The Royal Institution Courses

The Origin of Quasars - 1990 Christmas Lectures 3/5

Discover how quasars were found and understand these extraordinarily powerful galactic nuclei that outshine entire galaxies by 1000 times from incredibly small volumes.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 4 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Birth of Stars and the Great Cosmic Cycle - 1990 Christmas Lectures 2/5

Explore stellar science and nuclear fusion powering stars like the Sun, plus cutting-edge research on star formation using infrared astronomy and neutrino detection methods.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 12 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Grand Design - Exploring the Modern Picture of the Universe - Lecture 1

Explore the modern picture of the Universe through a guided tour from our backyard to the cosmic edges, examining stars, galaxies, and large-scale structures across all astronomical wavebands.

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

The Quest for Dark Matter

Explore the mysterious invisible substance that shapes our cosmos and discover the latest breakthroughs in dark matter research with astronomer Matt Bothwell.

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

The Mathematics of Equalities and Inequalities in Society

Discover how mathematical modeling can scientifically measure equality, diversity, and inclusion strategies to unlock underrepresented talent in society.

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

You as an Engine - Lecture 1

Discover how the human body functions as an engine, as Heinz Wolff measures human efficiency compared to petrol generators in this classic 1975 Royal Institution Christmas Lecture.

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

How Ancient Pathogens Have Uncovered the Past

Discover how ancient DNA and pathogen research reveals hidden aspects of human history with UCL researcher Pooja Swali, exploring evolutionary journeys and historical insights.

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

Vision of the Future - Christmas Lectures 1972 - Lecture 6

Explore groundbreaking 1970s technological innovations including viewphones, optic fibers, and laser discs in this final Christmas Lecture where Gouriet demonstrates live broadcasting and color TV transmission through fiber optics.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 1 minute
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

But Electrons Aren't Coloured! - How Color Television Works - Lecture 5

Discover how color television works as Geoffrey G. Gouriet explains the science behind producing and transmitting color pictures in this fascinating 1972 Christmas Lecture from The Royal Institution.

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