For this month's From the Theatre episode, we explore how AI could actually be a force for good in the world of batteries. In collaboration with the Faraday Institution, we hear from three experts to understand how artificial intelligence could optimise the performance of batteries at every scale.

Aaron Walsh (CuspAI / Imperial College London) explains how AI acts as a "digital alchemist" — simulating billions of possible crystal structures to discover battery materials that don't exist yet.

Mona Faraji Niri (WMG, University of Warwick) shows how AI acts as a forensic investigator, decoding sensor data to detect hidden faults and predict a battery's remaining lifespan — sometimes before it's even been used.

Sam Cooper (Imperial College London) reveals how machine learning is used to reverse-engineer the perfect internal "microstructure" of a battery electrode — the missing link between atoms and real-world performance.

This talk was recorded at the Ri on 15 June 2026.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

• Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel 
• Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok 

Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why have so many people died during the heatwaves spread across Europe this summer, and is it a direct result of climate change?

And what technology is being developed to help us prevent damage from wildfires as they become more prevalent?

Statisticians Clair Barnes and Gary Konstantinoudis, and entrepreneur Alisha Fuller-Armah feature on this month's episode to explore the science behind heatwaves and wildfires, and what can be done about them.

Read more about Clair and Gary's research here.

Find out more about the World Weather Attribution.

Find out more about Draconite™.

Producer and presenter: Lia Hale 

Assistant producers: Emily Sanderson and Teni Gomez

Music: Joseph Sandy 

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

• Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel 
• Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is a solar eclipse? How is it safe to watch? And what other types of eclipses are there?

This month, we revisit Frank Close's talk from the theatre where he explored what causes solar eclipses, and ahead of the first total solar eclipse visible from the UK since 1999.

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.

This talk was recorded at the Ri on 25 July 2017.  

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

•Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

•Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

•Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok 

Producer: Emily Sanderson

Executive Producer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quantum physics has gone through two major revolutions over the past century, which has transformed how we understand and practise theoretical physics. But what has still been left unanswered through these revolutions?

Theoretical physicist Ross Jenkinson joins us this month to explain the impact of both of these revolutions on quantum science, and specifically how quantum field theory and quantum computing could help to explain one of the biggest obstacles in quantum physics: gravity. Ross also uncovers the realities of working with quantum computers and how these underground labs actually work.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

• Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel 
• Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok 

Producer and presenter: Lia Hale 

Music: Joseph Sandy  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eline van der Kruk takes us on a journey to the world of biomechanics, a place where computer simulations and smart sensors are being developed to push the boundaries of human movement. The Karl Luyben Lecture is dedicated to rector magnificus emeritus Karel Luyben and is held once a year somewhere in the world outside of Delft, The Netherlands, and once a year in Delft. 

This talk was recorded at the Ri on 30 October 2019.  

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

• Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel 
• Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok 

Producer: Lia Hale 

Music: Joseph Sandy 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This pride month, we hear from two exceptional queer scientists about their research and journeys in STEM. Izzy Jayasinghe is the Head of Molecular Medicine at UNSW in Sydney, and her research investigates how cell signalling mechanisms impact cardiac health, and the microscopy methods used to observe these mechanisms. Alfredo Carpineti is an astrophysicist, science journalist, and founder of Pride in STEM, whose first book 'Invisible Rainbows' explores the scientific discoveries beyond the visible light spectrum.

Resources:

• Pride in STEM
• LGBTQ+ STEM
• oSTEM
• RSC LGBT+ toolkit

Join us for Alfredo's talk on Monday 6 July!

Alfredo will also be featuring in our For Your Inspiration event for young people on Saturday 25 July, exploring all things space science.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

• Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel 
• Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok 

Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month we're bringing you an exploration of space science From the Theatre. In his talk back in 2024, Anu Ojha OBE from the UK Space Agency explores the discoveries made through applications of space science, climate change and engineering and how they have changed humanity's perspectives of our position in the universe, and ask what difference space, science and technology have made to our everyday lives.

This talk was recorded at the Ri on 20 January 2024, in collaboration with the UK Space Agency.

From the Theatre episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month, revisiting a talk from our public programme. Regular Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of the month.

• Watch Anu's full talk on YouTube
• Revisit our From the Lab series in collaboration with UCL
• Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok 
• Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

Presenter and producer: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neutrinos are the most important particle you were never taught about. They are created in radioactive decays in the sun, the centre of the Earth, supernovae, and even beer. Particle physicist Kirsty Duffy joins us this month to discuss the origins and properties of neutrinos, as well as her work on a research project that may hold the key to answering some of the most fundamental questions in physics.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

•Explore our Summer Programme on our website 

•Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

•Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok 

Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is offering a revolutionary new treatment option for a range of diseases, particularly cancers. By combining the skills of physicists and physicians, PDT uses light to kill living cells without damaging the structural integrity of the surrounding tissue.

Stephen Bown is the founder of the National Medical Laser Centre, and has decades of experience both developing and implementing PDT. He joins us for this month's From the Lab episode ahead of his Discourse on Friday 29 May.

About 'From the Lab':

This is the fifth of our new 'From the Lab' series, taking the place of our 'From the Theatre' episodes. UCL are celebrating their 200th anniversary in 2026, and we've collaborated with them to host UCL researchers as our Discourse speakers throughout 2026. As part of this collaboration, we'll be bringing you episodes with each of these speakers two weeks before their Discourses to explore their research topics further and give you a sneak peek of what's to come in their Discourse.

Buy tickets to Stephen's Discourse on Friday 29 May on our website.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

•Book tickets to upcoming talks on our website 

•Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

•Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok 

Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How are segments of DNA preserved from ancient viruses impacting the functioning of the placenta? And how does this lead to pregnancy complications? Jennifer Frost leads a team of researchers at Kings College London, investigating the role of transposons in the placenta which leads to pregnancy complications. She joins us this month to explore what transposons are, why the placenta is so susceptible to their influence, and how this can manifest in pregnancy.

Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! 

• Explore our Summer Programme on our website 
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel 
• Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok 

Producer and presenter: Lia Hale

Music: Joseph Sandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.