Ri Science Podcast

Ri Science Podcast

By The Royal Institution

Explore a new area of science every month from the world's sharpest minds. 'From the Theatre' episodes every second Wednesday of the month, bringing you talks from the Ri's world-renowned Theatre. Ri Science Podcast original episodes every last Wednesday of the month, lifting the lid on the science all around us.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

From the Lab: How mathematics is powering medical innovation – with Becky Shipley

Ri Science PodcastJan 16, 2026
00:00
33:37
From the Lab: How mathematics is powering medical innovation – with Becky Shipley
Jan 16, 202633:37
Best of 2025: Science wrapped
Dec 31, 202545:23
From the Space Park: What will BepiColombo teach us about Mercury? - with Suzie Imber
Dec 10, 202542:32
Tripping the light fantastic: Space science and 200 years of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES - with Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock
Nov 26, 202545:29
From the Excel: Upcoming science in 2026 from New Scientist Live
Nov 12, 202522:47
How mechanical engineering is changing the world - with Shini Somara
Oct 29, 202538:00
From the Theatre: Should computers run the world? - with Hannah Fry
Oct 08, 202536:04
The science behind sickle cell disease - with Sara El Hoss and Stephanie George

The science behind sickle cell disease - with Sara El Hoss and Stephanie George

Sickle cell disorder is an inherited blood disorder that affects the shape of red blood cells, and can have an extreme impact on all different areas of the body. September marks Sickle Cell Awareness Month, so we wanted to draw attention to the science underlying this often-misunderstood disease. We are joined by researcher Sara El Hoss and sickle cell patient and advocate Stephanie George to discuss everything from the diagnostic journey to the fascinating research investigating future treatment methods.  

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of depression and self-harm. If you are struggling with things of this nature, we have linked some resources below to help you find the right support for you.  

Mental health resources: 

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/ 

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ 

 

Sickle Cell resources: 

https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/ 

https://ascatconferences.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/redcellsrus/ 

https://www.instagram.com/steph_has_sicklecell_/ 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sickle-cell-disease/ 


Producer: Lia Hale

Assistant producer: Poppy Aves

Music: Joseph Sandy

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

  • Browse upcoming talks and livestreams on our website  

Sep 23, 202541:07
From the Theatre: The science of mental health - with Camilla Nord
Sep 09, 202544:21
Is data failing us? - with Grace Huckins
Aug 26, 202542:49
What can dogs teach us about the microbiome? - with Bushra Schuitemaker
Jul 29, 202540:04
The science behind ACL injuries in women's football - with Blake Rivers and Grace Vella
Jun 24, 202541:05
De-westernizing the history of science - with Gianamar Giovannetti-Singh
Jun 04, 202529:37
Understanding antimicrobial resistance - with Gabriel Astorga
Apr 30, 202533:02
How climate change affects the brain - with Clayton Aldern and Sanjay Sisodiya
Mar 26, 202535:25
Statistical uncertainty in the modern world - with David Spiegelhalter

Statistical uncertainty in the modern world - with David Spiegelhalter

Sir David Spiegelhalter is a national treasure in the world of statistics, achieving everything from a knighthood to appearing on Total Wipeout.  

In light of giving the first Discourse in their bicentennial year, David explores how risk and uncertainty have affected his own life, and how to understand the statistics we see every day.  

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

  • Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

Producer: Lia Hale 

Music: Joseph Sandy

Feb 26, 202538:32
Scientists on Scientists: Being the Christmas Lecturer - with Chris van Tulleken and Monica Grady

Scientists on Scientists: Being the Christmas Lecturer - with Chris van Tulleken and Monica Grady

2025 marks the 200 year anniversary of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES from the Royal Institution, as well as Discourses and Michael Faraday’s discovery of Benzene. We’re celebrating throughout the year to mark the occasion, kicking off with a conversation between two previous Christmas Lecturers Chris van Tulleken and Monica Grady. They discuss their experiences giving the lectures, the importance of science communication to young people, and their advice for their successors.  

