Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (1966) — Watch, Cast & Overview

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Country: United Kingdom · Type: Variety

Genres: Documentary

Years: 1966

Seasons: 60 · Status: Continuing

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Summary

The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures have been held in London annually since 1825. They serve as a forum for presenting complex scientific issues to a general audience in an informative and entertaining manner. In the mid 1820s Michael Faraday, a former Director of the Royal Institution, initiated the first Christmas Lecture series at a time when organised education for young people was scarce. He presented a total of 19 series, establishing an exciting new venture of teaching science to yo…

Seasons (60)

Season 1966

27 Dec 1966 – 7 Jan 1967 · 6 episodes

1The White Rabbit27 Dec 1966
2Only the Grin was Left29 Dec 1966
3The Caucus Race31 Dec 1966
4Curiouser and Curiouser3 Jan 1967
5If Only I Were the Right Size to do It5 Jan 1967
6It's the Oldest Rule in the Book7 Jan 1967

Season 1967

28 Dec 1967 – 9 Jan 1968 · 6 episodes

1Ancient Eyes and Simple Brains28 Dec 1967
2Learning to See Things30 Dec 1967
3Playing with Illusions2 Jan 1968
4How Illusions Play Games with Us4 Jan 1968
5Human Eyes in Space6 Jan 1968
6The Future: Machines that See?9 Jan 1968

Season 1968

28 Dec 1968 – 9 Jan 1969 · 6 episodes

1The World of Captain Gulliver28 Dec 1968
2Meat and Drink Sufficient for 1728 Lilliputians31 Dec 1968
3A Prodigious Leap?2 Jan 1969
4Lilliput and Brobdingnag Since the Industrial Revolution4 Jan 1969
5Dwarf and Giant Numbers7 Jan 1969
6Beyond the Map9 Jan 1969

Season 1969

4 Jan 1970 – 9 Jan 1970 · 6 episodes

1In the beginning...4 Jan 1970
2Clockwork harmony5 Jan 1970
3The tick of the atom6 Jan 1970
4Big time, little time7 Jan 1970
5Faster, faster8 Jan 1970
6To the ends of time9 Jan 1970

Season 1970

3 Jan 1971 – 8 Jan 1971 · 6 episodes

1Man has a very short neck and no tail3 Jan 1971
2Man comes in several different sizes and shapes4 Jan 1971
3Fancy having to climb trees in order to eat5 Jan 1971
4Man chooses a sensible place to live at last6 Jan 1971
5Why choose to walk on two legs when it is much safer on four?7 Jan 1971
6What's the idea of shooting at us?8 Jan 1971

Season 1971

2 Jan 1972 – 7 Jan 1972 · 6 episodes

1Making and measuring the waves2 Jan 1972
2From small beginnings3 Jan 1972
3Growing and changing4 Jan 1972
4Craftsmanship and technology5 Jan 1972
5On the way to the ear6 Jan 1972
6The end of the journey7 Jan 1972

Season 1972

31 Dec 1972 – 5 Jan 1973 · 6 episodes

1Ripples in the Ether: How it All Began31 Dec 1972
2Ripples in the Ether: Getting Rid of the Wires1 Jan 1973
3The Sound of Broadcasting2 Jan 1973
4Pictures With and Without Wires3 Jan 1973
5But Electrons aren't Coloured!4 Jan 1973
6Vision of the Future5 Jan 1973

Season 1973

30 Dec 1973 – 2 Jan 1974 · 4 episodes

1Beware!30 Dec 1973
2Be mine31 Dec 1973
3Parents and Children1 Jan 1974
4Simple Signs and Complicated Communications2 Jan 1974

Season 1974

29 Dec 1974 – 3 Jan 1975 · 6 episodes

1Looking Glass House29 Dec 1974
2Tweedledum and Tweedledee30 Dec 1974
3Jam Yesterday, Jam Tomorrow31 Dec 1974
4The Jabberwock1 Jan 1975
5The Time Has Come the Walrus Said2 Jan 1975
6Its My Own Invention3 Jan 1975

Season 1975

28 Dec 1975 – 2 Jan 1975 · 6 episodes

1Signals From the Interior: You As An Engine28 Dec 1975
2Signals From the Interior: Pumps, Pipes and Flows29 Dec 1975
3Signals From the Interior: Spikes and Waves30 Dec 1975
4Signals From the Interior: Probes, Sondes and Sounds31 Dec 1975
5Signals From the Interior: Looking Through Your Skin1 Jan 1975
6Signals From the Interior: Signals From the Mind2 Jan 1975

Season 1976

1 Dec 1976 – 6 Dec 1976 · 6 episodes

1First light1 Dec 1976
2Light and life2 Dec 1976
3A leaf from nature3 Dec 1976
4Candles from the Sun4 Dec 1976
5Making light work5 Dec 1976
6Survival under the Sun6 Dec 1976

Season 1977

26 Dec 1977 – 31 Dec 1977 · 6 episodes

1The Planets: The Earth As A Planet26 Dec 1977
2The Planets: The Outer Solar System And Life27 Dec 1977
3The Planets: The History Of Mars28 Dec 1977
4The Planets: Mars Before Viking29 Dec 1977
5The Planets: Mars After Viking30 Dec 1977
6The Planets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Sun31 Dec 1977

Season 1978

1 Jan 1979 – 6 Jan 1979 · 6 episodes

1Mathematics into Pictures: Linking and Knotting1 Jan 1979
2Mathematics into Pictures: Numbers and Geometry2 Jan 1979
3Mathematics into Pictures: Infinity and Perspective3 Jan 1979
4Mathematics into Pictures: Games and Evolution4 Jan 1979
5Mathematics into Pictures: Waves and Music5 Jan 1979
6Mathematics into Pictures: Catastrophe and Psychology6 Jan 1979

Season 1979

31 Dec 1979 – 5 Jan 1980 · 6 episodes

1Atoms for Enquiring Minds - Getting to Know Atoms31 Dec 1979
2Atoms for Enquiring Minds - Molecules in Motion1 Jan 1980
3Atoms for Enquiring Minds - Electrified Atoms2 Jan 1980
4Atoms for Enquiring Minds - Atoms that Explode3 Jan 1980
5Atoms for Enquiring Minds - Atoms and Energy4 Jan 1980
6Atoms for Enquiring Minds - Seeing Atoms at last5 Jan 1980

Season 1980

29 Dec 1980 – 3 Jan 1981 · 6 episodes

1The Chicken, The Egg and The Molecules: What Are Chickens Made Of?29 Dec 1980
2The Chicken, The Egg and The Molecules: Machine Tools of Life30 Dec 1980
3The Chicken, The Egg and The Molecules: Muscle Power31 Dec 1980
4The Chicken, The Egg and The Molecules: Eggs, Genes and Proteins1 Jan 1981
5The Chicken, The Egg and The Molecules: Haeomoglobin - The Breathing Molecule2 Jan 1981
6The Chicken, The Egg and The Molecules: Molecules At Work3 Jan 1981

Season 1981

28 Dec 1981 – 2 Jan 1982 · 6 episodes

1From Magna Carta to Microchip: Principles, Standards and Methods28 Dec 1981
2From Magna Carta to Microchip: The Measurement of Time29 Dec 1981
3From Magna Carta to Microchip: More and More About Less and Less30 Dec 1981
4From Magna Carta to Microchip: Onwards to the Stars31 Dec 1981
5From Magna Carta to Microchip: Measurement and Navigation in War1 Jan 1982
6From Magna Carta to Microchip: Some Impacts of Measurement on Life - And Can We Take it too Far?2 Jan 1982

Season 1982

29 Dec 1982 – 3 Jan 1983 · 6 episodes

1Making sense29 Dec 1982
2The sound of silence30 Dec 1982
3The sixth sense - and the rest31 Dec 1982
4Show me the way to go home1 Jan 1983
5Vive la différence2 Jan 1983
6Enchanted loom3 Jan 1983

Season 1983

27 Dec 1983 – 1 Jan 1984 · 6 episodes

1Machines In Motion: Driving Forces27 Dec 1983
2Machines In Motion: Gathering Momentum28 Dec 1983
3Machines In Motion: Vibration29 Dec 1983
4Machines In Motion: Under Control30 Dec 1983
5Machines In Motion: Fluids and Flight31 Dec 1983
6Machines In Motion: Living Machines1 Jan 1984

Season 1984

1 Jan 1985 – 6 Jan 1985 · 6 episodes

1The Message of the Genes: We Are All Different1 Jan 1985
2The Message of the Genes: The Spice of Life2 Jan 1985
3The Message of the Genes: Genetic Engineering3 Jan 1985
4The Message of the Genes: Bodies and Antibodies4 Jan 1985
5The Message of the Genes: Normal Cells and Cancer Cells5 Jan 1985
6The Message of the Genes: When Will Pigs have Wings?6 Jan 1985

Season 1985

6 Jan 1986 – 11 Jan 1986 · 6 episodes

1Communicating: No Man is an Island6 Jan 1986
2Communicating: Animal Talk7 Jan 1986
3Communicating: The Bionic Bat8 Jan 1986
4Communicating: The Pace of Technology9 Jan 1986
5Communicating: The Integrated Body10 Jan 1986
6Communicating: Computers11 Jan 1986

Season 1986

5 Jan 1987 – 10 Jan 1987 · 6 episodes

1First take an egg...5 Jan 1987
2The medium and the message6 Jan 1987
3The right stuff7 Jan 1987
4Genes and flies8 Jan 1987
5Chain of command9 Jan 1987
6Growing up and growing old10 Jan 1987

Season 1987

4 Jan 1988 – 9 Jan 1988 · 6 episodes

1Crystals and Lasers: The Micro-world4 Jan 1988
2Crystals and Lasers: The Architecture of Crystals5 Jan 1988
3Crystals and Lasers: Crystal Miracles6 Jan 1988
4Crystals and Lasers: Constructing a LASER7 Jan 1988
5Crystals and Lasers: The Light Fantastic8 Jan 1988
6Crystals and Lasers: Crystals, LASERs and the Human Body9 Jan 1988

Season 1988

28 Dec 1988 – 3 Jan 1989 · 5 episodes

1Appliance science28 Dec 1988
2Home, safe home29 Dec 1988
3Electronics for pleasure30 Dec 1988
4Home, smart home2 Jan 1989
5Mixers, meters and molecules3 Jan 1989

Season 1989

27 Dec 1989 – 3 Jan 1990 · 5 episodes

1Exploring music: What is music?27 Dec 1989
2Exploring music: The essence of an instrument28 Dec 1989
3Exploring music: Science, strings and symphonies29 Dec 1989
4Exploring music: Technology, trumpets and tunes2 Jan 1990
5Exploring music: Scales, synthesizers and samplers3 Jan 1990

Season 1990

27 Dec 1990 – 3 Jan 1991 · 5 episodes

1The Grand Design27 Dec 1990
2The Birth of the Stars28 Dec 1990
3The Origin of Quasars29 Dec 1990
4The Origin of Galaxies2 Jan 1991
5The Origin of the Universe3 Jan 1991

Season 1991

27 Dec 1991 – 31 Dec 1991 · 5 episodes

1Growing Up in the Universe: Waking Up in the Universe27 Dec 1991
2Growing Up in the Universe: Designed and Designoid Objects28 Dec 1991
3Growing Up in the Universe: Climbing Mount Improbable29 Dec 1991
4Growing Up in the Universe: The Ultraviolet Garden30 Dec 1991
5Growing Up in the Universe: The Genesis of Purpose31 Dec 1991

Season 1992

28 Dec 1992 – 1 Jan 1993 · 5 episodes

1Our World Through the Looking Glass: Man in the Mirror28 Dec 1992
2Our World Through the Looking Glass: Narwhals, Palindromes and Chesterfield Station29 Dec 1992
3Our World Through the Looking Glass: The Handed Molecule30 Dec 1992
4Our World Through the Looking Glass: Symmetry, Sensation and Sex31 Dec 1992
5Our World Through the Looking Glass: In the Hands of the Giants1 Jan 1993

Season 1993

28 Dec 1993 – 31 Dec 1993 · 5 episodes

1The Cosmic Onion: A is for Atoms28 Dec 1993
2The Cosmic Onion: To the Centre of the Sun29 Dec 1993
3The Cosmic Onion: Invaders from Outer Space29 Dec 1993
4The Cosmic Onion: Antimatter Matters30 Dec 1993
5The Cosmic Onion: An Hour to Make the Universe31 Dec 1993

Season 1994

28 Dec 1994 – 1 Jan 1995 · 5 episodes

1The Electric Ape28 Dec 1994
2Through a Glass Darkly29 Dec 1994
3Bubble, Bubble, Toil & Trouble30 Dec 1994
4The Seven Ages of the Brain31 Dec 1994
5The Mind's I1 Jan 1995

Season 1995

27 Dec 1995 – 31 Dec 1995 · 5 episodes

1Planet Earth, On the Edge of the World27 Dec 1995
2Planet Earth, Secrets of the Deep28 Dec 1995
3Planet Earth, Volcanoes-Melting the Earth29 Dec 1995
4Planet Earth, The Puzzle of the Continents30 Dec 1995
5Planet Earth, Waterworld31 Dec 1995

Season 1996

28 Dec 1996 – 1 Jan 1997 · 5 episodes

1The History in our Bones - Staring Into The Abyss28 Dec 1996
2The History in our Bones - The Fossils Come Alive29 Dec 1996
3The History in our Bones - The Great Dyings - Life After Death30 Dec 1996
4The History in our Bones - Innovations And Novelty31 Dec 1996
5The History in our Bones - Feet On The Ground, Head In The Stars - The History Of Man1 Jan 1997

Season 1997

28 Dec 1997 – 1 Jan 1998 · 5 episodes

1The Magical Maze: Sunflowers and Snowflakes28 Dec 1997
2The Magical Maze: The Pattern of Tiny Feet29 Dec 1997
3The Magical Maze: Outrageous Fortune30 Dec 1997
4The Magical Maze: Chaos and Cauliflowers31 Dec 1997
5The Magical Maze: Fearful Symmetry1 Jan 1998

Season 1998

28 Dec 1998 – 1 Jan 1999 · 5 episodes

1Staying Alive: The Body in Balance: Sense and Sensitivity28 Dec 1998
2Staying Alive: The Body in Balance: Fats and Figures29 Dec 1998
3Staying Alive: The Body in Balance: Chilling Out30 Dec 1998
4Staying Alive: The Body in Balance: Times of our lives31 Dec 1998
5Staying Alive: The Body in Balance: Pushing the Limits1 Jan 1999

Season 1999

26 Dec 1999 – 30 Dec 1999 · 5 episodes

1Arrow of Time: Back to the Future26 Dec 1999
2Arrow of Time: Catching the Waves27 Dec 1999
3Arrow of Time: Quantum Leap28 Dec 1999
4Arrow of Time: The Edge of Chaos29 Dec 1999
5Arrow of Time: Shaping the Future30 Dec 1999

Season 2000

26 Dec 2000 – 30 Dec 2000 · 5 episodes

1Rise of the Robots: Anatomy of an Android26 Dec 2000
2Rise of the Robots: Things that Think27 Dec 2000
3Rise of the Robots: Remote Robots28 Dec 2000
4Rise of the Robots: Bionic Bodies29 Dec 2000
5Rise of the Robots: I, Robot30 Dec 2000

Season 2001

26 Dec 2001 – 30 Dec 2001 · 5 episodes

1The Secrets of Life: What Is Life?26 Dec 2001
2The Secrets of Life: How Do I Grow?27 Dec 2001
3The Secrets of Life: Who Am I?28 Dec 2001
4The Secrets of Life: Can We Fix It?29 Dec 2001
5The Secrets of Life: The Future of Life?30 Dec 2001

Season 2002

26 Dec 2002 – 30 Dec 2002 · 5 episodes

1Smart Stuff: The Spider That Spun a Suspension Bridge26 Dec 2002
2Smart Stuff: The Trainer That Ran Over the World27 Dec 2002
3Smart Stuff: The Phone That Shrank the Planet28 Dec 2002
4Smart Stuff: The Plaster That Streches Life29 Dec 2002
5Smart Stuff: The Ice Cream That Will Freeze Granny30 Dec 2002

Season 2003

26 Dec 2003 – 30 Dec 2003 · 5 episodes

1Voyage in Space and Time: Blast Off26 Dec 2003
2Voyage in Space and Time: Mission to Mars27 Dec 2003
3Voyage in Space and Time: Planet Patrol28 Dec 2003
4Voyage in Space and Time: Collision Course29 Dec 2003
5Voyage in Space and Time: Anybody Out There?30 Dec 2003

Season 2004

16 Dec 2004 – 20 Dec 2004 · 3 episodes

1Antarctica: Ice People16 Dec 2004
2Antarctica: Ice Life18 Dec 2004
3Antarctica: Ice World20 Dec 2004

Season 2005

26 Dec 2005 – 30 Dec 2005 · 5 episodes

1The Truth About Food: The Ape That Cooks26 Dec 2005
2The Truth About Food: Yuck or Yummy?27 Dec 2005
3The Truth About Food: You Are What You Eat28 Dec 2005
4The Truth About Food: When Food Goes Wrong29 Dec 2005
5The Truth About Food: Food for the Future30 Dec 2005

Season 2006

25 Dec 2006 – 29 Dec 2006 · 5 episodes

1The Num8er My5teries: The Curious Incident of the Never-Ending Numbers25 Dec 2006
2The Num8er My5teries: The story of the Elusive Shapes26 Dec 2006
3The Num8er My5teries: The Secret of the Winning Streak27 Dec 2006
4The Num8er My5teries: The Case of the Uncrackable Code28 Dec 2006
5The Num8er My5teries: The Quest to Predict the Future29 Dec 2006

Season 2007

24 Dec 2007 – 28 Dec 2007 · 5 episodes

1Back from the Brink, the Science of Survival: Peak Performance24 Dec 2007
2Back from the Brink, the Science of Survival: Completely Stuffed25 Dec 2007
3Back from the Brink, the Science of Survival: Grilled and Chilled26 Dec 2007
4Back from the Brink, the Science of Survival: Fight, Flight and Fright27 Dec 2007
5Back from the Brink, the Science of Survival: Luck, Genes and Stupidity28 Dec 2007

Season 2008

29 Dec 2008 – 2 Jan 2009 · 5 episodes

1Hi-tech Trek - The Quest for the Ultimate Computer: Breaking The Speed Limit29 Dec 2008
2Hi-tech Trek - The Quest for the Ultimate Computer: Chips With Everything30 Dec 2008
3Hi-tech Trek - The Quest for the Ultimate Computer: Ghost In The Machine31 Dec 2008
4Hi-tech Trek - The Quest for the Ultimate Computer: Untangling The Web1 Jan 2009
5Hi-tech Trek - The Quest for the Ultimate Computer: Digital Intelligence2 Jan 2009

Season 2009

21 Dec 2009 – 25 Dec 2009 · 5 episodes

1The 300-Million-Year War: Plant Wars21 Dec 2009
2The 300-Million-Year War: The Animals Strike Back22 Dec 2009
3The 300-Million-Year War: Talking Trees23 Dec 2009
4The 300-Million-Year War: Dangerous to Delicious24 Dec 2009
5The 300-Million-Year War: Weapons of the Future25 Dec 2009

Season 2010 · Size Matters

28 Dec 2010 – 30 Dec 2010 · 3 episodes

1Why Elephants Can't Dance28 Dec 2010
2Why Chocolate Melts and Jet Engines Don't29 Dec 2010
3Why Mountains Are So Small30 Dec 2010

Season 2011 · Meet Your Brain

27 Dec 2011 – 29 Dec 2011 · 3 episodes

1Meet Your Brain: What's in Your Head?27 Dec 2011
2Meet Your Brain: Who's in Charge Here?28 Dec 2011
3Meet Your Brain: Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?29 Dec 2011

Season 2012 · The Modern Alchemist

26 Dec 2012 – 28 Dec 2012 · 3 episodes

1Air: The Elixir of Life26 Dec 2012
2Water: The Fountain of Youth27 Dec 2012
3Earth: The Philosopher's Stone28 Dec 2012

Season 2013 · Life Fantastic

28 Dec 2013 – 30 Dec 2013 · 3 episodes

1Where Do I Come From?28 Dec 2013
2Am I a Mutant?29 Dec 2013
3Could I Live Forever?30 Dec 2013

Season 2014 · Sparks Will Fly - How to Hack your Home

29 Dec 2014 – 31 Dec 2014 · 3 episodes

1The Light Bulb Moment29 Dec 2014
2Making Contact30 Dec 2014
3A New Revolution31 Dec 2014

Season 2015 · How to Survive in Space

28 Dec 2015 – 30 Dec 2015 · 3 episodes

1Lift Off!28 Dec 2015
2Life in Orbit29 Dec 2015
3The Next Frontier30 Dec 2015

Season 2016 · Supercharged - Fuelling the Future

26 Dec 2016 – 28 Dec 2016 · 3 episodes

1Let There Be Light!26 Dec 2016
2People Power27 Dec 2016
3Fully Charged28 Dec 2016

Season 2017 · The Language of Life

26 Dec 2017 – 28 Dec 2017 · 3 episodes

1The Language of Life: Say It With Sound26 Dec 2017
2Silent Messages27 Dec 2017
3The Word28 Dec 2017

Season 2018 · Who Am I?

26 Dec 2018 – 28 Dec 2018 · 3 episodes

1Where Do I Come From?26 Dec 2018
2What Makes Me Human?27 Dec 2018
3What Makes Me, Me?28 Dec 2018

Season 2019 · Secret & Lies - The Hidden Power of Maths

26 Dec 2019 – 28 Dec 2019 · 3 episodes

1How to Get Lucky26 Dec 2019
2How to Bend the Rules27 Dec 2019
3How Can We All Win?28 Dec 2019

Season 2020 · Planet Earth - A User's Guide

28 Dec 2020 – 30 Dec 2020 · 3 episodes

1Engine Earth28 Dec 2020
2Water World29 Dec 2020
3Up in the Air30 Dec 2020

Season 2021

28 Dec 2021 – 30 Dec 2021 · 3 episodes

1The Invisible Enemy28 Dec 2021
2The Perfect Storm29 Dec 2021
3Winning the War30 Dec 2021

Season 2022 · Dame Sue Black

26 Dec 2022 – 28 Dec 2022 · 3 episodes

1Dead Body26 Dec 2022
2Missing Body27 Dec 2022
3Living Body28 Dec 2022

Season 2023 · Professor Mike Wooldridge - The Truth about AI

26 Dec 2023 – 28 Dec 2023 · 3 episodes

1How to Build an Intelligent Machine26 Dec 2023
2My AI Life27 Dec 2023
3The Future of AI: Dream or a Nightmare?28 Dec 2023

Season 2024 · Chris van Tulleken - The Truth About Food

29 Dec 2024 – 31 Dec 2024 · 3 episodes

1From Taste Buds to Toilet29 Dec 2024
2How Food Makes Us30 Dec 2024
3The Big Food Hack31 Dec 2024

Season 2025 · Maggie Aderin-Pocock - Is There Life Beyond Earth?

28 Dec 2025 – 30 Dec 2025 · 3 episodes

1Destination Moon28 Dec 2025
2Searching the Solar System29 Dec 2025
3To the Stars and Beyond30 Dec 2025

Cast

Kevin FongKevin Fong

Maggie AderinMaggie Aderin-Pocock

Professor Saiful IslamProfessor Saiful Islam

Alice RobertsAlice Roberts

Professor Sophie ScottProfessor Sophie Scott

Dr. Mark MiodownikDr. Mark Miodownik

Professor Bruce HoodProfessor Bruce Hood

Peter WothersPeter Wothers

Dr. Alison WoollardDr. Alison Woollard

Danielle GeorgeDanielle George

Alice RobertsPresenter

Royal Institution Christmas Lectures