BBC Science Focus Magazine

On the frontlines of our fight against dementia | Prof Selina Wray | Instant Genius Podcast

346 views · 2mo ago · 24:29

Guest: Prof Selina Wray

Currently, there are around one million people in the UK living with dementia. Despite significant advances in our understanding of the disease over the past several decades, an effective cure is yet to be found. However, recent breakthroughs made by researchers around the world are showing great promise in the treatment of this devastating condition.

Why Bisexuality is Everywhere | Dr Julia Shaw | Instant Genius Podcast

24K views · 5mo ago · 29:12

Guest: Dr Julia Shaw

In this episode, to coincide with Pride Month, we’re joined by Dr Julia Shaw, a broadcaster, best-selling author and psychologist based at University College London, to talk about the science and history of bisexuality. She tells us about the fascinating historical and scientific origins of the term bisexuality, how studies have found that there are likely far more bisexual people than you may think, and how bisexuality isn’t unique to humans.

Why ADHD is so Challenging to Diagnose | Prof Ellie Dommett | Instant Genius Podcast

405 views · 5mo ago · 31:59

Guest: Prof Ellie Dommett

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is currently thought to affect around one in 20 of the world’s population, making it one of the most prevalent types of neurodivergence. Despite this, the condition is still surrounded by stigma, misunderstanding and significant challenges in diagnosis.

How Metabolism Really Affects Your Health and Weight | Prof Javier Gonzalez | Instant Genius Podcast

823 views · 8mo ago · 25:45

Guest: Javier Gonzalez

Whether we’re working at a desk in an office, running a marathon or even asleep in bed, our bodies are host to thousands of chemical processes that are continually converting the food we eat into energy and repairing our bones, muscles and organs. Collectively, these processes are known as the metabolism. But how are they affected by our genes, lifestyles and diet, and what can we do to make sure everything stays running smoothly?

Why We Need to Rethink Our Concept of Evil | Dr Julia Shaw | Instant Genius Podcast

2.7K views · 9mo ago · 32:14

Guest: Dr Julia Shaw

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?

How Neuroscience is Reshaping Our Understanding of Free Will | Dr Hannah Critchlow | Instant Genius

2.7K views · 11mo ago · 35:39

Guests: Instant Genius, Dr Hannah Critchlow

How much control do we have over our actions and decisions? For most of us, the answer likely is that, of course, all of the choices we make are our own. However, it has 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?

What We All Need to Know About Menopause | Dr Saleyha Ahsan | Instant Genius Podcast

258 views · 1y ago · 21:51

Guest: Dr Saleyha Ashan

Throughout our lives, we all go through several significant periods of change – puberty, young adulthood, middle age, and retirement. Each comes with its own quirks and challenges, but perhaps one of the most underdiscussed of these stages is menopause. The lowering of hormone levels and eventual cessation of ovulation caused by menopause can affect women’s mental and physical health, performance in the workplace and even social life.

Why Our Brains Are Primed for Paranormal Experiences | Prof Richard Wiseman | Instant Genius podcast

837 views · 1y ago · 20:18

Be it a cold, drafty room in a creaky old country house or a still, quiet forest on a dark night, chances are that at one point or another we’ll all have entered an environment that for some reason made us feel uneasy. But what exactly makes a certain place or situation feel so creepy, and why do we get these feelings in the first place?

Busting the Biggest Myths in Neuroscience | Dr Dean Burnett | Instant Genius podcast

1.3K views · 1y ago · 37:31

Relatively speaking, neuroscience and psychology are young fields of scientific research that only really got going over the last hundred years or so. However, during this time, several stubborn myths have arisen that, zombie-like, just don’t seem to go away.

The Biggest Unsolved Mysteries in Cosmology | Marcus Chown | Instant Genius podcast

828 views · 1y ago · 33:21

Guest: Marcus Chown

For thousands of years, humans have gazed out into the night sky and pondered the mysteries of the vast cosmos in which we find ourselves a part. From Copernicus’ discovery that the Earth revolves around the Sun to Einstein’s revelation that gravity is the result of the curvature of spacetime, we’ve learned much about how the universe operates.

Busting the Biggest Weight Loss Myths | Prof Giles Yeo | Instant Genius podcast

1.7K views · 1y ago · 38:35

Guest: Prof Giles Yeo

Currently, 60 per cent of people in the UK are overweight or obese. Many of us would like to drop a few pounds if possible, but with so much information on diet and weight loss available, separating facts from myths can be something of a minefield.

Why We Need to Rethink Our Relationship With Alcohol | Prof David Nutt | Instant Genius podcast

6.9K views · 1y ago · 36:40

Guest: Professor David Nutt

The shocking fact is that alcohol is responsible for around three times more deaths globally than any other drug combined, save for tobacco. However, many of us still consume it. So how have we reached this point? Why is alcohol consumption still so deeply ingrained in human culture, and what can we do to limit the harms to health caused by alcohol?