Find out more about the Discover200 campaign: https://www.rigb.org/discover200-ri 

 

This episode was recorded remotely on Monday 16 December 2024.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

  • Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

Interviewer: Lia Hale 

Producer: Lia Hale 

Music: Joseph Sandy  

Jan 29, 202544:36
Best of 2024: Science wrapped
Dec 18, 202429:41
Quantum physics and gender equity - with Jess Wade
Nov 27, 202452:47
Sustainable materials: Trick or treat? - with Mike Shaver
Oct 30, 202435:14
The search for Earth 2.0 - with Elizabeth Tasker
Sep 26, 202448:08
The brain on exercise - with Dr Flaminia Ronca
Aug 28, 202446:30
How women drove evolution - with Cat Bohannon
Jul 31, 202444:45
The science of cheese - with Bronwen Percival
Jun 26, 202428:47
Eggs, Evolution, and life on Earth - with Jules Howard
May 29, 202434:19
The neuroscience of memory - with Charan Ranganath
Apr 24, 202435:20
Ri on AI: The healthcare revolution – with Dr James Kinross

Ri on AI: The healthcare revolution – with Dr James Kinross

In the second episode of this miniseries, we’re exploring how AI is impacting different areas of scientific research, and in this episode we discuss the applications of AI in healthcare. Lisa Derry is joined by Dr James Kinross, a colorectal surgeon and medical researcher at Imperial College London, to discuss everything from the impact of AI on medical publishing to robotic surgery.


Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

  • Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

Lead producer: Lia Hale
Assistant producer: Freddie Rodgers
Interviewer: Lisa Derry
Music: Joseph Sandy

Mar 27, 202441:19
Geometry in Everyday Life - with the London Institute of Mathematical Sciences (LIMS)
Feb 28, 202435:29
Ri on AI: Understanding AlphaFold with Dame Janet Thornton
Dec 13, 202343:25
Tales from my PhD: Algorithms for energy efficiency – with Karan Mukhi

Tales from my PhD: Algorithms for energy efficiency – with Karan Mukhi

How can we improve the use of renewable energy in the power grid? In the final episode of the series 'Tales from my PhD', Charlotte Collingwood talks to Karan Mukhi about his work in computer science, creating algorithms to improve the efficiency of the national grid.

Follow Charlotte on Twitter: @NeuroCharlotte

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

  • Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

Produced by: Charlotte Collingwood

Music by: Joseph Sandy

Aug 24, 202316:11
Tales from my PhD: Fighting rice blast fungus – with Camilla Molinari

Tales from my PhD: Fighting rice blast fungus – with Camilla Molinari

How do you fight a fungus? In this episode of ‘Tales from my PhD’, Charlotte Collingwood talks to Camilla Molinari about her work in plant pathology, studying the mechanisms and genetics of the rice blast fungus in order to limit its impact on food crops.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

  • Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

Produced by: Charlotte CollingwoodMusic by: Joseph Sandy

Aug 20, 202311:20
Tales from my PhD: Researching anxiety and depression through computational models – with Sophie Shang
Aug 10, 202311:47
Tales from my PhD: Saving manta rays – with Jessica Savage

Tales from my PhD: Saving manta rays – with Jessica Savage

There are an estimated 5 trillion plastic particles in the oceans, spelling trouble for marine ecosystems. Manta rays are one group of species at risk – how can we protect these animals? In this episode of 'Tales from my PhD', Charlotte Collingwood talks to Jessica Savage about her work analysing the species distribution of manta rays and global plastic pollution maps to aid marine science and conservation.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

  • Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

Produced by: Charlotte Collingwood

Music by: Joseph Sandy

Aug 02, 202313:18
How to hear gravitational waves – with Tessa Baker
Jul 31, 202348:09
Tales from my PhD: What is galaxy evolution? – with Rohan Varadaraj
Jul 26, 202316:05
How did patriarchy develop across the world? – with Angela Saini and Julia Gillard

How did patriarchy develop across the world? – with Angela Saini and Julia Gillard

How did societies develop across the globe and how did gender become so enmeshed in them? In this episode we join award-winning science journalist, Angela Saini, in conversation with former Australian prime-minister, Julia Gillard, as they go in search of the roots of gendered oppression. By looking at cultures throughout human history and in the modern day, they overturn simplistic universal theories to show that what patriarchy is and how far back it goes really depends on where you live.

Get Angela Saini's book: The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule


This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 2 March 2023.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

  • Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

Produced by: Sarah Dick

Music by: Joseph Sandy

Jun 13, 202301:20:19
Can science explain emotions? – with Dean Burnett

Can science explain emotions? – with Dean Burnett

Did you know that there is no widely agreed upon definition of what emotions actually are? After losing his dad to Covid-19 in the early days of the pandemic lockdown, neuroscientist Dean Burnett found himself wondering what life would be like without emotions. In today’s episode, Dean combines his personal story with expert analysis, humour and powerful insights into the grieving process, to uncover how emotions make us who we are.

Get Dean's book: 'Emotional Ignorance: Lost and Found in the Science of Emotion'

Subscribe to Dean's podcast: 'Why does this thing exist?'

Follow Dean on Twitter: twitter.com/garwboy


This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 30 January 2023.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

  • Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

Produced by: Sarah Dick

Music by: Joseph Sandy

Apr 30, 202301:13:08
Tackling climate change with innovation – with Alyssa Gilbert and Katherine Mathieson
Apr 22, 202326:54
Existential physics: Exploring life's big questions – with Sabine Hossenfelder

Existential physics: Exploring life's big questions – with Sabine Hossenfelder

Are particles conscious? Can information be destroyed? Do we live in a computer simulation? Are we part of a multiverse? In this episode, theoretical physicist Sabine Hossenfelder draws on research in quantum mechanics, black holes and particle physics to explore what modern physics can tell us about life's big, existential questions.

Watch the video version of this episode: ⁠youtu.be/fl9oDJzfg58⁠
Sabine's book "Existential Physics: A Scientists Guide to Life's Biggest Questions", is available to purchase now: ⁠https://geni.us/oBMXZv⁠
Subscribe to Sabine's YouTube channel: youtube.com/SabineHossenfelder


This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 19 August 2022. Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help more people discover the podcast.


Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

  • Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 


Produced by: Charlotte Collingwood
Music by: Joseph Sandy

Mar 31, 202336:23
Bad statistics: How not to be misled – with Jennifer Rogers
Feb 28, 202334:07
How Peter Higgs proposed the Higgs boson – with Frank Close

How Peter Higgs proposed the Higgs boson – with Frank Close

On 4 July 2012, one of the longest-running mysteries in physics was finally clarified. The ATLAS and CMS collaborations at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider announced that they had produced and observed the elusive Higgs boson. This unstable elementary particle was theorised back in 1964 by 6 scientists – one of them was the particle’s namesake, Peter Higgs.

In this episode, physicist and former Ri Christmas Lecturer, Frank Close, explores the life of Peter Higgs, a Nobel prize-winning scientist and the only person in history to have an existing single particle named after them.

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 7 July 2022.

Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help more people discover the podcast.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

  • Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

Produced by: Sarah Dick

Music by: Joseph Sandy

Thumbnail image credit: Garik Barseghyan via Pixabay

Jan 31, 202301:02:17
How to handle heart disease – with Samer Nashef
Dec 23, 202250:14
CHRISTMAS LECTURES special: Inside forensic science – with Dame Sue Black & Katherine Mathieson
Dec 16, 202228:22
How does proton beam therapy treat cancer? – with Simon Jolly
Nov 21, 202201:08:07
How did females evolve? – with Lucy Cooke

How did females evolve? – with Lucy Cooke

Did you know that zoologists have only found 5 species of mammals that go through the menopause? That's 4 species of toothed whale, plus us humans. The animal kingdom reveals a lot about female evolution and this month, Lucy Cooke explores evolutionary biology through an array of animal examples and research stemming from Darwin's time.

Get Lucy Cooke's book 'Bitch: A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Animal': www.penguin.co.uk/books/111/111196…80857524133.html

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 8 March 2022. Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help more people discover the podcast.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

  • Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

Jul 05, 202201:18:19
Is the multiverse possible? – with Sean M Carroll
May 31, 202201:24:43
How we got to the climate crisis – with Alice Bell
Apr 30, 202201:26:33
How to design a rollercoaster – with Brendan Walker

How to design a rollercoaster – with Brendan Walker

Do you consider yourself a ‘thrill-seeker’? If so, you may have a variation in the DRD4 dopamine receptor gene which makes you less able to process dopamine, a neurotransmitter that's responsible for how we feel pleasure.

This month we hear from thrill-engineer Brendan Walker as he explains how he designs rollercoasters to induce thrill, priming our bodies’ innate responses through sounds, visual cues, virtual reality and much more.

This talk was recorded from our theatre at the Royal Institution on 28 February, 2020. Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/edT9bUbKId4

Get tickets for upcoming talks: www.rigb.org

Twitter: twitter.com/Ri_Science

YouTube: youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution

Patreon: patreon.com/TheRoyalInstitution

Thumbnail image credit: Jonny Gios via Unsplash | unsplash.com/photos/ljN0zTXf7tQ

Mar 28, 202201:09:42
What is love? – with Laura Mucha & Kate Devlin
Feb 07, 202257:34
How to make a universe – with Harry Cliff
Jan 06, 202201:19:49