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The Life Scientific

BBC Radio 4
Forensic Science
DNA Profiling
Criminal Justice
Lord Mountbatten
Covid-19
Forensic Science Ireland
Theoretical Physics
Carbon Dioxide
Public Health
Food Security
Human Brain
Climate Change
Paleontology
Dinosaurs
Nuclear Energy
Astrophysics
Human Evolution
Healthcare
Population Ageing
Berry Phase

Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to leading scientists about their life and work, finding out what inspires and motivates them and asking what their discoveries might do for us in the future

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes338Founded14 years ago
Categories
Personal JournalsSociety & CultureScience

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Latest Episodes

There can't be many people in the world who've saved lives in hospital emergency rooms and also helped care for the wellbeing of astronauts in space – but Kevin Fong’s career has followed a singular path: from astrophysics and trauma medicine, to wor... more

Chemical reactions are the backbone of modern society: the energy we use, the medicines we take, our housing materials, even the foods we eat, are created by reacting different substances together. If we zoom in, it’s the atoms within these substance... more

Have you ever considered the lighter side of dark matter? Comedy has proved an unexpectedly succesful way to engage people with science - as today's guest knows first-hand.

Astrophysicist Catherine Heymans is a Professor at the University of Edinbu... more

As a young man, traveling in Africa, Tim Coulson - now Professor of Zoology at the University of Oxford - became seriously ill with malaria and was told a second bout would probably kill him. Aged only 20, this brush with his own mortality led him to... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host

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People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Pratibha Gai
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at York University, pioneer in electron microscopy
York University
Episode: Dame Pratibha Gai on training atoms to do what we want
Claudia de Rham
Professor of Theoretical Physics at Imperial College London, focusing on massive gravity.
Imperial College London
Episode: Claudia de Rham on playing with gravity
Liz Morris
Glaciologist and emeritus associate at the University of Cambridge's Scott Polar Research Institute
University of Cambridge
Episode: Liz Morris on Antarctic adventures and the melting polar ice sheets
Brian Schmidt
Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist and professor at Australian National University
Australian National University
Episode: Brian Schmidt on Nobel Prize-winning supernovae and the joys of making wine
Jacqueline McKinley
Principal osteoarchaeologist with Wessex Archaeology and expert in cremation and burial practices.
Wessex Archaeology
Episode: Jacqueline McKinley on unearthing bones and stories at Britain's ancient burial sites
Jonathan Shepherd
Emeritus Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Cardiff University and director of the Crime, Security and Intelligence Innovation Institute.
Cardiff University
Episode: Jonathan Shepherd on a career as a crime-fighting surgeon
Doyne Farmer
American scientist and entrepreneur known for pioneering chaos theory and complex systems.
Director of the Complex Economics Programme at the Institute for New Economic Thinking at Oxford
Episode: Doyne Farmer on making sense of chaos for a better world
Dr Victoria Tori Herridge
Senior Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology at the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
Episode: Tori Herridge on ancient dwarf elephants and frozen mammoths
Tim Peake
British astronaut and aeronaut, known for being the first British astronaut to complete a spacewalk.
European Space Agency
Episode: Tim Peake on his journey to becoming an astronaut and science in space

Host

Jim Al-Khalili
Professor of Physics and host, known for his engaging interviewing style and ability to connect with guests from diverse scientific backgrounds. He explores the lives and work of scientists, uncovering their motivations and the broader significance of their research.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.1k ratings
  • Small is beautiful!

    Such a difficult subject to attempt to enlighten the listener. Great job

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    yamduck
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Not much science

    20 minute life story and only 6 minutes science :(

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    krikukac
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Love this pod

    An excellent podcast, especially (and at last) the interview with Anthony Fauci. The host, Jim Al-Khalili,is brilliant.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jjlm77
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Very good

    I love this podcast it’s so fun and interesting also all the experts are so fascinating.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    99bubble12
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Top science podcast

    Great subjects, top guests and the interviewer interaction is spot on.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RockDJJ
    United Kingdom6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the engaging interviews that balance personal narratives with scientific discussions, highlighting the podcast's ability to make complex topics accessible.
Overall, the production quality and selection of guests are frequently commended, making it a favorite among science enthusiasts.
There are mixed feelings regarding the balance of personal stories and scientific content, with some preferring more focus on research and less on the guests' life stories.
The host's approach to connecting with guests is often described as warm and inviting, contributing to a natural flow during interviews.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#19
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#233
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#161
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#184
Germany/Science
Apple Podcasts
#18
Ireland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#48
Netherlands/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Kevin Fong on medical planning for Mars and Earth-based emergencies
Q: What sort of facilities are there on a spaceship or on the International Space Station?
Your average London ambulance is far better equipped than the Space Station.
Kevin Fong on medical planning for Mars and Earth-based emergencies
Q: What are your tips for anyone planning on intergalactic travel?
Don't go, it's very dangerous and there's a significantly non-zero chance that you won't survive.
Dame Pratibha Gai on training atoms to do what we want
Q: Why is seeing the reaction in real time important?
It allows us to observe the changing catalysts to determine which are beneficial and which are detrimental to the reaction.
Dame Pratibha Gai on training atoms to do what we want
Q: What is a catalyst and what does it do?
A catalyst speeds up chemical reactions which would otherwise take much longer to occur.
Dame Pratibha Gai on training atoms to do what we want
Q: Could you just elaborate on how pivotal [chemical reactions] are?
They impact our everyday lives, including medicines, food production, and climate control processes.

Audience Metrics

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

Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Life Scientific

What is The Life Scientific about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the life stories and scientific endeavors of leading scientists, the content highlights the personal journeys and professional achievements that shape contemporary scientific understanding. Each episode features in-depth interviews that explore a range of topics from theoretical physics and climate change to ancient archaeology and healthcare advancements. By blending personal anecdotes with discussions on groundbreaking research, this series aims to make complex scientific concepts accessible and inspiring to a broad audience. It is particularly notable for its emphasis on the experiences of women and diverse perspectives in the scientific community.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Life Scientific?

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How many listeners does The Life Scientific get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Life Scientific?

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How many subscribers and views does The Life Scientific have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Life Scientific has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Life Scientific?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Life Scientific:

1. BBC Inside Science
2. Science In Action
3. More or Less: Behind the Stats
4. CrowdScience
5. The Infinite Monkey Cage

How many episodes of The Life Scientific are there?

The Life Scientific launched 14 years ago and published 338 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Life Scientific?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Life Scientific?

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What guests have appeared on The Life Scientific?

Recent guests on The Life Scientific include:

1. Pratibha Gai
2. Claudia de Rham
3. Liz Morris
4. Brian Schmidt
5. Jacqueline McKinley
6. Jonathan Shepherd
7. Doyne Farmer
8. Dr Victoria Tori Herridge

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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