Whether you’re curious about getting healthy, the Big Bang or the science of cooking, find out everything you need to know in under 30 minutes with Instant Genius. The team behind BBC Science Focus Magazine talk to world-leading experts to bring you a bite-sized masterclass on a new subject each week.Then when you’ve mastered the basics with Instant Genius. Dive deeper with Instant Genius Extra, where you’ll find longer, richer discussions about the most exciting ideas in the world of science and technology. Only available on Apple Podcasts. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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Light pollution, with Dr Greg Brown

February 02, 2023 16:09 15.51 MB Downloads: 0

A recent study carried out by the Globe at Night project – a citizen science program involving more than 50,000 observations from volunteers around the world – has found that the brightness of the night sky has increased by an average of 7 to 10 per cent a year for the last decade. This trend is making it increasingly difficult to observe the stars, especially from built-up urban areas.We speak to Dr Greg Brown, an astronomer and science communicator based at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. He tells us how bad the current situation really is, what it means for laypeople, astronomers and animals, and what measures we can take to get our view of the stars back. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

January 29, 2023 17:08 16.46 MB Downloads: 0

What music will improve your concentration most? Could the hubbub of a coffee shop increase your attention span? And what’s the deal with white noise? To answer all your questions about how to best use sound to boost your focus, we’re joined by Dr Nick Perham, reader in applied cognitive psychology at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How ChatGPT could revolutionise education, with Sam Illingworth

January 26, 2023 26:11 25.14 MB Downloads: 0

ChatGPT is a tool that can create essays, poems, full movie script and more from a simple worded prompt. We spoke to Sam Illingworth, an associate professor in the department of Learning Enhancement at Edinburgh Napier University to learn how it will change the education system Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The electrome, with Sally Adee

January 22, 2023 32:11 30.91 MB Downloads: 0

Every cell in our body – bones, skin, muscle, nerves – has a tiny voltage, like a battery. This bioelectricity enables our brains to send messages, but can also help us heal from injury and develop in the womb. In her new book, We Are Electric, science journalist Sally Adee explores our body’s electrome, and reveals the ways it could help us treat cancer, regenerate cells, and even halt ageing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big Garden Birdwatch, with Adrian Thomas

January 19, 2023 38:12 36.67 MB Downloads: 0

From 27-29 January the RSPB (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) will invite the nation to count the birds in our green spaces. Adrian Thomas, the RSPB’s chief expert on gardening for wildlife, joins us to explain what one of the world’s biggest crowd science projects has taught us so far and he shares the simple steps you can take to make your back garden more welcoming to birds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emotions, with Dr Dean Burnett

January 15, 2023 39:34 37.98 MB Downloads: 0

Ever wondered what is happening in your body and brain when you feel an emotion? How to better cope with negatives ones? Or why we even have them in the first place? We speak to neuroscientist and author Dr Dean Burnett about the surprising discoveries he made when writing his new book: Emotional Ignorance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Biodiversity, with Dr Andrew Terry

January 12, 2023 29:23 28.22 MB Downloads: 0

In December 2022, representatives from governments and other official bodies from around the world met in Montreal for COP15: The UN Biodiversity Conference. Amongst the many things discussed was the so-called 30 by 30 target – the pledge to conserve 30 per cent of the planet’s terrestrial and marine habitat by 2030.In this episode, Terry, tells us about the significance of the target, the current state of the Earth’s biodiversity and what role we can all play in reversing its devastating loss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to change your habits, with Dr Gabija Toleikyte

January 05, 2023 22:07 21.25 MB Downloads: 0

Struggling to form a new habit? Or kick an unhelpful one? While behaviour change is doubtlessly difficult, it can be made easier with a few simple psychological tools. To explain this and the neuroscience of habit formation, we speak to Dr Gabija Toleikyte, lecturer in Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The food of the future, with Evan Fraser

December 29, 2022 28:37 27.48 MB Downloads: 0

Will we be eating lab-made meats in the future, or will vegetarianism be the new norm? And what will happen to the world’s thriving farming culture? We spoke to Evan Fraser, Director of the Arrell Food Institute to find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

December 22, 2022 33:41 32.35 MB Downloads: 0

Ever heard someone say: “I know them like the back of my hand”? It turns out the back of your hand can actually provide a forensic scientist with enough information to identify you. In this episode, forensic anthropologist Professor Dame Sue Black explains how the new science of digital identification works and discusses what we can expect from her upcoming Christmas Lectures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zombie viruses in the Arctic, with Dr Arwyn Edwards

December 18, 2022 31:28 30.21 MB Downloads: 0

The world’s polar regions are melting. Beneath the ice lurks all kind of microbes, but how much of a threat do they really present? Microbiologist Dr Arwyn Edwards of Aberystwyth University joins us to explore the threat of so-called ‘zombie viruses’ and he explains where the real danger lies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brain-controlled machines, with Tom Carlson

December 15, 2022 33:18 31.98 MB Downloads: 0

Controlling machines with brain waves sounds like something ripped from a science-fiction book, and yet this is something happening today. We spoke to Tom Carlson about the rapidly expanding world of brain-machine interfaces. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vitamin D, Dr Gail Rees

December 11, 2022 20:46 19.94 MB Downloads: 0

During winter months, over 15% of UK adults are estimated to have a vitamin D deficiency. But what exactly does vitamin D do in our bodies? And is it technically a vitamin anyway? Dr Gail Rees, senior lecturer in human nutrition at the University of Plymouth, reveals all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bird flu, with Dr Alastair Ward

December 08, 2022 22:56 22.03 MB Downloads: 0

This year around the globe, an estimated 160 million domestic birds have died as a result of avian flu. But why has the virus spread so widely? And could humans be at risk? Dr Alastair Ward, associate professor of biodiversity and ecosystem management at the University of Leeds, explains all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mars in opposition, with Dr Stu Clark

December 04, 2022 31:13 29.97 MB Downloads: 0

This week Mars will be lit up by our Sun, providing astronomers and amateur stargazers a wonderful chance to study the Red Planet. Astronomer and author, Dr Stu Clark joins us to explore how our image of Mars has evolved over the last 150 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.