The Life Scientific

183

Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to leading scientists about their life and work, finding out what inspires and motivates them and asking what their discoveries might do for us in the future

Recent Episodes
  • Jonathan Shepherd on a career as a crime-fighting surgeon
    Apr 8, 2025 – 28:38
  • Doyne Farmer on making sense of chaos for a better world
    Apr 1, 2025 – 28:32
  • Tori Herridge on ancient dwarf elephants and frozen mammoths
    Mar 25, 2025 – 28:39
  • Sir Magdi Yacoub on pioneering heart transplant surgery
    Mar 18, 2025 – 28:35
  • Tim Peake on his journey to becoming an astronaut and science in space
    Dec 31, 2024 – 01:00:04
  • Anna Korre on capturing carbon dioxide and defying expectations
    Sep 24, 2024 – 28:28
  • Rosalie David on the science of Egyptian mummies
    Sep 17, 2024 – 28:22
  • Peter Stott on climate change deniers and Italian inspiration
    Sep 10, 2024 – 28:29
  • Ijeoma Uchegbu on using nanoparticles to transform medicines
    Sep 3, 2024 – 28:25
  • Darren Croft on killer whale matriarchs and the menopause
    Aug 27, 2024 – 28:24
  • Bill Gates on vaccines, conspiracy theories and the pleasures of pickleball
    Aug 20, 2024 – 35:59
  • Kip Thorne on black holes, Nobel Prizes and taking physics to Hollywood
    Aug 6, 2024 – 35:38
  • Vicky Tolfrey on parasport research and childhood dreams of the Olympics
    Jul 30, 2024 – 28:29
  • Dawn Bonfield on inclusive engineering, sustainable solutions and why she once tried to leave the sector for good
    Jul 23, 2024 – 28:21
  • Raymond Schinazi on revolutionising treatments for killer viruses
    Jul 16, 2024 – 28:39
  • Janet Treasure on eating disorders and the quest for answers
    Jul 9, 2024 – 28:36
  • Anne Child on Marfan syndrome and love at first sight
    Jul 2, 2024 – 28:35
  • Conny Aerts on star vibrations and following your dreams
    Jun 25, 2024 – 28:35
  • Mike Edmunds on decoding galaxies and ancient astronomical artefacts
    Apr 23, 2024 – 32:42
  • Hannah Critchlow on the connected brain
    Apr 16, 2024 – 28:09
  • Fiona Rayment on the applications of nuclear for net zero and beyond
    Apr 9, 2024 – 28:27
  • Nick Longrich on discovering new dinosaurs from overlooked bones
    Apr 2, 2024 – 28:11
  • Sheila Willis on using science to help solve crime
    Mar 27, 2024 – 28:11
  • Sir Charles Godfray on parasitic wasps and the race to feed nine billion people
    Mar 19, 2024 – 28:10
  • Jonathan Van-Tam on Covid communication and the power of football analogies
    Mar 12, 2024 – 36:49
  • Michael Wooldridge on AI and sentient robots
    Dec 19, 2023 – 37:55
  • Mercedes Maroto-Valer on making carbon dioxide useful
    Dec 12, 2023 – 28:24
  • Sir Harry Bhadeshia on the choreography of metals
    Dec 5, 2023 – 28:40
  • Cathie Sudlow on data in healthcare
    Nov 28, 2023 – 28:28
  • Sir Michael Berry on phenomena in physics' borderlands
    Nov 21, 2023 – 28:11
  • Professor Sarah Harper on how population change is remodelling societies.
    Nov 14, 2023 – 28:14
  • Sarah Blaffer Hrdy on human evolution and parenthood
    Nov 7, 2023 – 30:03
  • Edward Witten on 'the theory of everything'
    Oct 31, 2023 – 28:37
  • Alex Antonelli on learning from nature's biodiversity to adapt to climate change
    Sep 19, 2023 – 28:18
  • Paul Murdin on the first ever identification of a black hole
    Sep 12, 2023 – 32:13
  • Bahija Jallal on the biotech revolution in cancer therapies
    Sep 5, 2023 – 28:17
  • Sir Colin Humphreys on electron microscopes, and the thinnest material in the world
    Aug 29, 2023 – 28:13
  • Chris Barratt on head-banging sperm and a future male contraceptive pill
    Aug 22, 2023 – 28:39
  • Gideon Henderson on climate ‘clocks’ and dating ice ages
    Aug 15, 2023 – 28:26
  • Deborah Greaves on wave power and offshore renewable energy
    Aug 8, 2023 – 28:29
  • Harald Haas on making waves in light communication
    Jun 27, 2023 – 28:11
  • Anne Ferguson-Smith on unravelling epigenetics
    Jun 20, 2023 – 28:02
  • Anne-Marie Imafidon on fighting for diversity and equality in science
    Jun 13, 2023 – 28:38
  • Bruce Malamud on modelling risk for natural hazards
    Jun 6, 2023 – 30:36
  • Gillian Reid on making chemistry count
    May 30, 2023 – 28:24
  • Andre Geim on levitating frogs, graphene and 2D materials
    May 23, 2023 – 28:02
  • Julie Williams on Alzheimer’s disease
    Mar 28, 2023 – 28:21
  • James Jackson on understanding earthquakes and building resilience
    Mar 21, 2023 – 29:05
  • Marie Johnston on health psychology and the power of behavioural shifts
    Mar 14, 2023 – 28:45
  • Julia King on manipulating metals and decarbonising transport
    Mar 7, 2023 – 28:16
Recent Reviews
  • Starred_Night
    Real Life Storytelling and Science
    This podcast captivates, engages and teaches a vast spectrum of science through the lens of the people who know it best. It's fascinating and fantastic and inspiring. I learn a lot and enjoy doing so, thank you.
  • Tim_MN
    Great guests and excellent topics.
    I really enjoy this podcast. The biographies are interesting to hear, and I learn a lot of fascinating science.
  • Anon32589
    Learn about Science and the People Behind the Science
    Highly recommend for those interested in learning about science and scientists! The host, Professor Jim Al-Khalili, draws out from his guests--who are leading scientists from a wide range of fields--clear explanations of their research and why it is important. In addition, he also elicits stories of how the guests became interested in and pursued their work, which helps the audience understand and appreciate the people behind the science and the sometimes circuitous paths they take in their education and careers.
  • Brit by the Bay
    Insights and ideas
    Beautifully done. Jim the physicist does an amazing job of making a wide range of science areas seem totally accessible, understandable and within reach of ordinary mortals! Love the mix of men, women and topics. Thanks BBC!
  • llamaneck
    Keeps Interest if you love learning WHY...
    Gonna keep Listening!
  • Mixbehaving
    Great Content potentially the worst mixing of all time.
    Why would one want to listen to something mixed like this? I’m listening in headphones and it sounds like people are talking behind me and in one ear at a time. Terrible. Wow.
  • Lundgrenn
    Helped me carry on
    This podcast, specifically the interview with Dr. Andrea Sella, helped keep me motivated to finish graduate school. Thank you.
  • solong4now
    Candid conversations with scientists
    This is kind of a "What makes them tick" kind of conversational podcast. I think more people need to be more aware of the scientist who inform us in an almost invisible way because most people are not aware of the important work they do. Well, here is the place to find out who, how and why these people work to make the world a better places.
  • Dennis_Home_Again
    All the interesting people are here.
    I’m so happy I have access into the minds of people who I admire.
  • budsalinger
    I like it
    I used to eat very little sodium. The past year ive been eating a ketogenic diet and also fasting. My keto podcasts that i listen to i think all suggest increasing salt intake when eating keto. Do you have any thoughts about eating a ketogenic diet and salt recommendations? Ive only heard this last episode and i liked listening to the conversation.
  • Apple1234Pie
    Needs More Depth
    Not enough detail, but better than some other BBC Radio 4 shows.
  • Chrislore1
    Mind opening
    I truly love this podcast and it has opened my mind and given me great insights into science that I'd never have without it. I'm a landscaper and the scientific world is one that I don't have the privilege of encountering often. I really appreciate the work done here and the questions asked as well as answers and perspectives received. I recommend this to uncommon listeners as much as possible, I think the uneducated sometimes have the most to gain from programs like this. I know I have learned so much from it and it has inspired me to go back to school and get educated.
  • MustafaHH
    Jim, you can do better.
    I listen to this from time to time depending on the subject. But it is not that good.
  • Qmutder
    Absolutely brilliant
    Interweaves scientists’ research/career highlights with their personal stories and motivations in a thoroughly satisfying way. The interviewer is brilliant and brings an understated enthusiasm and warmth to the interactions. This podcast is beloved by graduate students worldwide!
  • ShylohR
    Interviews with prominent scientists
    These interviews are well-chosen and sensitively managed. I learn something new and often useful every time.
  • Sean2834
    Excellent
    The interviewer is understated, and lets the scientists talk. Learn something with each new episode.
  • Fitzmaurice
    Stupendous
    Thoughtful and interesting. The host moves at a nice pace, touching on a wide enough variety of ideas to keep it interesting, while giving each topic enough time to convey a satisfactory understanding of his guest's message. Looking forward to hearing more.
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