Instant Genius

Latest Episodes:

How dementia affects the brain, and how we’ll one day beat it Aug 17, 2023

Show notes

According to the World Health Organization, dementia currently affects an estimated 55 million people worldwide. But despite its prevalence, there is very little in the way of effective treatments.

In this episode we catch up with Tara Spires-Jones, Professor at the UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh and President of the British Neuroscience Association.

She tells us all about the different types of dementia, how they progress and the latest thinking on how we can beat the disease once and for all.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How AI is changing the world of scams Aug 13, 2023

Show notes

AI, deepfakes and advanced technology has made scams more advanced than ever. We spoke to Oli Buckley, a professor of cyber security at the University of East Anglia to learn what these scams look like and how to avoid them.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How False Memories can trick your mind Aug 10, 2023

Show notes

Do you consider yourself to have a good memory? Perhaps you can recall the minor details of events that occurred years ago. But how about remembering something that didn’t even happen? This is known as a false memory, and we all have them.

In this episode we catch up with Dr Julia Shaw, a psychologist at University College London and author of The Memory Illusion. She tells us all about the ways in which false memories can trick our brains and how it is even possible to implant a false memory into a person’s head.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What we’re all getting wrong about ADHD Aug 06, 2023

Show notes

We’ve all heard of ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But there’s actually a lot scientists don’t for sure know about the condition. From its causes, to what actually defines the disorder – or if it’s a disorder at all – is all hotly debated.

To guide us through the latest ADHD research, we’re joined by one of the world’s biggest experts on the topic, Professor Edmund Sonuga-Barke. He’s professor of Developmental Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience at King’s College London.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new world of AI relationships, with Marco Dehnert Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

Artificial intelligence has a new role. It is acting as people’s friends, mentors and even romantic partners. But what are the ethics of this, and is it what we can expect in the future? We spoke to Marco Dehnert, an expert in human-machine relationships to understand more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why the next gold rush is happening at the bottom of the ocean Jul 30, 2023

Show notes

We now know that the deep sea is full of bizarre creatures, and these have found a special place in our imaginations. But some people have their eyes on a different sort of ocean riches: the rare minerals and metals embedded in underwater mountains and rocks for use in everything from phones to electric cars. At the time of recording, representatives from countries around the world have just decided to delay a decision on deep sea mining laws by two years. So what’s the deal with the seabed, and why is everyone talking about it right now?

Marine biologist Dr Helen Scales joins us for today’s podcast to talk about deep sea mining, the lures of the ocean’s resources, and the fine balance between exploration and exploitation.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Weight loss: What actually works? Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

If you’re looking to lose a bit of weight, it’s easy to get lost in the complex and often contradictory health advice you can find online, from the fad diets, to the extreme exercise regimes.

But what actually works? To answer this and much more, we’re joined by Dr Adam Collins, Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Surrey. He unpacks the science-backed core principles of weight loss, why losing muscle alongside fat can be an issue, and what actually happens in your body during a calorie deficit.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simple ways to overcome imposter syndrome Jul 23, 2023

Show notes

Do you ever feel like a fraud in your everyday life, and everyone’s about to find out you don’t really belong? If so, you’ve likely experience imposter syndrome – a pattern of self-doubt that persists despite all your accomplishments.

Why is it these feelings emerge? And can a person actually be cured of imposter syndrome? To answer these questions and much more, we’re joined by Dr Jessamy Hibberd, Clinical Psychologist and author of book The Imposter Cure: How to stop feeling like a fraud and escape the mind-trap of imposter syndrome.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Global heatwave: Could our taps soon run dry? Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

Last month saw the hottest June on record – and, while July has seen heavy downpours in the UK, much of Europe and the US experienced life-threatening heatwaves.

As things heat up, aquifers shrivel – and London’s 90-day supply of water means the city is never far from its taps running dry. That’s Day Zero: a benchmark that several cities around the world have come alarmingly close to – or, in some cases, even reached – in the last decade. But what happens when that day comes?

In today’s episode we speak to Professor Priti Parikh, infrastructure engineer at University College London, about the looming threat of Day Zero and how household tricks all the way national innovations can offer promising solutions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How loneliness can affect your health, and what you can do to combat it, with Prof Andrea Wigfield Jul 16, 2023

Show notes

A recent study found that nearly 50 per cent of adults in the UK reported having feelings of loneliness, at least occasionally. It’s a fairly shocking stat, but what effect is this having on our collective health?

In this episode we catch up Prof Andrea Wigfield, director of the Centre for Loneliness Studies at Sheffield Hallam University. She tells about the different types of loneliness we can feel, the risks it poses to our mental and physical health and what we can do to limit its impact.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices