Leaders in gardening share how gardens have changed over the years, from old-fashioned styles to modern ideas for the future, with personal stories and fresh tips.
Experts discuss how far science could go in making organs from stem cells, creating synthetic DNA, and using machines to replace or enhance body parts.
Get a close look at rare watercolours from 1793 that show London’s lively street scenes, like dromedary rides, acrobats and bare-knuckle boxing, with background stories for each.
The talk shares how Thai artist Jakkai Siributr uses hand-stitched stories to reflect on identity, belonging and the lives of Shan refugees on the Thai-Burma border.
Hear about how Guantánamo Bay has changed roles over the years, from a place for Haitian migrants, to where terror suspects were held, and now back to dealing with migrants. Find out how new legal moves have quickly changed its use and what this might mean for other countries being asked to take in people.
Hear about how Indian soldiers, under British officers, faced tough conditions in Burma and helped bring about Japan’s biggest defeat in the Second World War.
Dr Alan Jeffreys talks about how British generals helped beat the Japanese Army in Burma in World War Two, focusing on their leadership and deep ties to the Indian Army.
Learn how West African soldiers faced disease, monsoons and tough battles against Japan in Burma, and how their service shaped moves towards independence.
Hear how the Burma campaign was the longest British land campaign in the war, saw huge Commonwealth forces, and featured bold leadership and major victories.
Hilary Davidson shares insights on Regency era fashion, from Austen’s world to its lasting influence today, with real objects bringing history to life.
The talk looks at how ideas like intelligence, awareness and thinking are changing with AI’s rise, and what this means for society and our daily lives.
There’s a look at how scientists try to predict the Universe’s fate while still not knowing much about dark matter and dark energy, then a guide through what the next 100 billion years might hold, ending with thoughts on how the Universe’s future could explain where it came from.
Chris Packham will be speaking about his environmental campaigns, animal welfare work and views on autism, sharing stories from his career on TV and beyond.
Learn how Leonardo da Vinci connected art and science, used his studies of nature to inspire new ideas, and saw all knowledge as linked like branches on a tree.
Frans Lanting shares striking images linking his own stories with urgent changes in nature, showing both the threats our planet faces and reasons for hope.
Dr Michael Lewis shares stories behind everyday items and rare artefacts found along the Thames, showing how they’ve changed what we know about London’s past.
Don McCullin looks back on a lifetime capturing striking images, from war zones and post-war Britain to peaceful Somerset landscapes inspired by old masters.
Janet Gough traces the story of stained glass in cathedrals, from medieval beginnings to modern works, showing its artistry, meaning and lasting impact.
Matt Bothwell shares what scientists know about aliens, planets beyond our Solar System and possible ways to travel across the Universe. He also talks about moons with frozen seas, lava-covered planets and the big question: are we alone?
Matt Bothwell shares how strange ‘Dark Matter’ has shaped the Universe, revealing galaxy movements, cosmic clues and the latest efforts to uncover what it’s really made of.
Professor Sam Behjati shares how new DNA reading methods help trace childhood cancer back to before birth, opening hopes for early detection and prevention.
Carina Kern explains how the new Blueprint Theory shows why our cells age, discusses research into why we get older, and looks at new ways science might boost health and resilience.
Hear how nuclear waste gets a new purpose, with its chemical parts turned into medicines and power sources for space missions, changing how we see its role.
Dr Suzie Edge shares quirky stories about how people have kept or displayed famous body parts, from Van Gogh’s ear to Napoleon’s penis, with lots of gory details.
Listen to the story of Dr Magnus Hirschfeld, who over a century ago challenged old ideas about gender and sexuality, set up a clinic for gender surgery, and worked for queer rights, even when it brought him into conflict with the Nazis.
You’ll hear about how wars leave behind toxic chemicals and damage that can harm people’s health long after fighting ends, urging more research and action.
The talk looks at how the idea of being Chinese is shaped by different governments in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and what this means for identity today.
Jade Lindo looks at how breadfruit became part of Caribbean meals, highlighting the ways Black enslaved women shaped food traditions and resisted colonial rules.
Learn about the changes in Athens after a revolt in 508 BCE, when Cleisthenes led the people to form new political groups and rethink how they governed.
Baljit Thatti reveals how chemistry gives clues from things like fingerprints, fibres and lipstick using methods like chromatography to help solve crimes.
Speakers will talk about whether the rules used to judge war crimes help prevent future wars, using examples from recent conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza.
Dr Freya Gowrley explains how Jacqueline Bishop uses collage to mix different images and show what you can’t usually see, helping to tell powerful stories.
Jeroen van den Hoven explains how sticking to moral values when making new technology, like AI, can actually lead to better solutions for big world problems.
Hear about recent studies on a distant planet called K2-18 b, where signs of carbon-based molecules hint that it might have an ocean and could support life.
Around 50 pieces by Picasso, from paintings to sculptures and collages, are shown with The Three Dancers at the centre, marking 100 years since its creation.
An evening talk shares the story of Little Sparta, Ian Hamilton Finlay’s radical garden, told through images, ideas, and memories from those who knew it.
The speaker will look at whether having limits on personal wealth can fit with capitalism, explaining that it depends on the type of capitalism involved.
Author Peter Gallivan talks about big mysteries like how the universe might end, why we dream and odd things like why there are so many beetles. He shares how scientists work, using his new book as a guide, with help from demos that make tricky ideas easier to understand.
Andrew Rhodes will talk about Alexander Macomb Mason, whose journeys in the 19th century took him from battles and mapping in Africa to global politics.
