iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Grab your headphones and dive into the most-listened-to Ri Science Podcast episodes, packed with big questions, surprising discoveries and brilliant science. Perfect listening for #WorldPodcastDay! 🎧 www.rigb.org/explore-scie...

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 26/09/2026

Can the James Webb Space Telescope really see the past? 🔭 Join 2025 Christmas Lecturer Maggie Aderin-Pocock on a journey back in time to explore the creation and formation of our Solar System, galaxies and other exoplanetary systems in the Universe. www.rigb.org/whats-on/anc...

rigb.org

The ancient cosmos: The James Webb Space Telescope's new revelations

2025 Christmas Lecturer Maggie Aderin-Pocock returns to the Ri to explain what the James Webb Space Telescop

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 25/09/2026

Just how old is human music? 🎵 We know that early humans and Neanderthals communicated through a system known as "musilanguage”. Archaeologist Steven Mithen will present the science supporting the idea that music is an integral part of our evolution. www.rigb.org/whats-on/did...

rigb.org

Did Neanderthals hum? The musicality of early humans

From Neanderthal hums to ancient instruments: Steven Mithen explores the origins of music and its role in hu

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 24/09/2026

For decades, CERN has been the home of world-leading particle physics. But what is next? Join Mark Thomson (CERN's Director-General) as he reflects on our present understanding of particle physics and the future direction at the research facility. www.rigb.org/whats-on/dis...

rigb.org

Discourse: CERN - the past, present and future

Director-General of CERN, Mark Thomson, explores what's next for the world-leading research facility, and ho

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 24/09/2026

Want access to the coveted tickets for the 2026 CHRISTMAS LECTURES®, supported by CGI? Become an Ri Member today! You'll also get: 🎟️ Priority booking and half-price tickets 🥂 Access to exclusive events and tours 🧪 A year of amazing science activities Find out more: rigb.org/support-us/b...

An explosive fire demo taking place in the Ri Theatre. The audience are covering their ears

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Spoken Nerd @fotsn.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

There's two separate chances to see the gang in action in London before the year is out! We're back at @rigb.org on 24th October, and tickets are flying out the door for this show which is themed as "Women of the Royal Institution" And let's just say, things might get explosive!

Helen on stage with a guitar. Text reads "Will the Element Song show up? It tends to appear periodically, so we Zinc so."

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Dr Jamie Gallagher @jamiebgall.co.uk · 22/09/2026

New photos of the Science of Star Trek event @rigb.org. I’ve met most of the main Star Trek actors now, and Martin Quinn has to be the loveliest.

Martin Quinn and Jamie sitting on stage laughing.

Jamie holding a tube light while Micheal cutts from the Ri electrocutes it causing it to light up.

Jamie standing on stage wearing a tshirt featuring Spock and mirror Spock.

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Katy Duncan 🍉 @katysduncan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The @rigb.org's Huxley portrait is **considerably** heavier than it looks. Fortunately, the rest of the evening belonged to @sadiahqureshi.bsky.social, a menagerie of extinct soft toys, and a fascinating exploration of extinction & de-extinction. 🎥 youtu.be/pISdCeZCYEg #histsci #envhist

youtu.be

The problem with de-extinction | with Sadiah Qureshi

YouTube video by The Royal Institution

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 22/09/2026

From humble beginnings to becoming one of the world's most influential scientists ⭐ Michael Faraday was born #OnThisDay in 1791. Judy Wu told his story during her Discourse on benzene, a chemical discovered by Faraday himself. Watch the full talk: youtube.com/watch?v=0kYMUFzylOs

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 21/09/2026

The 2026 Christmas Lectures®, supported by CGI, will be given by theoretical physicist @jimalkhalili.bsky.social, exploring the physics of time. We'll investigate mind-melting questions, including why there's no such thing as now, if time travel to the past is possible, and if time exists at all.

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Steve Brusatte @stevebrusatte.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

From 1868 until today, the Royal Institution @rigb.org in London has hosted public talks on bird origins. Huxley was first, arguing that birds came from dinosaurs, and thus Darwin must be right about evolution. On Sept 26, I'll talk about what we've learned since! Tickets ⤵️

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 10/09/2026

What if there are no foundations, no hierarchies... and everything in the Universe is connected? Carlo Rovelli is coming to the Ri on 25 September for an evening exploring philosophy, physics and our understanding of reality. 🎟️ Book now (livestream): rigb.org/whats-on/dis...

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Frank Ashwood @frankashwood.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Somebody please pinch me! What an honour to give a lecture this evening in the legendary @rigb.org theatre. Thank you to the wonderful audience, it was delightful to see so many people interested in soil biodiversity 🪱 Stay tuned for the lecture going up on YouTube soon! #TheWorldBeneathOurFeet

A photograph of me delivering a lecture from behind the wooden desk in the Royal Institute lecture theatre.

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Dr Jamie Gallagher @jamiebgall.co.uk · 08/09/2026

Happy 60th Star Trek 🎂 My faithful little companion that’s been with me all these years and has become such a large part of my work and social life. I’ll be celebrating with @rigb.org this Saturday. Join the livestream! www.rigb.org/whats-on/sci...

rigb.org

The science of Star Trek

Celebrate 60 years of Star Trek as Jamie Gallagher and host of speakers delve into the real science behind t

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Spoken Nerd @fotsn.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Back in 2024, a single yellow balloon on the floor, suddenly became an important detail to our online audience. On 24th October, we return to @rigb.org for An Evening of Unnecessary Detail, and it's livestreamed again! What might Sam & the audience focus on this time? fotsn.com/tickets

The distracted boyfriend meme, showing the boy "The online audience" looking at "A balloon on the floor"

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ABSW @absw.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

7 DAYS TO GO! A prize should do more than recognise what a young person has achieved. It should help them imagine what they might do next. The #YSWA2026 package combines financial awards, publication, books, technology and continued access to science.

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 09/09/2026

Perception is prediction: our brains are constantly anticipating what they think is most likely happening now 🧠 Science writer @jomarchant.bsky.social explored the science of "now" in her latest Ri talk. Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=SlF_FqG7IUM

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 06/09/2026

What if the key to understanding the world lies in what’s *not* there? Mathematician @kityates.bsky.social will explore the science of missingness: how our brains and external systems distort reality by filtering or filling in crucial information. Book now ⬇️ www.rigb.org/whats-on/you...

rigb.org

You don't know what you're m ss ng: The hidden data shaping our behaviour

Mathematician and author Kit Yates returns to the Ri to explore how our understanding of reality is shaped b

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 05/09/2026

Prehistoric hippos used to roam what is now Trafalgar Square 150,000 years ago 🦛 Palaeontologist Simon Conway Morris uncovered the fascinating secrets of fossils and bones during his 1996 Christmas Lectures. Watch the whole series here: rigb.org/explore-scie...

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 02/09/2026

Are smart speakers really listening to us? 👂 Internet of Things expert Anna Maria Mandalari reveals what happens when smart speakers mistakenly activate—which happens more often than you might think. Watch the full talk at the 🔗 on our profile: @ri_science youtube.com/watch?v=LCAqdqo-SJU

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Dr Jamie Gallagher @jamiebgall.co.uk · 02/09/2026

Sadly Dawn won’t be able to join us any more. Good news! There is an opening for someone to come and explore science and Star Trek! As the remaining speakers are all white I’d love to have some other voices included. Recommendations (and self recommendations) very welcome.

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Steve Brusatte @stevebrusatte.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

In 1868, Thomas Henry Huxley addressed the @rigb.org in London and argued to great acclaim that birds evolved from dinosaurs. On Saturday Sept 26, I’ll be in the same place, telling the story of how dinosaurs took flight! Join us! Tickets ⤵️ www.rigb.org/whats-on/sto...

rigb.org

The story of birds: From the Jurassic to today

Using fossil records and his own work uncovering extinct species, paleontologist Steve Brusatte rewinds 150

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Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment @granthamicl.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The science of heatwaves, health, and wildfires: Why was the summer of 2026 so hot? Listen to @clairbarnes.bsky.social and @gkonstantinoudis.bsky.social explain the science around extreme heat and climate change to the @rigb.org Science Podcast Spotify: buff.ly/7In5jqa Apple: buff.ly/Us1ppxy

open.spotify.com

The science of heatwaves, health, and wildfires: Why was the summer of 2026 so hot? - with Clair Barnes, Gary Konstantinoudis and Alisha Fuller-Armah

Ri Science Podcast · Episode

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 31/08/2026

Warp drives, transporters, strange new worlds...how much of Star Trek is science fiction—and how much could actually become reality? Join us at the Ri as scientists and engineers explore the real science behind one of the world's most influential sci-fi series. 🖖 www.rigb.org/whats-on/sci...

rigb.org

The science of Star Trek

Celebrate 60 years of Star Trek as Jamie Gallagher and host of speakers delve into the real science behind t

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 30/08/2026

When you look into a magic mirror, it seems perfectly ordinary...but watch what happens when you use it to reflect light on a surface! 🪞 Our historian @katysduncan.bsky.social and University of Bristol physicist Michael Berry reveal the micron-sized science behind them.

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 29/08/2026

A magnet, a coil of wire and a little movement can generate electricity. #OnThisDay in 1831, Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction. ⚡🧲 Watch the full talk with David Ricketts: youtube.com/watch?v=z1uOsg2-LTA

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 27/08/2026

There’s a whole world beneath our feet that we rarely see—from fungal networks to the microbes that transform decay into new life. 🌱 Join ecologist @frankashwood.bsky.social on a journey into the extraordinary ecosystem underground. www.rigb.org/whats-on/eco...

rigb.org

The ecosystem of life underground

Ecologist and photographer Frank Ashwood embarks on a visual journey through the science of the soil below us.

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 24/08/2026

What holds the quarks inside a proton together? ⚛️ Particle physicist Kate Shaw explains how gluons act a little like springs, binding quarks together through the strong force. Watch the full talk: youtube.com/watch?v=OkJbR75P9PU

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UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) @ukceh.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Despite recent rain, the ongoing drought is still having an impact on us and the world around us. Want to know about the amazing research we're doing to support solutions to floods and droughts? Join us at the @rigb.org on 16 November: www.rigb.org/whats-on/new...

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 23/08/2026

Galileo first demonstrated his telescope #OnThisDay in 1609 🔭 The telescope provided crucial evidence for the heliocentric model, placing the Sun at the centre with the planets orbiting it.

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 18/08/2026

Cats have had mosquito repellents figured out for millions of years 🦟 In the first episode of our new Puzzling Science series, biologist Jaap de Roode explores one of the most surprising questions in animal behaviour: can animals use plants as medicine? Watch the full video: youtu.be/P98E9G8rrng

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Genetics Society UK @gensocuk.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Join us for the 2026 JBS Haldane Lecture at @rigb.org! This year's lecture by Carola Vinuesa @vinuesalab.bsky.social from @crick.ac.uk, will explore how genetic discoveries can transform our understanding of human health and even help deliver justice. Tickets: www.rigb.org/whats-on/jbs...

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 16/08/2026

Severe brain injury can affect an individual to the point where their loved ones don't recognise them 🧠 @arielzj.bsky.social highlights the ethical considerations of this when looking at the science of brain preservation. Watch the full talk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYKD...

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 14/08/2026

Could a speck of dirt solve a crime? 🔬 Soil forensics expert Lorna Dawson shows us how investigators can narrow down the source of a sample to a shockingly small area. Watch the full talk: youtube.com/watch?v=rgfsxYAMksA

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Katy Duncan 🍉 @katysduncan.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Never a better occasion to have a gander at these beautiful plates in the @rigb.org’s collection. Taken by Warren de la Rue in 1860, they sought to settle the mysteries of the “tentacles of light” that only appeared during totalities…. 👉 www.rigb.org/explore-scie... 🧪🔭🌚 #histsci #eclipse

One of De la Rue's 1860 eclipse plates. You can see, to the left of the Moon looking at the photo, the bright "tentacles of light.” At the top, we can see notations on location and exposure time. Credit: Royal Institution Archives

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Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Full disclosure, that terrible eclipse Dad Joke was a refinement of this from @rigb.org

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Dr Jamie Gallagher @jamiebgall.co.uk · 11/08/2026

Going to be incredible! The science of Star Trek @rigb.org in celebration of the shows 60th anniversary. I’ll be joined by a host of amazing scientists to dive into the show ALSO JOINED BY MARTIN QUINN Actual Scotty! I’m bouncing off the walls pals. Also live-streamed www.rigb.org/whats-on/sci...

rigb.org

The science of Star Trek

Celebrate 60 years of Star Trek as Jamie Gallagher and host of speakers delve into the real science behind t

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 11/08/2026

Is space the ideal place for tomorrow's data centres? 🛰️ The idea is appealing: abundant solar energy and no need to compete for space on Earth. Engineer @drlucyrogers.com explains the potential challenges. Watch the full talk: youtube.com/watch?v=LqyVtmAxZrc

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 09/08/2026

Sink your teeth into this: tyrannosaur chompers have a unique shape 🦖 Watch the full talk with palaeontologist @davehone.bsky.social: youtu.be/f-jD7kQvyPs

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 07/08/2026

Don't miss the solar eclipse on 12 August: it'll be the deepest partial solar eclipse visible from the UK for the next 55 years. 🌍🌕☀️

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 07/08/2026

Curious minds wanted 📣 This summer holiday, young people can explore science through hands-on activities, engineering challenges and creative problem-solving at our Holiday Workshops. Book now 👇 www.rigb.org/season/holid...

rigb.org

Holiday workshops

Discover our range of school holidays workshops, bringing all areas of science to life.

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Katy Duncan 🍉 @katysduncan.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

We also do have a really unhealthy obsession with newspapers - delivered day and night to their own special room* (Morning Post, Saturday 12 March 1825) *After a few iterations, now the Sunley room, featuring slightly fewer newspapers.

long newspaper clipping from Morning Post, Saturday, 12 March 1825 detailing the use of the Ri

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 04/08/2026

You know how we get miffed when people call us "The Royal Institute"? Our frustration is justified, because it's been going on forever. 🙄 Check out this 1974 newspaper we just found in a drawer—we love the old ads!

Close-up of the Daily Telegraph from 24 February 1974. Pen writing at the top says "Royal Institute"

Ad for a £7.90 voucher on an electric adding machine - a bulky calculator that printed the results on a thin strip of paper. Weighing only 9lbs!

Ad for Austin Morris cars, photographed in front of Parliament and reading "five safe seats". The cars ranged between £835 and £1665

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 03/08/2026

Can a quantum computer tell us something about parallel universes? 🌌 @mariaviolaris.bsky.social unpacks the surprising connection between quantum computing and the multiverse—and explains why the debate is far from settled. Watch the full talk: youtube.com/watch?v=B1WP3jgavbA

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 31/07/2026

We've got your autumn evening plans sorted! ✔️ Check out our upcoming season of science talks, featuring big thinkers and even bigger questions.

rigb.org

What's on

Discover science directly from the minds of the world’s leading scientists and thinkers with our talks, discussions and famil

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Ed Macaulay @edmacaulay.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

I had an amazing time running an outreach activity at the #ReachForTheCosmos event at the @rigb.org. Thank you so much to everyone who organised such a fantastic day, our brilliant Queen Mary student ambassadors, and everyone who visited the activity and tried a #BiteOfSpaceTime!

Discussing relativity at the Bite of Space-Time activity, as part of the Reach for the Cosmos event at the Royal Institution.

A biscuit decorated with space-themed sweets at the Bite of Space-Time activity, as part of the Reach for the Cosmos event at the Royal Institution.

Demonstrating length contraction at the Bite of Space-Time activity, as part of the Reach for the Cosmos event at the Royal Institution.

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 28/07/2026

We are saddened to hear about the risks to Jodrell Bank’s public funding. Without underplaying the challenge of meeting rising research costs on a fixed budget, Jodrell Bank is rare in being a place where the public can see and feel the impact of research for themselves. (1/2)

Satellite dishes at the Jodrell Bank Observatory

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 28/07/2026

Patterns in the Universe's "baby picture" contain evidence for dark matter. 🌌 Astronomer @mattbothwell.com reveals how tiny fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background help scientists determine what the early Universe was made of. Watch the full talk: youtube.com/watch?v=bLa3k0NoHvY

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Andy Hardy #JoinEU 🇲🇹 🇪🇺 @andyhardy40.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

What a joy! To spend an hour with Astronomer Royal Michelle Dougherty at the Royal Institution. A life goal achieved, you never know we might be back… @rigb.org 🙏

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 27/07/2026

Every second, about 100 billion neutrinos pass through your thumbnail 🤯 But where do they come from? Physicist Kirsty Duffy illuminates their origin from the Big Bang and exploding stars. Watch the whole talk here: youtube.com/watch?v=lpa2eg2jc0g

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