Instant Genius

Our world may look vibrant and full of color. But in reality, our human eyes are only picking up the tiniest slice of all the light shining in the Universe. To astronomers this hidden light is just as important as the red greens and blues we can see. We talk to Alfredo Carpineti about what secrets are lying in the Universe beyond human vision, while celebrating another aspect that the rainbow has come to represent - the LGBT+ community.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to the sounds we encounter in the natural world, few have the beauty, elegance and variety of birdsong. But these distinctive vocalisations are not simply static calls that are common to all birds of a certain species that are passed on from one generation to the next. They vary from region to region and even evolve in single populations over time in much the same way that the style of music in the pop charts changes over time.

As part of our Science of Sound miniseries, we’re joined by Dr Nilo Merino Recalde, a senior conservation scientist at the RSPB, to talk about the fascinating science behind the evolution of birdsong.

He tells us about his work on tracking the evolution of birdsong as it passes from place to place and from generation to generation, how advances in AI technology are enabling birdsong researchers to learn more about this process than ever before, and what this research can tell us about the evolution of culture in the animal kingdom as a whole.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over thousands of years, human beings evolved to walk upright on two legs, efficiently and over long distances. But these days, thanks to changes in our lifestyles, we’re becoming more sedentary than ever, and this is having profound effects on our health and well-being.

In this episode, we’re joined by Courtney Conley, a doctor of chiropractic medicine, and Milica McDowell, a doctor of physical therapy and exercise physiologist, to talk about their latest book, Walk – Your Life Depends on it.

They tell us why the oft-quoted 10,000 steps rule has no grounding in science, and was in fact originally, dreamt up as a marketing slogan to sell pedometers in the 1960s, explain the many things the way we walk can tell us about that state of our health, and give us some advice on what we should look out for when shopping for shoes that will help us get the most benefit from our daily walks.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hedgehogs are in decline all over Europe. These prickly little fellas are faced with so many threats – in their rural habitats, in our gardens, and on our roads. But new research about hedgehog hearing could help us protect these adorable creatures from going extinct.

As part of our Science of Sound miniseries, we speak to Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, a scientist who has dedicated her life to hedgehog research and conservation. Also known as Dr Hedgehog, she’s a research fellow at the University of Oxford, and assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen.

Sophie tells us all about hedgehogs – what she loves about them, and how we can do our bit to help them thrive. She also explains her recent study on ultrasound, which she hopes could significantly reduce encounters between hedgehogs and cars.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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.

In this episode, we’re joined by Prof Ellie Dommett, a neuroscientist based at King’s College London, to talk about the latest thinking on this common neurodevelopmental condition.

She explains why, despite its prevalence, ADHD is still commonly misunderstood, why it’s frequently diagnosed later in life, and also tells us about her work on developing effective non-pharmaceutical treatments to help those living with the disorder.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices