Instant Genius

The chances are most of us will remember at least one dream we’ve had recently. But where do dreams come from, why is their content often universal across different cultures, and what can we learn from studying nightmares?In this episode, the first of a series of two, I speak to neurosurgeon and bestselling author Rahul Jandial about his new book This is Why You Dream: What your sleeping brain reveals about your waking life.We talk about what’s going on in the different areas of our brains when we dream, how the dreaming brain differs from the waking brain, and the intimate links that exist between our emotions, imagination and ability to dream. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If most of us hear the word ‘egg’ it’s likely our minds will immediately turn to the hens’ eggs that we enjoy fried, poached or scrambled for our breakfast.But on closer inspection it turns out that the natural world is filled with all manner of different kinds of eggs that are as varied and fascinating as the animals that produce them. And what’s more, eggs have helped to shape life on Earth as much as life has shaped them.In this episode I speak to zoologist and award-winning science writer Jules Howard about his new book Infinite Life: A Revolutionary Story of Eggs, Evolution and Life on Earth.He tells us about the fascinating evolution of eggs over hundreds of millions of years, the strange and varied forms they’ve taken over all of this time, and how the story all began with jellyfish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you brush your teeth before you shower in the morning, or do you shower first? Perhaps you like to give yourself a pep talk in the bathroom mirror before you’re about to give an important presentation at work. Or maybe you always cook a particular meal on special occasions.These are all examples of the personal rituals that many of us perform in our daily lives. But where do they come from, why are we so attached to them, and can they really help us to have a better day or make a more successful presentation?In this episode I speak to Prof Michael Norton, a behavioural scientist based at Harvard University. He tells me about the fascinating discoveries he made while writing his new book The Ritual Effect: The Transformative Power of Our Everyday Actions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr Federica Amati, head nutritionist at ZOE project, discusses the impact of dietary choices on health at every life stage. From infancy to old age, she emphasizes the importance of whole foods and highlights strategies for optimal nutrition. She explores the link between diet and preventable deaths, the significance of nutrition in the first 1000 days of life, and the empowering role of food choices in enhancing health and wellness.

Whether they’re triggered by looking through old family photographs, hearing a piece of music you haven’t heard for years or eating a favourite childhood snack, feelings of nostalgia often come flooding into our hearts and minds.But what is going on in our brains when we have these feelings?In this episode I catch up with writer and historian Dr Agnes Arnold-Forster a writer, author of the new book Nostalgia: A History of a Dangerous Emotion.She tells us how this intriguing emotion has gone from being thought of as a deadly disease to being used as a therapy to treat degenerative cognitive conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prof Charan Ranganath, Director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at UC Davis, discusses the neuroscience of memory formation, emotional ties, and why we forget reasons for entering rooms. Topics include memory encoding, chunking, event boundaries, memory and imagination link, impact of emotions on memory, and strategies to improve memory.

Aaron Boley, an Associate Professor of astronomy, discusses the risks of overpopulation in orbital space and the need for sustainable practices. Topics include ecological impacts, satellite proliferation, space management tipping points, challenges in orbital space governance, and the importance of sustainable frameworks for space exploration.

Delve into the world of quantum computing with Prof Winfried Hensinger as he discusses creating a powerful quantum computer that could revolutionize encryption and medicine. Explore the transformative impact of quantum computing on various industries, the use of ion traps in quantum computing, and the opportunity to study physics with quantum technologies at the University of Sussex.

Bobby Cherayil, author of The Logic Of Immunity, discusses maintaining a healthy immune system. Topics include debunking myths, lifestyle choices for immune health, aging effects on immunity, and importance of balanced diet, sleep, exercise, and happiness for optimal immune function.

Be it drank first thing in the morning, as an afternoon pick-me-up or to soothe our souls after hearing some bad news, we Brits love a cup of tea.But over recent years, the traditional cup of black builders’ tea has found a new rival vying for our attention in cafés and on supermarket shelves – its more traditional cousin green tea.Many people are making the change not for reasons of flavour but for its supposed health benefits. But is there any truth in this?In this episode I speak to Justin Roberts, a professor of nutritional physiology based at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.He tells us all about the nutritional content and potential health benefits we can gain from drinking this ancient beverage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices