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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End of year roundup: The non-COVID science that brought us joy in 2020
It’s been a long and strange year, and most of our attention has been focussed on the coronavirus. So, in this bonus episode of the Science Focus Podcast, the team talks about this year’s most interesting science that has nothing to do with COVID.We start off by talking about our favourite scientific developments of the year, and then we discuss the books and documentaries that we’ve loved.Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastListen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:Inside the December issue with the BBC Science Focus teamThe Science Focus team: What's inside November's issue?Dr Douglas Vakoch: Should we try to contact aliens?Dr Jacob Bleacher: Why do we need to go back to the Moon?Andy Weir: Building a base on the Moon, and crafting believable sci-fiGretchen McCulloch: How has the internet affected how we communicate? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Prof John Drury: The psychology of lockdowns
In this week's episode of the Science Focus Podcast, we talk to Prof John Drury, a behavioural psychologist based at the University of Sussex who specialises in studying crowds and collective behaviour.The UK recently came out of the second COVID-19 lockdown, and went into a new three-tier system, with much of the country still in in the strictest tier.John tells us about why people respond to the restrictions differently, how to ensure people follow the rules, and what the long-term effects the lockdowns will have on our psychology.Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastListen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:Hugo Zeberg: How could Neanderthal genes affect COVID-19?Dr Rachel Brown: Why are some COVID-19 patients suffering from neurological complications?Project Discovery: Could computer games help find a cure for COVID-19?David Halpern: Nudge theoryDr Pete Etchells: Do video games encourage gambling behaviour?Dr Julia Shaw: Why do we do bad things? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dr Pete Etchells: Do video games encourage gambling behaviour?
This week on the Science Focus Podcast, we're joined by Dr Pete Etchells, a professor of psychology with a particular interest how video games affect our mood and behaviour.Pete is also the author of the book Lost in a Good Game which explores why we love video games, and what they do for us.Today we’re talking about the relationship between gambling and video games: what we know and what don’t. We want you to help us with the research, so if you want to get involved in a real-life scientific study that could shape the conversation around gaming and gambling, stayed tuned and listen in for details at the end.Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastRead the full transcription [this will open in a new window]Listen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:Pete Etchells: Are video games good for us?Project Discovery: Could computer games help find a cure for COVID-19?The neuroscience of happiness – Dean BurnettDr Julia Shaw: Why do we do bad things?Anthony David: Why is there still such stigma around mental health?Brendan Walker: Where is the best place to sit on a rollercoaster? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Christmas Lectures 2020: How can we look after our planet?
Started by Michael Faraday in 1825, and now broadcast on national television, the Christmas lectures bring a science topic to our screens over three nights every year. The series of lectures has always been held within the Royal Institution in London, but this year, of course, is going to be slightly different.In this week's episode, editorial assistant Amy Barrett is joined today by three expert scientists, Tara Shine, Chris Jackson and Helen Czerski, who are going to be presenting the 2020 Christmas lectures, titled Planet Earth: A User's Guide.In lecture one, geologist Chris Jackson will reveal our Earth's climate story through the rocks and the fossil record. In lecture two, physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski will talk about the part our oceans play in the climate crisis. And in lecture three, environmental scientist Tara Shine will talk about carbon emissions and what we're really breathing in.Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastRead the full transcription [this will open in a new window]Listen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:Hannah Fry: How much of our lives is secretly underpinned by maths?Royal Institution Christmas Lectures past and presentSir David Attenborough: How can we save our planet?Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac: Has climate change determined our future?Everything you ever wanted to know about... the deep sea with Dr Jon CopleyMark Miodownik: Are biodegradable plastics really better than traditional plastic? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Inside the December issue with the BBC Science Focus team
In this episode of the Science Focus Podcast, we chat through the December 2020 issue of the magazine, which is on sale now.The issue is all about the search for extraterrestrial life, so managing editor Alice Lipscombe-Southwell starts us off by telling us about the most promising places in our Solar System to search for alien life.Commissioning editor Jason Goodyer tells us about a new drug delivery system that draws inspiration from parasitic hookworms, and then editorial assistant Amy Barrett brings us back around to ET by discussing why we want to believe in aliens.We close the podcast with details of our exciting new competition, judged by comedian and author Dara Ó Briain.Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastListen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:The Science Focus team: What's inside November's issue?Finding the fun in science – Dara Ó BriainDr Douglas Vakoch: Should we try to contact aliens?Bergur Finnbogason: Project Discovery and its search for exoplanetsRitu Raman: Can you build with biology?Robin Ince: Inside the mind of a comedian See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Genes and heredity - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the biology of life with Sir Paul Nurse
For this instalment in the Everything you ever wanted to know about... series, we’ve sourced questions from Google, our listeners and the Science Focus team to put to experts and help you understand key ideas in science, in short episodes.This week, we're joined by geneticist Sir Paul Nurse, the Director of the Francis Crick Institute in London and one of the recipients of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which he shared with Leland Hartwell and Timothy Hunt.Paul has recently published a book that helps readers understand biology, called What is Life? (£9.99, David Fickling Books). He shared some of the concepts from the books with us over two quick-fire episodes. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Cells - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the biology of life with Sir Paul Nurse
For this instalment in the Everything you ever wanted to know about... series, we’ve sourced questions from Google, our listeners and the Science Focus team to put to experts and help you understand key ideas in science, in short episodes.This week, we're joined by geneticist Sir Paul Nurse, the Director of the Francis Crick Institute in London and one of the recipients of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which he shared with Leland Hartwell and Timothy Hunt.Paul has recently published a book that helps readers understand biology, called What is Life? (£9.99, David Fickling Books). He shared some of the concepts from the books with us over two quick-fire episodes. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dr Douglas Vakoch: Should we try to contact aliens?
In this week’s episode, I’m talking to Dr Douglas Vakoch, President of Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence, or METI.We talk about whether we should be broadcasting messages into space to signal our existence to intelligent alien species.We also discuss how we could create a message that an unknown species of alien could understand.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastRead the full transcription [this will open in a new window]Listen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:Dr Erin Macdonald: Is there science in Star Trek?Bergur Finnbogason: Project Discovery and its search for exoplanetsWhat if the Earth’s magnetic field died? – Jim Al-KhaliliBuilding a base on the Moon, and crafting believable sci-fi – Andy WeirDr Becky Smethurst: How do you actually find a black hole?Kathryn D. Sullivan: What is it really like to walk in space? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Exploring the deep sea - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the deep sea with Dr Jon Copley
Our guest this week is Dr Jon Copley. Jon is a marine biologist, specialising in the deep sea. He went on the first mini sub dive to the world’s deepest hydrothermal vents, 5km down on the ocean floor, and also took part in the firs minisub dives to 1km deep in the Antarctic.Jon is also a science communicator and writer, who worked as a science advisor on the iconic BBC series Blue Planet II. He is also an associate professor of ocean exploration and public engagement at the University of Southampton. In 2019, he also published fantastic book called Ask an Ocean Explorer which tells you all about the ocean in 25 questions.Over three quick-fire episodes, Jon tells BBC Science Focus managing editor Alice Limpscombe-Southwell about the bizarre life found on the ocean floor, the habitats where they thrive, and what it's like to explore the deep sea in a submarine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Deep sea habitats - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the deep sea with Dr Jon Copley
Our guest this week is Dr Jon Copley. Jon is a marine biologist, specialising in the deep sea. He went on the first mini sub dive to the world’s deepest hydrothermal vents, 5km down on the ocean floor, and also took part in the firs minisub dives to 1km deep in the Antarctic.Jon is also a science communicator and writer, who worked as a science advisor on the iconic BBC series Blue Planet II. He is also an associate professor of ocean exploration and public engagement at the University of Southampton. In 2019, he also published fantastic book called Ask an Ocean Explorer which tells you all about the ocean in 25 questions.Over three quick-fire episodes, Jon tells BBC Science Focus managing editor Alice Limpscombe-Southwell about the bizarre life found on the ocean floor, the habitats where they thrive, and what it's like to explore the deep sea in a submarine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Deep sea creatures - Everything you ever wanted to know about... the deep sea with Dr Jon Copley
Our guest this week is Dr Jon Copley. Jon is a marine biologist, specialising in the deep sea. He went on the first mini sub dive to the world’s deepest hydrothermal vents, 5km down on the ocean floor, and also took part in the firs minisub dives to 1km deep in the Antarctic.Jon is also a science communicator and writer, who worked as a science advisor on the iconic BBC series Blue Planet II. He is also an associate professor of ocean exploration and public engagement at the University of Southampton. In 2019, he also published fantastic book called Ask an Ocean Explorer which tells you all about the ocean in 25 questions.Over three quick-fire episodes, Jon tells BBC Science Focus managing editor Alice Limpscombe-Southwell about the bizarre life found on the ocean floor, the habitats where they thrive, and what it's like to explore the deep sea in a submarine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The Science Focus team: What's inside November's issue?
In this episode of the Science Focus Podcast we chat through the November 2020 issue of the magazine, which is on sale now.Editor Dan Bennett explains why, this month, we’re focusing on food myths. Scientist and writer Professor Tim Spector penned our cover feature to reveal the fact and the fiction surrounding diet and nutrition, and some of his research may have results that surprise you.Talking about the amazing variety of our ocean’s other-worldly sea slugs is managing editor Alice Lipscombe-Southwell. These small marine animals might sport cute faces and bright colours, but they’re armed with an array of deadly defences too.Commissioning editor Jason Goodyer digs into our piece about algorithms, which asks, what went wrong with the A Level results algorithm? And online assistant Sara Rigby scrutinises the stats around plug-in hybrid cars to find out if they’re as eco-friendly as marketed.Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastListen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:Matt Parker, Helen Arney and Steve Mould: What links coffee, snowflakes and frogs?Andrew Hunter Murray and Dan Schreiber: Is there really no such thing as a fish?Matt Parker: What happens when maths goes horribly, horribly wrong?Helen Russell: What does it mean to be happy?Robin Ince: What's inside the mind of a comedian?Dara Ó Briain: Can you find the fun in science?Ryan North: How do you invent everything? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Prof Linda Scott: Why is there still economic inequality between men and women?
In this week’s episode of the Science Focus Podcast, we talk to Professor Linda Scott, an expert in women’s economic development and Emeritus DP World Chair for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Oxford.Her book, The Double X Economy, has been shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2020. In it, she argues that when we economically empower women, we all succeed.Linda tells us about her work in women's economics, why the number of women joining the workforce is slowing down, and her idea for an '80 per cent Christmas' to close the gender pay gap.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastRead the full transcription [this will open in a new window]Listen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:Caroline Criado Perez: Does data discriminate against women?Pragya Agarwal: When does bias become prejudice?Why aren't there more women in science?Angela Saini: Is racism creeping into science?Robert Elliott Smith: Are algorithms inherently biased?Matt Parker: What happens when maths goes horribly, horribly wrong? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Everything you ever wanted to know about… cancer with Dr Kat Arney
In this week's episode of the Science Focus Podcast, we talk to Dr Kat Arney about cancer. Kat is a science writer and broadcaster, and founder of the science communication consultancy First Create The Media. Her book, Rebel Cell is out now.She reveals how tissue becomes a tumour, how cells migrate to help cancer spread, and what scientists are doing right now to better understand the disease.Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastRead the full transcription [this will open in a new window]Listen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:Matt Parker, Helen Arney and Steve Mould: What links coffee, snowflakes and frogs?Professor Catharina Svanborg: Is the cure for cancer hiding in human breast milk?Is gene editing inspiring or terrifying? – Nessa CareyCan we slow down the ageing process? – Sue ArmstrongEating for your genes – Giles YeoHow to get a good night’s sleep – Alice Gregory See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hugo Zeberg: How could Neanderthal genes affect COVID-19?
In this week's episode of the Science Focus Podcast, we talk to Hugo Zeberg, a geneticist working at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Hugo has just published a paper that suggests those of us with a certain set of genes inherited from Neanderthals may suffer from more severe effects of COVID-19.Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastRead the full transcription [this will open in a new window]This podcast was supported by brilliant.org, helping people build quantitative skills in maths, science, and computer science with fun and challenging interactive explorations.Listen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:Dr Rachel Brown: Why are some COVID-19 patients suffering from neurological complications?Project Discovery: Could computer games help find a cure for COVID-19?Elisa Raffaella Ferrè: What happens to the brain in space?Sandro Galea: What is the difference between health and medicine?Nessa Carey: Is gene editing inspiring or terrifying?Dean Burnett: What’s going on in the teenage brain? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.