As another year of exploring science comes to a close, it’s time to look back at the talks that sparked the most curiosity, debate and wonder.
From world-changing chemicals to fresh ways of understanding quantum reality, these are the ten most-watched Ri talks of 2025 from our YouTube channel—plus one editor’s choice that proves science can be both deadly serious and irresistibly entertaining.
1. Will AI outsmart human intelligence? - with Geoffrey Hinton
Often described as the ‘Godfather of AI’, Geoffrey Hinton tackles one of the defining questions of our time. Can machines surpass human intelligence? And if they do, what happens next? A fascinating and at times unsettling exploration of the future we are rapidly building.
2. How benzene changed chemistry forever - with Judy Wu
A simple ring of carbon atoms reshaped an entire discipline. Judy Wu tells the story of benzene: a molecule that challenged 19th-century chemistry and laid the foundations that still underpin modern science.
3. Why does light exist? - with Gideon Koekoek
Light feels fundamental, but why does it exist at all? Gideon Koekoek takes audiences on a journey through physics, philosophy and cosmology to explore one of the most basic and baffling features of our universe.
4. Mathematics: The rise of the machines - Yang-Hui He
What happens when mathematics meets artificial intelligence? Yang-Hui He from the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences explores how machines are transforming the way mathematicians work, and whether creativity can really be automated.
5. A new way to understand quantum - with Bob Coecke
Quantum theory is famously strange. Bob Coecke introduces a radically different way of thinking about it, using diagrams and processes to make sense of a world that often defies intuition.
6. Rethinking the origin of plate tectonics - with Naomi Oreskes
Plate tectonics underpins our understanding of Earth, but how did the theory itself come to be accepted? Naomi Oreskes revisits its origins, revealing the messy, human side of scientific progress.
7. How physics connects our universe - with Chris White
From the smallest particles to the largest cosmic structures, physics is a story of connections. Chris White shows how simple principles link everything from atoms to galaxies.
8. Decoding quantum reality - with Vlatko Vedral
What is quantum reality really telling us about the world? Vlatko Vedral dives deep into the meaning of quantum mechanics, confronting questions about information, reality and existence itself.
9. How materials science could revolutionise technology - with Jess Wade
From faster electronics to greener energy, new materials are shaping the future. Jess Wade explores how advances in materials science could transform the technologies we rely on every day.
10. The real science of the nuclear age: behind Oppenheimer - with Frank Close
Beyond the Hollywood drama lies a complex scientific story. Frank Close unpacks the real physics behind the nuclear age, separating fact from fiction in the shadow of "Oppenheimer".
Bonus: Editor’s Choice
The science of murder: Agatha Christie's deadly poisons - with Kathryn Harkup
Crime fiction meets chemistry as Kathryn Harkup reveals how Agatha Christie’s deep knowledge of poisons shaped her novels – and why her science was often disturbingly accurate.
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