The Infinite Monkey Cage: Daily Summaries Delivered

Nothing Really Matters - Hugh Dennis, Ria Lina, Harry Cliff and Yvette Fuentes

Jessica Fostekew and Adam Rutherford tackle one of the biggest and strangest questions in science: what is nothing? Starting with the earliest philosophers and journeying through to today's cutting-edge experiments, they ask whether true nothingness can ever exist.Joining them to explore one of science's most perplexing and important questions are physicists Harry Cliff and Yvette Fuentes, alongside comedians Hugh Dennis and Ria Lina. Together, they uncover why vacuums are far from empty, how the concept of nothing transformed science, and what the nature of absence can tell us about the origins and fate of the universe.Along the way, they delve into philosophical debates about the void, discover how scientists measure and define "nothing", and explore why the empty spaces between stars may be more active than they appear. They also role-play as positrons, deliberate over badgers, and learn that geckos harness quantum effects in unexpected ways. Our panel reveal that there is, perhaps surprisingly, rather a lot to say about nothing at all.Producer: Mel Brown A BBC Studios Production

The First Britons - Tim Minchin, Prof Chris Stringer and Dr Selina Brace

The Infinite Monkey Cage returns for a brand-new series, with Professor Adam Rutherford and comedian Jessica Fostekew swinging into the cage as guest presenters. In this first episode, they find out who were the very first people to land on the British Isles… if they even were Isles at all.Joined by anthropologist Professor Chris Stringer, geneticist Dr Selina Brace and comedian Tim Minchin, they learn that our British ancestors got to hang out with hippopotamuses, uncover what ancient DNA can tell us about man’s earliest best friends, and discover that some Homo sapiens became more than just friends with our Neanderthal cousins... The panel also gets to the bottom of some of the most pressing scientific debates: like if Cheddar Man was really a looker and whether the Brits have always had bad teeth.Producer: Mel Brown A BBC Studios Production

Trailer

A witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes, guest hosted by Prof. Adam Rutherford and Jess Fostekew.

The North Pole Unwrapped - Russell Kane, Felicity Aston and Lloyd Peck

Monkey Business - Robin Dunbar, Dave Gorman and Jo Setchell

Head in the Clouds - Owain Wyn Evans, Gavin Pretor-Pinney, Amanda Maycock

Fusion – Ria Lina, Yasmin Andrew and Howard Wilson

What’s the deal with eels? – Lucy Porter, David Righton and Caroline Durif