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The Infinite Monkey Cage

BBC Radio 4
Climate Change
Extraterrestrial Life
Psychology
NASA
Astronomy
Quantum Mechanics
Human Body
Altruism
Asteroids
Jupiter
Octopus
Mars
Evolution
SETI
Evolutionary Biology
Intelligence
Elasticity
Medicine
Saturn
ICE

A witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes, guest hosted by Prof. Adam Rutherford and Jess Fostekew.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes253Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceComedy

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Latest Episodes

Bird 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 explore the surprising story of this pongy but remarkable substance, joined by... more

We 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 joined plant scientist Tracy Lawson, biologist Jonathan Silvertown, and ... more

Things 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 them for some spooky science are psychologists Chris French and Ciaran O'K... more

Jessica 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 to today's cutting-edge experiments, they ask whether true nothingness ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jonathan Silvertown
Professor at the University of Edinburgh and author of Nature's Magicians: The Hidden Powers of Leaves
University of Edinburgh
Episode: Leaf it to Nature
Tracy Lawson
Professor of plant physiology at the University of Essex and the University of Illinois
University of Essex
Episode: Leaf it to Nature
Alex Kealy
Stand-up comedian
Episode: Leaf it to Nature
Chris French
Psychologist specializing in anomalistic psychology at Goldsmiths
Goldsmiths
Episode: Ghosts - Isy Suttie, Laurence Rickard, Ciarán O'Keeffe and Chris French
Ciarán O'Keeffe
Parapsychologist specializing in the psychology and environmental factors of haunting experiences
Bucks New University
Episode: Ghosts - Isy Suttie, Laurence Rickard, Ciarán O'Keeffe and Chris French
Laurence Rickard
Writer, actor, and co-creator of the television series Ghosts
Ghosts
Episode: Ghosts - Isy Suttie, Laurence Rickard, Ciarán O'Keeffe and Chris French
Isy Suttie
Comedian, writer, and actor
Episode: Ghosts - Isy Suttie, Laurence Rickard, Ciarán O'Keeffe and Chris French
Ria Lina
Scientist and comedian
Episode: Nothing Really Matters - Hugh Dennis, Ria Lina, Harry Cliff and Yvette Fuentes
Harry Cliff
Particle physicist at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Episode: Nothing Really Matters - Hugh Dennis, Ria Lina, Harry Cliff and Yvette Fuentes

Hosts

Brian Cox
Host/Co-host of the show with a science-focused persona, frequently guiding discussions and bringing authority in physics and cosmology.
Robin Ince
Co-host known for his wit and background in science communication and comedy, often anchoring discussions with humor.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 18.8k ratings
  • Poor decisions.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Ash_ar_ais
    3 months ago
  • It was great, until they let Robin Ince go for speaking out against the BBC'S shameful transphobic bigotry

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Len
    8 months ago
  • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Always listen to this show with my dad and whenever I go to bed I love it sooo much ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TAYLOR SWIFT 💅
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • hilarious and super informative

    Podcast Addict
    5
    preet
    8 months ago
  • For shame

    I have been listening to this show since the very beginning. It, without a doubt, had greatly enriched my life and had a great influence on me, my understanding of science and critical thinking. So it is extremely disappointing to see that science and critical thinking on certain spheres of biology has failed here. Robin Ince has been forced out of the show for his integrity and for literally upholding the scientific standards. For shame BBC, producers and his colleague for not standing by him.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    sammndave
    United Kingdom8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many comments highlight the show's educational value wrapped in entertaining banter.
Fans value accessible explanations of tough topics and engaging guests.
Some critics feel the show veers into bias or controversy around the BBC connection.
Listeners appreciate the clever blend of science and humor.
A few listeners sense strong opinions from hosts, which they either enjoy or dislike.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#52
United States/Science
Spotify
#3
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#156
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#2
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#22
Canada/Science
Spotify
#9
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Leaf it to Nature
Q: How are you genetically modifying the stomata so they are more flappy?
Lawson says researchers can use natural variation in breeding lines and gene-editing tools because the genes involved in stomatal development are known. Her research also aims to make stomata open and close faster so plants can take in carbon dioxide when light is available and reduce water loss when it is not.
Leaf it to Nature
Q: What are the defining characteristics, the features that make a leaf a leaf and not a stem? I mean, basically, what's a leaf?
Silvertown describes a leaf as a flat, laminar structure on a stalk with top and lower surfaces. Lawson explains that pores, mostly on the underside, allow gases to move in and out for photosynthesis.
Ghosts - Isy Suttie, Laurence Rickard, Ciarán O'Keeffe and Chris French
Q: What physical conditions can be measured that might make people more susceptible to seeing a ghost?
Ciarán O'Keeffe discusses electromagnetic fields and infrasound as possible influences on perception, while describing how low-frequency sound can cause physical sensations that people may interpret as a haunting. French adds that an experiment found no link between those exposures and participants' reported experiences.
Ghosts - Isy Suttie, Laurence Rickard, Ciarán O'Keeffe and Chris French
Q: What is happening psychologically and physiologically when people see ghosts?
Chris French explains that sleep paralysis can create a sense of presence and frightening hallucinations. Expectation, heightened alertness, suggestibility, and environmental factors can also lead people to interpret ambiguous sensations as ghosts.
Nothing Really Matters - Hugh Dennis, Ria Lina, Harry Cliff and Yvette Fuentes
Q: But will we ever know? Is it possible to know?
Cliff says experiments looking for gravitational waves and patterns in the Cosmic Microwave Background could test theories of inflation, though current evidence is still circumstantial.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Infinite Monkey Cage

What is The Infinite Monkey Cage about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-forward talk show that blends rigorous inquiry with humor, featuring panels of scientists, engineers, and comedians who unpack big ideas in approachable ways. Recent episodes span topics like Arctic exploration, primate behavior, cloud physics, nuclear fusion, eel biology, timekeeping, and brain–computer interfaces, all through lively banter and relatable stories. The format tends to pair elite researchers with witty hosts and guest comedians, making complex topics feel accessible and entertaining. A standout quality is the curiosity-driven, cross-disciplinary approach that keeps science entertaining while still informative, appealing to curious listeners who enjoy thoughtful discourse with a light touch of humor.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Infinite Monkey Cage?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Infinite Monkey Cage:

1. Curious Cases
2. No Such Thing As A Fish
3. Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
4. You're Dead to Me
5. The Rest Is Science

How many episodes of The Infinite Monkey Cage are there?

The Infinite Monkey Cage launched 17 years ago and published 253 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Infinite Monkey Cage?

Recent guests on The Infinite Monkey Cage include:

1. Jonathan Silvertown
2. Tracy Lawson
3. Alex Kealy
4. Chris French
5. Ciarán O'Keeffe
6. Laurence Rickard
7. Isy Suttie
8. Ria Lina

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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