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The Life Scientific

BBC Radio 4
Climate Change
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Evolutionary Biology
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Lord Mountbatten
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Machine Learning
Theoretical Physics
Heart Transplantation

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes356Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Personal JournalsScienceSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

Dr Seth Berkley is an epidemiologist and global health leader whose career has been shaped by one central problem: vaccines save lives, but only if people can actually get them.

His 40-year career has spanned the global, from helping to build Uganda... more

Hiranya Peiris is playing a starring role in a movie that promises to tell perhaps the greatest story of all time. However, it’s a movie with a difference – there’s no director and no script. The Legacy Survey of Space and Time is one of the most amb... more

As a child growing up on the shores of Lake Victoria in western Kenya, Washington Yotto Ochieng once watched a plane cross the night sky and told his mother he wished he could travel on it. But he remembers her encouraging him to dream bigger...

Tod... more

Working on a remote tropical island in the Atlantic might sound like some sort of romantic idyll - but trying to conduct scientific research on a windy, isolated volanic outcrop is no picnic, as Lucy Carpenter can attest!

Lucy is an atmopsheric chem... more

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Recent Guests

Hiranya Peiris
Professor of Astrophysics
Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge
Episode: Hiranya Peiris on unravelling the story of the universe
Washington Yotto Ochieng
Professor of Engineering at Imperial College London and President of the Royal Institute of Navigation
Imperial College London
Episode: Washington Yotto Ochieng on the navigation tech that keeps our world moving
Lucy Carpenter
Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry, University of York
University of York / Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory
Episode: Lucy Carpenter on how our oceans are destroying ozone
Jens Juul Holst
Professor of Medical Physiology and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
Episode: Jens Juul Holst on the gut hormone discovery behind weight-loss drugs
Jim Ashworth-Beaumont
Orthotist and prosthetist with expertise in prosthetics and orthotics
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Episode: Jim Ashworth-Beaumont on how a near-fatal accident made him a better clinician
Jehane Ragai
Emeritus Professor of Chemistry with a passion for science and arts; authored 'The Scientist and the Forger'.
American University in Cairo
Episode: Jehane Ragai on the science of authenticating artworks
Pierre Friedlingstein
Prominent climate scientist and Chair in Mathematical Modelling of the Climate System at Exeter University
Exeter University
Episode: Pierre Friedlingstein on carbon’s pivotal role in climate change
Julia Simner
Neuropsychologist and researcher specializing in sensory perception and synesthesia
University of Sussex
Episode: Julia Simner on tasty words and hearing colours
Caroline Smith
Head of Collections and Principal Curator of Meteorites at the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
Episode: Caroline Smith on meteorites and potential ancient life on Mars

Host

Jim Al-Khalili
Host of The Life Scientific (long-running science interview series).

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2.1k ratings
  • It was great, before the BBC decided to go transphobic.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Len
    2 months ago
  • Misinformation on climate

    05/12/2023: Sir Harry Bhadeshia on the choreography of metals: interesting and clearly an expert in his field, but why does he believe co2 is a pollutant when it’s vital for life! Also, taxing steel manufacture is madness and will deprive the developing countries, where Sir H comes from, from cheap steel to catch us up economically and reduce poverty/inequality!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Swiss-wilson
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Small is beautiful!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    yamduck
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Not much science

    20 minute life story and only 6 minutes science :(

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    krikukac
    United Kingdoma year 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 Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Some criticism notes a perceived bias in topics or guests and desire for broader balance.
Listeners praise accessibility and warmth of the host.
Guests are varied and fascinating, spanning many scientific fields.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#195
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#16
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#56
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#23
Italy/Science
Apple Podcasts
#93
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#26
Chile/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Washington Yotto Ochieng on the navigation tech that keeps our world moving
Q: What was the impact of the Nottingham scholarship on your career, and why did you choose to pursue further studies abroad?
The Nottingham scholarship fundamentally changed my trajectory, giving me access to a master's program and a pathway to a PhD. Studying in the UK broadened my horizons, opened international collaborations, and allowed me to contribute back to my home region in meaningful ways.
Washington Yotto Ochieng on the navigation tech that keeps our world moving
Q: You were born in Kenya and grew up in a large family. How did your early life shape your path into engineering and navigation?
Growing up in a family of many siblings taught resourcefulness and a hunger to excel; intellectual curiosity was encouraged, and early exposure to science through teachers and opportunities pushed me toward engineering and, eventually, GPS/PNT research.
Hiranya Peiris on unravelling the story of the universe
Q: What drew you to work with the cosmic microwave background and Planck data?
The CMB is a fossil glow from the early universe; analysing its patterns with theoretical models acts like a fingerprinting process to identify which cosmological theories best describe our universe, guiding ongoing research.
Hiranya Peiris on unravelling the story of the universe
Q: What is inflation and why is it important?
Inflation describes a brief period of exponential expansion after the Big Bang, which explains the large-scale uniformity and structure we observe; its predictions are tested against cosmic microwave background data and Planck results.
Hiranya Peiris on unravelling the story of the universe
Q: How did your early interests shape your later work in cosmology?
A lifelong curiosity sparked by science fiction and early mentors led me to pursue physics, then astronomy, and ultimately to cosmology where questions about the universe's origin could be explored with data.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Professions
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?

A long-running science interview series that brings leading researchers and thinkers across disciplines to share the story behind their work, career paths, and the societal impact of their discoveries. Episodes frequently balance personal origins, career milestones, and technical insights, making complex topics accessible through human-centric conversations. Listeners can expect a broad range of topics—from climate science and quantum technology to neuroscience and space exploration—delivered with thoughtful questions and clear explanations. The show often features luminaries and rising stars who connect scientific innovation to real-world outcomes, policy, and culture, making it a strong fit for curious, academically minded audiences and p... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Life Scientific?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Life Scientific:

1. BBC Inside Science
2. More or Less
3. CrowdScience
4. Unexpected Elements
5. Discovery

How many episodes of The Life Scientific are there?

The Life Scientific launched 15 years ago and published 356 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 Life Scientific?

Recent guests on The Life Scientific include:

1. Hiranya Peiris
2. Washington Yotto Ochieng
3. Lucy Carpenter
4. Jens Juul Holst
5. Jim Ashworth-Beaumont
6. Jehane Ragai
7. Pierre Friedlingstein
8. Julia Simner

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