iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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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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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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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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 · 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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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 · 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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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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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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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 · 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 · 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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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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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 21/07/2026

Why do we generally have five fingers on each hand? ✋ @philipcball.bsky.social reveals the surprising connection between this phase of our development in the womb and the British mathematician Alan Turing. 🧪 Watch the full talk here: youtube.com/watch?v=tw54LmxR21A

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 20/07/2026

Apollo 11 landed on the Moon #OnThisDay in 1969 🌕 Maggie Aderin-Pocock and astronaut Meganne Christian explained the reasons scientists are working out how to set up a base on our planet's natural satellite.

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 18/07/2026

#OnThisDay in 1860, Warren de la Rue and his crew took a first-of-its-kind astronomical photograph that settled an international debate. 🔭 🗃️

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 16/07/2026

What does wombat poo have to do with maths? 💩 Kathryn from our Masterclasses team reveals the surprising connection between these adorable Australian mammals and morphological mathematics.

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 16/07/2026

Research shows that people who report being abducted by aliens also have a higher incidence of sleep paralysis. Anomalistic psychologist Chris French explains how his terrifying phenomenon aligns with accounts of alien abductions. Watch the full talk: youtube.com/watch?v=i8mjM3PB_Tk

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 14/07/2026

ARCHIVIST Q&A TIME 🗃️ 🧪 We've been the home of science for over 200 years. Our collection is a treasure trove of science history...and we want to share the best bits with you! Now is your chance to pick Fran's brain and ask your questions—we'll answer a selection in a video! Pop your Qs below 👇

Fran is a young woman with short blond hair. She's standing in the Ri archive, which is lit by sodium bulbs which give the room a yellow tint. She is smiling and holding a piece of paper with text saying "ask the archivist"

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 11/07/2026

Smart TVs take snapshots of what you're watching, many times per second 📺 Internet of Things expert Anna Maria Mandalari illuminates what we are really giving away in exchange for the convenience of smart devices. Watch the full talk: youtu.be/LCAqdqo-SJU

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 09/07/2026

A diverse diet contributes to a healthy gut microbiome, but there are other unexpected little helpers in our home... 🐈 In the 2024 Christmas Lectures, Chris van Tulleken and Louise Kenny explained how our environment affects our gut. Watch the whole series here: youtube.com/watch?v=FP3-Vq3NiO4

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

When Large Language Models like ChatGPT generate text, they're using probability to predict the next word, but they don't necessarily "understand" what those words mean. Watch the full talk with science journalist Claire Malone (@geeknproud42.bsky.social): youtube.com/watch?v=CBbLEOirHzI

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 04/07/2026

Nature is often not binary when it comes to sex. For example, did you know there's a species of lizard that doesn't have any males? 🦎 Biologist Josh Davis introduces us to animals reproducing by "virgin birth".

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 01/07/2026

In a torched frozen dessert like a Baked Alaska, meringue acts as a thermal insulator. We had to put this to the test, Ri-style🔥 Watch the full talk with Sorted Food's Ben Ebbrell: youtube.com/watch?v=8vCgNB6osSs

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 29/06/2026

Using the coldness of space to cool down a London bus sounds like sci-fi, but it's already happening! 🚌 Chemist Ivan Parkin explains how radiative cooling paints release heat through a natural “window” in Earth’s atmosphere. 🧪 Watch the full talk: youtu.be/vbmzYz5dEPA

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 28/06/2026

These silly prank candles contain a surprising piece of science history 🎂 Magnesium was first isolated here at the Royal Institution in 1808. Since it ignites at relatively low temperatures, it can make candles relight after they're blown out! 🧪

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 26/06/2026

Tiny differences in our DNA can change how we perceive the world 🧬 Aoife McLysaght explained how variations in the gene OR7D4 on chromosome 17 affect how different people perceive smells.

