About this podcast
A witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes, guest hosted by Prof. Adam Rutherford and Jess Fostekew.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 245 episodes
- Guano: Liquid Gold - Zoe Lyons, Tim Birkhead and Kate Jones · 42 minBird and bat droppings might not sound precious, but guano was once so prized it shaped agriculture, trade and even warfare. Professor Adam Rutherford and Jessica Fostekew…
- Leaf it to Nature · 42 minWe walk on them, rake them up, often barely give them a thought, but the humble leaf is an extraordinary feat of biological engineering. Adam Rutherford and Jessica Fostekew are…
- Ghosts - Isy Suttie, Laurence Rickard, Ciarán O'Keeffe and Chris French · 43 minThings that go bump in the night meet the cold light of science as Jessica Fostekew and Prof Adam Rutherford investigate why ghosts continue to haunt our imaginations. Joining…
- Nothing Really Matters - Hugh Dennis, Ria Lina, Harry Cliff and Yvette Fuentes · 42 minJessica Fostekew and Adam Rutherford tackle one of the biggest and strangest questions in science: what is nothing? Starting with the earliest philosophers and journeying through…
- The First Britons - Tim Minchin, Prof Chris Stringer and Dr Selina Brace · 43 minThe Infinite Monkey Cage returns for a brand-new series, with Professor Adam Rutherford and comedian Jessica Fostekew swinging into the cage as guest presenters. In this first…
- Trailer · 1 minA witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes, guest hosted by Prof. Adam Rutherford and Jess Fostekew.
- The North Pole Unwrapped - Russell Kane, Felicity Aston and Lloyd Peck · 42 minIn this Christmas episode of The Infinite Monkey Cage, Brian Cox and Robin Ince head to the North Pole to explore the dazzling science behind the northern lights, the extreme…
- Monkey Business - Robin Dunbar, Dave Gorman and Jo Setchell · 43 minIn perhaps the monkiest Infinite Monkey Cage episode there’s ever been, Brian Cox and Robin Ince attempt to uncover the secrets of love, lust and friendship in primates. Swinging…
- Head in the Clouds - Owain Wyn Evans, Gavin Pretor-Pinney, Amanda Maycock · 42 minRobin Ince and Brian Cox look up to the heavens as they try to ‘de-mistify’ the foggy science of clouds. They’re joined by Cloud Appreciation Society founder Gavin Pretor-Pinney…
- Fusion – Ria Lina, Yasmin Andrew and Howard Wilson · 42 minRobin Ince and Brian Cox get all fired up, overcome their natural repulsion and come together for this stellar episode on nuclear fusion. They’re joined by plasma physicist…
- What’s the deal with eels? – Lucy Porter, David Righton and Caroline Durif · 42 minFishing rods at the ready, Brian Cox and Robin Ince attempt to reel in a creature that has baffled scientists since Aristotle: the eel. Wriggling in to help them uncover the…
- What’s the time? - Marcus Brigstocke, Leon Lobo, Louise Devoy · 42 minRobin Ince and Brian Cox wind up at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich – arguably the centre of time – to uncoil the mysteries of what time is and how on Earth (…and on moon) we…
- Mind-reading Computers – Phil Wang, Anne Vanhoestenberghe and Luke Bashford · 43 minFor once, Brian Cox and Robin Ince are on the same wavelength – with thinking caps firmly on, they plug into the science of brain-computer interfaces. Helping them decode the…
- Illuminating Light - Jess Wade, Russell Foster and Bridget Christie · 42 minWhat is light? How has it shaped our understanding of the universe, our biology, and even our culture? In this illuminating episode Brian Cox and Robin Ince shine a spotlight on…
- Moths v Butterflies - Katy Brand, Jane Hill and Chris Jiggins · 42 minWhat really separates a moth from a butterfly? Is it just a matter of day and night, or is there more to this fluttering feud than meets the eye? Professor Brian Cox and Robin…
- Technofossils - Sarah Gabbott, Mark Miodownik and Aurie Styla · 42 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince dig deep into the strata of an imagined human history to unearth the curious concept of technofossils. Joined by paleobiologist Sarah Gabbott, material…
- The Mighty Spud - Sandy Knapp, Glenn Bryan and Susan Calman · 43 minRobin Ince and Brian Cox get out the ketchup and peel back the layers of one of the most versatile and beloved foods - potatoes. From the science of starch to the surprising role…
- How to Build the Perfect Athlete - Helen Glover, Hugh Dennis, Steve Haake and Emma Ross · 42 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince are limbering up for a high-performance episode all about what it takes to build the perfect athlete. Joining them on the track are physiologist Dr Emma…
- Should We Settle in Space? - Tim Peake, Kelly Weinersmith and Alan Davies · 43 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince blast off into a cosmic controversy as they ask, should humanity become an interplanetary species? At Harwell Campus, a space science innovation hub…
- 201st Birthday Bonanza - Mel Giedroyc, Deborah Meaden and Nish Kumar · 43 minGet ready for a landmark episode of The Infinite Monkey Cage as we celebrate our 201st show! Brian Cox and Robin Ince invite a lively panel of celebrity guests to pose their…
- Nature's Shapes - Dave Gorman, Sarah Hart and Thomas Woolley · 42 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince unpick the hidden codes behind the shapes we see in nature with mathematicians Sarah Hart & Thomas Woolley and comedian Dave Gorman. The panel marvel at…
- The Sound of Music - Brian Eno, Sam Bennett and Trevor Cox · 43 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince explore the history of music recording, joined by acoustics professor Trevor Cox, music professor Sam Bennett and musician and producer Brian Eno…
- Saturn v Jupiter - Katherine Parkinson, Paul Abel and Michele Dougherty · 42 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince referee as Saturn and Jupiter square up to each other in a planetary face-off. Representing Team Saturn is space physicist Professor Michele Dougherty…
- Adventures on Ice - Darren Harriott, Liz Morris, Christoph Salzmann and Felicity Aston · 43 minRobin Ince and Brian Cox venture into the captivating and surprisingly mysterious realm of ice. Joining them on this cool adventure are former ice dancer Darren Harriott…
- How selfish are we really? - Jo Brand, Matti Wilks and Steve Jones · 42 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince kindly open the door for each other as they step into understanding altruism, asking why humans have evolved to help each other. Joining them to explore…
- Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Phil Wang, Ana Ferreira and Chris Jackson · 43 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince slice deep into the lesser-explored world beneath us. To join them on the journey from the crust to the core they are joined by seismologist Ana…
- An Unexpected History of the Body · 42 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince uncover the unexpected history of the body in the archives of the Royal Society with special guests Prof Helen King, Sir Mark Walport, Keith Moore and Ed…
- Is Extinction the End? · 42 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince dig into de-extinction asking, could we and should we resurrect creatures of the past? They are joined by geneticist Adam Rutherford, palaeontologist…
- Fantastic Elastic · 43 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince expand their knowledge of elasticity with Olympian Bryony Page, comedian Jessica Fostekew & experts Dr Anna Ploszajski and Prof James Busfield from Queen…
- The Science of Baby Making · 42 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince investigate the science of baby making - don’t worry, all theory, no practice! They are joined by Professor Joyce Harper, Dr Ben Steventon and comedian…
- Starless World · 42 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince consider how different our understanding of the universe would be without the stars. They are joined by Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Roberto Trotta and comedian…
- Hedgehogs · 43 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince emerge from the hedge row waking up their guests from hibernation to discuss the fascinating lives of Britain’s favourite mammal, the hedgehog. They are…
- The Cyber Codebreakers · 43 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince head to Bletchley Park with comedian Alan Davies, and cyber experts Victoria Baines and Richard Benham to decode cyberwarfare and discuss its future. As…
- Alien Life - Russell Kane, Lisa Kaltenegger and Chris Lintott · 42 minAre we alone in the universe? Brian Cox and Robin Ince venture to Glastonbury in the search for alien life and are joined in their galactic quest by comedian Russell Kane and…
- An Unexpected History of Science - Rufus Hound, Matthew Cobb, Victoria Herridge and Keith Moore · 43 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince raid the archives of the Royal Society to reveal an unexpected history of science with guests Rufus Hound, Tori Herridge, Matthew Cobb and Keith Moore…
- What a Gas! - Dave Gorman, Mark Miodownik and Lucy Carpenter · 43 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince talk hot air as they explore the pivotal role of gasses in our lives. Joining them to add some CO2 to the mix is material scientist Mark Miodownik…
- Extreme Exploration - Anneka Rice, Mike Massimino, Britney Schmidt and Jess Phoenix · 43 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince venture to the home place of exploration in Porto, Portugal at the Explorers Club as they discuss science at the extremes of exploration. Joining them is…
- 'Beastly Bodies' Kids Special - Steve Backshall, Jess French and Adam Kay · 43 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince are joined by adventurer and naturalist Steve Backshall, veterinarian Jess French, and comedian and former doctor Adam Kay, as they are put to the test…
- Science of Board Games - Jess Fostekew, Marcus du Sautoy and Dave Neale · 43 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince go past jail, climb a ladder and build a civilisation as they explore the science behind our favourite board games. Joining them in the library (or was…
- The Wonder of Trees - Dame Judi Dench, Tony Kirkham and Tristan Gooley · 42 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince leaf through the latest tree science with Dame Judi Dench, Tony Kirkham and Tristan Gooley. Dame Judi Dench shares her great love for treekind and…
- The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… Audience Favourites (Pt 2) · 22 min`This week it's over to you the listeners, as we hear some of your favourite moments from The Infinite Monkey Cage. Comedian Claire Hooper hears about the mating rituals of…
- The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… Tiny Things · 22 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince shuffle through the archive to find the smallest things in the world of science, from a particle so tiny nobody has ever actually seen it, to the…
- The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… The Future · 20 minWe know the universe is rapidly expanding but what happens if other galaxies disappear from view? That’s what Eric Idle wants to know as he ponders the future and what it holds…
- The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… Failure · 17 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince embrace failure in its many forms, with a frank look at the importance of making mistakes. They examine the flaws in Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution…
- The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… Gambling · 19 minRobin Ince and Brian Cox ask why some people always seem to win as they investigate the science of gambling. They hear how playing monopoly is no way to make friends, but don’t…
- The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… The Gods · 22 minRobin Ince and Brian Cox tackle the thorny debate over whether science and religion can co-exist. But forget the tension between the church and the researchers – Eric Idle wants…
- The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… Talking to Aliens · 20 minBrian Cox and Robin Ince are on a mission to discover whether extra-terrestrials exist. But if there really is other life out there, what would it look like? Comedian Conan…
- The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… Gardening · 18 minRobin Ince and Brian Cox dig into the secret lives of plants to discover that there’s more going on in your average garden than you might at first think. They hear why trees are…
- The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… Love · 20 minLove is in the air(waves) as Brian and Robin trawl through the Monkey Cage archive. From using maths to find a boyfriend or girlfriend, to why birds and bees have far more…
- The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… Murder · 21 minBrian Cox, Robin Ince and their guests will send a shiver down your spine as they sift through the science on murder, and hear some of the more creative techniques scientists use…
