Everywhere you look across the scientific landscape, AI and big data play a vital role. But is that role good or bad? This year’s Nine Dots Prize question looked to tackle just that, and award-winning science journalist and neuroscientist Grace Huckins’ entry was deemed the most innovative. Grace joins us this month to discuss how AI could be changing the way science operates, and how data has transformed the field of neuroscience specifically. Read an extract from Grace’s winning essay: https://ninedotsprize.org/extract-from-grace-huckins-winning-entry/ Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! Producer and presenter: Lia Hale Assistant producer: Poppy Aves Music: Joseph Sandy Browse upcoming talks and livestreams on our website Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok
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What can dogs teach us about the microbiome? - with Bushra Schuitemaker
How similar is your microbiome to your dog’s? How do volcanoes influence the microbiome of the earth? And what links the microbiome to epilepsy? It’s not just the gut that has a microbiome – everything from your phone screen to the soles of your shoes has a community of microorganisms residing together that forms a microbiome. But the microbiome in the gut specifically has a huge impact on our bodily functioning, and we can learn a lot about our own gut microbiome by looking at those of domesticated animals like dogs. This month, we’re joined by Bushra Schuitemaker, a microbiologist and head of science and research at Biome9, to understand what we can learn from the microbiomes around us. Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! Producer/presenter: Lia Hale Music: Joseph Sandy Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help other people discover the podcast. Learn more about Biome9 and Dogileptic Get tickets for upcoming talks and livestreams on our website YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution X: https://twitter.com/Ri_Science
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The science behind ACL injuries in women's football - with Blake Rivers and Grace Vella
The Women's Euros kick off next Wednesday, once again bringing attention to the epidemic of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women’s football. But why is it that women are six times more likely to suffer from these injuries, and what research is being done to understand it further? This month we’re looking at the science behind the ACL, and what factors researchers are investigating that influence injury susceptibility. We’re joined by Blake Rivers, whose PhD at Kingston University is being funded by FIFA to investigate the impact of the menstrual cycle on ACL injuries, and Grace Vella, a footballer and entrepreneur who is 5 months into her ACL rehabilitation following on from reconstructive surgery. Producer: Lia Hale Assistant producer: Jessica Hibbert Music: Joseph Sandy Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help other people discover the podcast. Get tickets for upcoming talks and livestreams: https://www.rigb.org/whats-on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution X: https://twitter.com/Ri_Science
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De-westernizing the history of science - with Gianamar Giovannetti-Singh
When we think of the biggest historical figures in science, names like Isaac Newton and Michael Faraday tend to come to mind. But the discoveries made by these individuals could never have happened without the contributions of countless others around the world, whose names and stories are often left out of the picture. Former Royal Institution Freer Fellow Gianamar Giovannetti-Singh spoke at the Ri to shed light on some of these untold stories, and to help us adopt a more global understanding of the history of science. Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help other people discover the podcast. Get tickets for upcoming talks and livestreams: https://www.rigb.org/whats-on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution X: https://twitter.com/Ri_Science This talk was recorded in the Theatre at the Royal Institution on Monday 14 May 2024 Producer: Lia Hale Music: Joseph Sandy
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How ancient pathogens have uncovered the past – with Pooja Swali
Ancient DNA offers a remarkable window into our past, allowing us to uncover crucial details about human history that would otherwise remain hidden. Earlier this year, UCL research fellow Pooja Swali joined us at the Ri to share her latest research into ancient pathogens. The paper was officially published in Science last week (link below!), so this month we’re revisiting Pooja’s research to understand what ancient DNA can teach us about the history of human civilisation. Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help other people discover the podcast. Read Pooja’s full paper here Get tickets for upcoming talks and livestreams: https://www.rigb.org/whats-on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution This talk was recorded in our Theatre at the Royal Institution on Saturday 1 March 2025. Producer: Lia Hale Music: Joseph Sandy
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Ireland