Ri Science Podcast

The science of consciousness: Could a conscious AI exist? - with Anil Seth

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:40:07 GMT

The science of consciousness is a complex and constantly evolving field of research. Neuroscientists are still understanding how it originates in humans, but the question now arises of whether Artificial Intelligence could ever become conscious. Cognitive and computational neuroscientist Anil Seth discusses the current theories for consciousness, and the probability of AI ever becoming conscious, in his essay 'the mythology of conscious AI' which won him the 2025 Berggruen Prize Essay Competition.

Read Anil's winning essay here.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Assistant producer: Georgina Gonzalez and Freddie Rodgers

Music: Joseph Sandy

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From the Lab: The future of sound wave engineering - with Sriram Subramanian

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT

In this month's From the Lab episode, we discover the power of sound waves and how they can manipulate small objects with engineer Sriram Subramanian, ahead of his Discourse at the end of March. Sriram explains the science behind acoustic holography and levitation, and how we could see these concepts in practice in industries ranging from gaming to medicine.

About 'From the Lab':

This is the third of our new 'From the Lab' series, taking the place of our 'From the Theatre' episodes. UCL are celebrating their 200th anniversary in 2026, and we've collaborated with them to host UCL researchers as our Discourse speakers throughout 2026. As part of this collaboration, we'll be bringing you episodes with each of these speakers two weeks before their Discourses to explore their research topics further and give you a sneak peek of what's to come in their Discourse.

Buy tickets to Sriram's Discourse on Friday 27 March on our website.

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Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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What can ancient DNA reveal about the past? - with Pooja Swali

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMT

How can ancient DNA help us understand how diseases spread? This month, geneticist and pathogen genomics expert Pooja Swali explains how samples of DNA from the past can reveal how diseases have spread across the world over time. We explore the what, where, how, and why of ancient DNA research, and what doors these questions have opened for the future of the field. Pooja has worked extensively on Yersinia pestis, the bacteria responsible for plague, and uncovered the existence of plague thousands of years earlier than previously anticipated.

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Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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From the Lab: Investigating exoplanets - with Jonathan Tennyson

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Planets outside of our solar system can unlock an abundance of secrets about our Universe. But how do we study them? Astrophysicist Jonathan Tennyson discusses his own research into exoplanets, and how researchers can use the stars to learn more about planets.

About 'From the Lab':

This is the second of our new 'From the Lab' series, taking the place of our 'From the Theatre' episodes. UCL are celebrating their 200th anniversary in 2026, and we've collaborated with them to host UCL researchers as our Discourse speakers throughout 2026. As part of this collaboration, we'll be bringing you episodes with each of these speakers two weeks before their Discourses to explore their research topics further and give you a sneak peek of what's to come in their Discourse.

Buy tickets to Jonathan's Discourse on Friday 27 February on our website.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and 'From the Lab' episodes are released on the second or third Friday of the month (two weeks before their respective Discourse). Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website
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Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok

Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Assistant producer: Freddie Rodgers

Music: Joseph Sandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The role of inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease - with Tomi Akingbade

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the excessive build-up of proteins in the brain. Neuroscientist Tomi Akingbade joins us this month to explain how inflammation could be playing a role in the progression of Alzheimer’s, and what this could mean for future research. Tomi is also the founder of the Black Women in Science (BWiS) network, and discusses the profound impact it’s had on herself and the community around her since she started the network.

Discover more about the BWiS network
Follow BWiS on Instagram

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website
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Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok

Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the Lab: How mathematics is powering medical innovation – with Becky Shipley

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:30:13 GMT

Medical research is continuously evolving with new technologies, but another key player in spurring this evolution is mathematics. Mathematician and healthcare engineering expert Becky Shipley joins us to discuss the role mathematics is playing in medical research, and some of the fascinating and innovative technologies she's been a part of developing.

About 'From the Lab':

This is the first of our new 'From the Lab' series, taking the place of our 'From the Theatre' episodes. UCL are celebrating their 200th anniversary in 2026, and we've collaborated with them to host UCL researchers as our Discourse speakers throughout 2026. As part of this collaboration, we'll be bringing you episodes with each of these speakers two weeks before their Discourses to explore their research topics further and give you a sneak peek of what's to come in their Discourse.

Buy tickets to Becky's Discourse on Friday 30 January on our website.

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Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best of 2025: Science wrapped

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:08:00 GMT

From the scientific mechanisms underlying ACL injuries, the application of computational fluid dynamics in the COVID-19 pandemic, and even the latest space mission on the way to Mercury, we've covered an enormous range of science on the Ri Science Podcast throughout 2025.

In this year's Science Wrapped episode, we take a look back over our favourite moments from the past year to give you a snippet of what you might have missed, and a taste of what's to come in 2026.

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Producer and presenter: Joshua Horton

Executive producer: Lia Hale

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From the Space Park: What will BepiColombo teach us about Mercury? - with Suzie Imber

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 08:00:00 GMT

We’re bringing you this month’s From the Theatre episode from the Space Park in Leicester, joined by Professor of Space Physics Suzie Imber. Suzie is a Co-Investigator on the Mercury Imaging X-Ray Spectrometer (MIXS) instrument onboard BepiColombo, the joint mission between ESA and JAXA currently on its way to Mercury. We explore the history of Mercury investigations, why it has been studied so much less than other planets, and what scientists are hoping to learn from BepiColombo.

To discover more space science, tune into the 200th CHRISTMAS LECTURES from the Royal Institution with Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock on 28th, 29th and 30th December on BBC4 and BBC iPlayer.

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Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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Tripping the light fantastic: Space science and 200 years of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES - with Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 08:00:00 GMT

This December, space scientist and renowned science communicator Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock will be presenting the CHRISTMAS LECTURES in their 200th year titled ‘Is there life beyond earth?’.

Maggie joins us on the podcast this month to explore the history of space imaging and the huge number of projects she has worked on throughout her career, as well as her experiences navigating the scientific world and some of the biggest questions remaining in space science today.

Tune into the CHRISTMAS LECTURES this December between Christmas and New Year, on BBC Four and iPlayer.

Find out more about the 2025 CHRISTMAS LECTURES

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Lead producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Assistant producers: Mohsina Asif, Poppy Aves, Mia Buxton

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From the Excel: Upcoming science in 2026 from New Scientist Live

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 08:00:00 GMT

In this month's 'From the Theatre' episode, we visited New Scientist Live at the Excel to explore what scientists are most excited about for 2026. From insects performing amputations to the latest developments at the Large Hadron Collider, discover what innovations are happening across a range of scientific disciplines.

This episode was recorded on Sunday 19 October 2025.

Presented and produced by Lia Hale

Music by Joseph Sandy

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How mechanical engineering is changing the world - with Shini Somara

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Mechanical engineer and broadcaster Shini Somara joins us this month to uncover some of the fascinating and often under-appreciated innovations in the world of engineering, ahead of her double bill of talks at the Ri on Saturday 1 November.

Shini discusses how computational fluid dynamics (CFD) transformed our understanding and management of Covid-19, and how the field has changed dramatically with the computing advancements and introduction of AI in recent years.

Book tickets to join Shini this weekend for her family and adult talks

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Produced and presented by Lia Hale

Music by Joseph Sandy

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From the Theatre: Should computers run the world? - with Hannah Fry

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In this month's From the Theatre episode, we revisit past Christmas Lecturer Hannah Fry's talk on the power of algorithms to continue celebrating our Discover200 campaign.
Hannah Fry takes us on a tour of the good, the bad and the downright ugly of the algorithms that surround us. She lifts the lid on their inner workings, to demonstrate their power, expose their limitations, and examine whether they really are an improvement on the humans they are replacing.

This talk was filmed at the Ri on 30 November 2018.

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The science behind sickle cell disease - with Sara El Hoss and Stephanie George

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Sickle cell disorder is an inherited blood disorder that affects the shape of red blood cells, and can have an extreme impact on all different areas of the body. September marks Sickle Cell Awareness Month, so we wanted to draw attention to the science underlying this often-misunderstood disease. We are joined by researcher Sara El Hoss and sickle cell patient and advocate Stephanie George to discuss everything from the diagnostic journey to the fascinating research investigating future treatment methods.

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of depression and self-harm. If you are struggling with things of this nature, we have linked some resources below to help you find the right support for you.

Mental health resources:

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

Sickle Cell resources:

https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/

https://ascatconferences.com/

https://www.instagram.com/redcellsrus/

https://www.instagram.com/steph_has_sicklecell_/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sickle-cell-disease/

Producer: Lia Hale

Assistant producer: Poppy Aves

Music: Joseph Sandy

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From the Theatre: The science of mental health - with Camilla Nord

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

We're bringing you even more Spotify content, by sharing one of our world-famous lectures on every second Wednesday of the month through 'From the Theatre' episodes. Don't worry, Ri Science Podcast episodes are still coming every last Wednesday, but these will help to tide you over in the meantime.

How does the body affect our brain, and vice versa? Can exercise, psychedelics, or the gut biome improve your mental health? Find out with neuroscientist Camilla Nord.

This talk was recorded at the Ri on 4 March 2024.

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Is data failing us? - with Grace Huckins

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Everywhere you look across the scientific landscape, AI and big data play a vital role. But is that role good or bad? This year’s Nine Dots Prize question looked to tackle just that, and award-winning science journalist and neuroscientist Grace Huckins’ entry was deemed the most innovative.

Grace joins us this month to discuss how AI could be changing the way science operates, and how data has transformed the field of neuroscience specifically.

Read an extract from Grace’s winning essay: https://ninedotsprize.org/extract-from-grace-huckins-winning-entry/

Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Assistant producer: Poppy Aves

Music: Joseph Sandy

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What can dogs teach us about the microbiome? - with Bushra Schuitemaker

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 23:00:00 GMT

How similar is your microbiome to your dog’s? How do volcanoes influence the microbiome of the earth? And what links the microbiome to epilepsy?

It’s not just the gut that has a microbiome – everything from your phone screen to the soles of your shoes has a community of microorganisms residing together that forms a microbiome. But the microbiome in the gut specifically has a huge impact on our bodily functioning, and we can learn a lot about our own gut microbiome by looking at those of domesticated animals like dogs.

This month, we’re joined by Bushra Schuitemaker, a microbiologist and head of science and research at Biome9, to understand what we can learn from the microbiomes around us.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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Learn more about Biome9 and Dogileptic

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The science behind ACL injuries in women's football - with Blake Rivers and Grace Vella

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 23:00:00 GMT

The Women's Euros kick off next Wednesday, once again bringing attention to the epidemic of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women’s football. But why is it that women are six times more likely to suffer from these injuries, and what research is being done to understand it further?

This month we’re looking at the science behind the ACL, and what factors researchers are investigating that influence injury susceptibility. We’re joined by Blake Rivers, whose PhD at Kingston University is being funded by FIFA to investigate the impact of the menstrual cycle on ACL injuries, and Grace Vella, a footballer and entrepreneur who is 5 months into her ACL rehabilitation following on from reconstructive surgery.

Producer: Lia Hale

Assistant producer: Jessica Hibbert

Music: Joseph Sandy

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De-westernizing the history of science - with Gianamar Giovannetti-Singh

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:30:45 GMT

When we think of the biggest historical figures in science, names like Isaac Newton and Michael Faraday tend to come to mind. But the discoveries made by these individuals could never have happened without the contributions of countless others around the world, whose names and stories are often left out of the picture.

Former Royal Institution Freer Fellow Gianamar Giovannetti-Singh spoke at the Ri to shed light on some of these untold stories, and to help us adopt a more global understanding of the history of science.

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This talk was recorded in the Theatre at the Royal Institution on Monday 14 May 2024

Producer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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Understanding antimicrobial resistance - with Gabriel Astorga

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 08:34:01 GMT

How do microbes including bacteria become resistant to treatment? What can we do to prevent it? And why do we have tuberculosis to thank for the creation of cowboy hats? This month, PhD student and award-winning science communicator Gabriel Astorga joins us to answer all these questions and more, as we look under the hood of antimicrobial resistance.

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Read more about the UKHSA campaign here

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Producer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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How climate change affects the brain - with Clayton Aldern and Sanjay Sisodiya

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:08:00 GMT

John Tyndall first announced his discovery of greenhouse gases in a Royal Institution Discourse back in 1862. Since then, our understanding of the science of climate change has come on leaps and bounds in some areas, but in others we are only just scratching the surface.

This month, we hear from neuroscientist-turned-journalist Clayton Aldern and Professor of Neurology Sanjay Sisodiya about how climate change affects our brains. From memories passed through generations to the impact of heat on neurological disorders such as epilepsy, we dive deeper into the neuroscience underlying climate change.

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Producer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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Statistical uncertainty in the modern world - with David Spiegelhalter

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:08:00 GMT

Sir David Spiegelhalter is a national treasure in the world of statistics, achieving everything from a knighthood to appearing on Total Wipeout.

In light of giving the first Discourse in their bicentennial year, David explores how risk and uncertainty have affected his own life, and how to understand the statistics we see every day.

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Producer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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Scientists on Scientists: Being the Christmas Lecturer - with Chris van Tulleken and Monica Grady

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:04:00 GMT

2025 marks the 200 year anniversary of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES from the Royal Institution, as well as Discourses and Michael Faraday’s discovery of Benzene. We’re celebrating throughout the year to mark the occasion, kicking off with a conversation between two previous Christmas Lecturers Chris van Tulleken and Monica Grady. They discuss their experiences giving the lectures, the importance of science communication to young people, and their advice for their successors.

Find out more about the Discover200 campaign: https://www.rigb.org/discover200-ri

This episode was recorded remotely on Monday 16 December 2024.

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Interviewer: Lia Hale

Producer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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Best of 2024: Science wrapped

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:10:00 GMT

2024 has been a remarkable year for science, so we're taking a look back over the past year at our most memorable moments here on the Ri Science Podcast. From eggs to AI, sustainable plastics to protein folding, we've discussed a fascinating range of topics with even more fascinating guests including Jess Wade and Charan Ranganath.

We can't wait to see what's in store in science for 2025, and thank you for listening and learning with us in 2024.

With the exception of this episode, Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Presenter: Katie Mortimer

Producer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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Quantum physics and gender equity - with Jess Wade

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 08:30:00 GMT

2025 is the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, as marked by the UN, to celebrate 100 years since the birth of quantum mechanics. But quantum science is one of the least diverse areas of science in terms of gender and other protected characteristics.

Jess Wade, a physicist and lecturer in functional materials at Imperial College London, has been fighting the inequality in quantum physics and beyond by creating thousands of Wikipedia pages for women scientists. Jess joins us this month to discuss the past, present, and future of quantum science along with what can be done to increase diversity within the field.

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Producer: Lia Hale

Assistant producers: Katie Mortimer, Isla Nakano

Interviewer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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Sustainable materials: Trick or treat? - with Mike Shaver

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 09:50:29 GMT

Halloween means lots of sweets, which in turn means lots of packaging. We’re starting to see more of the packaging on our shelves labelled as sustainable in some way, but are they really? Mike Shaver is a Professor of Polymer Science and Director of the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub at the University of Manchester, and joins us this month to unpick the current landscape of sustainable materials, and discuss whether or not a fully recyclable plastic is possible.

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Producer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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The search for Earth 2.0 - with Elizabeth Tasker

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 07:20:00 GMT

What makes a planet habitable? What are we looking for to find Earth 2.0? And how do you get a chunk of an asteroid through airport security? This month, astrophysicist Elizabeth Tasker discusses the latest missions at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and explores how our knowledge has progressed since she last spoke at the Ri back in 2018.

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Producer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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The brain on exercise - with Dr Flaminia Ronca

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 15:30:00 GMT

Today marks the beginning of the Paralympic Games, and nearly 3 weeks since the end of the Olympic Games in Paris. But what actually happens to your brain when you exercise? What’s the science behind ‘runner’s high’? And why isn’t there enough research on women in sport? This month, we’re joined by exercise neuroscientist Flaminia Ronca, from UCL and the Institute of Sport Exercise and Health. She shares with us which chemical and physiological systems are involved when we exercise, and how regular exercise can decrease our chances of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

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Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Assistant producer: Isla Nakano

Music: Joseph Sandy

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How women drove evolution - with Cat Bohannon

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:30:00 GMT

Why is there less medical research on women? How did humanity reach 8 billion despite the dangers of childbirth? In this episode, Cat Bohannon explores these questions and reveals insights from her book, Eve: How Women Drove 200 Million Years of Evolution, to highlight women’s pivotal role in our species’ history. This talk was recorded at the Royal Institution on 8 June 2024.

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Producer: Eloise Ross

Executive producer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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The science of cheese - with Bronwen Percival

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 10:30:00 GMT

To celebrate National Cheese Day earlier this month, we sat down with biochemist and cheese expert Bronwen Percival to look under the barrel at the science of one of the nation’s favourite foods. From the basics of cheese production to the biochemistry underlying its notorious smell, and even some cheese tastings, this episode guarantees to open your eyes to the captivating world of cheese.

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Producer: Freddie Rodgers

Interviewer: Isla Nakano

Music: Joseph Sandy

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Eggs, Evolution, and life on Earth - with Jules Howard

Wed, 29 May 2024 15:30:00 GMT

What came first, the chicken, the egg, or...the jellyfish? Zoologist and author Jules Howard joins us this month to explore evolution through a new lens - the egg. Eggs play a fundamental role in the reproduction and development of most species, yet they have been relatively overlooked in the narrative of evolution and the progression of life on Earth.

Jules takes us on a journey back through the history of eggs, their surprisingly fundamental role in everything from the extinction of dinosaurs to the evolution of the human brain.

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Producer: Lia Hale

Interviewer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

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The neuroscience of memory - with Charan Ranganath

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:30:00 GMT

Why is it that we can vividly remember a particular smell from years ago, but can’t remember where we put our keys a mere few hours prior? This month, we’re joined by renowned neuroscientist and author Dr Charan Ranganath to discuss how and why we remember.

Charan is a Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology, and Director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at UC Davis, and has recently released his first book ‘Why We Remember’. Charan takes us on a journey through our own minds, and a forward look at the future of memory research.

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Producer: Lia Hale

Assistant producer: Freddie Rodgers

Interviewer: Lisa Derry

Music: Joseph Sandy

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Ri on AI: The healthcare revolution – with Dr James Kinross

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 17:30:00 GMT

In the second episode of this miniseries, we’re exploring how AI is impacting different areas of scientific research, and in this episode we discuss the applications of AI in healthcare. Lisa Derry is joined by Dr James Kinross, a colorectal surgeon and medical researcher at Imperial College London, to discuss everything from the impact of AI on medical publishing to robotic surgery.

Ri on AI episode 1: https://youtu.be/lxgaILSZEbU?si=T3INFIFJy9Zkx1wZ

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Lead producer: Lia Hale
Assistant producer: Freddie Rodgers
Interviewer: Lisa Derry
Music: Joseph Sandy

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Geometry in Everyday Life - with the London Institute of Mathematical Sciences (LIMS)

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 14:19:46 GMT

Following on from his Discourse, Yang-Hui He is joined by LIMS science writer Madeleine Hall to discuss the past, present and future of Geometry. From Euclid’s postulates to how flower petals are arranged, explore how our modern understanding of geometry has come to be. LIMS is based here at the Ri, and you can find out more about their research by following the link below.

New Ri Science Podcast episodes will be released on the last Wednesday of every month, so make sure to tune in for the next episode at the end of March!

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Producer: Jeremy Monblat

Assistant producer: Lia Hale, Freddie Rodgers

Editor: Freddie Rodgers

Interviewer: Jeremy Monblat

Music: Joseph Sandy

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Ri on AI: Understanding AlphaFold with Dame Janet Thornton

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 17:29:24 GMT

We’re exploring how AI is impacting different areas of scientific research, and in this episode we discuss AlphaFold, the machine learning programme from DeepMind that can determine a protein structure from its amino acids alone. Lisa Derry is joined by Dame Janet Thornton, an oracle of bioinformatics and former Director of the European Bioinformatics Institute, to discuss how AlphaFold has revolutionised its field, and what it could do in the future.

Thank you to our Christmas Lectures supporters and our title partner, CGI.

Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think of the new video format, and to help more people discover the podcast.

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Producer: Lia Hale

Assistant producers: Sarah Dick and James Kavanagh

Interviewer: Lisa Derry

Music: Joseph Sandy

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Tales from my PhD: Algorithms for energy efficiency – with Karan Mukhi

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:00:00 GMT

How can we improve the use of renewable energy in the power grid? In the final episode of the series 'Tales from my PhD', Charlotte Collingwood talks to Karan Mukhi about his work in computer science, creating algorithms to improve the efficiency of the national grid.

Follow Charlotte on Twitter: @NeuroCharlotte

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Produced by: Charlotte Collingwood

Music by: Joseph Sandy

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Tales from my PhD: Fighting rice blast fungus – with Camilla Molinari

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 17:03:43 GMT

How do you fight a fungus? In this episode of ‘Tales from my PhD’, Charlotte Collingwood talks to Camilla Molinari about her work in plant pathology, studying the mechanisms and genetics of the rice blast fungus in order to limit its impact on food crops.

Follow Camilla on Twitter: ⁠@CamilaMolinari3
Follow Charlotte on Twitter: ⁠@NeuroCharlotte⁠

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Produced by: Charlotte CollingwoodMusic by: Joseph Sandy

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Tales from my PhD: Researching anxiety and depression through computational models – with Sophie Shang

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 14:01:04 GMT

How can maths and computational models help us treat anxiety and depression? In this episode of 'Tales from my PhD', Charlotte Collingwood talks to Sophie Shang about her research in the field of computational psychiatry. A hallmark symptom of anxiety and depression is an intolerance of uncertainty. Sophie's work involves designing studies to test people's response to changes in their environment, analysing the data mathematically and then coding computational models in order to reveal patterns in human behaviour and mental health that are otherwise invisible.

Follow Sophie on Twitter: @Sophie_Shang
Follow Charlotte on Twitter: @NeuroCharlotte

Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think.

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Produced by: Charlotte Collingwood

Music by: Joseph Sandy

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Tales from my PhD: Saving manta rays – with Jessica Savage

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 05:30:00 GMT

There are an estimated 5 trillion plastic particles in the oceans, spelling trouble for marine ecosystems. Manta rays are one group of species at risk – how can we protect these animals? In this episode of 'Tales from my PhD', Charlotte Collingwood talks to Jessica Savage about her work analysing the species distribution of manta rays and global plastic pollution maps to aid marine science and conservation.

Follow Jessica on Twitter: @Jessicasavage29
Follow Charlotte on Twitter: @NeuroCharlotte

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Produced by: Charlotte Collingwood

Music by: Joseph Sandy

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How to hear gravitational waves – with Tessa Baker

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 22:21:14 GMT

How can we detect massive objects in space when we can't see them by light?

On 14 September 2015, scientists opened a new window to observing the Universe when, for the first time, they directly detected gravitational waves, rippled out through spacetime from the merger of two black holes.

In this episode, astronomer Tessa Baker explores how Einstein’s theory of gravity predicted the existence of gravitational waves, how delicate experiments eventually confirmed their existence, and how we cantranslate this experimental data into sounds, allowing us to hear the Universe.

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 19 May 2023.

Watch the talk on YouTube: youtu.be/U_J_uJcjQ0I
Follow Tessa Baker on Twitter: @Tessa_M_Baker

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Produced by: Sarah Dick

Music by: Joseph Sandy

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Tales from my PhD: What is galaxy evolution? – with Rohan Varadaraj

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 10:00:58 GMT

Astrophysicists grapple with the Universe's big questions, but what does their day-to-day research actually entail? In the first of our new mini-series, 'Tales from my PhD', Charlotte Collingwood sits down with Rohan Varadaraj to discuss his work discovering new galaxies billions of light years away.

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Produced by: Charlotte Collingwood

Music by: Joseph Sandy

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How did patriarchy develop across the world? – with Angela Saini and Julia Gillard

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 10:15:19 GMT

How did societies develop across the globe and how did gender become so enmeshed in them? In this episode we join award-winning science journalist, Angela Saini, in conversation with former Australian prime-minister, Julia Gillard, as they go in search of the roots of gendered oppression. By looking at cultures throughout human history and in the modern day, they overturn simplistic universal theories to show that what patriarchy is and how far back it goes really depends on where you live.

Get Angela Saini's book: The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 2 March 2023.

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Produced by: Sarah Dick

Music by: Joseph Sandy

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Can science explain emotions? – with Dean Burnett

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 17:01:19 GMT

Did you know that there is no widely agreed upon definition of what emotions actually are? After losing his dad to Covid-19 in the early days of the pandemic lockdown, neuroscientist Dean Burnett found himself wondering what life would be like without emotions. In today’s episode, Dean combines his personal story with expert analysis, humour and powerful insights into the grieving process, to uncover how emotions make us who we are.

Get Dean's book: 'Emotional Ignorance: Lost and Found in the Science of Emotion'

Subscribe to Dean's podcast: 'Why does this thing exist?'

Follow Dean on Twitter: twitter.com/garwboy

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 30 January 2023.

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Produced by: Sarah Dick

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Tackling climate change with innovation – with Alyssa Gilbert and Katherine Mathieson

Sat, 22 Apr 2023 11:44:11 GMT

How could we use shower wastewater to clean our clothes? To celebrate Earth Day and its specific focus on investing in the planet, we wanted to introduce you to ‘Undaunted’ - our partnership with Imperial College London that supports climate-positive startups tackling the climate crisis head on. We hear from Alyssa Gilbert, Director of Undaunted, and Katherine Mathieson, Director of the Ri, about the exciting work Undaunted is doing, alongside a sneak peek into some of the innovations.

Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help more people discover the podcast.

Contact Katherine: kmathieson@ri.ac.uk

Contact Alyssa: a.gilbert@imperial.ac.uk

Learn more about Undaunted: imperial.ac.uk/climate-change-innovation/about-us/

Learn more about Greenhouse startup accelerator: climateinnovators.uk/startup-accelerator/

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Produced by: Lia Hale

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Existential physics: Exploring life's big questions – with Sabine Hossenfelder

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 21:21:19 GMT

Are particles conscious? Can information be destroyed? Do we live in a computer simulation? Are we part of a multiverse? In this episode, theoretical physicist Sabine Hossenfelder draws on research in quantum mechanics, black holes and particle physics to explore what modern physics can tell us about life's big, existential questions.

Watch the video version of this episode: ⁠youtu.be/fl9oDJzfg58⁠
Sabine's book "Existential Physics: A Scientists Guide to Life's Biggest Questions", is available to purchase now: ⁠https://geni.us/oBMXZv⁠
Subscribe to Sabine's YouTube channel: youtube.com/SabineHossenfelder

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 19 August 2022. Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help more people discover the podcast.

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Produced by: Charlotte Collingwood
Music by: Joseph Sandy

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Bad statistics: How not to be misled – with Jennifer Rogers

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 14:52:40 GMT

You might have heard that vending machines are more likely to kill you than a shark, but they aren’t the only deadly object out there. You’re also more likely to be killed by falling coconuts, lightning strikes, bathtubs and your own bed. Swimming in shark-infested waters might actually be safer than hiding in your own house.

In this episode, statistician Jennifer Rogers delves into the numbers to show you how statistics can help you to make better decisions about risky activities.

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This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 11 March 2019.

Produced by: Charlotte Collingwood

Music by: Joseph Sandy

Thumbnail image credit: Javaistan via Pixabay

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How Peter Higgs proposed the Higgs boson – with Frank Close

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 23:00:41 GMT

On 4 July 2012, one of the longest-running mysteries in physics was finally clarified. The ATLAS and CMS collaborations at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider announced that they had produced and observed the elusive Higgs boson. This unstable elementary particle was theorised back in 1964 by 6 scientists – one of them was the particle’s namesake, Peter Higgs.

In this episode, physicist and former Ri Christmas Lecturer, Frank Close, explores the life of Peter Higgs, a Nobel prize-winning scientist and the only person in history to have an existing single particle named after them.

Get Frank Close's book 'Elusive: How Peter Higgs Solved the Mystery of Mass': https://geni.us/KI6As1C
Watch Frank Close's CHRISTMAS LECTURES: rigb.org/explore-science/explore/video/cosmic-onion-atoms-1993

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 7 July 2022.

Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help more people discover the podcast.

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Produced by: Sarah Dick

Music by: Joseph Sandy

Thumbnail image credit: Garik Barseghyan via Pixabay

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How to handle heart disease – with Samer Nashef

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 09:31:40 GMT

Do Diet Coke and salt cause heart disease? How do you transport a heart to be transplanted? How can you learn to live with angina? In this month's talk, we hear from world-renowned cardiac surgeon Samer Nashef. Samer discusses his book, ‘The Angina Monologues: Stories of Surgery for Broken Hearts’, with journalist Sathnam Sanghera.

Together they explore a collection of Samer’s stories that are sure to get your heart racing – from driving a donor heart up the motorway to Samer's personal experience with angina.

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 8 May 2019.

Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help more people discover the podcast.

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Produced by: Lia Hale

Music by: Joseph Sandy

Thumbnail image credit: Fran Malley via Scribe Publications

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CHRISTMAS LECTURES special: Inside forensic science – with Dame Sue Black & Katherine Mathieson

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 13:51:51 GMT

In this Christmas-special we go behind-the-scenes of our 2022 CHRISTMAS LECTURES, presented by Professor Dame Sue Black. Katherine Mathieson, Director of the Ri, managed to steal Sue away from rehearsals for a quick chat about her CHRISTMAS LECTURES memories, science communication and what we can expect to learn about forensic science.

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Produced by: Sarah Dick

Music by: Joseph Sandy

Thumbnail image credit: Paul Wilkinson Photography

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How does proton beam therapy treat cancer? – with Simon Jolly

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 09:00:13 GMT

An advanced form of radiotherapy, proton beam therapy enables tumours to be targeted with greater precision, reducing the collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Physicist Simon Jolly sheds light on this leading-edge technique and the technology needed to deliver it.

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 12 October 2018. Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8YnQkUWTS64

Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help more people discover the podcast.

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How did females evolve? – with Lucy Cooke

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 14:42:41 GMT

Did you know that zoologists have only found 5 species of mammals that go through the menopause? That's 4 species of toothed whale, plus us humans. The animal kingdom reveals a lot about female evolution and this month, Lucy Cooke explores evolutionary biology through an array of animal examples and research stemming from Darwin's time.

Get Lucy Cooke's book 'Bitch: A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Animal': www.penguin.co.uk/books/111/111196…80857524133.html

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 8 March 2022. Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help more people discover the podcast.

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Is the multiverse possible? – with Sean M Carroll

Tue, 31 May 2022 15:58:36 GMT

If you're a fan of multiverse movies, this episode is for you. The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics says that an infinite number of universes exist in parallel to eachother, each having branched off in a moment of divergence before following its own unique timeline.

Theoretical physicist Sean M Carroll guides us through the strange and sometimes daunting topic of quantum mechanics – from Einstein and Bohr to Schrödinger's cat and the many-worlds interpretation.

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 22 January 2020.

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How we got to the climate crisis – with Alice Bell

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 05:00:13 GMT

Our exploration of the Earth’s fluctuating environment is an extraordinary story of human perception and scientific endeavour, which began much earlier than you might think.

This month we hear from Alice Bell as she explores climate change science’s earliest steps in the 18th and 19th centuries, through the point when concern started to rise in the 1950s, right up to the modern day. You can learn more in Alice’s latest book 'Our Biggest Experiment: A History of the Climate Crisis’.

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 22 July 2021.

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How to design a rollercoaster – with Brendan Walker

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 20:35:03 GMT

Do you consider yourself a ‘thrill-seeker’? If so, you may have a variation in the DRD4 dopamine receptor gene which makes you less able to process dopamine, a neurotransmitter that's responsible for how we feel pleasure.

This month we hear from thrill-engineer Brendan Walker as he explains how he designs rollercoasters to induce thrill, priming our bodies’ innate responses through sounds, visual cues, virtual reality and much more.

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 28 February, 2020. Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/edT9bUbKId4

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Twitter: twitter.com/Ri_Science

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Thumbnail image credit: Jonny Gios via Unsplash | unsplash.com/photos/ljN0zTXf7tQ

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What is love? – with Laura Mucha & Kate Devlin

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 20:00:17 GMT

Does love at first sight exist? How does your attachment style influence how you love? This month we hear from lawyer-turned-poet and author, Laura Mucha, and artificial intelligence expert, Kate Devlin, about love and relationships. They share real love stories, explore what companies learn about you through online dating and discover what the future holds for sexual companion robots.This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 14 February 2019.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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How to make a universe – with Harry Cliff

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 05:00:32 GMT

Physicist Harry Cliff explains how the Universe is made, drawing on experimental data from the Large Hadron Collider and labs around the world. We hear how the basic building blocks of matter and four fundamental forces of nature make up The Standard Model of particle physics.This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on the 10 August 2021. Watch the video version on YouTube: youtu.be/bzV4O85n2y8Learn more in Harry Cliff’s book, ‘How to Make an Apple Pie from Scratch’: geni.us/harrycliffWebsite: www.rigb.orgTwitter: twitter.com/Ri_ScienceYouTube: youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitutionPatreon: patreon.com/TheRoyalInstitutionThumbnail image credit: Lucas Taylor/CERN via Wikimedia Commons | cdsweb.cern.ch/record/628469

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Solving crimes with forensic anthropology – with Sue Black

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 05:00:32 GMT

This episode is about forensic anthropology. Please be aware that due to the nature of the topic, this talk includes discussions of violence, child sexual abuse, death by suicide and mass-fatality events, which some listeners may find disturbing.This month, we hear from Sue Black, a forensic anthropologist who has led teams across the world to identify the victims and perpetrators of various conflicts and cases. Sue shares examples of her breakthrough work on real-life events, and examines how our life’s history is written into our anatomy.The talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 22 February, 2019. Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9Jrd5kJ-vTURi Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Handprints on Hubble – with Kathryn D Sullivan

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 06:44:55 GMT

The Hubble Telescope has revolutionised our understanding of the Universe. It has, among many other achievements, revealed thousands of galaxies in what seemed to be empty patches of sky and measured precisely how fast the universe is expanding.

In this talk, the first American woman to walk in space, Kathryn D Sullivan, recounts how the team of astronauts, engineers and flight controllers helped launch, rescue and maintain Hubble, the most productive observatory ever built. Her book, 'Handprints on Hubble: An Astronaut's Story of Invention' is available now.

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on the 6th of March, 2020.

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How advertising works – with Rory Sutherland

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 05:00:20 GMT

How does advertising influence us? This month, we hear from advertiser and behaviour expert Rory Sutherland, as he uses case studies from the world’s biggest brands to show how advertising makes us act against reason.This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 10 May 2019.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Medical cannabis – with Mike Barnes, Hannah Deacon, Peter Carroll and Susie Mesure

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 05:00:16 GMT

What makes up a cannabis medicinal product? How do the active ingredients work in our bodies? What conditions can it treat, and how can doctors prescribe it? We’re joined by neurologist and medical cannabis expert Mike Barnes, and ‘End our Pain’ campaigners, Peter Carroll and Hannah Deacon. Hannah fought to obtain cannabis oil to treat her son Alfie’s epileptic seizures, and the campaign succeeded in changing UK law – as of November 2018, NHS doctors can legally prescribe cannabis. So why is it still hard for doctors to do so? Mike, Peter and Hannah discuss these issues with journalist, Susie Mesure.

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 21 January 2019

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Einstein on the run – with Andrew Robinson

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 05:00:14 GMT

In autumn 1933, Albert Einstein found himself living alone in an isolated holiday hut in rural England. There, he toiled peacefully at mathematics while occasionally stepping out to chat with the locals and play his violin. But how had Einstein come to abandon his Berlin home and go ‘"on the run"?Andrew Robinson tells the story of how Britain became the a refuge for Einstein from rumoured assassination by Nazi agents.This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution, on 29 October 2019. If you want to hear more like this, head over to rigb.org to sign up for our upcoming talks.

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Conspiracy theories – with Miriam Frankel, Türkay Salim Nefes, Aleksandra Cichocka and Harry T Dyer

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 05:00:20 GMT

This month a panel of psychologists and sociologists discuss why conspiracy theories arise, how they can affect people’s political beliefs, and how we might better communicate with the people who believe in conspiracies. Conspiracy theories have been around for a long time, but in recent years they appear more frequently in public discourse. From increasing attention to anti-vaccine misinformation, to growing communities of conspiracy theorists, like the ‘flat earth’ community, who held their first large scale UK convention in 2018.

Join Miriam Frankel, science editor at The Conversation, alongside Türkay Salim Nefes, Aleksandra Cichocka and Harry T Dyer.

We held this event at the Ri on 24 October 2018, in partnership with independent news website, The Conversation.

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Can we trust maths? – with Kit Yates

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 05:00:01 GMT

If you see a newspaper headline with a big, bold statistic, how do you know that you can trust it? How often do false positive and false negative test results occur in medical screenings? And how do you safely bet whether or not 2 people in any room will share a birthday?This month we hear from Kit Yates about the maths of medicine, crime and the media, exploring real-world data from his book, ‘The Maths of Life and Death’.This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution, on 21 January 2020. If you want to hear more like this, head over to our website to sign up for our upcoming livestreams.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Life in a mars simulation – with Kate Greene

Mon, 03 May 2021 05:00:12 GMT

This month, writer and former laser-physicist Kate Greenesat down for a chat with our Public Programme Producer, Lisa Derry. They talk about Kate’s experience living as second-in-command on NASA’s first simulated Mars mission, ‘HI-SEAS’. Living in an isolated geodesic dome for 4 months with her crew-mates,Kate gained incredible insight into human behaviour in tight quarters. Lisa and Kate cover food taste experiments, how human bodies cope in space, how NASA and SpaceX work together, and how the isolation that astronauts experience relates to the isolation we’ve all felt during Covid lockdowns.This conversation was recorded over Zoom on 18 February 2021.

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The art of rest – with Claudia Hammond

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

What is the difference between sleep and rest? What activities to people actually find restful? Why is rest important?Award-winning broadcaster, author and psychology lecturer, Claudia Hammond, joins us to talk about her book 'The Art of Rest'. Drawing on results from 'The Rest Test' – the largest global study ever undertaken on the subject – Claudia explores how we can all learn to lead a more restful and balanced life.

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Recipe for a Skyscraper – with Roma Agrawal

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 08:24:17 GMT

How high can we build? What are the new technologies that might see our skyscrapers go beyond anything we ever imagined? What creativity and drive is needed to push engineering forward? Structural engineer Roma Agrawal delves into the history of the materials that enable immense construction and the developments that have made our structures what they are today. All while noting the accomplishments of key visionary engineers of the past.

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Endometriosis: Myths, Symptoms and Future Treatments - with PhD researcher Magda Mareckova, Dr Krina Zondervan and Dr Christian Becker

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 18:22:12 GMT

Endometriosis is as common as diabetes, yet the disease is poorly understood and not many people have heard about it before. It affects around 10% of women in their reproductive years, and can cause great pain.In this special extra podcast, Ri Digital Intern and PhD student, Madga Mareckova, sits down with her PhD supervisors, Krina Zondervan & Christian Becker.They dispel myths and discuss the symptoms, potential causes and treatments of endometriosis, whilst sharing insights into their unique collaboration as researchers and clinicians at the University of Oxford's Endometriosis Care and Research (CaRe) Centre.The thumbnail image is a fluorescently labelled cross-section of the human endometrium, photographed by Magda Mareckova.

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A Generalist AI - with Expert Panel

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 10:34:31 GMT

How far are we from creating Artificial General Intelligence? Can we build a machine to perform all of the intellectual tasks that a human being can?Reports of the ever-increasing power of AI systems have never been far from the headlines, from AlphaGo to self-driving cars. However, these are examples of ‘weak’ or ‘narrow’ AI; that is, systems that excel at one particular task, be it playing a game or understanding speech. But how far are we from creating Artificial General Intelligence? Join a panel of experts for a glimpse into the future of intelligence, in association with The Conversation.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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The Evolution of Truth - with Richard Byrne, Evan Davis and comedian Rachel Wheeley

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 10:07:07 GMT

Why do people lie? Why has 'fake news' become such a global phenomenon in modern public discourse? Bringing together the fields of human evolution and current affairs, Richard Byrne and Evan Davis, together with comedian Rachel Wheeley, discuss whether the ability to communicate evolved to pass on facts or to deceive, why deception is so widespread in the era of 'post-truth' politics, and what we can do about it.

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Make, Think, Imagine: Engineering a Brighter Future - with Lord Browne and Vivienne Parry

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 09:00:03 GMT

Why has engineering always been the backbone of civilisation? And why do we enjoy making things? This month, Lord Browne in conversation with Vivienne Parry, explains what engineering is, what it has done for us and how it can deliver a brighter future. Robots, our health, security, climate change as well as autonomous vehicles are discussed. Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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The Gene Machine - with Venki Ramakrishnan

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 09:00:03 GMT

The ribosome is the mother of all molecules without which nothing lives. This month, the Nobel Prize winner Venki Ramakrishnan in conversation with Vivienne Parry, tells the story of the race to uncover the structure of the ribosome - a fundamental discovery that resolves an ancient mystery of life itself and could lead to the development of better antibiotics to fight the most deadly diseases.

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The Science of Stress – with Joe Herbert, Julie Turner Cobb, and Shane O’Mara

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 14:00:22 GMT

Stress is our natural reaction to physical or emotional pressure, encompassing everything from too much work to being tortured. But what goes on in our bodies and minds to cause stress? And how does stress affect our memory, mood and thinking?This month, Vincent Walsh hosts an expert panel of Joe Herbert, Julie Turner Cobb, and Shane O’Mara, to explore the science of stress.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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How Does Science Actually Work? – with Jeremy Baumberg

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 13:00:04 GMT

We take the advance of science as given - but how does science really work? This month, Jeremy Baumberg sheds light on a cutthroat and tightly tensioned enterprise that even scientists themselves often don’t fully understand.Jeremy Baumberg is a leader in nanoscience and nanotechnology, working for much of his career at the interface between academia and industry. He has led interdisciplinary nano-centres at the Universities of Cambridge and Southampton, and developed novel devices within Hitachi, IBM, his spin-offs Mesophotonics and Base4.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Whats Next? Predictions About Our Future - with Expert Panel

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 11:00:06 GMT

What does the future have in store? Medicine, robotics, artificial intelligence, energy production and genetic engineering are all fields that will change our world - but how? This month, Jim Al-Khalili and a panel of experts debate the topic and predict the answers.Jim Al-Khalili OBE is a theoretical physicist, author and broadcaster. He is the host of the Life Scientific on BBC Four and was awarded the inaugural Stephen Hawking medal for science communication. Find out from science writer Phil Ball about the demographics of the future. Learn about how the climate will continue to change from former Chief Scientist of the Met Office, Julia Slingo. Hear more about where genomics and genome engineering is going from biologist and broadcaster Aarathi Prasad and discover smart materials with materials scientist Anna Ploszajski.

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The Story of Life – with Matthew Cobb and Nick Lane

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 11:00:05 GMT

How was the code of DNA cracked? How did it confirm the theory of evolution? And why did life evolve the way it did? This month, Matthew Cobb and Nick Lane unravel the tangled story of DNA, and why life began in the first place.Nick Lane is an evolutionary biochemist in the Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London. His work focuses on the origin of life, and the origin and evolution of eukaryotes. He is also author of prize-winning popular science books, including 'Life ascending'.Matthew Cobb is Professor of Zoology and a senior lecturer in animal behaviour at the University of Manchester. After spending some time researching humans at the institute of psychiatry, a lot of his work now investigates insect behaviour and its evolutionary and genetic basis, particularly smell. Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Moon, Mars and Beyond - with Astronaut Al Worden and Experts Chris Welch and Stuart Eves

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 10:59:59 GMT

Where should humans inhabit next? The Moon? Mars? Or further beyond? This month, Apollo Astronaut Al Worden and space experts Chris Welch and Stuart Eves will will argue their case for each. Who will win your vote?Al Worden is an American astronaut and engineer who was the Command Module Pilot for the fourth lunar landing mission in 1971, Apollo 15. After his time in space, he was Senior Aerospace Scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center, and then the chief of the Systems Study Division at Ames. Chris Welch is Professor of Space Engineering at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France. Chris is a Vice-President of the International Astronautical Federation, a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society (BIS), the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Royal Astronomical Society. Chris has written what he believes to be the first ever paper on the design of extraterrestrial gardens and a poem that he hopes to send to space soon.Stuart Eves is currently a technical consultant for Vaeros Ltd. He began his career working for the MOD on a variety of satellites, and from 2004 he was Lead Mission Concepts Engineer at Surrey Satellite Technology Limited. Stuart is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a Council Member of the British Interplanetary Society, and he currently chairs the government/industry Space Information Exchange forum. Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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The Science of Success (and Failure) – with Matthew Syed

Mon, 27 May 2019 11:00:07 GMT

How can you turn failure into success? This month, journalist and table-tennis champion Matthew Syed will explain the science of success using real life stories and practical takeaways. Matthew Syed is a British journalist, broadcaster and author. He has won numerous prizes for his writing including Feature Writer of the Year at the SJA Awards and Sports Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards. He is also a three-time Commonwealth table tennis champion and a two-time Olympian.

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Monsters, Science and Society - with Expert Panel

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 11:00:09 GMT

Frankenstein’s creature is a classic example of a monster in popular culture. But what can fictional beings tell us about the hopes and fears of the society in which they were created?This month, Phil Ball chairs a panel of experts discussing how monsters survive in our culture, how they reflect gender and power dynamics, and what happens in our brains when we see monsters on screen.Liz Gloyn is a lecturer in Classics at Royal Holloway. Her research focuses on the intersections between Latin literature, ancient philosophy and gender studies.Evan Hayles Gledhill is currently doing a PhD at the University of Reading. Their PhD thesis examines the liminal figures of the monster and the child in the Gothic imagination, and the 'deviant subjectivities' these representations make space for in otherwise seemingly conventional genre texts. Jeremy Skipper is Director of the Language, Action, and Brain Lab (LAB Lab) at University College London. He studies the neurobiology of natural language use and oversees the Neurocinematics database.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Anatomy of a Conversation - with Elizabeth Stokoe

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 15:00:09 GMT

First dates, police interviews, doctor-patient communication and commercial sales – they are all driven by talk. And an understanding of how talk works is crucial for success. This month, Elizabeth Stokoe explains how conversation analysis can produce a scientific understanding of talk. Rather than being messy and disorderly, talk is in fact organised systematically, and small changes in words or phrases can have a big impact on the outcome.Elizabeth Stokoe is Professor of Social Interaction at Loughborough University, analysing the science of interaction in settings including police interrogations, sales calls, and initial inquiries to services including mediation and doctors’ surgeries.

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The Order Of Time - with Carlo Rovelli

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 12:29:06 GMT

We intuitively feel that we know what we are talking about when we talk about time, but from the perspective of physics, time is far from straightforward. This month, Carlo Rovelli takes us on a journey through the philosophy, the science and the emotional experience of time.Carlo Rovelli is a theoretical physicist who has made significant contributions to the physics of space and time. He has worked in Italy and the US, and is currently directing the quantum gravity research group of the Centre de physique théorique in Marseille, France. His books 'Seven Brief Lessons on Physics' and 'Reality Is Not What It Seems' are international bestsellers translated into forty-one languages. https://twitter.com/carlorovelli?lang=enRi Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Homo Deus: a Brief History of Tomorrow - with Yuval Noah Harari

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 12:00:03 GMT

Throughout history there have been revolutions in technology, in economics, in society, in politics. Now for the first time Yuval Noah Harari argues that humanity itself is likely to undergo a radical revolution as a result of new technologies such as genetic engineering, nanotechnology and brain-computer interfaces.Dr Yuval Noah Harari has a PhD in History from the University of Oxford and now lectures at the Department of History, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, specialising in World History. 'Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind', published in 2014, was on the Sunday Times bestseller list for over six months in paperback, was a New York Times top ten bestseller and has been published in nearly 40 languages worldwide. http://www.ynharari.com/ https://twitter.com/harari_yuvalRi Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Half Life: The disappearance of Bruno Pontecorvo – with Frank Close

Mon, 24 Dec 2018 07:00:05 GMT

In 1950, Bruno Pontecorvo, one of Britain's brightest atomic physicists, disappeared without trace. He re-surfaced six years later: in the USSR. In this talk, based on unprecedented access to archives, letters, surviving family members and scientists, Frank Close exposes the truth of Pontecorvo’s life behind the Iron Curtain, and reveals why he went so suddenly.Frank Close is a particle physicist, and author. He is Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford, and has previously been Head of the Theoretical Physics Division at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and Head of Communications and Public Education at CERN.He has written several books, including Antimatter, Neutrino and The very short introduction to particle physics.

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The Science Behind Breaking Bad - with Chemist Dave Smith, Psychologist Julian Boon and Screenwriter Paul Viragh

Mon, 26 Nov 2018 12:00:04 GMT

'Breaking Bad' was a TV show with science at its core. With a genius chemist as its main protagonist, it explored complex themes of morality and what can cause a person to change.Chemist Dave Smith and psychologist Julian Boon delve into the science behind the show, while screenwriter Paul Viragh discusses the challenge of representing science on screen. The discussion is chaired by author, presenter and 'Breaking Bad' fan Claudia Hammond.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Quantum Biology - with Nigel Scrutton, Alexandra Olaya-Castro and Jenny Brookes

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 10:00:14 GMT

This month, three researchers explain how quantum theory is being applied to their own work in this cutting-edge field of scientific discovery.Nigel Scrutton explores proton tunnelling in enzymes, Alexandra Olaya-Castro discusses her latest research in photosynthesis and Jenny Brookes explains her work on a quantum model of olfaction.Nigel Scrutton is Professor of Molecular Enzymology at the University of Manchester and Director of the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. His research focusses on the mechanisms, structures and exploitation of enzyme catalysts and light-activated proteins. Alexandra Olaya-Castro leads a research group on the quantum mechanics of biomolecular processes in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London. They explore the possible roles that quantum phenomena may play in biomolecular functions. Jennifer Brookes is a researcher at London Centre for Nanotechnology, UCL, and carries out computer simulations on the quantum physics at work in biological processes.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Sense of Style: How to Communicate Effectively - with Experimental Psychologist Steven Pinker

Tue, 25 Sep 2018 10:51:44 GMT

Style guides set out strict rules for writing well, but how much of that grammar policing is just dogma, and how much is helpful for communication? Drawing on the latest research in linguistics and cognitive science, Steven Pinker uses reason and evidence to tell us how to communicate effectively in this talk hosted by Melvyn Bragg.Steven Pinker is an experimental psychologist and one of the world’s foremost writers on language, mind, and human nature. He is Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University and conducts research on language and cognition but also writes for publications such as the New York Times, Time, and is the author of many books, including The Language Instinct and How the Mind Works. stevenpinker.com/Melvyn Bragg is a broadcaster, writer and novelist. He was made a Life Peer (Lord Bragg of Wigton) in 1998. Since then he has hosted over 660 episodes of In Our Time on subjects ranging from Quantum Gravity to Truth. He was presenter of the BBC radio series The Routes of English, a history of the English language. He is currently Chancellor of the University of LeedsRi Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Future Pharma - With Expert Panel

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 07:00:08 GMT

For centuries we’ve been using chemicals to improve health, but technology is set to transform the way medicine works. This month, five scientists on the cutting-edge of pharmaceutical research talk about the latest in gene therapy, cancer treatment and more.Ijeoma Uchegbu is a professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at UCL. Her research focuses on designing drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier. She won the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Pharmaceutical Scientist of the Year Award in 2012. Catherine Tuleu is a professor of Paediatric Pharmaceutics at UCL. The main focus of her research concerns drug delivery systems for neonates, infants and children.Sejal Ranmal is Director of Formulation at Intract Pharma, a science-driven licensing and product development company specialising in gastrointestinal models and state-of-the-art formulation technologies for development of advanced therapeutics. Stephen Hart is a professor in Molecular Genetics at UCL. His research focuses on developing gene therapies for cardiovascular and respiratory disease, as well as cancer. Wafa Al-Jamal is a reader in the School of Pharmacy at Queen's University Belfast. Currently, her research focuses on developing smart vectors for delivering a broad range of therapeutic agents, and to fabricate multifunctional nanoparticles to target cancer and other diseases.

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Interview with a Spaceman – with Astronaut Mike Massimino

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 07:00:04 GMT

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to find yourself strapped to a giant rocket? Or to look back on the earth from outer space? Or to repair the Hubble Space Telescope? Join chair Helen Keen for an evening with astronaut Mike Massimino as he looks back on his remarkable 18-year career as a NASA astronaut.Mike Massimino spent 18 years as a NASA astronaut and flew on two shuttle missions. On both occasions he performed spacewalks outside the shuttle to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. Since returning to Earth and retiring from NASA, he now works as a professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University in New York.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Unruly Memory – with Memory Experts: Vin Walsh, Julia Shaw and Jennifer Wild

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 13:00:05 GMT

Memories give us a sense of who we are. But how can we be sure that what we remember is what really happened? And why is it that some unwanted memories just won’t go away?Vin Walsh is a Professor of Human Brain Research at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL. Julia Shaw is a memory hacker and psychological scientist at UCL. She is best known for her work in the area of false memories: memories of things that never actually happened. Jennifer Wild is an Associate Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on why people over-remember what they most wish to forget. She has a special interest in how traumatic memories are formed and how they drive symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Using Tech to Track Endangered Wildlife – with Kate Jones

Mon, 28 May 2018 08:00:02 GMT

This month Kate Jones tells us about the amazing technology being used to monitor wildlife worldwide and how it is helping us to learn about the fascinating world of bats.Kate Jones is Professor of Ecology and Biodiversity in the Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE) at University College London.

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Technologies That Will Improve and/or Ruin Everything – With Kelly and Zach Weinersmith

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 16:29:39 GMT

What will the world of tomorrow be like? Kelly and Zach Weinersmith give us a snapshot of the transformative technologies that are coming soon(ish), from space elevators to origami robots, and explain how they will change our world in astonishing ways — maybe for the better, maybe for the worse.Kelly Weinersmith is a Huxley Fellow at Rice University in the BioSciences Department. She studies how host behaviour influences risk of infection with parasites and cohosts Science... Sort Of, one of the top 20 natural science podcasts.Zach Weinersmith is the cartoonist behind the popular geek webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.

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How To Leave The Planet – Dallas Campbell and Kevin Fong

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 11:00:00 GMT

For millennia, humans have been firmly rooted to the Earth, but haven't you ever fancied a change of scenery?This month, science writer and broadcaster Dallas Campbell talks to former Christmas Lecturer and fellow space nerd Kevin Fong about all things space travel, and Dallas’ new book: Ad astra: An illustrated guide to leaving the planet.Dallas Campbell is an actor, author and TV presenter, and has always been fascinated by space. He was also an understudy for the 2014 CHRISTMAS LECTURES: How to hack your home, and appeared via hologram in the final show.Kevin Fong is an anaesthesiologist and space medicine expert. He presented the 2015 CHRISTMAS LECTURES: How to Survive in Space and regularly presents documentaries for Horizon and the BBC World Service.

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Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and its Legacy – with Experts Phillip Ball, Miranda Seymour, Frank James and Angela Wright

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 09:54:45 GMT

2018 marks 200 years since the publication of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a book that is just as relevant now as it was in 1818. Today, Shelley's creature lives on, as an embodiment of society's anxieties about where science is taking us. In this episode, Philip Ball is joined by Miranda Seymour, Frank James and Angela Wright to discuss the context in which the book was written and how the tale has become a popular myth with a life of its own, independent of Shelley's original text.Philip Ball is a science writer, writing regularly for Nature and having contributed to publications ranging from New Scientist to the New York Times.Miranda Seymour is a leading biographer and critic whose definitive life of Mary Shelley (2000) examined the sources of Frankenstein in depth. She has also written an introduction to the Folio Frankenstein (2015).Frank James is Professor of the History of Science and Head of Collections at the Royal Institution. His main research has been editing the Correspondence of Michael Faraday which is now complete in six volumes.Angela Wright is Professor of Romantic Literature in the School of English at the University of Sheffield. She is a former co-President of the International Gothic Association (2013-17).

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A Whirlwind Tour of Science - with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 17:05:52 GMT

Australian author and presenter Dr Karl Kruszelnicki gives a whirlwind tour of incredible science facts and questions. Like who put a nuclear reactor in africa 2 billion years ago? And is there life on a moon of Saturn? Dr Karl Kruszelnicki is an Australian science populariser with degrees in Physics and Maths, Biomedical Engineering, Medicine and Surgery. He has held a wide range of jobs, from doctor to film-maker, radio personality to labourer, car mechanic to physicist.

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What Our Brains Want - with Ray Dolan, Wolfram Schultz and Peter Dayan

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 12:05:31 GMT

Our sense of reward motivates us and is essential for survival, so when the system malfunctions, it can lead to big problems. This month, Ray Dolan, Wolfram Schultz and Peter Dayan, winners of the 2017 Lundbeck Foundation Brain Prize, discuss their ground-breaking work on how the brain recognises and processes reward with Claudia Hammond.

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Autism: A personal journey – with Dame Stephanie Shirley

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 12:21:29 GMT

An estimated 700,000 people in Britain are affected by autism. In this Discourse, Dame Stephanie Shirley shares her hands-on experience of the disorder.Dame Stephanie Shirley is an information technology pioneer and philanthropist. Her charitable organisation, The Shirley Foundation, facilitates scientific research aimed at understanding what autism is as opposed to what it looks like.

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New Genes from Scratch - Aoife McLysaght

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 15:10:52 GMT

Aoife McLysaght explores the evolution of new genes, how they sometimes become essential, and the link between new genes and disease including cancer.Aoife's lecture was given as the 2016 JBS Haldane Lecture from the Genetics Society.Aoife McLysaght is a geneticist at Trinity College Dublin. She specialises in the the origin and evolution of new genetic sequences and was the first to discover a set of genes that only occur in humans. She has appeared on TV to discuss her work and is a regular contributor to radio shows on BBC Radio 4 and columns in the Irish Times.

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Science at the Extremes - with Greg Foot, Dan Martin and Leigh Marsh

Mon, 07 Aug 2017 10:22:59 GMT

Greg Foot leads a scientific exploration to the top of the tallest mountain and bottom of the deepest ocean, accompanied by mountaineer medic Dan Martin and oceanographer explorer Leigh Marsh.Greg Foot is a science presenter and a regular contributor for Blue Peter. He is fascinated by exploration in extreme environments and has been to both Everest Base Camp and in submersibles 300m deep. Dan Martin is a mountaineer, medic and the director of the UCL Centre for Altitude, Space and Extreme Environment Medicine. In 2007 he summited Everest and measured the lowest blood oxygen level of any living healthy human (his own!).Leigh Marsh is the lead communications officer for technology at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in Southampton. Her remit includes communicating the development and operations of all of the NOC's robotic and autonomous vehicles for scientific exploration of the deep ocean. She is also a visiting research fellow with the University of Southampton.

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Epigenetics and Parental Origin Effects - with Anne Ferguson-Smith

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 08:09:46 GMT

Anne Ferguson-Smith explains what epigenetics is and how our environment interacts with our genome and if these changes can be passed on to the next generation. What is epigenetic inheritance and why is it important? And why would it matter which parent you inherited a particular gene from? Epigeneticist Anne Ferguson-Smith outlines the implications of parental origin for development, metabolism and the brain. Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith is Head of the Department of Genetics at the University of Cambridge. She is a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator and her lab focuses on the developmental role of imprinted genes and the epigenetic mechanisms controlling the specific expression of genes depending on their parental origins.

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Revolutionary Science and the French Revolution

Mon, 05 Jun 2017 11:34:23 GMT

Steve Jones chronicles the remarkable scientific advances made during the French Revolution and ambles through the history of modern science and current research.Paris at the time of the French Revolution was the world capital of science. In this dazzling new insight into the City of Light, Steve Jones takes a sideways look at its history, its revolutionary science and the scholars who laid the foundations, in the age of the guillotine.Steve Jones is professor of genetics at Galton laboratory of University College London, where most of his academic research has been looking at snails and what they can tell us about population genetics. Steve Jones is well known as a regular broadcaster and writer of popular science books, including The Language of the Genes, In the Blood and Y: The Descent of Man. He gave the 1991 Reith Lecture, has written, presented and appeared on TV and radio shows.

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The Psychology of Thinking - Richard Nisbett

Tue, 02 May 2017 09:32:13 GMT

In a lightning tour of human reasoning, world-renowned psychologist Richard Nisbett shines a new light on the shadowy world of the way we think – and how we can make our lives, and the lives of those around us, better.Richard Nisbett is Theodore M. Newcomb Distinguished Professor of social psychology and co-director of the Culture and Cognition program at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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Neuroimaging, Neurononsense and Gender Stereotypes - with Gina Rippon

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 08:03:52 GMT

Have new brain imaging techniques really revealed that women and men are ‘hardwired’ for their gender roles? Or has neuroscience become misappropriated to justify gender gaps? Professor of cognitive neuroimaging Gina Rippon investigates.This talk aims to offer ways of rooting out the neurotrash, stamping out the neurosexism and making way for neuronews.Gina Rippon is Professor of Cognitive Neuroimaging at Aston University. Her research involves the application of brain imaging techniques, particularly electroencephalography, (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG), to studies of normal and abnormal cognitive processes.Recorded at the Royal Institution on 20 January 2016.

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The Neuroscience of Addiction - with Marc Lewis

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 12:27:03 GMT

Neuroscientist and former addict Marc Lewis makes the case that addiction isn't a disease at all, although it has been recently branded as such.In recent decades doctors have branded addiction a brain disease, and treated it as such. But in this riveting and provocative talk, neuroscientist and former addict Marc Lewis makes the convincing case that addiction isn’t a disease at all. Using personal stories and robust science, he explains how addiction really impacts our brains, and how neuroplasticity and a developmental approach to treatment can help to overcome it.Marc Lewis is a neuroscientist and professor of developmental psychology, recently at the University of Toronto, where he taught and conducted research from 1989 to 2010, and presently at Radboud University in the Netherlands. He is the author or co-author of over 50 journal publications in psychology and neuroscience, editor of an academic book on developmental psychology, and co-author of a book for parents. More recently he has written two books concerning addiction.

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Catching Gravitational Waves - with Sheila Rowan

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 11:52:55 GMT

Sheila Rowan explains the nature of gravitational waves, where they come from, how we detected them, and what the future of this new era in astronomy might look like.A century ago, Albert Einstein realised that in his new model for space and time in our Universe (his 'General Theory of Relativity'), space could be stretching and squashing in response to the motion of objects. These ripples in space-time - 'Gravitational waves' - are produced by some of the most energetic and dramatic phenomena in our universe, including black holes, neutron stars and supernovae.Close to 100 years after the prediction of the existence of gravitational waves, the advanced detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) recently detected such signals for the first time, starting a new era in astronomy. Sheila Rowan explains the nature of gravitational waves, describes what sources out in the Universe can produce them, explains how they are detected and what the future of this new era in astronomy might look like.Sheila Rowan is a professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at University of Glasgow. Her research focusses on gravitational wave detection on the ground and in space. Her programme currently includes studies of ultra sensitive mechanical systems; investigation of materials of ultra-low mechanical loss and construction of mechanically-stable optical systems for interferometric applications.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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The Neuroscience of Consciousness –With Professor Anil Seth

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 17:21:56 GMT

Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience Anil Seth looks at the neuroscience of consciousness and how our biology gives rise to the unique experience of being you. Anil provides an insight into the state-of-the-art research in the new science of consciousness. Distinguishing between conscious level, conscious content and conscious self, he describes how new experiments are shedding light on the underlying neural mechanisms in normal life as well as in neurological and psychiatric conditions. Anil Seth is Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex, where he is also Co-Director of the Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science. He is Editor-in-Chief of Neuroscience of Consciousness and is on the steering group and advisory board of the Human Mind Project. He has written popular science books, including 30 Second Brain, and contributes to a variety of media including the New Scientist, The Guardian, and the BBC.

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Colour and Cancer; Scorpions and Surgery - with Dr Henry Marsh and Dr Jim Olson

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 16:14:33 GMT

Henry Marsh, author of the bestseller Do No Harm, and Jim Olson, paediatric oncologist from Seattle Children’s Hospital, share their experiences in medicine.Is it possible to light up a cancer cell in the brain? Could scorpion venom be the answer? Dr Jim Olson, Paediatric Haematology Oncology Specialist at Seattle Children's Hospital and a member of the Clinical Research Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, is developing a radical new technique in the field of fluorescent image-guided surgery, Tumor Paint, that has the potential to transform the way tumors are removed from the brain - by using a special paint the make the cancerous areas glow. Dr Henry Marsh is a leading British neurosurgeon whose pioneering work in brain tumour surgery has been the subject of major award-winning BBC documentaries. His extraordinary memoir, Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery, is an international best-seller, nominated for eight major UK literary prizes and the Sky Arts South Bank Show 2015 Award recipient for Literature and PEN Ackerley Prize. He was made a CBE in 2010.

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The Science of Sleep - with Russell Foster, Debra Skene and Stafford Lightman

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 09:22:18 GMT

Russell Foster, Debra Skene and Stafford Lightman discuss the science of sleep. Why do we need sleep and what are the physiological processes driving our circadian rhythm? When is our circadian clock disrupted and how does this affect our health? Cognitive neuroscientist Vincent Walsh chairs the debate.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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What Science Tells us About Race and Racism - with Expert Panel

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 09:51:36 GMT

An evidence-based discussion of the controversial topic of race, as science sees it. Do races even exist, biologically? Adam Rutherford hosts a panel of experts, including Kenan Malik, Aoife McLysaght and Heidi Mirza.

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The Serengeti Rules of Life - with Sean B Carroll

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 10:20:59 GMT

Evolutionary biologist Sean B Carroll reveals how a few simple rules govern all life on earth, from the cells in our bodies to populations of animals on the Serengeti.Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!

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My Life in Science - with Richard Dawkins

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 09:10:25 GMT

Richard Dawkins discusses the key individuals, institutions and ideas that have inspired and motivated him since the publication of ‘The Selfish Gene’ in 1976 with Dr Alice Roberts.

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The Perfect Bet - with Mathematician Adam Kucharski

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 09:31:04 GMT

The house always wins. Or does it? Mathematician Adam Kucharski looks at the mathematics, economics and physics of gambling.

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Mars Exploration: Curiosity and Beyond with Anita Sengupta

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 09:11:16 GMT

Aerospace engineer Anita Sengupta takes us through the extraordinary engineering feat of landing NASA’s Curiosity rover on Mars, going from 13,000 mph to 0 mph in 7 minutes, and discusses the current and future exploration of our nearest neighbour.In August of 2012 NASA landed the largest and most capable robotic geologist in history, on the surface of Mars. The Curiosity Rover is on a journey to determine past and present habitability of the Red Planet. Anita Sengupta is one of the lead NASA engineers who developed the system to land Curiosity. She describes the challenges of landing on Mars and what is over the horizon on our human journey to Mars.

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The Aliens are Coming! - with Ben Miller and Jim Al-Khalili

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 08:54:47 GMT

Writer Ben Miller leads Jim Al-Khalili through our search for alien life in the Universe in the first of our new podcast series bringing you thought provoking lectures and discussions from the world's sharpest minds.For millennia, we have looked up at the stars and wondered whether we are alone in the Universe. In the last few years, scientists have made huge strides towards answering that question. Comedian and bestselling science writer Ben Miller is in conversation with Jim Al-Khalili, taking us on a fantastic voyage of discovery, from the beginnings of life on earth to the very latest search for alien intelligence.

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