In Our Time: Science
In Our Time: Science
BBC Radio 4
Reviews
via Podcasts
Nothing Like it in the United States
Virtually non-agenda driven scientific information. Fantastic! I maintain local copies of the entire catalogue and listen frequently. (Melvin might talk less and listen more and stop with the western religion thing.) UPDATE: Melvin in spite of any criticisms has been a fantastic interviewer. The body of work he leaves here is invaluable and I can’t think anyone will come close to his proficiency. Thank you, Melvin.
Read more
Gern Blasnton
Please change the host
While the content itself is great, the host is absolutely condescending, especially towards women guests. How we let such misogynistic interviewers get away with this attitude in this day and age is beyond me.
SneakyHobbitses
History
Our history is destroying our future. Completely disconnected from reality. Hypocrisy and parasitism of the rich. Wipe them off the face of the planet
MKULTRA83
Unscientific?
Logo is left handed DNA helix. Science means double checking your work.
mad overlord
Be warned!
We’re fortunate that there are so many science podcasts out there, however, after listening to 3-4 of these episodes you quickly realize what effort, research, and expertise it takes to present a truly informative well rounded topical discussion. You may, like me, find many other podcasts quite wanting for content after this.
Laf03
Need more variety
A great informational podcast but they only focus on scientific advances that took place in Europe. Quite whitewashed. Africa, South America, Asia, Russia are NEVER mentioned.
SnappyDani
Change of Host Needed
Melvyn Bragg uses unacceptable behavior with women: rude, domineering, interrupting, and foolish, useful questions. Please seek another host.
Benji X.
A brilliant array of topics
The range of fascinating topics curated by the excellent Melvin Bragg and the very-well chosen guests is a treat.
queen of the Anthropocene
Great non-sensational info.
I enjoy the freedom from limbic high-jack techniques.
Jed-I jester
Prancing to tea
Are you a child of the 60s, eager to hear a Brit have a go at straight-faced untiring mimicry of Jim Backus's Locust Valley lockjaw? Perhaps you're a millennial, most comfortable with podcast guests whose erudition and generational solidarity are best evinced by nearly every response beginning, "So…" Climb aboard! BBC has you covered, compulsorily.
TooIllOrEase
Excelllent
Except for the colonial British nationalism of the host, this podcast is excellent!
Pod Afficianodo
Excellent show!!
Thank you BBC for making this accessible to those of us outside of the UK.
Archibald Menzies
Good depth of discussion
These podcasts are perhaps the best I’ve heard at going deep into detail about a scientific topic and breaking down complex science into understandable concepts for the layperson. And this is all due to the host, who asks probing questions, challenges guests’ statements, and corrals wayward discussions back on topic. Though he can be condescending (more so to women guests) at times. The topics are interesting, informative, and vary across many scientific disciplines. The guests are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Recommended for the teacher, student, and science enthusiast.
Read more
CAMarathonRunner
Excellent!
Very informative and easy listening! My IQ increased with each podcast episode!!
MimiRue
Two thumbs up!
Excellent on all counts.
MIflyer
It’s really good
I love this pod cast!
AsDicking
Painful
This host is rude and condescending to his guests.
Cleverhanz
BBC4 In Out Time:Science
I wish for more episodes. The last one was in May of this year. I really miss it. This show has great content. I enjoy listening to the past shows. Please create more episodes.
Plantladydiane
SUPERB & INQUISITIVELY INFORMATIVE
~ Heavy signature accents, the only distractions, lol
HYPRTCKR
Incredible.
Absolutely brilliant.
James T Lovell
A podcast for thinking people
Melvin Bragg is a host from a different era: knighted for his public radio work, a writer himself, he prepares extensively for each program and holds the guests to a much higher standard than do hosts in almost all other podcasts around these days. Yes he is direct and sometimes rude, probably more so to female guests than male guests (although it’s obvious that some of his favorites are women, eg Angie Hobbes), but at least some instances are actually maneuvers whereby he keeps the guests on topic and in check. The intelligence and articulateness of some of his repeating guests are stunning: I can spend all day listening to Marcus du Sautoy and Ian Stewart on math, Edith Hall on Ancient Greece, or Anthony Grayling on philosophy, and he brings on sometimes independent researchers with extremely unconventional and yet interesting ideas. I take notes on each program as they are so dense in contents. Dislikers can go listen to politically correct hosts politely interview a carefully curated list of racially and ethnically diverse guests (I say this as a colored woman academic), but I take In Our Time with its actual focus on intelligent inquiry and genuine curiosity any day.
Read more
omegaxx19
Comprehensive and satisfying shallow dive
Very much enjoyed this (“Hybrids” is my first exposure). This is a discussion not a lecture. This is the discussion one might want before embarking on a deep dive. Context. Some interesting anecdotal examples of this concept or that. Of course, science is also history... as ideas emerge and change shape. This is here too. Listening to these participants is easy and pleasant. A lovely balance of concision and precision of speaking/moderating with the wit and humanity that makes all good conversations pleasant. I would love to sit in a room with these people and sip some coffee and listen for hours. In fact: I plan to. The reading list is useful. Execution is excellent (technically... sound quality etc). What world where I can listen to things like this! Thank you so much. Can’t wait to listen again. H in Texas USA. Again: Thank you all so much.
Read more
Hank in Texas USA
So educational!
Thank you so much for your podcasts. I am trying to learn about physics and astronomy on my own. Obviously, I can only comprehend a very small portion of what the guests are talking about but every bit counts. However, they are a great supplement to readings and documentaries. I also download other episodes that do not fall into those two categories but I find interesting as well. This inquisitive American thanks the BBS (BBC! Sorry, I have my left hand in a cast. The BBC is world renowned) so very much for such informative podcasts and apologize for the Kardashians for dumbing down the world.
Read more
CosieMom
Fantastic
Every episode fascinating
stuman914
Fantastic
Great program!
rmike blount 15818
An important podcast
This podcast covers a wide range of scientific topics, particularly on how we got to know what we know. It surveys areas of science and the history of scientists and discoveries, philosophies, and historic thinking. The host discusses these things with experts who lay out the thoughts and events that produced our modern society. This is an eye opening podcast, along with other "In Our Time" podcasts. One learns both how much there is to know, and how little one does know. But you have to start some time; it might as well be now.
Read more
PBinNewJ
Biochemical Engineer
Very good podcast. A vibrant mix of very good science with the more important missing element of the history of how the science came to be and the very human element of the way ordinary people did extraordinary things. Highly recommend for either a novice who's only back ground in science is curiosity or a complete science geek such as I. Enjoyable for all.
Kirk steyer
Just stuffy enough
I love these frank conversations and discussions on everything science. There is often history of science and philosophy which is an excellent as well!
Samuel Longlegs
Thank goodness for not being dumbed down
Thank you!
systemwiz123
Outstanding Unmissable
Melvyn Bragg and the BBC team portfolio coverage of topics is fascinating - even when one might not naturally be interested - "Euclid's Elements". The format is brilliant, working with a panel of 3 x esteemed academics on the subject of the day. Melvyn Bragg runs an extraordinarily tight, well researched / well prepared intelligent, educational and fascinating ship. Cannot get enough.
jeremyatitunes
Phenomenal
I have never found a show that explores scientific ideas and ideas so deeply. It's by far my favorite podcast. MJ New York City
MattRJones
Wonderful
Great topics, wonderful host. My favorite science podcast- the perfect binge listen!
Junko Jones
Can't get enough
Of these highly entertaining and educational shows.
Aristarchus00
Excellent
Wow; these people are smart and fun to listen to. Cool job, the narrator has: talking with experts about very cool topics, hours at a time. Gotta love the Brit accents too. Excellent show. Im thankful I found it. Please keep it up....
Kriskeeneyme
Load more