Instant Genius Podcast Por Our Media arte de portada

Instant Genius

Instant Genius

De: Our Media
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Whether you’re curious about getting healthy, the Big Bang or the science of cooking, find out everything you need to know 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. New episodes are released every Monday and Friday and you can subscribe to Instant Genius on Apple Podcasts to access all new episodes ad-free and all old episodes of Instant Genius Extra. Watch full episodes of Instant Genius on BBC Science Focus Magazine's YouTube channel.Our Media Ciencia
Episodios
  • How our intimate relationship with animals shaped human evolution

    How our intimate relationship with animals shaped human evolution
    Mar 23 2026
    Thanks to our highly developed brains, sophisticated ability to communicate and use of advanced technology, it can be easy to think that we humans are separate from, and even superior to, the animals we share the Earth with. But the truth is that animals have profoundly influenced the progress and evolution of human beings for tens of thousands of years. In this episode, we’re joined by science writer Michael Bond to talk about his latest book, Animate – How Animals Shape the Human Mind. He tells us what the elaborate cave paintings found across the globe can teach us about our ancient ancestors’ relationship with animals, how evolution has finetuned our brains to help us recognise animals and understand their behaviour, and what we can learn about ourselves by more deeply investigating the way we treat other living beings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    33 m
  • Why our brains struggle to keep up with a rapidly changing world

    Why our brains struggle to keep up with a rapidly changing world
    Mar 20 2026
    The human brain is undoubtedly one of the true marvels of nature. But many of the neural mechanisms that evolved to keep our ancestors alive over thousands of years are now leaving us feeling dissatisfied, anxious and depressed thanks to the rapid advances in technology and culture we now find ourselves faced with. The simple fact is, we’re living in an environment that our brains were not built to survive in. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Paul Goldsmith, an evolutionary neuroscientist, author and visiting professor at Imperial College London, to talk about his latest book, The Evolving Brain – An Ancient Tool in a Modern World. He tells us how the pressures and goals many of us are now confronted with are vastly different from the challenges faced by our ancestors, the huge impact this is having on our mental wellbeing by excessively triggering our natural stress responses and shares some advice from neuroscience we can all use to navigate the trials of modern life more healthily. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 m
  • Why we need to save ugly, creepy, scary and misunderstood animals

    Why we need to save ugly, creepy, scary and misunderstood animals
    Mar 16 2026
    The natural world is filled with a rich tapestry of creatures, each occupying a unique evolutionary niche that helps to keep the ecosystems they live in functioning healthily. But the truth is, over the centuries, we humans have treated some of them better than others. Our tendency is to prefer cute, cuddly animals such as pandas or donkeys, or beautiful, majestic beasts such as elephants, eagles or tigers. Is it time that we had a long, hard look at this viewpoint, and extended our care and attention to the animals that we’ve traditionally viewed as ugly, creepy or even dangerous? In this episode, we’re joined by Jo Wimpenny an author and specialist in animal behaviour, to talk about her latest book, Beauty of the Beasts – Rethinking Nature’s Least Loved Animals. She tells us how the latest research is showing that snake venom can potentially give rise to a new category of medicinal drugs, how the insects we typically find disgusting such as maggots and cockroaches play a vital role as the natural caretakers of the environments they live in, and how, by rethinking our in-built prejudices, we can more deeply appreciate the richness and variety found in the natural world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 m
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