As we pack away the set of the Christmas Lectures, we look back at 2024 and all the fascinating science talks we've had the pleasure of hosting in our lecture theatre. From quantum physics to neuroscience, we spent the year nurturing our curiosity and exploring how the world around us works – from the micro to the macro.
Below you will find the five most-watched videos on our YouTube channel this year, as well as five special staff picks we thought you couldn't miss.
Space oddities - with Harry Cliff
In our most-watched talk of 2024, CERN physicist Harry Cliff shone a light on the cosmic anomalies currently perplexing scientists.
This lecture was a part of our monthly Discourses, our oldest and most prestigious series of public talks founded by Michael Faraday, which celebrate their 200th anniversary in 2025.
The harsh reality of ultra processed food - with Chris Van Tulleken
In this lcture from our public programme of science talks for adults, our Christmas Lecturer Chris van Tulleken analyses the rise of Ultra Processed Food (UPF), which now makes up 60% of the average diet in the UK and USA. It is highly processed, highly addictive, and largely unhealthy.
Solving the secrets of gravity - with Claudia de Rham
Theoretical physicist Claudia de Rham unravels the turbulent tales of her success – from diver to pilot, to astronaut candidate, to physicist.
The brightest minds in physics, from Newton and Einstein to Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose, have yet to uncover gravity’s secrets, but their knowledge allowed Claudia to reimagine the theory of massive gravity to finally rid the “ghosts” of gravity – dark energy.
The most surprising discoveries from our universe – with Chris Lintott
Astrophysicist Chris Lintott reveals some of the most amazing discoveries about the Universe that have happened by accident. From the revelation of pulsars to at least 10,000 galaxies found in a region of space presumed to be vacant, dive into these mind-blowing cosmic "happy little accidents".
A history of Islam and science - with Timothy Winter
University of Cambridge lecturer Tim Winter (Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad) delves into the profound contributions made by Muslim scholars to the realms of science, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and philosophy throughout the centuries.
Ri staff picks
We asked our staff members for their favourite talks that didn't make it to the top five. The result is this collection of science lectures "deep cuts", spanning topics from consciousness to explosive chemistry, which we hope you'll love.
In search of immortality - with Venki Ramakrishnan
Thanks to a stark revolution in biology, our understanding of the ageing process is progressing rapidly. In conversation with Ri Trustee Suze Kundu, Nobel Laureate Venki Ramakrishnan questions whether mortality is an inevitable part of human existence.
How the brain shapes reality - with Andy Clark
In this thought-provoking Discourse, philosopher and cognitive scientist Andy Clark guides us through the inner workings of the predictive brain, exposing its profound implications for our well-being, mental health, and society. For instance, chronic pain and mental disorders often result from subtle disruptions in our unconscious predictions, offering promising avenues for more precise and effective treatments.
Discovering the hidden secrets of the ocean - with Jyotika Virmani
What lies hidden beneath the sea is one of the Earth's biggest mysteries, with only 5% of the area explored - but the Schmidt Ocean Institute are changing this. Jyotika Virmani, executive director of the Institute, uncovers a new era of ocean discovery providing us with unprecedented abilities to explore the wonderful world beyond our coastline like never before.
The latest developments in fusion energy - with the UKAEA
Hear about the latest research in the leading-edge field of fusion energy from experts Fernanda Rimini, Pietro Barabaschi and Tammy Ma.
Explosive chemistry - with Andrew Szydlo
Ri fan-favourite and chemistry demonstration extraordinaire Andrew Szydlo returned to our lecture theatre in 2024 for an action-packed Discourse all about his remarkable life intertwined with explosive science.
The science of mental health - with Camilla Nord
How does the body affect our brain, and vice versa? Can exercise, psychedelics, or the gut biome improve your mental health? Neuroscientist Camilla Nord looks at a variety of mental health treatments, from therapy and medication to recreational drugs and electrical brain stimulation, to show how they work – and why they sometimes don't.
Are you ready
2025 is going to be a remarkable year of learning opportunities at the Ri, as we celebrate a host of anniversaries – including our 200th Christmas Lectures series.
Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to find out about our upcoming events, and don't forget to check out our YouTube channel where we upload a new science lecture every week.