Conference Talks

The Royal Institution

Humans and Other Animals - Cultural Evolution and Social Learning

Explore cultural evolution and social learning across species with experts discussing animal cultures, environmental impacts, and human uniqueness in shaping diverse cultural landscapes.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 8 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

Bacteria and Antibiotics - Revenge of the Microbes

Explore the fascinating world of bacteria, antibiotics, and the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance with scientist Jenny Rohn in this engaging discourse on microbial evolution and human health.

• YouTube
• 47 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

Topology, Geometry and Life in Three Dimensions

Explore hyperbolic geometry's role in mapping complex 3D spaces and its influence on digital art. Learn about mathematical approaches to describing and investigating intricate maze-like structures.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

Arrival of the Fittest

Evolutionary biologist Andreas Wagner explores how biological innovations arise, revealing fundamental laws that drive adaptations and creativity in nature beyond mere chance and natural selection.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

Mysteries of Matter at the LHC

Explore the Higgs Boson discovery, LHC's future plans, and unsolved mysteries in particle physics. Learn about dark matter, gravity's weakness, and ATLAS experiment's role in advancing our understanding of the universe.

• YouTube
• 57 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

The Science of Laughter

Explore the fascinating science behind laughter with Sophie Scott. Discover its social importance, animal origins, acoustic properties, and neurological processing in this engaging presentation.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 17 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

The Path to Mars - NASA's Exploration Programme

NASA's plans for human exploration of Mars, including asteroid missions. Insights from Chief Scientist Dr Ellen Stofan and Deputy Chief Technologist Jim Adams on science and technology shaping space exploration and international cooperation.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 15 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

How Greek Maths Changed the World

Explore groundbreaking Ancient Greek experiments in mathematics, science, and engineering. Discover how these innovations shaped modern understanding through interactive demonstrations and historical insights.

• YouTube
• 44 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

Drugs, Science and Society - Past, Present and Future

Explore the history, societal impact, and future of drugs with experts discussing early experiments, modern policies, and controversial questions about drug classification and use.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 4 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?

Pulitzer Prize-winner Jared Diamond explores insights from tribal societies, offering unique perspectives on human nature and our rapidly receding past in this thought-provoking lecture.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 31 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

Forbidden Crystal Symmetry - Event Q&A

Sir Roger Penrose explores forbidden symmetries in mathematics, their applications in architecture, and connections to quasicrystals, offering insights into non-repeating patterns and their significance in design and science.

• YouTube
• 24 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

Food, the Brain and Us - Exploring Our Historical, Cultural and Sensory Perceptions of Food

Explore the multifaceted nature of taste perception, including historical, cultural, and sensory aspects. Learn how environment, context, and visual cues influence our experience of flavors and food preferences.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 9 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

Our Dynamic Sun

Explore the Sun's 11-year activity cycle, solar flares, and their impact on Earth. Learn about space observations and cutting-edge spacecraft studying our star's dynamic nature.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 6 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

The Long Earth - Multiverse Physics

Explore the mind-bending many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics with philosopher David Wallace, delving into its profound implications for our understanding of reality.

• YouTube
• 26 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Royal Institution

The Long Earth - Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter

Renowned authors Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter discuss their collaborative novel series "The Long Earth," exploring its unique concept and creative process.

• YouTube
• 28 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk