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

Exploding Head Syndrome: We talk to professor Brian Sharpless about a little-known sleep disorder called Exploding Head Syndrome and the research that hopes find a treatment. by Instant Genius

26 min listen

Adventures in brain enhancement: This week, we chat to author David Adam about his adventures in brain enhancement, finding out whether smart drugs and electrical brain stimulation could really be a shortcut to a sharper, more focused mind.  See acast.com/privacy for pri... by Instant Genius

48 min listen

Building a base on the Moon, and crafting believable sci-fi: If you love science fiction then you’re in for a treat. This month, we pick the brain of Andy Weir, author of the best-selling novel and film The Martian, about his new creation Artemis and how he crafts believable sci-fi worlds. In Artemis Weir has sw... by Instant Genius

36 min listen

To become Prime Minister, change your voice: Your voice – its pitch, intonation and accent – is a huge part of your personal identity. Trevor Cox is talking to us about the full range of human speech, and how technology’s changing the conversation. by Instant Genius

46 min listen

The neuroscience of happiness: Everyone wants to be happy, it’s an inbuilt part of being human, but what exactly is going on in our brains when we feel happy and what can we do to ensure we live as happy a life as possible? We talk to neuroscientist, comedian and science writer Dean... by Instant Genius

49 min listen

The London Fatberg + Why you should break up with your phone: This month, we’re talking about how the Museum of London acquired a piece of the London Fatberg as their new exhibit, and asked them how they’ll keep it “fresh”. We also talk to author Catherine Price about the science that inspired her to break up wit... by Instant Genius

44 min listen

Why we love pets and why strangers help each other by Instant Genius

42 min listen

Mike Garrett: Is there anybody out there?: There are 100 billion stars in our Galaxy – surely we can’t be the only intelligent lifeform out there? In this week’s Science Focus Podcast we speak to Mike Garrett, the Director of Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, about the search for extraterre... by Instant Genius

44 min listen

Christmas lectures past and present: Since they were launched by Michael Faraday in 1825, the Royal Institution’s Christmas lectures have become as synonymous with the festive season as mince pies and sherry. In this month’s podcast we look back at classic lectures from Christmases past, ... by Instant Genius

46 min listen

Changing our behaviour with virtual reality: VR can be used for so much more than cheap thrills and casual gaming. Jeremy Bailenson tells us how he is using VR to change the way we perceive racism, highlight the impact of climate change, and help us step into the shoes of our sporting heroes.... by Instant Genius

34 min listen

Sin: Why we do the things we shouldn’t: Whether it’s cheating on our spouse, slacking off at work, or eating too much junk, we all occasionally do things we shouldn’t. Jack Lewis talks to us about the neuroscience of sin, how we can resist it, and the wacky experiments that test our ability ... by Instant Genius

37 min listen

What it’s really like to die: People used to die at home and everybody recognised the process, and now people die in hospital largely with doctors and nurses trying to stop it from happening. So we don’t see how gentle the normal process of a life winding to an end can be. by Instant Genius

35 min listen

How plants can survive space missions and Chernobyl: The world seems to be going ever more nuclear, but what effect could radiation – from bombs or nuclear meltdowns – have on animals and plants? by Instant Genius

26 min listen

Psychosis, realism and video games: In the first half of this episode we ask Dr Stephen Hall, a climate and infrastructure researcher, whether the 2040 petrol and diesel car ban will really clean up the air we breathe. In the second part, we talk to neuroscientist Professor Paul Fletcher... by Instant Genius

45 min listen

Inequality in Science: Women are underrepresented in science, and some experts are asking whether there are biological reasons why. Meanwhile, racial studies are creeping back into mainstream science. We talk to Angela Saini about the science of gender and race, and about ho... by Instant Genius

52 min listen

How to keep yourself busy in space: Chris Hadfield has been to space three times, completed two spacewalks and visited two different space stations, but for many, he is best known for his rendition of David Bowie’s Space Oddity performed aboard the International Space Station. We find ou... by Instant Genius

23 min listen

Solving the plastic problem: It’s estimated that there are currently more than 6 billion tonnes of plastic waste buried in land fill sites or floating on the surface of the ocean. Clearly something needs to be done but what exactly should we be doing? We speak to material... by Instant Genius

31 min listen

How emotions are made: This week, we chat to neuroscientist Lisa Feldmann Barrett about what happens in our brains when we create emotions, how to control them, and what this means for the future of artificial intelligence.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy an... by Instant Genius

43 min listen

What’s the deal with algorithms?: Algorithms are everywhere. They can make our lives easier, by curating our Twitter feeds and Netflix suggestions. But they can also be bad. They lack empathy and we can become too reliant on their logical abilities, putting ourselves and others at risk... by Instant Genius

30 min listen

Nudge theory: How much difference can a small change make? When it comes to changing habits, convincing someone to do something or affecting the behaviour of people without them even knowing about it, quite a lot, as we have seen with the recent Fa... by Instant Genius

32 min listen

What makes a robot a robot? – Dr Lucy Rogers: This week we speak to Dr Lucy Rogers, who casts aside any Hollywood depictions of skull-crushing Terminators, and look at the real-life robots that are making a positive impact in our lives. by Instant Genius

40 min listen

Transhumanism - using technology to live forever: We talk to Mark O’Connell about transhumanism, a movement whose aim is to use technology to control the future evolution of our species – to improve our flawed biology, and to enable us to live forever. by Instant Genius

31 min listen

There is no Plan B for planet Earth – Lord Martin Rees: Astronomer Royal Lord Martin Rees explains how unless we make significant changes now, the prospects for the human species are beginning to look bleak. by Instant Genius

33 min listen

The truth about dinosaurs: The image of dinosaurs as drab, slow-witted reptilians is slowly being overturned thanks to exciting new fossil discoveries and advances in the technology used to analyse them. We talk to palaeontologist Steve Brusatte about palaeontology’s emerging go... by Instant Genius

34 min listen

What asteroids can tell us about our Solar System: What asteroids can tell us about our Solar System by Instant Genius

44 min listen

How to get a good night’s sleep - Alice Gregory: Sleep psychologist Prof Alice Gregory on the science behind a satisfying slumber by Instant Genius

28 min listen

Remembering Stephen Hawking - the Galaxy's best known scientist: In this episode, we chat to four scientists who spent time with Professor Stephen Hawking, to find out more about his life, his work, and his legacy. by Instant Genius

58 min listen

Russia's canine cosmonauts: Russian space dogs paved the way to sending humans into the cosmos. By studying how space flight affected dogs, scientists could establish whether it was safe to blast humans into space too. In this episode, we talk to Vix Southgate, who has just writt... by Instant Genius

26 min listen

The future of humanity: This week, we chat to theoretical physicist Michio Kaku about the future of humanity, how we're going to terraform Mars, why the modern space race will change life on Earth, and why aliens probably won't bother to destroy us.  S... by Instant Genius

41 min listen

How to push the limits of human endurance: Ahead of the London Marathon, we talk to Alex Hutchinson, author and former long-distance athlete about what it takes to push the human body to its limits. by Instant Genius

37 min listen

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

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

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