Royal Institution
@rigb.org
We're an independent charity connecting people of all ages and backgrounds with science.
📺 Home of the #XmasLectures
💥 Weekly science talks online/in person
🌐 rigb.org
📺 Home of the #XmasLectures
💥 Weekly science talks online/in person
🌐 rigb.org
Have you ever tracked, in photos, the retrograde movement of a planet? 🔭
Or perhaps you're planning to capture the retrograde motion of Mercury and Jupiter this month? (1/2)
Or perhaps you're planning to capture the retrograde motion of Mercury and Jupiter this month? (1/2)
November 10, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Have you ever tracked, in photos, the retrograde movement of a planet? 🔭
Or perhaps you're planning to capture the retrograde motion of Mercury and Jupiter this month? (1/2)
Or perhaps you're planning to capture the retrograde motion of Mercury and Jupiter this month? (1/2)
For a fraction of a second, about 13 billion years ago, the Universe expanded faster than the speed of light. 🌌 This is called cosmic inflation.
Cosmologist David Mulryne helps us visualise this with a simple yet brilliant demo.
🧪 Full lecture: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmkH...
Cosmologist David Mulryne helps us visualise this with a simple yet brilliant demo.
🧪 Full lecture: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmkH...
November 8, 2025 at 1:54 PM
For a fraction of a second, about 13 billion years ago, the Universe expanded faster than the speed of light. 🌌 This is called cosmic inflation.
Cosmologist David Mulryne helps us visualise this with a simple yet brilliant demo.
🧪 Full lecture: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmkH...
Cosmologist David Mulryne helps us visualise this with a simple yet brilliant demo.
🧪 Full lecture: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmkH...
💼 Work opportunity! 🧪
Are you enthusiastic about enriching young people’s experiences of STEM?
We are looking for a Project Coordinator to join our Masterclasses team. The programme reaches thousands of students all over the UK.
Apply here: rigb.org/about-us/work-with-us#a7xPy000000h3NdIAI
Are you enthusiastic about enriching young people’s experiences of STEM?
We are looking for a Project Coordinator to join our Masterclasses team. The programme reaches thousands of students all over the UK.
Apply here: rigb.org/about-us/work-with-us#a7xPy000000h3NdIAI
November 7, 2025 at 7:20 PM
💼 Work opportunity! 🧪
Are you enthusiastic about enriching young people’s experiences of STEM?
We are looking for a Project Coordinator to join our Masterclasses team. The programme reaches thousands of students all over the UK.
Apply here: rigb.org/about-us/work-with-us#a7xPy000000h3NdIAI
Are you enthusiastic about enriching young people’s experiences of STEM?
We are looking for a Project Coordinator to join our Masterclasses team. The programme reaches thousands of students all over the UK.
Apply here: rigb.org/about-us/work-with-us#a7xPy000000h3NdIAI
Spacesuits like this one are uncomfortable, but they keep astronauts safe in the most dangerous parts of their mission. 🧑🚀
Helen Sharman, the first British person in space, talks us through some of the features of her Sokol spacesuit.
Helen Sharman, the first British person in space, talks us through some of the features of her Sokol spacesuit.
November 6, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Spacesuits like this one are uncomfortable, but they keep astronauts safe in the most dangerous parts of their mission. 🧑🚀
Helen Sharman, the first British person in space, talks us through some of the features of her Sokol spacesuit.
Helen Sharman, the first British person in space, talks us through some of the features of her Sokol spacesuit.
It's not just cool, it's rocket science 🚀 Nanoparticles of iron in a medium form a magnetic liquid.
Our new mini-documentary uncovers how Michael Faraday investigated nanoparticles over 100 years before the start of interest in nanotechnology.
Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=NFwknJClXS0
Our new mini-documentary uncovers how Michael Faraday investigated nanoparticles over 100 years before the start of interest in nanotechnology.
Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=NFwknJClXS0
November 4, 2025 at 5:10 PM
It's not just cool, it's rocket science 🚀 Nanoparticles of iron in a medium form a magnetic liquid.
Our new mini-documentary uncovers how Michael Faraday investigated nanoparticles over 100 years before the start of interest in nanotechnology.
Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=NFwknJClXS0
Our new mini-documentary uncovers how Michael Faraday investigated nanoparticles over 100 years before the start of interest in nanotechnology.
Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=NFwknJClXS0
What would the vacuum of space do to a pumpkin? 🎃
This year's Christmas Lectures, supported by CGI, will be out-of-this-world! 🪐 Join space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock for a whistle-stop tour of our Solar System, and beyond.
