future of drug discovery

286

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

287

Sustainability Special - The potential of smart materials

288

Sustainability Special - Solving the world’s plastic pollution problem

289

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

290

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

291

Neil DeGrasse Tyson explains the Universe’s greatest mysteries

292

The bizarre science of cat behaviour

293

The truth about fasting and time-restricted eating

294

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

295

Busting testosterone myths

296

The Science of De-extinction

297

How science can help you make better decisions

298

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

299

How AI is changing the world of scams

300

How False Memories can trick your mind

301

What we’re all getting wrong about ADHD

302

The new world of AI relationships, with Marco Dehnert

303

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

304

Weight loss: What actually works?

305

Simple ways to overcome imposter syndrome

306

Global heatwave: Could our taps soon run dry?

307

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

308

The Mysteries of the Octopus, with Prof David Scheel

309

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

310

Allergies, with Theresa MacPhail

311

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

312

The intriguing science of phages, with Tom Ireland

313

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

314

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

315

The fascinating chemistry of fermentation, with Andrea Sella

316

How to Retire in Good Health, with Tania Wiseman

317

The psychology of why we feel ghostly presences, with Ben Alderson-Day

318

How to spot a narcissist, with Dr Erica Hepper

319

Solving the UK’s water pollution problem, with Dr Tanja Radu

320

Why perfectionism is on the rise and how we can combat it, with Thomas Curran

321

The hidden ways ocean currents change our world, with Helen Czerski

322

Inside the mind of a dog, with Prof Alexandra Horowitz

323

Breasts, with Dr Philippa Kaye

324

Time travel, with Lawrence Krauss

325

Body language myths, with Prof Geoff Beattie

326

AI’s fight to understand creativity, with Ahmed Elgammal

327

How to boost your creativity, with Hilde Ostby

328

Ultra-processed Food with Dr Chris van Tulleken

329

How the battle for space will change the world, with Tim Marshall

330

Out-of-body experiences, with Dr Jane Aspell

331

A bold new theory of dyslexia, with Prof Usha Goswami

332

The fight to keep our brains private, with Nita Farahany

333

The science of hay fever, with Sam White

334

The multiverse, with Lord Martin Rees

335

Synchronizing your body clock, with Prof Russell Foster

336

The origin of the Universe, with Prof Thomas Hertog

337

How human disease changed history, with Dr Jonathan Kennedy

338

Art and the brain, with Susan Magsamen

339

Overcoming insomnia, with Prof Guy Leschziner

340

UK wildlife, with Dr Philip Wheeler

341

When humans become prey, with Adam Hart

342

Key lessons from the world’s longest happiness study, with Prof Robert Waldinger

343

Social anxiety, with Dr Ellen Hendriksen

344

Future of transportation, with Paris Marx

345

Earth’s inner core, with Dr Jessica Irving

346

Snakes, with Prof Mark O’Shea

347

The extraordinary psychology of Déjà vu, with Dr Akira O'Connor

348

Winter storms, with Alex Deakin

349

The science of lying, with Professor Richard Wiseman

350

Fungal infections, with Dr Rebecca Drummond

351

How to get more time in your day, with Dr Ashley Whillans

352

The world’s ageing population and the ticking demographic time bomb, with Prof Jane Falkingham

353

The science of persuasion, with Prof Vanessa Bohns

354

Light pollution, with Dr Greg Brown

355

How to enhance your focus with sound, with Dr Nick Perham

356

How ChatGPT could revolutionise education, with Sam Illingworth

357

The electrome, with Sally Adee

358

Big Garden Birdwatch, with Adrian Thomas

359

Emotions, with Dr Dean Burnett

360

Biodiversity, with Dr Andrew Terry

361

How to change your habits, with Dr Gabija Toleikyte

362

The food of the future, with Evan Fraser

363

Forensic science comes to the Christmas Lectures, with Professor Dame Sue Black

364

Zombie viruses in the Arctic, with Dr Arwyn Edwards

365

Brain-controlled machines, with Tom Carlson

366

Vitamin D, Dr Gail Rees

367

Bird flu, with Dr Alastair Ward

368

Mars in opposition, with Dr Stu Clark

369

Genetic testing, with Sir Peter Donnelly

370

Robins, with Helen Wilson

371

How our lives are being gamified, with Adrian Hon

372

The future of UK space science, with Andrew Kuh

373

What the Nordic people can teach us about a winter mindset, with Kari Leibowitz

374

Climate breakdown, with Prof Bill McGuire

375

Sleep disorders, with Dr Alice Vernon

376

Kindness, with Claudia Hammond

377

Heating and Health, with Dr Radha Modgil

378

The e-waste dilemma, with Josh Lepawsky

379

COVID in waste, with Dave O’Connor and Marc Johnson

380

Irrational thinking and beliefs, with Steven Pinker

381

Flies, with Dr Erica McAlister

382

Medical Detection Dogs, Dr Claire Guest

383

Holding the Universe in your hands, with Dr Kimberly Arcand

384

The science of learning music, with Adriana Barton

385

The science and soul of music, with prof Susan Rogers

386

Faecal transplants, with Dr Benjamin Mullish

387

The future of self-driving cars, with Jack Stilgoe

388

The heart, with Sian Harding

389

Jupiter in opposition, with Dr Jonathan Nichols

390

Spider season, with Prof Adam Hart

391

NASA’s DART asteroid deflection mission, with Tim Gregory

392

Dung beetles, with Sally-Ann Spence

393

Artemis’s First Launch, with Libby Jackson

394

Space weather, with Sean Elvidge

395

Bringing back the Tasmanian tiger from extinction, with Helen Pilcher

396

The science of James Bond gadgets, with Kathryn Harkup

397

How plants solve crimes, with Prof David Gibson

398

Future of artificial intelligence, with Kate Darling

399

Life on Mars, with Lewis Dartnell

400

What has caused the heatwave and drought, with Prof Dann Mitchell

401

Drought, with Kevin Hiscock

402

Instant Genius Update

403

Seashells with Dr Helen Scales

404

Inside the mind of a bee, with Prof Lars Chittka

405

Deepfakes, with Sam Gregory

406

The evolution of human childhood, with Dr Brenna Hassett

407

The science of crabs, with Peter Davie

408

Meteorites, with Dr Tim Gregory

409

Animal senses, with Ed Yong

410

Sloths, with Dr Rebecca Cliffe

411

Bitcoin, with Brett Scott

412

COVID numbers, with Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter

413

The science of dreams, with Sidarta Ribeiro

414

The body clock, with Prof Russell Foster

415

Dog intelligence, with Jules Howard

416

The first stars in the Universe, with Dr Emma Chapman

417

Lichens, with Kerry Knudsen

418

The origins of religion, with Robin Dunbar

419

Sound in the animal kingdom, with David George Haskell

420

Corals, with Dr Jamie Craggs

421

Oral Health, with Dr Kami Hoss

422

The animal kingdom’s mathematicians, with Brian Butterworth

423

Blood sugar and your health, with Jessie Inchauspé

424

The Neuroscience of Grief, with Mary-Frances O’Connor

425

Hyenas with Prof Adam Hart

426

How biology got females wrong, with Lucy Cooke

427

Preparing for disaster, with Michał Zalewski

428

The metaverse, with Prof David Reid

429

Mindwandering, with Moshe Bar

430

Crows, rooks and ravens, with Dr Kaeli Swift

431

The science of Intimacy, with Dr Michelle Drouin

432

Breathing, your hidden superpower, with James Nestor

433

The origin and evolution of mammals, with Dr Elsa Panciroli

434

Gut health, with Dr Megan Rossi

435

The science of ageing, with Dr Andrew Steele

436

The James Webb Space Telescope, with Stuart Clark

437

Algae, with Ruth Kassinger

438

Consciousness and comas, with Dr Adrian Owen

439

Eating for your brain, with Kimberley Wilson

440

Gravity, with Marcus Chown

441

Brain myths with Dr Lisa Feldman-Barrett

442

Dog behaviour, with Mat Ward

443

Health hacks, with Dr Michael Mosley

444

