The Royal Institution

Is it possible that we will one day know everything? Or are there fields of research that will always

Ever wondered what it would be like to be strapped to a giant rocket? Or to look back on the earth from outer spac

Thanks for helping us get to 250,000 subscribers! We love each and every one of you! This survey is now closed, thou

Lucie Green takes us on a journey from the centre of the sun to planet earth in a run-down of the late’’s atmosphere which sporadically erupt into the Solar System. Lucie is very active in public engagement with science, regularly giving public talks and appearing on TV shows like Sky at Night. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won't cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.

Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience Anil Seth looks at the neuroscience of consciousness and how our biology gives rise to the unique experience of being you. You can also download this talk on our podcast: https://soundcloud.com/royal-institution/sets/ri-science-podcast Watch the Q&A here: https://youtu.be/n-n1ClDhVdA Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Anil provides an insight into the state-of-the-art research in the new science of consciousness. Distinguishing between conscious level, conscious content and conscious self, he describes how new experiments are shedding light on the underlying neural mechanisms in normal life as well as in neurological and psychiatric conditions. Anil Seth is Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex, where he is also Co-Director of the Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science. He is Editor-in-Chief of Neuroscience of Consciousness and is on the steering group and advisory board of the Human Mind Project. He has written popular science books, including 30 Second Brain, and contributes to a variety of media including the New Scientist, The Guardian, and the BBC. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Jon answers questions from the comments sections, all about thermodynamics. What actually powers a ‘perpe’’S EM drive work if it breaks the first law of thermodynamics (2:45)? Can we make monopole magnets with just one pole (4:20)? Can gravity drive a perpetual motion machine (5:15)? Watch our full series on thermodynamics here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZxmZmL3fZHPTeoUO8amBox2 How to Debunk Perpetual Motion Machines: https://youtu.be/sScrtGdKmho?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZxmZmL3fZHPTeoUO8amBox2 What is the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics? https://youtu.be/PE_zpk-EznQ?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZxmZmL3fZHPTeoUO8amBox2 Why Thermodynamics Matter to a Particle Physicist: https://youtu.be/lgJ2_LBRA70?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZxmZmL3fZHPTeoUO8amBox2 Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

According to our best theories of physics, the fundamental building blocks of matter are not particles, but continuous fluid-like substances known as 'quantum fields'. David Tong explains what we know about these fields, and how they fit into our understanding of the Universe. Watch the Q&A here: https://youtu.be/QUMeKDlgKmk Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe David Tong is a professor of theoretical physics at Cambridge University, specialising in quantum field theory. The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

A panel of world-class experts from science and industry divulge the secrets of effectiveness. Watch the Q&A here: ‎

It’s the not the taking part that counts, it’s the winning. Tom Whipple has spoken to preposterously

Professor Ian Chapman joins Saiful Islam to explain how fusion reactors’– Michael Faraday – addressed in the very first Christmas Lectures – energy. In his first lecture, Saiful investigates one of the most important challenges facing humankind – how to generate energy without destroying the planet in the process. As part of the celebrations, Saiful invites former Christmas Lecturers to join him on stage, and repeats some of the most exciting (and dangerous) experiments and demonstrations from the past. Saiful begins his lecture by being plunged into darkness. Armed initially with nothing but a single candle, his challenge is to go back to first principles and bring back the power in the energy-hungry lecture theatre. Along the way he explains what energy is, how we can transform it from one form to another, and how we harness it to power the modern world. A fascinating and stimulating celebration of the stuff that quite literally makes the universe tick –- the weird and wonderful world of energy. Thanks to our major supporter, Lloyd's Register Foundation, and whole community of supporters: http://www.rigb.org/about/news/autumn-2016/our-2016-christmas-lectures-supporters The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Antimicrobial resistance is the most complex and pressing challe–‘pre-antibiotic era’ where 40% mortality is due to infections – something that is difficult to believe now. Dame Sally Davies is the Chief Medical Officer of the UK, acting as the UK government’s principal medical adviser and the professional head of all directors of public health in local government. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Alison Woollard finds her movement controlled by a child when they’re conn’– how to generate and use energy. In this lecture he investigates how humans as living pulsing machines actually use energy, asking whether it’s possible to ‘supercharge’ the human body and increase its performance. This year marks the 80th anniversary since the BBC first broadcast the CHRISTMAS LECTURES on TV. To celebrate, Saiful invites former Christmas Lecturers to join him on stage, and repeats some of the most exciting (and dangerous) experiments and demonstrations from the past. Live experiments explore everything from the explosive potential of everyday foods, to what we put into our bodies (and what comes out!), as well as how we measure up to the machines we use every day. Saiful even experiments on himself, showing images captured inside his own stomach. Every single one of us is an incredibly sophisticated energy conversion machine, finely tuned over millions of years of evolution. So will we ever be able to improve the human body’s performance? Can we ever do more with less energy? Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

With a focus on string theory, quantum mechanics, and cosmology, Sir Roger Penrose looks at how physicists are just as susceptible to flights of fantasy, fashion and blind faith as anyone else. Watch the Q&A and special announcement of the Penrose Institute: https://youtu.be/iH4XJHJ8AOw Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Can the following of fashion, blind faith, or flights of fantasy have anything seriously to do with the scientific quest to understand the universe? Surely not - but Roger Penrose argues that researchers working at the extreme frontiers of physics are as susceptible to these forces as anyone else, and that fashion, faith, and fantasy, while sometimes highly productive in physics, may be leading today's researchers astray in three of that field's most important areas—string theory, quantum mechanics, and cosmology. Roger Penrose is a renowned mathematical physicist, mathematician and philosopher of science. He is the recipient of many awards, including the Copley Medal, the Albert Einstein Medal and the Eddington Medal. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Jim Al-Khalili’s explanation of the double slit experiment sparked lots of questions: Jon has the an’’s explanation here: https://youtu.be/A9tKncAdlHQ And watch his full lecture here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwgQVZju1ZM Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Cognitive science sees the brain as a sort of computer, but how does education redesign these cerebral computers? Cognitive scientist, philosopher, and expert on consciousness Daniel Dennett explains. Watch the Q&A: https://youtu.be/0GJa0xKKSOU Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Buy Daniel Dennet's most recent book "From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds" - https://geni.us/4pTW46 There is widespread agreement among researchers in cognitive science that a human brain is some kind of computer, but not much like the laptop. If we look at perceptual experience, and education in particular, as a process of redesigning our cerebral computers, how does the software get designed, and what are the limits of this design process? Daniel C Dennett finds out. Daniel C Dennett is a cognitive scientist and philosopher with a particular interest in consciousness, free will and the evolution of minds. His newest book, From bacteria to Bach and back, explores how thinking minds could have evolved due to natural selection. The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won't cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.

Saiful Islam drops a nail through a lithium battery, and explains what it is that causes mobile pho’– how to store energy. Over the course of the lecture, he tackles his toughest challenge yet: trying to work out how to store enough energy to power a mobile phone for a whole year and still fit it in his pocket! With the UK generating nearly twenty times as much energy today as it did 80 years ago, finding better ways to store it is vital for all of our futures. This year celebrates the 80th anniversary of the BBC first broadcasting them on TV. To help mark this occasion, Saiful is joined by former Christmas Lecturers on stage, and repeats and re-imagines some of the most famous experiments and demonstrations. Live experiments include an attempt to break the world-record for the most powerful battery made of lemons and a clear-eyed look at the most energy-packed fuel in the world – hydrogen. Along the way he’ll investigate the chemistry of batteries and tell us what the future of energy has in store for us. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

We can’t always control what our brains do, and we all have unconscious prejudices, make un‘’, with Claudia Hammond. Louise Archer is Professor of Sociology of Education at King's College London. She is the Principal Investigator of the ASPIRES and ASPIRES2 projects, a long-term study of children’s science aspirations and career choices. Emma Chapman is a Royal Astronomical Society fellow based at Imperial College London and studies the early Universe. She is the winner of the 2014 Very Early Career Woman Physicist of the Year award. Binna Kandola is a business psychologist and diversity, assessment and development specialist. He is the author of two books on unconscious bias in organisations: 'The Invention of Difference: The story of gender bias at work' and 'The Value of Difference: Eliminating bias in organisations Jessica Rowson is the Gender Balance manager pre-19 for the Institute of Physics. The 2015 Opening Doors report by the IOP recommended ways to counter gender stereotyping in schools and the Institution has since been working with students and teachers about how their unconscious biases could impact the classroom environment. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Jon answers questions from the comments section: Why do we search for a theory of

