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PODCAST

Instant Genius

Whether you’re curious about getting healthy, the Big Bang or the science of cooking, find out everything you need to know 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. New episodes are released every Monday and Friday and you can subscribe to Instant Genius on Apple Podcasts to access all new episodes ad-free and all old episodes of Instant Genius Extra. Watch full episodes of Instant

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All Episodes

37:15

Why we need to rethink our concept of evil

Instant Genius ·

2026/02/02

If most of us are put on the spot and asked to name acts that we think would define a person as evil, it’s likely our minds would turn to murderers, rapists and war criminals, to name a few. But could it be that this commonly held conception of evil isn’t merely just an oversimplification, but rather a deeply flawed way of viewing the world based on a litany of personal biases, and one that is in dire need of readdressing?In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Julia Shaw, a broadcaster, best-selling

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33:30

The hidden ways the Internet and social media are...

Instant Genius ·

2026/01/30

From famous actors and pop stars to the legions of social media influencers with millions of views, it seems almost everyone has something to say about the best ways to boost our health and wellbeing. But is this trend leading to many of us bypassing traditional sources of health advice and care such as GP practices and government health services and instead turning to the Internet, social media and private online pharmacies to seek out information, diagnoses, and, in some cases, even prescription

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36:59

How to break free from the negative cycle of...

Instant Genius ·

2026/01/26

While the human mind is capable of great insight, original thoughts and acts of tender kindness towards others, it can also, at times, act like our own worst enemy. Feelings of worthlessness, shame and disappointment can all stem from our brain’s natural inclination for overthinking.This can give rise to a wide range of debilitating impacts on our lives, such as low self-esteem, anxiety and depression and can even lead to the development of significant physical health issues. So, why do our minds

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36:04

How paleoartists bring dinosaurs to life

Instant Genius ·

2026/01/23

From the terrifying, hulking beasts portrayed in blockbuster movies to the friendly, charismatic characters often found in children’s cartoons, dinosaurs have made their way into almost every corner of popular culture. However, in terms of scientific accuracy, such depictions tend to leave a lot to be desired. So, how do we know what dinosaurs really looked like, whose job is it to show us, and how exactly do they go about it? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Mark Witton, a researcher, author

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26:47

Why mental resilience is a skill we can all learn

Instant Genius ·

2026/01/19

At some points in our lives, we all face challenges or setbacks or find ourselves in difficult situations that can ultimately have a profound effect on our mental health and wellbeing. During such times, we need to draw on our reserves of mental resilience. But what techniques and strategies can we employ to develop this vital mental resource to enable us to better cope with whatever life throws at us?In today’s episode, we’re joined by psychologist and therapist Emanuela Brun to talk about ways

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37:10

The hidden scoring systems running our lives

Instant Genius ·

2026/01/16

In the world of games, scoring systems establish a framework that provides us with clear challenges, motivation, and ultimately delivers a huge amount of fun and pleasure. However, on the flip side, the increasing tendency to apply rankings and metrics to almost every area of our personal and professional lives can have a dehumanising effect, reducing our actions, performance, and even ourselves to a simple string of numbers.In today’s episode, we’re joined by C Thi Nguyen, a games researcher and

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37:52

How to beat burnout in an increasingly fast-paced world

Instant Genius ·

2026/01/12

These days, it can be easy to feel like we have too much to do and too little time to do it in. This can lead to many of us feeling overwhelmed, or in extreme cases, can lead to burnout – a state of profound physical, mental and emotional exhaustion that can have far-reaching consequences for both our mental and physical health. So, what measures can we take to regain control of our lives if we are feeling overwhelmed, and what techniques can we employ to ensure we never reach this state of crisis

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34:51

Why your next best friend may be an AI

Instant Genius ·

2026/01/09

Over the last several decades, the world has seen artificial intelligence undergo a rapid transformation. Since its beginnings in the 1950s as speculative theorising and novel thought experiments, AI has blossomed into a bona fide technological tool that can perform sophisticated tasks such as detecting signs of cancer or spotting signs of financial fraud, in many cases much more effectively than we humans can.But recently, another, more personal use for the technology has arisen – that of the AI

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29:42

How the arts can keep our bodies and brains healthier...

Instant Genius ·

2026/01/05

For many of us, consuming or making art – be it listening to music, playing an instrument, reading a book, painting a watercolour or attending a dance class – is seen as a pastime or hobby, a fun way to spend an evening or Sunday afternoon. But according to the latest scientific thinking, engaging with the arts can have a profound effect on our mental and physical well-being, and may even help us to live longer, healthier lives.In this episode, we’re joined by Daisy Fancourt, a professor of

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38:19

Why social connection is vital for our health and...