UK wildlife, with Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin

445

Psychology of evil, with Dr Julia Shaw

446

Mental Shortcuts, with Prof Marcus du Sautoy

447

Endangered foods, with Dan Saladino

448

Poisons, with Dr Raychelle Burks

449

The nature of time, with Colin Stuart

450

CRISPR, with Prof Fyodor Urnov

451

Science denial, with Lee McIntyre

452

The decline of the insects, with Prof Dave Goulson

453

Migraines, with Dr Katy Munro

454

Procrastination, with Dr Fuschia Sirios

455

Childhood, with Dr Emma Byrne

456

Calories, with Dr Giles Yeo

457

Sleep, with Dr Matthew Walker

458

The science of pain, with Dr Monty Lyman

459

Forensic anthropology, with Prof Sue Black

460

Personality change, with Dr Christian Jarrett

461

Hidden geometry, with Jordan Ellenberg

462

The Neanderthals, with Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes

463

The golden age of dinosaur discovery, with Prof Steve Brusatte

464

The Big Bang, with Prof Jim Al-Khalili

465

Your brain chemistry and you, with Ginny Smith

466

The science of cooking, with Dr Stuart Farrimond

467

The end of the Universe, with Dr Katie Mack

468

Welcome to Instant Genius

469

How AI and androids could shape the music of the future

470

Could 'counterfactuals' solve the biggest problems in physics?

471

What happens to you after 40 days with no natural light?

472

Why do humans make music?

473

The future of human flight, with real-life Iron Man Richard Browning

474

Why realistic humanoid robots need to learn to lip-sync

475

How to understand statistics in the news and when to trust them

476

The bizarre biology of the mantis shrimp

477

The creator of Bellingcat on using the internet to investigate global affairs

478

Prof Avi Loeb on what 'Oumuamua tells us about the problem with modern physics

479

Meet the computer scientist teaching an AI to play Dungeons and Dragons

480

International Women’s Day: The forgotten female scientists of history

481

How to maximise your motivation, according to a neuroscientist

482

Inside the February issue with the BBC Science Focus team

483

Mental health and your brain: What happens when it goes wrong

484

Why rewilding success stories make us hopeful for the future

485

The psychology of the sea shanty: Why work songs are such earworms

486

Team talk: Beating pandemic burnout, the seasons of you and a daring giraffe rescue

487

Why you can’t multitask (and why that’s a good thing)

488

How virtual reality is helping patients with phobias, anxiety disorders and more

489

How a scientist used viruses to save her husband’s life from a superbug

490

Marcus Chown: Does the Big Bang really explain our Universe?

491

End of year roundup: The non-COVID science that brought us joy in 2020

492

Prof John Drury: The psychology of lockdowns

493

Dr Pete Etchells: Do video games encourage gambling behaviour?

494

Christmas Lectures 2020: How can we look after our planet?

495

Inside the December issue with the BBC Science Focus team

496

Genes and heredity - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the biology of life with Sir Paul Nurse

497

Cells - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the biology of life with Sir Paul Nurse

498

Dr Douglas Vakoch: Should we try to contact aliens?

499

Exploring the deep sea - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the deep sea with Dr Jon Copley

500

Deep sea habitats - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the deep sea with Dr Jon Copley

501

Deep sea creatures - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the deep sea with Dr Jon Copley

502

The Science Focus team: What's inside November's issue?

503

Prof Linda Scott: Why is there still economic inequality between men and women?

504

Everything you ever wanted to know about… cancer with Dr Kat Arney

505

Hugo Zeberg: How could Neanderthal genes affect COVID-19?

506

Matt Parker, Helen Arney and Steve Mould: What links coffee, snowflakes and frogs?

507

Merlin Sheldrake: How have fungi shaped the world?

508

Sue Black: What stories do our skeletons tell?

509

Professor Trevor Cox: Was Stonehenge an ancient acoustic chamber?

510

Dr Julia Shaw: Why do we do bad things?

511

James Hamblin: Should we all stop showering?

512

Katie Mack: How will the Universe end?

513

Rana el Kaliouby: What if computers could read our emotions?

514

Dr Rachel Brown: Why are some COVID-19 patients suffering from neurological complications?

