The Royal Institution Courses

Information, Evolution, and Intelligent Design - With Daniel Dennett

Daniel Dennett explores steps towards a unified theory of information, connecting evolution, learning, and engineering. He discusses major transitions in evolution, technology transfer, and the concept of intelligent design.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Anthropocene - With Jan Zalasiewicz and Christian Schwägerl

Explore the concept of the Anthropocene, its impact on Earth, and potential future scenarios with experts Jan Zalasiewicz and Christian Schwägerl in this thought-provoking discussion.

• YouTube
• 50 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Social Behaviour in Dinosaurs - With David Hone

Explore how paleontologists uncover dinosaur social behavior through fossil evidence, focusing on new discoveries from Mongolia's Gobi Desert and their implications for understanding prehistoric life.

• YouTube
• 33 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Blaze of Steel - Explosive Chemistry with Andrew Szydlo

Explosive chemistry demonstration exploring iron and steel properties through spectacular reactions, color changes, and pyrotechnics. Challenges perceptions of metal permanence with engaging experiments.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 57 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Powering Ahead with Solar Energy - Professor Lesley Yellowlees

Explore sustainable energy solutions with Professor Yellowlees as she delves into solar energy research, focusing on dye-sensitized solar cells and their characterization through advanced spectroelectrochemical techniques.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Atoms in Action with Professor Pratibha Gai

Explore atomic-level chemical reactions with Prof. Gai's groundbreaking microscope. Discover applications in medicine, energy, and more as she reveals the fascinating world of atoms in motion during crucial processes.

• YouTube
• 55 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Magic of Chemistry - With Andrew Szydlo

Explore the enchanting world of chemistry through captivating demonstrations, from color-changing substances to unique properties of gases and liquids, in this engaging and interactive presentation.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 22 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Roger Penrose - Forbidden Crystal Symmetry in Mathematics and Architecture

Explore forbidden symmetries in mathematics and architecture with Sir Roger Penrose, delving into non-repeating patterns, quasi-crystals, and innovative designs used in buildings worldwide.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Terra Rara - The Strange Story of Some Political Elements

Explore the fascinating world of rare earth elements, their unique properties, historical significance, and crucial role in modern technology and geopolitics.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 19 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Strange Materials With Mark Miodownik

Explore innovative materials shaping our future, from bionic limbs to self-healing objects. Discover how new materials blur the line between living and non-living, revolutionizing technology and our environment.

• YouTube
• 59 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Particle at the End of the Universe

Explore the Higgs boson discovery, its significance in particle physics, and the groundbreaking work at CERN's Large Hadron Collider with physicist Sean Carroll.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Alok Jha - Science and the Media - Discussion

Explore the dynamic between scientists and journalists in science communication through an engaging panel discussion led by Dr Alice Bell at the Royal Institution.

• YouTube
• 52 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Alok Jha - Consciousness, the Hard Problem?

Expert panel explores latest philosophical and scientific thinking on consciousness, discussing how brain activity creates our experienced reality and the nature of self-awareness.

• YouTube
• 30 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Chemical Curiosities - Surprising Science and Dramatic Demonstrations

Explore the fascinating world of chemistry through spectacular demonstrations, from color-changing reactions to explosive experiments, led by Professor Chris Bishop in this engaging lecture.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 10 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Harsh Reality of Ultra Processed Food - Health Impacts and Solutions

Exploring the impact of ultra-processed foods on health, metabolism, and the environment. Uncovers the addictive nature of UPF and provides solutions for individuals and policymakers to challenge this unregulated industry.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video