Learn more about the series: rigb.org/christmas-lectures
This year's Christmas Lectures, supported by CGI, will be out-of-this-world! 🪐 Join space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock for a whistle-stop tour of our Solar System, and beyond.
Learn more about the series: rigb.org/christmas-lectures
October 31, 2025 at 10:31 AM
What would the vacuum of space do to a pumpkin? 🎃
This year's Christmas Lectures, supported by CGI, will be out-of-this-world! 🪐 Join space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock for a whistle-stop tour of our Solar System, and beyond.
Learn more about the series: rigb.org/christmas-lectures
This year's Christmas Lectures, supported by CGI, will be out-of-this-world! 🪐 Join space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock for a whistle-stop tour of our Solar System, and beyond.
Learn more about the series: rigb.org/christmas-lectures
Looking at a bunch of equations can feel daunting to many. 🫣 Why is that?
Physicist Jim Gates likens the melody from sheet music to the "stories" told by maths.
Watch the full talk here: youtube.com/watch?v=KsNIl8_PVTo
This October, we're celebrating black voices in STEM for #BlackHistoryMonth
Physicist Jim Gates likens the melody from sheet music to the "stories" told by maths.
Watch the full talk here: youtube.com/watch?v=KsNIl8_PVTo
This October, we're celebrating black voices in STEM for #BlackHistoryMonth
October 30, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Looking at a bunch of equations can feel daunting to many. 🫣 Why is that?
Physicist Jim Gates likens the melody from sheet music to the "stories" told by maths.
Watch the full talk here: youtube.com/watch?v=KsNIl8_PVTo
This October, we're celebrating black voices in STEM for #BlackHistoryMonth
Physicist Jim Gates likens the melody from sheet music to the "stories" told by maths.
Watch the full talk here: youtube.com/watch?v=KsNIl8_PVTo
This October, we're celebrating black voices in STEM for #BlackHistoryMonth
Thanks to everyone who came to yesterday's talk with Nikku Madhusudhan, about exoplanets and future prospects in the search for habitable environments.
If you missed it, you'll get a chance to catch it on our YouTube channel soon!
We post new videos every week: youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution
If you missed it, you'll get a chance to catch it on our YouTube channel soon!
We post new videos every week: youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution
October 28, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Thanks to everyone who came to yesterday's talk with Nikku Madhusudhan, about exoplanets and future prospects in the search for habitable environments.
If you missed it, you'll get a chance to catch it on our YouTube channel soon!
We post new videos every week: youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution
If you missed it, you'll get a chance to catch it on our YouTube channel soon!
We post new videos every week: youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution
Did you ever notice this TINY detail on the old £20 notes? 💸
@katysduncan.bsky.social brings us back behind the scenes in the Ri archives to uncover some *noteworthy* fun facts.
@katysduncan.bsky.social brings us back behind the scenes in the Ri archives to uncover some *noteworthy* fun facts.
October 21, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Did you ever notice this TINY detail on the old £20 notes? 💸
@katysduncan.bsky.social brings us back behind the scenes in the Ri archives to uncover some *noteworthy* fun facts.
@katysduncan.bsky.social brings us back behind the scenes in the Ri archives to uncover some *noteworthy* fun facts.
A happy and bright #Diwali from the Ri to all those celebrating 🪔
Dan from our Demo team brings a pop of science to the festivities by explaining what makes up a firework. 🧪
Dan from our Demo team brings a pop of science to the festivities by explaining what makes up a firework. 🧪
October 20, 2025 at 12:19 PM
A happy and bright #Diwali from the Ri to all those celebrating 🪔
Dan from our Demo team brings a pop of science to the festivities by explaining what makes up a firework. 🧪
Dan from our Demo team brings a pop of science to the festivities by explaining what makes up a firework. 🧪
And now, the moment you've been waiting for... 🎟️
Tickets for the 2025 Christmas Lectures, supported by CGI, will go on sale next week in two first-come, first-served waves, on Wednesday 22 October and Saturday 25 October.
(1/2)
Tickets for the 2025 Christmas Lectures, supported by CGI, will go on sale next week in two first-come, first-served waves, on Wednesday 22 October and Saturday 25 October.
(1/2)
October 16, 2025 at 3:31 PM
And now, the moment you've been waiting for... 🎟️
Tickets for the 2025 Christmas Lectures, supported by CGI, will go on sale next week in two first-come, first-served waves, on Wednesday 22 October and Saturday 25 October.
(1/2)
Tickets for the 2025 Christmas Lectures, supported by CGI, will go on sale next week in two first-come, first-served waves, on Wednesday 22 October and Saturday 25 October.
