Instant Genius

Discover the truth about fasting and time-restricted eating. Prof Javier Gonzalez debunks myths, discusses different fasting methods, explores the effects of fasting on metabolism, blood sugar, and hormones, and addresses potential downsides of fasting.

Theoretical physicist Prof Avi Loeb discusses the possibility of observing alien technology, the importance of actively searching for extraterrestrial civilizations, and his recent expedition to retrieve Interstellar material from the Pacific Ocean.

Breaking down testosterone myths, an endocrinologist discusses the multiple roles of testosterone, its impact on females, misconceptions about aggression, and the risks and benefits of testosterone replacement therapy.

When an animal is extinct that means we’ll never see the likes of it again, right? Well, not quite. Not if biotechnology and genetic engineering company Colossal Biosciences have anything to say about. A few years ago the company launched with the bold aim of bringing animals such as woolly mammoths, dodos and Tasmanian Tigers back from extinction.In this episode we catch up with Ben Lamm, founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences. He tells us all about how the ambitious project got started, how they plan to bring back extinct animals and why we might being seeing baby mammoths sooner than we think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prof Sherheryar Banuri, a behavioural economist and author of The Decisive Mind: how to Make the Right Choice Every Time, discusses how science can help us make better decisions. He talks about the impact of even small decisions on our lives, traps to look out for when making decisions, and simple changes we can make for better choices.

Tara Spires-Jones discusses different types of dementia, progression, and potential treatments, highlighting genetics' impact. Lifestyle changes, advancements in treatment, and hope for future research on halting dementia progression and restoring brain functions are explored.

AI, deepfakes and advanced technology has made scams more advanced than ever. We spoke to Oli Buckley, a professor of cyber security at the University of East Anglia to learn what these scams look like and how to avoid them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you consider yourself to have a good memory? Perhaps you can recall the minor details of events that occurred years ago. But how about remembering something that didn’t even happen? This is known as a false memory, and we all have them.In this episode we catch up with Dr Julia Shaw, a psychologist at University College London and author of The Memory Illusion. She tells us all about the ways in which false memories can trick our brains and how it is even possible to implant a false memory into a person’s head. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve all heard of ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But there’s actually a lot scientists don’t for sure know about the condition. From its causes, to what actually defines the disorder – or if it’s a disorder at all – is all hotly debated.To guide us through the latest ADHD research, we’re joined by one of the world’s biggest experts on the topic, Professor Edmund Sonuga-Barke. He’s professor of Developmental Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience at King’s College London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Artificial intelligence has a new role. It is acting as people’s friends, mentors and even romantic partners. But what are the ethics of this, and is it what we can expect in the future? We spoke to Marco Dehnert, an expert in human-machine relationships to understand more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices