Instant Genius

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

There’s an entire cosmos hidden from our human eyes. The only way to see it is by looking at the Universe with a radio. We talk to Dr Emma Chapman about how she uses radio telescopes to reveal the cosmic mysteries of the Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can we tell if someone we’re speaking to is being economical with the truth? Oftentimes, we’re told that the primary telltale signs lie in the use of body language – maybe someone is avoiding eye contact, touching their face a lot, or fidgeting and squirming. But there’s also a whole world of clues to look out for in the type of language that someone uses when they’re telling us lies. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Kirsty King, a lecturer in communication based at University College London, to talk about her latest book, The Language of Lies – How to Uncover the Liar in Your Life. She tells us that when people try to hide the truth, they tend to use language that distances themselves from the act they’re talking about or the people involved in it, how when we’re relating a false account of an event we tend to omit words that describe how we actually felt during it, and how even the way liars structure their sentences can be a signal that they are trying to deceive us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chances are that if any of us are looking to drop a bit of excess weight, the first thing we’ll attempt is to cut down the number of calories we’re consuming. For decades, we’ve been told that balancing the number of calories we put into to our bodies with the energy that we burn can help us to maintain a healthy weight. While this is true, could it be that we’re putting our attention and effort in the wrong place and that taking a bigger picture view of the factors that motivate our appetite is likely to be a much more successful strategy? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Jason Fung, a physician and best-selling author based in Toronto, to talk about his latest book, The Hunger Code – Resetting Your Body’s Fat Thermostat in the Age of Ultra-processed Food. He talks us through the three key drivers that control our feelings of hunger, how our hormones are deeply connected with our appetites, and how the environments we live in have a profound effect on the food we eat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Around the world, more than 50 million people are living with some form of dementia – a number expected to triple by 2050 as populations age. But the thing is, dementia is often talked about as a kind of genetic lottery. You either get lucky and escape it, or unlucky and develop it. But what if that framing is wrong? What if far more of our brain health is within our control than we’ve been led to believe? Our guest today is Dr Majid Fotuhi, a neuroscientist who has spent decades treating and studying people with cognitive impairment. His message is a bold one: dementia is largely preventable – not with a miracle pill or silver-bullet treatment, but through the way we live. The 12-week programme he and his team have developed has helped his patients improve their memory, regain independence, and even grow new brain connections. Today, he talks us through the essentials of the programme – and what it really takes to stay sharp for life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Statistics show that half of us will experience a mental health condition of some kind by the time we turn forty. Could this be due to the increasing pressures and looming crises we’re currently facing in the modern world, overstimulating natural responses in our brains and bodies that have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years to protect us from threats? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Joanna Cheek, a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and clinical professor based at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine, to talk about her latest book, It’s Not You, It’s the World – A Mental Health Survival Guide for Us All. She tells us how the system of alarm signals in our brains is being increasingly triggered by the rapidly changing circumstances we find ourselves in, how this is hijacking the push and pull of our natural risk/reward systems, and why connecting more deeply with the rich tapestry of the people and cultures we share the world with can help us all bring our lives back into balance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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? In this episode, we’re joined by Javier Gonzalez, a professor of nutrition and metabolism based at the University of Bath. He breaks down the links between our metabolisms and body types, tells us why our metabolisms aren’t necessarily fixed for life, and explains why it’s almost impossible to out exercise a poor diet if you’re looking to drop a few kilos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The human face contains more than 40 muscles, giving us an ability to visually express our thoughts and emotions that is unique in the animal kingdom. This has perhaps led to a long-held obsession to uncover the many mysteries of our faces that has persisted in everyone from artists, scientists and even anthropologists for thousands of years. But where is this trend heading? And is it doing more harm than good? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Fay Bound-Alberti, the founder of the Centre for Technology and the Body at King’s College London, to talk about her latest book, The Face: A Cultural History. She tells us how the idea of the perfectly proportioned face that began in classical art continues to persist in today’s social media beauty trends, the various attempts that have been made over the years to determine a person’s good or bad qualities based on their facial characteristics, and explains the challenges we’re currently confronted by thanks to the rise of new technologies such as facial recognition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We often think of our planet as an isolated island, solitary and cut off from the cosmic ocean it resides in. But the truth is, Earth is intimately connected with the Universe surrounding it. What’s more, by learning more about the Solar System around us, humanity has changed its own view of the world as well. Dr Dagomar Degroot from Georgetown University spoke to us to explore this idea in more detail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the last several billion years, all life on Earth has progressed according to the rules of evolution by natural selection – a step-by-step process that has given rise to the fascinating complexity and beauty of all the living things we share our planet with. But now, due to advances in our knowledge of genetics and the rise of artificial intelligence, we’re on the brink of being able to design living organisms from scratch. This new field of research is known as generative biology. In this episode, we’re joined by Adrian Woolfson, a researcher who specialises in synthetic genome design, to talk about his latest book On the Future of Species – Authoring Life by Means of Artificial Biological Intelligence. He tells us how this fascinating area of research is bringing us closer to a genuine scientific revolution that could change the way we think about how life is created, the vast implications that this may have on human health and the health of our planet, and why we all need to be aware of this powerful new technology and its potential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The chances are that if any of us were asked to describe what it feels like to be in love we’d turn to art, poetry or music to help give us the answer. But what does science have to say about this uniquely human experience? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Justin Garcia, an evolutionary biologist and sex researcher based at the Kinsey Institute in the US, to talk about his book, The Intimate Animal: The Science of Love, Fidelity and Connection He tells us how the evolutionary history of human pair bonding led to the development of our feelings of love, how and why we seek certain characteristics in our romantic partners, and how our attitude to relationships has altered due to changes in thinking, culture, and technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the past several decades, many technologists and policy makers have sought out huge, disruptive shifts in thinking in almost every area of science, business and commerce in the hope that they’d help to drive innovation forward in giant leaps, one brilliant new idea at a time. But how successful has this been, and should we instead be focusing on a more gradual, incremental approach to innovation that’s based on the steady upgrading of the systems we already have in place? In this episode, we’re joined by Albert Fox-Cahn, a visiting professor at The Centre of Governance and Human Rights at Pembroke College, Cambridge, to talk about his latest book Move Slow and Upgrade – The Power of Incremental Innovation. He tells us why we tend to overemphasise the potential impact of the Next Big Thing, how this often leads to a rush to adopt unproven, and at times, unsafe new technologies, and how applying evidence-based thinking and an upgrader’s mindset can help us to be more like the tortoise than the hare, and ultimately win the race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Julia Shaw, a broadcaster, best-selling author and psychologist based at University College London to talk about the nature of evil. She tells us why it’s vital that we accept that, given a certain set of circumstances, we’re all capable of committing terrible acts, explains the key differences between thought and action, and explains why so many of us are fascinated by true crime documentaries and dramas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From famous actors and pop stars to the legions of social media influencers with millions of views, it seems almost everyone has something to say about the best ways to boost our health and wellbeing. But is this trend leading to many of us bypassing traditional sources of health advice and care such as GP practices and government health services and instead turning to the Internet, social media and private online pharmacies to seek out information, diagnoses, and, in some cases, even prescription medicines? In this episode, we’re joined by Deborah Cohen, an award-winning medical broadcaster and author to talk about her latest book, Bad Influence – How the Internet Hijacked Our Health. She tells us how the COVID 19 pandemic kickstarted a worldwide boom in consumer healthcare that shows no sign of stopping, why celebrities and social media stars hold so much influence over important decisions that can hugely impact our lives, and points out some of the red flags we can look out for when searching for health advice online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the human mind is capable of great insight, original thoughts and acts of tender kindness towards others, it can also, at times, act like our own worst enemy. Feelings of worthlessness, shame and disappointment can all stem from our brain’s natural inclination for overthinking. This can give rise to a wide range of debilitating impacts on our lives, such as low self-esteem, anxiety and depression and can even lead to the development of significant physical health issues. So, why do our minds seem to sabotage us in this way and what measures can we take to free ourselves from the common traps that lead us to being stuck in endless loops of negative thinking? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Jessamy Hibberd, a clinical psychologist and best-selling author, to talk about her latest book, The Overthinking Cure – How to Free Your Mind and Focus on What Really Matters. She tells us how common habits such as self-criticism, comparing ourselves to others, and actively avoiding our problems can all lead us to overthink, why we are all vulnerable to getting stuck in spirals of negative thoughts, and how learning to manage where we place our attention is often the first step we can all take to help us to boost our moods and wellbeing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the terrifying, hulking beasts portrayed in blockbuster movies to the friendly, charismatic characters often found in children’s cartoons, dinosaurs have made their way into almost every corner of popular culture. However, in terms of scientific accuracy, such depictions tend to leave a lot to be desired. So, how do we know what dinosaurs really looked like, whose job is it to show us, and how exactly do they go about it? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Mark Witton, a researcher, author and highly regarded paleoartist based at the University of Portsmouth. He outlines the detailed scientific process paleoartists follow to bring these ancient beasts to life as realistically as possible, runs us through some of the common mistakes Hollywood directors make in the name of artistic licence, and explains why the T.Rex is one of his favourite dinosaurs to draw. To see Mark’s work, check out his website www.markwitton.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At some points in our lives, we all face challenges or setbacks or find ourselves in difficult situations that can ultimately have a profound effect on our mental health and wellbeing. During such times, we need to draw on our reserves of mental resilience. But what techniques and strategies can we employ to develop this vital mental resource to enable us to better cope with whatever life throws at us? In today’s episode, we’re joined by psychologist and therapist Emanuela Brun to talk about ways we can all build our mental resilience. She tells us what happens in our brains when we’re faced by challenging situations, why we shouldn’t shy away from failure, and shares some strategies and techniques that can help us all bounce back from difficult situations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the world of games, scoring systems establish a framework that provides us with clear challenges, motivation, and ultimately delivers a huge amount of fun and pleasure. However, on the flip side, the increasing tendency to apply rankings and metrics to almost every area of our personal and professional lives can have a dehumanising effect, reducing our actions, performance, and even ourselves to a simple string of numbers. In today’s episode, we’re joined by C Thi Nguyen, a games researcher and associate professor of philosophy based at the University of Utah, to talk about his latest book, The Score – How to Stop Playing Someone Else’s Game. He explains how, in the real world, scoring systems typically fail to provide meaning by focusing on the simplest to measure outcomes, how purely numerical data is, by definition, lacking in nuance, and how, by concentrating on what we truly value, we can all break free from the tyranny of rankings and metrics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

These days, it can be easy to feel like we have too much to do and too little time to do it in. This can lead to many of us feeling overwhelmed, or in extreme cases, can lead to burnout – a state of profound physical, mental and emotional exhaustion that can have far-reaching consequences for both our mental and physical health. So, what measures can we take to regain control of our lives if we are feeling overwhelmed, and what techniques can we employ to ensure we never reach this state of crisis in the first place? In this episode, we’re joined by Claudia Hammond, a visiting professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Sussex and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind, to talk about her latest book, Overwhelmed, Ways to Take the Pressure Off. She tells how the rise of perfectionism is leading to more and more of us feeling overwhelmed, why we all tend to be our own worst critics, and shares a number of evidence-based tips we can all employ to make our loads feel a little bit lighter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the last several decades, the world has seen artificial intelligence undergo a rapid transformation. Since its beginnings in the 1950s as speculative theorising and novel thought experiments, AI has blossomed into a bona fide technological tool that can perform sophisticated tasks such as detecting signs of cancer or spotting signs of financial fraud, in many cases much more effectively than we humans can. But recently, another, more personal use for the technology has arisen – that of the AI companion. Against a backdrop of rising issues of social isolation and loneliness, more and more of us are turning to AI agents to act as friends, therapists and, in some cases, even lovers. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr James Muldoon, a sociologist based at Essex Business School, to talk about his latest book, Love Machines – How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Our Relationships. He tells us how far from being a niche activity, more than 200 million AI companions have been downloaded worldwide, how many of the people who interact with them view them as being ‘real’, and why tech companies and policymakers need to work together to ensure that our relationships with AI agents remain healthy as the technology progresses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices