World renowned physicist Jim Gates describes his efforts to follow such a path and create a clearer understanding to a theory ...

Come and join our creative team of media producers and digital communication professionals gain experience of digital media and science communication. At the Ri, we see digital as a way to bring ...

In 2025 we’re celebrating 200 years of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES and Ri Discourses – both landmark moments in the Ri’s rich ...

Johan Mentink explores a brand new paradigm in computing, and looks at how it might offer faster solutions that can support scientific breakthroughs. Our brains consume around 20 Watts of power, a ...

Humphry Davy was a chemist and inventor who invented the Davy lamp and a very early form of arc lamp. He was director of the Ri from 1801–1825. Born in Penzance, Sir Humphry Davy attended Truro ...

The first ever prototype of Davy’s miner’s safety lamp. Created in 1815, it prevented the methane gas present in the depths of the mines from reacting with the flame and exploding. Following a number ...

From the first electrical transformer to the tube that told us why the sky is blue, view the actual objects scientists of the Royal Institution built in some of the world's most famous experiments.

Almost 20,000 pieces of space debris are currently orbiting the Earth. This visualisation, created by Dr Stuart Grey, lecturer at University College London and part of the Space Geodesy and Navigation ...

In the 2023 CHRISTMAS LECTURES, Mike Wooldridge tackles the most important and rapidly evolving field of science today – Artificial Intelligence (AI). Watch the lectures on iPlayer here (if you're in ...

Why join the Royal Institution as a member? The Ri is a charity that brings the public and scientists together to share their interest and passion for science. We empower people to explore and get ...

Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue? The answer was first discovered over 150 years ago right here at the Royal Institution using this tube. John Tyndall was a keen mountaineer and spent quite ...

This vessel consists of glass flasks fitted one inside the other and sealed at the neck with a partial vacuum between them. The central flask is therefore insulated, keeping the contents cold and ...