Instant Genius ·

2025/12/19

There’s little doubt that we humans are a deeply social species; in many ways, our interactions with others define the very essence of who we are. But in recent times, studies have shown that we’re connecting with one another less and less, to the point where some say we may now be facing a loneliness epidemic. So, why are social interactions so vital to our health and well-being, what actually happens in our brains and bodies when we form meaningful relationships, and what measures can we take to

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34:09

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

Instant Genius ·

2025/12/15

Chances are that if you open your bathroom cabinet, many of the medicines you find there were first discovered by studying the chemical processes of the plants that grow all around us. But with 450,000 plant species existing in the world, the truth is that we’re only just scratching the surface of this almost limitless resource.In this episode, we’re joined by Prof Anne Osbourn, a group leader in biosynthesis research based at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, and co-founder of drug discovery

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24:41

How to beat the alarming increase in childhood allergies

Instant Genius ·

2025/12/12

Currently, around 40 per cent of children in the UK have been diagnosed with an allergy of some form or another – the most common being food allergies, eczema, asthma, and hay fever. Why is this number so alarmingly high, what can we do to treat them, and what measures can we take to ensure that our children don’t develop allergies in the first place?In this episode, we’re joined by Willem M. de Vos, a professor of microbiology based at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He tells us how

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45:44

Our Universe could be trapped inside a black hole...

Instant Genius ·

2025/12/08

It sounds like a theory plucked from the page of a science fiction novel, but according to Enrique Gaztañaga from the University of Portsmouth, our entire Universe could be trapped inside a black hole. It's a mind-blowing theory, but it could help us better understand the fundamental nature of our reality.But how is it even possible for us to be inside a black hole? Will we ever know for sure? And what could lie beyond its boundaries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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31:57

The real story behind Jurassic Park’s most...

Instant Genius ·

2025/12/05

Chances are that when most of us think of spinosaurs our minds will turn to the hulking, predatory sail-backed dinosaur that famously took down a T. Rex in the Jurassic Park movies. But thanks to their highly fragmented fossil records, in the real world, our knowledge of these fascinating, ancient creatures is far from complete. Where did they live? How did they live? And what did they really look like? In today’s episode, we’re joined by David Hone, a palaeontologist based at Queen Mary University

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40:38

How neuroscience is reshaping our understanding of...

Instant Genius ·

2025/12/01

How much control do we have over our actions and decisions? For most of us, it’s likely that the answer is that, of course, all of the choices we make are our own. But it’s long been argued by some scientists and philosophers that this isn’t the case at all. Could it be that the trajectories of our lives are largely already written into our biology, genes and neural circuitry before we’re even born?In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Hannah Critchlow, a neuroscientist and author based at the

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36:26

Why we should all be listening to animals more closely

Instant Genius ·

2025/11/28

It’s likely that if any of us step and of our front doors and take a moment to listen to what’s going on around us, we’ll hear the vocalisations of dozens of different animals. But why are they making these sounds and can we ever really understand what they actually mean?In this episode, we’re joined by naturalist and author Amelia Thomas to discuss her latest book What Sheep Think About the Weather, How to Listen to What Animals Are Trying to Say. She tells us how the tone that’s innate in

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30:11

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

Instant Genius ·

2025/11/24

It’s currently thought that around one billion people worldwide aren’t getting enough protein to meet their daily needs. Alongside this, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the large-scale farming of livestock and the overfishing of the Earth’s oceans to provide us with vital sources of protein are causing great harm to the environment. But could the production of more alternative protein sources, such as cultivated meat, plants like algae and duckweed and even insects, help provide us with a neat

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25:12

Why not getting enough sleep plays havoc with our...

Instant Genius ·

2025/11/21

Many of us will have experienced changes in our emotional states after failing to get a good night’s sleep. Maybe we find that we lose our temper more easily or that we’re more likely to feel sad or upset. But what exactly is going on in our bodies and brains when we lack sleep that gives rise to these, often troubling, effects?In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Bogdan Matei, a medical psychiatrist and master trainer for the luxury bed brand Hästens. He tells us what happens in different areas

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31:57

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

Instant Genius ·

2025/11/17

According to the United Nations, around one-third of all the food currently produced across the planet is being lost or wasted, oftentimes before it even reaches our plates. As well as the loss of essential sources of nutrition needed to feed the global population, issues in food supply chains are using up other vital resources such as water, labour and energy. So, what can we do to ensure that as much food as possible makes it from farm to fork without being wasted?As part of our four-part

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55:05

The hidden forces driving the AI bubble

Instant Genius ·

2025/11/14

This episode was recorded on November 6th 2025. Artificial intelligence has been the movement of the moment in recent years. Since it burst to prominence in 2022, hundreds of millions of people have started using AI systems every day – for everything from writing essays to coding software, generating art and planning their lives. But with soaring valuations, constant hype, and growing concerns about how much these systems really understand, some experts and investors are starting to ask whether

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