The Royal Institution Courses

The Journey of Food Through Our Body - Part 1

Explore the fascinating journey of food through the human digestive system, from initial taste sensations to final digestion, with engaging demonstrations and interactive experiments led by Dr. van Tulleken.

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

The Big Food Hack: Evolution and Science of Food Processing - Lecture 3

Explore the evolution of human food systems, from ancient microbial beginnings to modern food processing, while discovering scientific insights into how we've transformed eating habits and their impact on our bodies.

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

The Chemical History of a Candle - A Modern Interpretation of Faraday's Classic Lecture

Discover the fascinating chemistry and physics of candle flames through dynamic demonstrations inspired by Faraday's historic 1861 Christmas lectures, featuring spectacular experiments and surprising revelations.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 23 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Pushing the Limits: Animal Adaptations in Extreme Environments - Lecture 5

Discover fascinating animal adaptations for survival in extreme environments, from antifreeze blood to specialized fur, and learn how humans cope with challenging conditions from Antarctic exploration to high-G forces.

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

How Our Bodies and Animals Are Trained by Sunlight - Lecture 4

Explore how sunlight trains our bodies and animal behaviors, from circadian rhythms to hibernation patterns, and discover fascinating insights into life spans across different species.

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

How Animals and Humans Regulate Body Temperature - Lecture 3

Discover how humans and animals maintain constant body temperatures across different environments, from ocean depths to desert heat, with fascinating insights into biological adaptation mechanisms.

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

Energy Balance and Food: Understanding Calories and Body Weight - Lecture 2

Discover how the body balances energy intake and expenditure, exploring food types, metabolism, and fascinating comparisons of eating patterns between humans and various animals in nature.

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

Sense and Sensitivity: Understanding Body Regulation and Homeostasis - Lecture 1

Discover how our body's intricate sensory systems maintain balance and regulate vital functions, featuring live demonstrations with Olympic athlete Chris Boardman and insights into animal sensory adaptations.

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

How the Stars Made Us

Discover how stars have shaped human history, from our atomic origins to navigation, timekeeping, and scientific advancement, with theoretical physicist Roberto Trotta.

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

A Scientist's Guide to Wellness, Ageing and Death

Explore immunologist John Tregoning's personal journey through organ health, aging processes, and debunking anti-aging myths, including his self-experimentation for longevity and wellness.

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

Signals from the Mind - Lecture 6

Explore the fascinating signals we send and receive about emotional states in this 1975 Christmas Lecture by Heinz Wolff, examining how we interpret social cues across cultures and physiological responses to emotions.

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

Looking Through Your Skin - Electromagnetic Radiation and Ultrasound Imaging - Lecture 5

Explore how electromagnetic radiation and ultrasound technologies enable non-invasive medical imaging to see inside the human body, from X-rays to gamma rays and infrared imaging techniques.

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

Probes, Sondes and Sounds - Exploring the Digestive Tract - Lecture 4

Explore how we can investigate our digestive tract with Heinz Wolff, who examines methods like radio transmitters and endoscopes to discover what's happening inside our bodies without invasive procedures.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Spikes and Waves: Exploring Body Electricity - Christmas Lectures - Lecture 3

Explore how electrical signals from muscle and nerve cells can be detected outside the body, with Heinz Wolff explaining the science behind bioelectricity and its diagnostic applications in this classic Royal Institution lecture.

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

Pumps, Pipes and Flows - Lecture 2

Explore how to measure the heart's pumping efficiency and blood flow without invasive procedures in this 1975 Christmas Lecture by Heinz Wolff.

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