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 ...

Born in Maldon, he briefly attended both Eton College and Harrow School, but because of ill health was mostly educated at private schools. He studied the Mathematical Tripos at Trinity College, ...

Watch the video version of our latest podcast with the 2025 Christmas Lecturer, Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock. Discover more ...

Join award-winning science journalist Michael Pollan to explore the mystery of consciousness, with a discussion of the mind w ...

During school holidays we run a range of exciting hands-on workshops, bringing to life all areas of science – including mathematics, computing and engineering. All workshops take place in our building ...

Family Fun Days are suitable for children aged 6–12, though older and younger siblings are very welcome. All children under ...

In 2025 we’re celebrating 200 years of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES and Ri Discourses – both landmark moments in the Ri’s rich history of engaging public audiences with science – as well as the discovery of ...

Ada Lovelace Day Live is back! The annual ‘science cabaret’ returns with a fantastic line-up of women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), who will share their experiences, insights ...

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 Royal Institution was founded to 'introduce new technologies and teach science to the general public through lectures and demonstrations'. We've been connecting people to science for over 200 ...

Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock will take us on an epic voyage through time and space, in the 2025 CHRISTMAS LECTURES from the Royal Institution, supported by CGI. Space scientist, educator and BBC Sky ...

The first surviving Faraday apparatus, dating from 1822, demonstrates his work in magnetic rotation. Faraday used this mercury bath to transform electrical energy into mechanical energy, creating the ...