The Infinite Monkey Cage BBC Podcasts
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- Science
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Brian Cox and Robin Ince host a witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes.
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The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… Talking to Aliens
Brian Cox and Robin Ince are on a mission to discover whether extra-terrestrials exist. But if there really is other life out there, what would it look like?
Comedian Conan O’Brien is hoping for lizard-like creatures with superhuman strength, while Greg Proops imagines little green girls, like the ones in the Star Trek series he grew up with. Or possibly Ewoks. Either way, nobody can agree on the best way to communicate with them if we do ever make contact. Should we send them complicated equations so they realise how intelligent we are, and is playing Bach to aliens too much like showing off?
New episodes will be released on Wednesdays. If you’re in the UK, listen to the full series on BBC Sounds: bbc.in/3K3JzyF
Producer: Marijke Peters
Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
Episodes featured:
Series 1: Extraterrestrial Life
Series 25: Exploring Our Solar System
Series 12: San Francisco Special
Series 9: To Infinity and Beyond -
The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… Gardening
Robin Ince and Brian Cox dig into the secret lives of plants to discover that there’s more going on in your average garden than you might at first think. They hear why trees are better than humans at re-growing broken bits, while comedian Ed Byrne reveals a surprising understanding of horticulture, despite dropping out of his university degree early. And while they’re still no closer to discovering if they’re alive or dead, the team find a new debate to have about strawberries, as they argue with forensic botanist Dr Mark Spencer over whether they should be classified as an invasive species. But what about other common pests? Phill Jupitus tells them about an intimate encounter with grey squirrel, and entomologist Erica McAllister puts up a strong defence of the mosquito, claiming they don’t deserve such a bad reputation.
New episodes will be released on Wednesdays. If you’re in the UK, listen to the full series on BBC Sounds: bbc.in/3K3JzyF
Producer: Marijke Peters
Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
Episodes featured:
Series 11: What’s the Point of Plants?
Series 18: Invasion!
Series 23: Bats v Flies -
The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… Love
Love is in the air(waves) as Brian and Robin trawl through the Monkey Cage archive. From using maths to find a boyfriend or girlfriend, to why birds and bees have far more exciting sex lives than you might imagine, this week’s episode is all about passion.
Number crunching might not sound sexy but mathematician Hannah Fry tells Robin Ince and Brian Cox why research shows it pays to be proactive when you’re searching for a partner, even when that means risking total humiliation. But when it comes to the world's most extraordinary mating rituals the best place to look is… in the garden. Female bees go on a special nuptial flight, where they’re impregnated by males mid-air, and we hear how cockerels are surprisingly picky when it comes to which chicken they choose to cosy up with.
New episodes will be released on Wednesdays. If you’re in the UK, listen to the full series on BBC Sounds: bbc.in/3K3JzyF
Producer: Marijke Peters
Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
Episodes featured:
Series 13: Maths of Love and Sex
Series 17: The Secret Life of Birds
Series 27: Bees v Wasps
Series 17: How Animals Behave
Customer Reviews
Amazing ⭐️
I listen to this every night and it always makes me laugh. I can’t wait to hear new episodes. Please do one on ghosts. Do you believe in ghosts because I do.
Listened to every episode!
I’ve loved listening to this for years now! I discovered it around 2016 when I was a van driver and immediately started from the very 1st episode and enjoyed the entire back catalogue!
Can’t recommend it enough, the guests are always both fascinating and funny!
Genuinely get excited whenever a new series starts!
Adverts in the middle of a word in the uk
What are you doing BBC!? Brian deserves better.