(1/2)
Delighted to welcome the Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban MBE, to see for himself the impact of the Mayor of London visionary £4.35M investment in making London greener for everyone.
@metecoban92.bsky.social @london.gov.uk
@metecoban92.bsky.social @london.gov.uk
October 15, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Delighted to welcome the Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban MBE, to see for himself the impact of the Mayor of London visionary £4.35M investment in making London greener for everyone.
@metecoban92.bsky.social @london.gov.uk
@metecoban92.bsky.social @london.gov.uk
As #worldspaceweek draws to a close we also celebrate the end of the first week of Black History Month with some inspirational snippets from our November podcast episode with 2025 Christmas Lecturer Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock. #BlackHistoryMonth #XmasLectures
October 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM
As #worldspaceweek draws to a close we also celebrate the end of the first week of Black History Month with some inspirational snippets from our November podcast episode with 2025 Christmas Lecturer Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock. #BlackHistoryMonth #XmasLectures
Have you ever poured a bit of water on a very hot pan and seen the droplets "running away"? 🌡️
That's the Leidenfrost effect, which happens when a liquid comes into contact with a surface that has a major temperature difference. 🧪
That's the Leidenfrost effect, which happens when a liquid comes into contact with a surface that has a major temperature difference. 🧪
October 7, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Have you ever poured a bit of water on a very hot pan and seen the droplets "running away"? 🌡️
That's the Leidenfrost effect, which happens when a liquid comes into contact with a surface that has a major temperature difference. 🧪
That's the Leidenfrost effect, which happens when a liquid comes into contact with a surface that has a major temperature difference. 🧪
Aberdeen Group Charitable Foundation and UNESCO: Accelerating SDGs through impactful partnership
We're grateful to our CHRISTMAS LECTURES Supporting Partner, Aberdeen Investment Trusts, for their valuable contribution to the Ri, enabling us to produce the 2025 CHRISTMAS LECTURES.
We're grateful to our CHRISTMAS LECTURES Supporting Partner, Aberdeen Investment Trusts, for their valuable contribution to the Ri, enabling us to produce the 2025 CHRISTMAS LECTURES.
October 1, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Aberdeen Group Charitable Foundation and UNESCO: Accelerating SDGs through impactful partnership
We're grateful to our CHRISTMAS LECTURES Supporting Partner, Aberdeen Investment Trusts, for their valuable contribution to the Ri, enabling us to produce the 2025 CHRISTMAS LECTURES.
We're grateful to our CHRISTMAS LECTURES Supporting Partner, Aberdeen Investment Trusts, for their valuable contribution to the Ri, enabling us to produce the 2025 CHRISTMAS LECTURES.
TL;DR
• Perseverance Rover finds rocks with potential biosignatures
• Likely formed by microbes, but could be natural geological process
• Proof can only come from analysing the rocks on Earth
• Budget cuts threaten sample reaching Earth
• Most promising lead in the search for life on Mars yet
• Perseverance Rover finds rocks with potential biosignatures
• Likely formed by microbes, but could be natural geological process
• Proof can only come from analysing the rocks on Earth
• Budget cuts threaten sample reaching Earth
• Most promising lead in the search for life on Mars yet
September 30, 2025 at 1:51 PM
TL;DR
• Perseverance Rover finds rocks with potential biosignatures
• Likely formed by microbes, but could be natural geological process
• Proof can only come from analysing the rocks on Earth
• Budget cuts threaten sample reaching Earth
• Most promising lead in the search for life on Mars yet
• Perseverance Rover finds rocks with potential biosignatures
• Likely formed by microbes, but could be natural geological process
• Proof can only come from analysing the rocks on Earth
• Budget cuts threaten sample reaching Earth
• Most promising lead in the search for life on Mars yet
The only way to confirm the biological nature of the rock markings would be to bring them back to Earth for further analysis.
But there is a flaw in the plan: proposed budget cuts could jeopardise the mission, resulting in a delay or even a cancellation 🚨
But there is a flaw in the plan: proposed budget cuts could jeopardise the mission, resulting in a delay or even a cancellation 🚨
September 30, 2025 at 1:51 PM
The only way to confirm the biological nature of the rock markings would be to bring them back to Earth for further analysis.
But there is a flaw in the plan: proposed budget cuts could jeopardise the mission, resulting in a delay or even a cancellation 🚨
But there is a flaw in the plan: proposed budget cuts could jeopardise the mission, resulting in a delay or even a cancellation 🚨
The rock markings could also have formed through natural geological processes, but this would require high temperatures, which doesn’t seem to be the case. 🪨
Even so, scientists aren’t ruling this out completely.