515

The Urban Birder: What wildlife can city-dwellers see?

516

Dr Michael Mosley: Why is sleep so important?

517

Ritu Raman: Can you build with biology?

518

Project Discovery: Could computer games help find a cure for COVID-19?

519

Dr Jacob Bleacher: Why do we need to go back to the Moon?

520

Subhadra Das: What part has science played in racism?

521

Brendan Walker: Where is the best place to sit on a rollercoaster?

522

Leonard Mlodinow: How did Stephen Hawking make science accessible?

523

Pragya Agarwal: When does bias become prejudice?

524

Anthony David: Why is there still such stigma around mental health?

525

Luck, the paranormal and the Moon landings - Everything you ever wanted to know about…. illusions, magic and the paranormal

526

Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac: Has climate change determined our future?

527

Illusions and Magic - Everything you ever wanted to know about... illusions, magic and the paranormal, episode 1

528

Elisa Raffaella Ferrè: What happens to the brain in space?

529

Sonia Contera: How will nanotechnology revolutionise medicine?

530

Neil Shubin: How do big changes in evolution happen?

531

Your questions – Everything You Wanted To Know About…Physics, episode six

532

Mysteries in physics – Everything You Wanted To Know About…Physics, episode five

533

Energy – Everything You Wanted To Know About…Physics, episode four

534

Quantum physics – Everything You Wanted To Know About…Physics, episode three

535

Space & Time – Everything You Wanted To Know About…Physics, episode two

536

The Fundamentals – Everything You Wanted to Know About…Physics, episode one

537

Everything You Wanted To Know About Physics, with Prof Jim Al-Khalili

538

Sandro Galea: What is the difference between health and medicine?

539

Toby Ord: What are the odds civilisation will survive the century?

540

Anthony Warner: Are we really too fat?

541

Camilla Pang: How can science guide my life?

542

Kevin Fong: What happened to Apollo 13?

543

Aleks Krotoski: What happens to your data when you die?

544

Professor Fay Dowker: What is the problem of quantum gravity?

545

Jim Davies: How do you use your imagination?

546

Mark Miodownik: Are biodegradable plastics really better than traditional plastic?

547

Dr Erin Macdonald: Is there any science in Star Trek?

548

Adam Rutherford: Can science ever be rid of racism?

549

Ross Barnett: Why should we be interested in prehistoric animals that aren’t dinosaurs?

550

Samantha Alger: What can we do to save the bees?

551

Marcel Danesi: Why do we want to believe lies?

552

Dr Becky Smethurst: How do you actually find a black hole?

553

Hannah Fry: How much of our lives is secretly underpinned by maths?

554

Adam Kay: Is Christmas really the most wonderful time of the year on labour ward?

555

Kathryn D Sullivan: What is it really like to walk in space?

556

Brian Switek: How did bones evolve?

557

Chris Lintott: Can members of the public do real science?

558

Dean Burnett: What’s going on in the teenage brain?

559

Randall Munroe: How do you find the worst solution to any problem?

560

Gaia Vince: What part does culture play in our evolution?

561

Jim Al-Khalili: Why should we care about science and scientists?

562

Bill Bryson: What should we know about how our bodies work?

563

Gretchen McCulloch: How has the internet affected how we communicate?

564

Robert Elliott Smith: Are algorithms inherently biased?

565

Monica Grady: What is the future of space science?

566

Dr Tilly Blyth: How has art influenced science?

567

Richard Dawkins: Can we live in a world without religion?

568

Does data discriminate against women? – Caroline Criado Perez

569

How do you launch a successful space mission? – Mark McCaughrean

570

What does our skin tell us about ourselves? – Dr Monty Lyman

571

Are Generation Z our only hope for the future? – John Higgs

572

Is an implantable electronic device the future of medicine? – Gordon Wallace

573

How accurately can we predict the weather? – Andrew Blum

574

What happened at Bluedot festival 2019? – Libby Jackson, Tom Shakespeare and Danielle George

575

What does a world with an ageing population look like? – Sarah Harper

576

What does it mean to be a man? – Gary Barker

577

Dr Guy Leschziner: What is your brain doing while you sleep?