Zoologist Matt Wilkinson leads a whistle-stop tour of the evolution of movement, showing how going from pl

Learn a trick to memorise more objects than you thought possible in this fun psychology activity for kids. Download the info sheet here: http://www.rigb.org/families/experimental/memory-masters Kat and her son Max investigate the psychology of memory. By playing a memory game, trying to remember 10 random objects in different ways, they explore how our brains work. Do some techniques work better for memorising things than others? Sam comes up with his own ideas of how to remember the objects, and finally creates a silly story to help cement the list in his mind. These sorts of games are a great way to get children thinking like psychologists, and considering how their brains work. This series of ExpeRimental is supported by the British Psychological Society. ExpeRimental, brought to you by the Royal Institution of Great Britain, is a series of free short films that make it fun, easy and cheap to do science at home with children aged 4 to 10. Our films give you lots of ideas for kids' activities that will help you explore the world around you, question and experiment together. We'll show you how to do the activity and how to make sure adults and children get the most out of it. Why not have a go and then tell us what you think on our Facebook page? https://www.facebook.com/Ri.ExpeRimental Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

In the 2017 Bragg Lecture, Mike Glazer unearths the vital world of perovskites, the crystalline mater

Baffle your brain with the famous 'hollow mask illusion', and experiment wit

As Einstein rotates, what do you see? Does the face point towards you, or sink away? Use thi

A live recording of two debates between scientists, policymakers and key influencers from across the EU and UK looking at the wide-ranging consequences of the UK's historic decision to leave the EU. The United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union has thrown the world of science and innovation into great uncertainty on both sides of the channel. The ramifications of Brexit are still unknown, but it is certain to affect jobs, funding and collaborations for decades to come. 0:00 - Welcome by Professor Sarah Harper, Director of the Royal Institution, and Peter Tindemans, Secretary General of EuroScience 12:05 - Panel on the impact on UK science and innovation 2:02:07- Break 2:27:57- Panel on the impact on science and innovation in the remaining EU-27 4:09:32 - Wrap up and closing Among the panelists are: * Prof Dame Janet Thornton, Director-emeritus European Bioinformatics Institute, member of the Scientific Council of the ERC * Prof Alex Halliday, Physical Secretary and Vice-President of the Royal Society * Prof Nicole Grobert, Oxford University and Williams Advanced Engineering Ltd * Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General, Science Foundation Ireland, and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland * Prof Ole Petersen, Vice-President Academia Europaea * Dr Rolf Tarrach, President European University Association Panellists will speak in a personal capacity. Moderators: * Mr Clive Cookson, Financial Times * Prof Gail Cardew, Professor of Science, Culture and Society and Director of Science and Education, Royal Institution A special booklet will be available with some key facts and data on various interactions in the area of science, higher education and innovation between the UK and other European countries. It can be downloaded here (http://www.euroscience.org/news/a-discussion-on-brexit/). The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-scie

Chris Bishop discusses the progress and opportunities of artificial intelligenc

Experiment with your perception of distance and size by making the amazing Ames room

Information technology pioneer and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley shares her personal jou

Try 8 illusions that'll confuse your body, and investigate your sense of proprioception in this fun experiment for families! Download the infosheet here for more instructions: http://www.rigb.org/families/experimental/proprioception Alex and the pupils of Ben Jonson Primary School experiment with their sense of proprioception: our awareness of our body. By doing eight different illusions that trick your understanding of your own body, they learn how their senses work, and how they can be confused by conflicting information. In the process, they learn how our sense combine to create the full perception we have of the world. Remember, everyone responds differently to these illusions. Some people won’t feel the effects of some activities, and that’s why it’s good to try as many as possible. As you do them, think about why they might work better on some people than others. For more instructions on carrying out the activity, and to download the templates, click here: http://www.rigb.org/families/experimental/proprioception This series of ExpeRimental is supported by the British Psychological Society: https://beta.bps.org.uk/ Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Can you drink a whole glass of heavy water? What is Argo

Learn how different parts of your brain deal with different tasks, test your multitasking skil

Patrick Vallance, President of Research and Development at GlaxoSmithKline, explores how real-time data and op

