The Royal Institution Courses

Technology, Trumpets and Tunes - The Development and Science Behind Wind Instruments - Lecture 4

Explore the fascinating science behind wind instruments, from valve innovations to air vibrations that create the music we hear and love.

• YouTube
• 1 hour
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Science, Strings and Symphonies - How Flat Plates and Hollow Bodies Amplify Sound - Lecture 3

Explore how flat plates and hollow bodies amplify string vibrations in musical instruments, from guitars to violins, using scientific methods and laser interferometry techniques.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

What Is Music? - Charles Taylor's 1989 Christmas Lectures - Lecture 1

Explore the fascinating science behind sound and music, discovering why some vibrations create beautiful melodies while others produce mere noise through engaging demonstrations.

• YouTube
• 59 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Mixers, Meters and Molecules - The Home of the Future - Lecture 5

Explore silicon chips, liquid crystal displays, and molecular electronics in this final lecture examining the materials driving technological innovation in the home of the future.

• YouTube
• 1 hour
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Home Smart Home - 1988 Christmas Lectures 4/5

Explore how inventions like the telephone transformed homes into 'smart' spaces and discover future possibilities including remote-controlled heating systems.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Electronics for Pleasure - Entertainment Electronics from Gramophone to Television - Lecture 3

Explore entertainment electronics evolution from gramophone to television, plus predictions for high-definition flat screen TVs in this 1988 Royal Institution lecture.

• YouTube
• 59 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Home Safe Home - The Science of Safer, Stronger, and More Secure Homes - Lecture 2

Explore the science behind safer homes through innovations in building materials, glass technology, security systems, and fire protection from this classic 1988 lecture.

• YouTube
• 1 hour
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Appliance Science - The Home of the Future - Lecture 1

Explore how science revolutionized household appliances, from microwaves to light bulbs, through Professor Gareth Roberts's engaging 1988 Christmas Lecture.

• YouTube
• 56 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

How Mechanical Engineering Is Changing the World

Discover how computational fluid dynamics revolutionized COVID-19 management and explore AI's transformative impact on modern mechanical engineering innovations.

• YouTube
• 38 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

The Mathematical Signature That Drives Serendipity and Invention

Discover the mathematical patterns behind scientific breakthroughs and innovation, exploring how serendipity shapes discovery beyond traditional problem-solving narratives.

• YouTube
• 59 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Did Kathleen Lonsdale Deserve a Nobel Prize - Her Groundbreaking Work Explained

Discover why pioneering crystallographer Kathleen Lonsdale deserved Nobel recognition for solving benzene's structure and advancing X-ray crystallography methods.

• YouTube
• 18 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

An Islamic Perspective on Mental Health

Explore how Islamic teachings intersect with contemporary mental health practices through expert insights from renowned scholar Rania Awaad at this Royal Institution lecture.

• YouTube
• 44 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

The Science of Murder - Agatha Christie's Deadly Poisons

Explore the deadly science behind Agatha Christie's poisons with chemist Kathryn Harkup, uncovering how chemistry knowledge created brilliantly plotted crime novels with scientific accuracy.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 3 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Crystals, Lasers and the Human Body - Lecture 6

Explore how laser technology revolutionizes medicine through investigation, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases using cutting-edge optical techniques.

• YouTube
• 1 hour
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Applications of Lasers - Lecture 5

Explore diverse laser applications from chemical research to atmospheric pollution detection, telecommunications, medical uses, and military technology in this comprehensive scientific demonstration.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video