578

What can the father of Gaia theory tell us about our future? - James Lovelock

579

Could leaving nature to its own devices be the key to meeting the UK’s climate goals? - Mark Lynas

580

Is there really no such thing as a fish? – Andrew Hunter Murray and Dan Schreiber

581

Is racism creeping into science? – Angela Saini

582

Can we really predict when doomsday will happen? – William Poundstone

583

Is body positivity the answer to body image issues? – Phillippa Diedrichs

584

Why is the Moon landing still relevant 50 years on? – Kevin Fong

585

Can science explain everything? – Michael Blastland

586

Is the cure for cancer hiding in human breast milk? – Professor Catharina Svanborg

587

Why is Leonardo Da Vinci’s scientific legacy so often overlooked? – Martin Clayton

588

Is gene editing inspiring or terrifying? – Nessa Carey

589

What if the Earth’s magnetic field died? – Jim Al-Khalili

590

Are video games good for us? - Pete Etchells

591

Do you believe in magic? – Gustav Kuhn

592

How can we save our planet? - Sir David Attenborough

593

Can we slow down the ageing process? - Sue Armstrong

594

Matt Parker: What happens when maths goes horribly, horribly wrong?

595

Why is the magnetic north pole moving? - Ciaran Beggan

596

Are we facing an insect apocalypse? - Brad Lister

597

Is religion compatible with science? - Professor John Lennox

598

What does it mean to be happy? - Helen Russell

599

How geology can influence elections - Lewis Dartnell

600

The mindset behind the Moon landing – Richard Wiseman

601

How technology is changing politics – Jamie Susskind

602

There’s no such thing as Blue Monday - Sir David Spiegelhalter

603

The most mysterious objects in the Universe - Colin Stuart

604

Eating for your genes - Giles Yeo

605

What makes me 'me'? - Aoife McLysaght

606

Why ASMR gives you tingles – Emma WhispersRed

607

Air pollution is killing us, here’s how you can stop it – Gary Fuller

608

Should we be worried about sex robots? – Kate Devlin

609

Filming a Dynasty - Nick Lyon

610

There is no Plan B for planet Earth – Lord Martin Rees

611

What NASA’s InSight will tell us about Mars - Bruce Banerdt

612

The genetic hunt for the Loch Ness Monster - Neil Gemmell

613

Robin Ince: Inside the mind of a comedian

614

How to get a good night’s sleep - Alice Gregory

615

What makes a robot a robot? – Dr Lucy Rogers

616

Finding the fun in science - Dara Ó Briain

617

The psychology of suicide - Jesse Bering

618

What we got wrong about pandas and teenagers

619

How to invent everything - Ryan North

620

Why aren't there more women in science?

621

Identifying Jack the Ripper - David Wilson

622

Why AI is not the enemy - Jim Al-Khalili

623

Could these gloves be the future of music?

624

What's going on with the weather? - Dann Mitchell

625

What asteroids can tell us about our Solar System

626

Wildfires: past, present and future

627

Inequality in Science

628

What’s the deal with algorithms?

629

Mike Garrett: Is there anybody out there?

630

Russia's canine cosmonauts

631

Sin: Why we do the things we shouldn’t

632

Solving the plastic problem

633

Everything that's wrong with the human body

634

How to keep yourself busy in space

635

The truth about dinosaurs

636

To become Prime Minister, change your voice

637

The neuroscience of happiness

638

Changing our behaviour with virtual reality

639

What it’s really like to die

640

How to push the limits of human endurance

641

Transhumanism - using technology to live forever

642

Nudge theory

643

Project Discovery and its search for exoplanets

644

Remembering Stephen Hawking - the Galaxy's best known scientist

645

Exploding Head Syndrome

646

Adventures in brain enhancement

647

The future of humanity

648

How emotions are made

649

The London Fatberg + Why you should break up with your phone

650

How plants can survive space missions and Chernobyl

651

Christmas lectures past and present

652

Building a base on the Moon, and crafting believable sci-fi

653

Why we love pets and why strangers help each other

654

Psychosis, realism and video games