Follow our recipe for delicious fake poo made of chocolate and biscuits, and teach your children about how our emotions form. Download the infosheet & emotion cards here: http://www.rigb.org/families/experimental/disgusting-dining Shock your children by taking a taste of a repulsive poo! Then, by following our recipe, explore what it is that makes us feel emotions like disgust. Through this activity, Dwain and Sahara learn how our emotions and opinions can change over time as our understanding develops. By making her own fake poo with chocolate and biscuits, Sahara discovers that she can 'unlearn' her feelings of disgust when she sees that not all is as it seems. For more instructions, the full recipe, and to download the photos shows at the start, click here: http://www.rigb.org/families/experimental/disgusting-dining This series of ExpeRimental is supported by the British Psychological Society: https://beta.bps.org.uk/ Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Symmetry underlines our whole understanding of the universe. And the deeper we look, the more symmetries we find, reflecting our world in new and beautiful ways. Subscribe for weekly science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Symmetry is vital to understanding and predicting how our universe works. The relationship between symmetry and the mechanics of the universe is fundamental to physics. From Noether’s theorem to the new and exciting world of local symmetries being revealed by modern day physics, Tara Shears explores the physics of symmetry. By revealing nature’s parameters, symmetry gives definition to the world as we understand it. It is a fundamental principle that makes phenomena repeatable and predictable. But if symmetries are so pervasive and influential in our world, why do we see so much asymmetry and chaos? This animation was produced by Rosanna Wan, our 2016-17 animator-in-residence, supported by the Sfumato Foundation. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Make your own thaumatrope and phenakistoscopes, and explore how we perceive motion. Downl

Pankaj Chandak goes on a journey through the history of surgery, from the first antiseptics to med’’ and Great Ormond Street Hospitals and is working towards a PhD. Pankaj and his surgical team from Guy’s took part in Stephen Daldry’s Netflix Production The Crown to reproduce an original operation performed on King George VI in the 1950s - thought to be one of the few times real surgeons were used for film in this way. This talk was filmed at the Ri on 12. April 2017. The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://richannel.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Find out why we can spot faces in inanimate objects and learn what facial features are the most important for us to recognise a face. Download the infosheet here for more instructions: http://www.rigb.org/families/experimental/multitasking-mayhem Faces come in all shapes and sizes, and we’re incredibly good at recognising them. In this activity you will explore your ability to find faces in everyday objects. By going out and looking for faces on inanimate objects you will learn about what combination of features is crucial in allowing us to recognise what we see as a face. Seeing faces, or familiar objects in random patterns is part of a phenomenon known as apophenia. This has been described as our need to make sense of randomness and find patterns and meanings where there aren’t any. So a cloud that looks like a dog fits into our model of the world better than a shapeless mass of water vapour. This series of ExpeRimental is supported by the British Psychological Society: https://beta.bps.org.uk/ Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Where does the Earth's angular momentum come from? Why do all planets move in the sa

Learn to make splatter pictures and experiment with trying to spot hidden images in ran’

How did the Tyrannosaurus Rex and it's kind come to dominate their prehistoric world? Palaeontologist Dr David Hone explores the evolution, ecology and behaviour of these amazing dinosaurs, and explains what Jurassic Park got wrong. Watch the Q&A here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTWG5WY_XoM Subscribe for weekly videos http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe David's book "The Tyrannosaur Chronicles: The Biology of the Tyrant Dinosaurs" is available to buy now - https://geni.us/VItWu David Hone is a palaeontologist and writer whose research focuses on the behaviour and ecology of the dinosaurs and their flying relatives, the pterosaurs. He writes extensively online about palaeontology and science outreach, blog for the science pages of The Guardian, and has recently written a book about tyrannosaurs: The tyrannosaur chronicles. This talk was filmed at the Ri on 20 April 2017. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won't cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.

Doing science experiments with your children can be easy and fun.

J Richard Gott leads a journey through the history of our understanding of the Universe’s structure, and explains the ‘cosmic web’: the idea that our Universe is like a sponge made up of clusters of galaxies intricately connected by filaments of galaxies. Watch the Q&A here: https://youtu.be/B4duk3RiQzA Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe J. Richard Gott's book "The Cosmic Web: Mysterious Architecture of the Universe" is available for purchase now - https://geni.us/EtIx J Richard Gott was among the first cosmologists to propose that the structure of our Universe is like a sponge made up of clusters of galaxies intricately connected by filaments of galaxies – a magnificent structure now called the 'cosmic web'. In this talk he shows how ambitious telescope surveys such as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey are transforming our understanding of the cosmos, and how the cosmic web holds vital clues to the origins of the universe and the next trillion years that lie ahead. J Richard Gott is Emeritus Professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University and is noted for his contributions to cosmology and general relativity. The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won't cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.

What goes on in our bodies and

Do birds needs eyes to navigate? Can pigeons use the Earth's magnetic field for homing? Jon an

Kevin Buzzard explains one of the biggest unsolved problems in theoretical computer science - the P vs NP problem. Watch the Q&A here: https://youtu.be/A6J9p4iOr3A Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Today’s computers are lightning-fast. But sometimes we want to make sure that they can’t solve a particular task quickly (perhaps for security purposes). This issue lies at the heart of the P vs NP problem, one of the most famous conundrums in computer science, which Kevin Buzzard will explore in this Discourse. Can every problem whose solution is quickly verifiable by a computer, also be quickly solved by a computer? Kevin Buzzard is a British mathematician and currently a Professor of Pure Mathematics at Imperial College London. He specialises in algebraic number theory. The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Join this free online course on FutureLearn to learn more about Davy, his scientific achievements and his role as a

Eclipses have been aiding scientists throughout history, from helping measure the width of the Atlantic ocean and verifying Einstein's theory of general relativity, to allowing NASA to attempt a thermal mapping of Mercury. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe For the first time in nearly 100 years, a total solar eclipse will be visible across the entire contiguous United States. Professor Frank Close, particle physicist, former Christmas Lecturer and eclipse enthusiast takes us on a journey through history to uncover how these celestial events have helped us understand more about our planet, the solar system and the universe beyond. The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Frank Close takes us on a journey of eclipse hunting, weaving in history and science. Watch the Q&A here: https://youtu.be/3k5R3_b4eDU Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Frank's book "Eclipses: What Everyone Needs to Know" is out in November 2019 and is available to pre-order now - https://geni.us/IK2qf On 21 August, over 100 million people will gather in a narrow belt across the USA to witness the most watched total solar eclipse in history. Former Christmas Lecturer Frank Close will describe why eclipses happen, their role in history and myth and reveal the spellbinding allure of this most beautiful natural phenomenon. Frank Close a particle physicist, author and speaker. He is Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford. He was formerly vice president of the British Association for Advancement of Science, Head of the Theoretical Physics Division at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and Head of Communications and Public Education at CERN. In 1993, he delivered the CHRISTMAS LECTURES on The Cosmic Onion. This talk was filmed at the Ri on Tuesday 25 July 2017. The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won't cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.

Sorry about the audio problems for the first 30 seconds or so - stick with it, it level

What makes one accent different from another? With the help of archive footage of the Nobel Prize-winning Brag

B Brett Finlay discusses whether we have taken our war on germs a step too far. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe "Let Them Eat Dirt: How Microbes Can Make Your Child Healthier" by B Brett Finaly is available now - https://geni.us/AVt6RV8 Although hygiene and antibiotics have overall improved our health, we might have taken our war against germs too far. B Brett Finlay talks about why a little dirt and our microbes might be good for all of us, as he discusses his new book, Let Them Eat Dirt, co-authored with Marie-Claire Arrieta. B Brett Finlay is co-director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research’s Humans & the Microbiome program, and a microbiologist at the University of British Columbia. Watch the Q&A here: https://youtu.be/rSwhS_HZWe4 This talk was filmed in the Royal Institution on 30 May 2017. The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won't cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.

Everything around us is made of ‘stuff’, or matter. But what is it, exactly? Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Buy Jim's book "Mass: The quest to understand matter from Greek atoms to quantum fields" - https://geni.us/BGZ0Pd Jim Baggott will explore our changing understanding of the nature of matter, from the ancient Greeks to the development of quantum field theory and the discovery of the Higgs boson. Jim Bagott is an award-winning science writer. He trained as a scientist, completing a doctorate in chemical physics at the University of Oxford in the early 80s, before embarking on post-doctoral research studies at Oxford and at Stanford University in California. The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won't cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.

