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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
Dinosaurs
Paleontology
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes346Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Personal JournalsScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Life Scientific

Latest Episodes

The COP30 climate summit is taking place in the Brazilian city of Belém, a gateway to the Amazon rainforest, which continues to face widespread deforestation. We all know that our climate is changing and that we are largely responsible for this, but ... more

Imagine if you were listening to an opera or a Taylor Swift concert, and as the lights in the auditorium dimmed, the music was accompanied by a rainbow of colours only you could see. Perhaps while listening to your friends talking, you simultaneously... more

Caroline Smith is passionate about space rocks, whether they’re samples collected from the surface of asteroids and the Moon and hopefully Mars one day soon, or meteorites, those alien rock fragments that have survived their fiery descents through ou... more

From humble beginnings in his native Sri Lanka, to a more than 40 year academic career at Queen’s University Belfast, Prof. AP (Amilra Prasanna) De Silva’s research into molecular photosensors has led to a pioneering career in that’s evolved from che... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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
AP De Silva
Emeritus Professor of Chemistry and pioneer in photochemistry and molecular computing
Queen's University Belfast
Episode: AP De Silva on building molecular fluorescence sensors for healthcare
Peter Knight
Emeritus Professor at Imperial College London and pioneer in quantum optics and quantum information.
Imperial College London
Episode: Peter Knight on quantum technologies
Eleanor Schofield
Director of Collections at the Mary Rose Trust, expert in materials engineering and conservation science.
Mary Rose Trust
Episode: Eleanor Schofield on conserving Tudor warship the Mary Rose
George Church
Geneticist, Molecular Engineer, Professor at Harvard Medical School and MIT
Harvard Medical School, MIT
Episode: George Church on reimagining woolly mammoths and virus-proofing humans
Gareth Collett
Retired British Army Brigadier General and engineer specializing in bomb disposal.
University of Wales Trinity St David
Episode: Gareth Collett on a career in bomb disposal
Sonia Gandhi
Clinician scientist specializing in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease.
University College London and Francis Crick Institute
Episode: Sonia Gandhi on building model brains to tackle Parkinson’s disease

Host

Jim Al-Khalili
Host of The Life Scientific, a physicist known for engaging interviews with leading scientists.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.1k ratings
  • 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 Kingdom3 months ago
  • Small is beautiful!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    yamduck
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Not much science

    20 minute life story and only 6 minutes science :(

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    krikukac
    United Kingdom6 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 Kingdom7 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 Kingdom9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Reviews highlight the engaging and respectful style of the host, which fosters a natural conversation.
Listeners appreciate the diverse range of guests and their fascinating personal stories in science.
Some critiques express that episodes can spend more time on personal narratives rather than scientific content, suggesting a desire for a balance between storytelling and detailed science discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#198
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#21
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#216
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#75
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#222
France/Science
Apple Podcasts
#238
Italy/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Pierre Friedlingstein on carbon’s pivotal role in climate change
Q: Can you explain where we're at now regarding the remaining carbon budget?
The concept comes from a linear relationship between carbon emissions and temperature rise, translating that into allowable carbon emissions for temperature limits.
Pierre Friedlingstein on carbon’s pivotal role in climate change
Q: What about the two degrees?
So two degrees is more time—another half a degree, which means we have to reduce emissions.
Pierre Friedlingstein on carbon’s pivotal role in climate change
Q: So how are we doing with this?
If you look at the amount of carbon we can still emit, it's about five years of current emissions before breaching the 1.5-degree target.
Julia Simner on tasty words and hearing colours
Q: How are misophonia and your son's illness connected?
Julia discusses the timing of her research into misophonia coinciding with her son's sudden diabetes diagnosis and how it led her to find ways to help others experiencing similar issues.
Julia Simner on tasty words and hearing colours
Q: How did that scholarship come about?
Julia describes how her French teacher suggested she enter a scholarship competition, which led to her studying at the Sorbonne and eventually changing her focus from chemistry to linguistics.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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?

Featuring conversations with leading scientists, this series offers a unique insight into their lives, motivations, and groundbreaking research. Guests range from esteemed Nobel laureates to lesser-known yet equally fascinating figures in the scientific community, all sharing compelling narratives that connect personal experiences with their scientific journeys. The host guides discussions that not only unravel the intricacies of various scientific fields—including physics, biology, and environmental science—but also highlight the human stories behind the discoveries, making complex topics accessible to a general audience. The focus on personal narratives intertwined with scientific inquiry sets it apart as a must-listen for anyone interest... 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. Science In Action
4. Curious Cases
5. CrowdScience

How many episodes of The Life Scientific are there?

The Life Scientific launched 14 years ago and published 346 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. Pierre Friedlingstein
2. Julia Simner
3. Caroline Smith
4. AP De Silva
5. Peter Knight
6. Eleanor Schofield
7. George Church
8. Gareth Collett

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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