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 25/06/2026

What happens when every spare moment is filled by a screen? 🧠 @michaelpollan.bsky.social reflects on consciousness, algorithms, and the value of being alone with our thoughts. Watch the full video: youtu.be/2-KPdE4XvHQ

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 23/06/2026

Albumen silver printing soon became the dominant method for producing photographic positives, giving rise to the popularity of the carte de visite—small photographs exchanged between friends and visitors, which historians now regard as an early manifestation of "social media".

A box with many cartes de visite, c. 1865. The lid of the box also serves as a magnifying glass, and the photographs include family portraits and individual portraits of men and women

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 23/06/2026

Previous methods, like the daguerreotype (L) and the tintype (R), printed on metal and produced only one final image.

Portrait of a daguerreotypist displaying his images and cases. He is a bearded young man, sitting next to a table

Tintype of two girls in front of a painted background of the Cliff House and Seal Rocks in San Francisco, c. 1900. They are wearing straw hats and a dog is posing between them.

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 23/06/2026

Sunlight reduced silver ions to metallic silver particles, creating the image, while the albumen layer held the silver compounds in place and produced a smooth, glossy finish. A bath of sodium thiosulfate fixed the print's exposure, and was sometimes toned and stabilised using gold or selenium.

John Moran's albumen print of Limon Bay, High Tide, 1871. Two rocks with vegetation take the centre of the image, with a ship visible between them in the distance.

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 23/06/2026

The image was printed using the albumen silver printing method. The process used paper coated with egg whites (albumen) and salt (sodium chloride or ammonium chloride), then reacted with silver nitrate to form light-sensitive silver chloride.

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 23/06/2026

This iconic portrait was made using egg whites 🥚 For #NationalPortraitDay we're shining a light on one of the best-known photographs of Michael Faraday, taken by British photographer John Watkins around 1861, when the great natural philosopher was in his 70s. #Thread 🧪 🗃️

A black and white photograph of Michael Faraday, with a very slight sepia tone. Faraday is older in this photo, with white hair and wearing a black neck tie and white shirt and blazer. He is surrounded by a black vignette and though the photograph has soft edges, his eyes are sharp and in perfect focus, making the image look strangely modern

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 18/06/2026

Calorie information is on the vast majority of food packaging, but it paints an inaccurate picture. 🍿 Geneticist Giles Yeo illuminates how caloric availability affects calorie counting. 🧪 Watch the full talk: youtu.be/pOJYTMe_bp4

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 13/06/2026

Can you 'see' like a Grandmaster? ♟️ Cognitive scientist Fernand Gobet puts our perception to the test. Watch the full talk on the psychology of chess at the l ink on our profile: youtu.be/2pd6xtEAaJE

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

That puts the Ri in the top 20% of non-domestic properties awarded energy performance ratings in the UK since 2009.

An engraving of the Royal Institution in the 1800s, showing people and carriages going by on Albemarle Street

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

Today, the Royal Institution building is also kept warm by air source heat pumps, thanks to a £4.5m support from @london.gov.uk, enabling us to reduce carbon emissions from our Grade I Listed home by a remarkable 42%.

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

Heating homes using cold air sounds like magic...but it's just applied physics in air source heat pumps 🪄 Matt Lipson from @undaunted-hq.bsky.social explains how this efficient technology works. Watch the full video here: youtube.com/watch?v=CxbUkCmHkVU

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

This is gallium: a metal that melts in your hand. 💧 When you place a drop of it on aluminium, it becomes so brittle that it crumbles between your fingers. The culprit is a phenomenon known as liquid metal embrittlement. 🧪

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 05/06/2026

#OnThisDay 35 years ago, the £20 note featuring Michael Faraday went into circulation—and a little piece of Ri history sat in millions of pockets around the UK. 💷 Did you know you can still attend science talks in that very theatre? See what's coming up: rigb.org/whats-on?type=23

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Royal Institution @rigb.org · 04/06/2026

Although it's not technically a Faraday cage, it works in a similar way. The system runs around our heritage building, protecting both the building and everyone inside from the effects of lightning and other electrical fields. ⛈️

View of the lantern building on top of the Ri theatre

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