There are over 18,000 artificial objects tracked orbiting our planet. How did they get there and how do we get rid of them? Hu

We know a fair amount about depression, fear, disgust and anxiety, but positive emotions have so far remained mysterious. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Vin Walsh and a panel of experts discuss the psychology and the neuroscience of happiness. Vin Walsh is a Professor of Human Brain Research at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL. Julia Christensen is a Newton International Postdoctoral Research Fellow at City University, specialising in the neural underpinnings of emotional expertise. Morten Kringelbach is a professor of neuroscience at the universities of Oxford and Aarhus, Denmark. His research uses pleasures such as food, sex, drugs and music to understand pleasure and well-being in the human brain. Joe Gladstone is an Assistant Professor at University College London. Named one of the top 30 people under 30 in Finance by Forbes Magazine, Joe's research draws from both Behavioural Economics and Consumer Psychology to understand how we can help people to improve their financial decisions. Watch the Q&A here: https://youtu.be/syccKpYpOig The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

From Netflix to driverless cars, we are entering a world increasingly impacted by arti’’s Chief Scientific Advisor for National Security. Nick is an internationally-recognized authority in the areas of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cybersecurity and agent-based computing. His research covers both the science and the engineering of intelligent systems. The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://rigbl.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Black holes are extraordinary and may even hold the key to unlocking the next phase in ou

What would Halloween be without exploding pumpkins? In order to not find out, we enlisted Da

NASA scientist Anita Sengupta talks us through the work behind brining the Curiosity rover to Mars an

If everything in the universe moved at the speed of light, would time exist? This is the question that Jon is puzzling over at this month's edition of Monthly Mailbag. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Does time slow down for moving objects? Can you get objects with mass to the speed of light? And if everything was going at the same speed, would we even be able to tell that anything was moving? Let us know how Jon did with this explanation and if you have a burning science question you'd like us to answer next month, stick it in the comments section below. The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Award-winning scientist and writer Sean Carroll ties together the fundamental la

How can we teach robots to make moral judgements, and do they have to be

Some animals have the physical equipment to mimic human speech, but that doesn’t‘’ (1973) Sir David Attenborough chats with a greater Indian hill myna. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm Or watch the full lecture here: http://bit.ly/2AlXnR6 The Royal Institution 2017 advent calendar ‘Transmissions through time’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

The first commercially available mobile phone went on sale in 1984 – and cost around $4000. In this clip from the 1985 CHRISTMAS LECTURES 'Communicating', David Pye demonstrates the power of this (then) brand new technology on an unsuspecting member of the audience. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm The Royal Institution 2017 advent calendar ‘Transmissions Through Time’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

When looking into a mirror, you see a likeness of yourself, but it is not you. Would you be able to communicate ‘’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Batteries are everywhere in modern life, but these amazing pieces of technology can often seem all too famili‘’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Plants may seem passive and defenceless, but they have plenty of ways to fight off attackers. In this clip‘’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Some insects have evolved incredibly detailed foms of camouflage, so they appear to blend almo‘’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

What does the padlock icon on your internet browser mean and why is encryption important? In this clip from 2008 CHRISTMAS LECTURES "Hi-tech trek", Chris Bishop uses coloured water to demonstrate how information is transferred on the internet. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm Or watch the full lecture here: http://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures/watch/2008/hi-tech-trek/untangling-the-web?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2017_advent&utm_content=description

We can use technology to send sounds and images to people far away – but what about our other senses? In this clip from the 2014 CHRISTMAS LECTURES "'Sparks will fly: How to hack your home", Danielle George demonstrates a device for sharing tastes and smells – with a hologram of Dallas Campbell. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm Or watch the full lecture here: http://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures/watch/2014/sparks-will-fly-how-to-hack-your-home/making-contact?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2017_advent&utm_content=description The Royal Institution 2017 advent calendar ‘Transmissions Through Time’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Chameleons are well known for being able to change their body colour to blend in with their surroundings‘’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Is sign language left or right handed? Can it be mirrored without losing its m‘’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

In 1880, there were so few telephones in London that it was possible for '1' to be your phone number. In this clip from the 1988 CHRISTMAS LECTURES "The home of the future", Gareth Roberts takes a look at a small, red book – the London telephone directory from that year. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm The Royal Institution 2017 advent calendar ‘Transmissions Through Time’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Balloons are fun at parties, but with a bit of work, you can also make them talk. In this clip from the 1989 CHRISTMAS LECTURES, Charles Taylor demonstrates what 'talking' balloons can tell us about how we process and understand speech. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm The Royal Institution 2017 advent calendar ‘Transmissions Through Time’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

If life exists elsewhere in the Universe, would we be able to communicate with it? In this clip ‘’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Humans are intensely social creatures. Learning from each other and working together was a key part in

Modern speech synthesisers can simulate human speech so perfectly that it's nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. In this clip from the 1985 CHRISTMAS LECTURES, David Pye demonstrates earlier versions of mechanical and electronic speech synthesisers. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm Or watch the full lecture here: http://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures/watch/1985/communicating/no-man-is-an-island?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2017_advent&utm_content=description The Royal Institution 2017 advent calendar ‘Transmissions Through Time’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

As humans, we sometimes project our thoughts and emotions onto things that aren't human. In this clip from the 2011 CHRISTMAS LECTURES "Meet Your Brain", Bruce Hood shows how we can interpret shapes as having their own "personalities", just by the way they move. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm Or watch the full lecture here: http://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures/watch/2011/meet-your-brain/are-you-thinking-what-im-thinking?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2017_advent&utm_content=description The Royal Institution 2017 advent calendar ‘Transmissions Through Time’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Home appliances today are smarter than ever - you can connect your fridge to the cloud and control your heating from the office. In this clip from the 1988 CHRISTMAS LECTURES "The home of the future", Gareth Roberts imagines what such a home might look like – and how it might go wrong. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm

DNA is the instruction manual for life on Earth. In‘’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

In this clip from the 1972 CHRISTMAS LECTURES "Ripples in the ether", Geoffrey Gouriet demonstrates the 'viewphone', an early phone that lets you see person you're talking to on a screen. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm Or watch the full lecture here: http://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures/watch/1972/ripples-in-the-ether/vision-of-the-future?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2017_advent&utm_content=description The Royal Institution 2017 advent calendar ‘Transmissions Through Time’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Our faces display messages to the world around us by expressing what we are thinking or feeling, and gi‘’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Many animals, especially insects and deep sea marine species, produce light to send signals to those around them. This is called bioluminescence. In this clip from the 1973 CHRISTMAS LECTURES "The languages of animals", Sir David Attenborough performs simple chemistry to show how some animals put on these vibrant displays. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm Or watch the full lecture here: http://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures/watch/1973/the-languages-of-animals/foreign-languages?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2017_advent&utm_content=description The Royal Institution 2017 advent calendar ‘Transmissions Through Time’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Computers use error-correcting codes to detect mistakes in binary notations - even just a single change from 0 to 1. In this clip from the 2006 CHRISTMAS LECTURES "The num8er my5teries", Marcus du Sautoy runs error-correcting code tests with an audience member and explains how the mathematics is used in CDs and satellite communications. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm Or watch the full lecture here: http://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures/watch/2006/the-num8er-my5teries/lecture-4?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2017_advent&utm_content=description The Royal Institution 2017 advent calendar ‘Transmissions Through Time’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Space walks are ‘’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

Haptic technology recreates the sensation of touch through forces and vibrations. In this clip from the 2014 CHRISTMAS LECTURES "Sparks will fly: How to hack your home", Danielle George and a young audience member experiment with haptic technology. This piece of kit recreates the feeling of touch by using tiny speakers to create precise ultrasonic vibrations and mould the shape of an object. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm Or watch the full lecture here: http://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures/watch/2014/sparks-will-fly-how-to-hack-your-home/making-contact?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2017_advent&utm_content=description The Royal Institution 2017 advent calendar ‘Transmissions Through Time’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

The frequency of sound waves and the pitch of the sound we hear are inextricably linked; the higher the frequency, the higher the pitch. Charles Taylor demonstrates this in our final Ri Advent clip from the 1989 CHRISTMAS LECTURES "Exploring music", where he creates a festive tune using just a handful of wooden blocks and the floor of the Faraday lecture theatre. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe This video is from our 2017 advent calendar. Watch the full series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyvS5Cx-aRTX-Y8IBJCNmYm The Royal Institution 2017 advent calendar ‘Transmissions Through Time’ looks through the lens of CHRISTMAS LECTURES past to share the best demonstrations around the science of communication. From Attenborough and Sagan to Woollard and Fong, we revisit old favourites and find new gems to bring you a little gift of science every day in the lead up to Christmas. http://bit.ly/RiAdvent17 The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter

What would happen if we had twice the amount of snow every year? Jon dives deep into weather data for this special