Even so, scientists aren’t ruling this out completely.
September 30, 2025 at 1:51 PM
The rock markings could also have formed through natural geological processes, but this would require high temperatures, which doesn’t seem to be the case. 🪨
Even so, scientists aren’t ruling this out completely.
Even so, scientists aren’t ruling this out completely.
These findings are the first to meet NASA’s criteria for “potential biosignatures”, and so their further investigation is a big deal. But it is not proof of life… yet. 👀
September 30, 2025 at 1:51 PM
These findings are the first to meet NASA’s criteria for “potential biosignatures”, and so their further investigation is a big deal. But it is not proof of life… yet. 👀
NASA’s Perseverance rover found the unusual rocks with markings nicknamed "leopard spots" and "poppy seeds" in a dusty riverbed in the Jezero crater. 🐆
These markings can be explained by microbial processes, suggesting life was once there.
These markings can be explained by microbial processes, suggesting life was once there.
September 30, 2025 at 1:51 PM
NASA’s Perseverance rover found the unusual rocks with markings nicknamed "leopard spots" and "poppy seeds" in a dusty riverbed in the Jezero crater. 🐆
These markings can be explained by microbial processes, suggesting life was once there.
These markings can be explained by microbial processes, suggesting life was once there.
Could these ‘leopard-spot’ markings on a Martian rock finally confirm the presence of alien microbes on the Red Planet? Well, NASA think...maybe! 🦠
#Thread 🧪
#Thread 🧪
September 30, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Could these ‘leopard-spot’ markings on a Martian rock finally confirm the presence of alien microbes on the Red Planet? Well, NASA think...maybe! 🦠
#Thread 🧪
#Thread 🧪
Earth’s rocks are full of uranium, so why are they not constantly exploding as they are hit with cosmic rays? 💥
Physicist Frank Close explains the crucial difference in uranium isotopes.
Full talk on the dawn of the Nuclear Age: youtu.be/rBV4czuCFvg
Physicist Frank Close explains the crucial difference in uranium isotopes.
Full talk on the dawn of the Nuclear Age: youtu.be/rBV4czuCFvg
September 29, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Earth’s rocks are full of uranium, so why are they not constantly exploding as they are hit with cosmic rays? 💥
Physicist Frank Close explains the crucial difference in uranium isotopes.
Full talk on the dawn of the Nuclear Age: youtu.be/rBV4czuCFvg
Physicist Frank Close explains the crucial difference in uranium isotopes.
Full talk on the dawn of the Nuclear Age: youtu.be/rBV4czuCFvg
Have you ever recognised a familiar shape in the clouds? ☕ This is a psychological phenomenon called pareidolia.
Anomalistic psychology expert Chris French explains how it's related to how our brains perceive the world around us.
Full lecture: youtube.com/watch?v=i8mjM3PB_Tk
Anomalistic psychology expert Chris French explains how it's related to how our brains perceive the world around us.
Full lecture: youtube.com/watch?v=i8mjM3PB_Tk
September 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Have you ever recognised a familiar shape in the clouds? ☕ This is a psychological phenomenon called pareidolia.
Anomalistic psychology expert Chris French explains how it's related to how our brains perceive the world around us.
Full lecture: youtube.com/watch?v=i8mjM3PB_Tk
Anomalistic psychology expert Chris French explains how it's related to how our brains perceive the world around us.
Full lecture: youtube.com/watch?v=i8mjM3PB_Tk
NEW PODCAST EPISODE 🎧
Sickle cell disorder affects the shape of red blood cells, with a profound impact on the body.
Researcher @saraelhoss.bsky.social and patient advocate Stephanie George join us to discuss this often misunderstood disease.
Listen now: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...
Sickle cell disorder affects the shape of red blood cells, with a profound impact on the body.
Researcher @saraelhoss.bsky.social and patient advocate Stephanie George join us to discuss this often misunderstood disease.
Listen now: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...
September 25, 2025 at 12:56 PM
NEW PODCAST EPISODE 🎧
Sickle cell disorder affects the shape of red blood cells, with a profound impact on the body.
Researcher @saraelhoss.bsky.social and patient advocate Stephanie George join us to discuss this often misunderstood disease.
Listen now: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...
Sickle cell disorder affects the shape of red blood cells, with a profound impact on the body.
Researcher @saraelhoss.bsky.social and patient advocate Stephanie George join us to discuss this often misunderstood disease.
Listen now: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...