BBC Radio 4 · Education

In Our Time

A world-class seminar, every week. In Our Time explores the ideas, people and discoveries that have shaped our world, spanning history, philosophy, religion, science, literature, art and culture. On Thursdays, hear brand-new episodes hosted by Misha Glenny and leading academics. On Mondays, discover Misha's Archive Picks: classic conversations from the In Our Time archive, originally presented by Melvyn Bragg. Recent episodes have featured topics as wide-ranging as the Roman Arena, Handel's Messiah, John Keats, On Liberty and the Mariana Trench, bringing expert insight to pivotal events, influential thinkers and remarkable discoveries. Throughout the archive, you can hear discussions on historical figures such as Marie Antoinette, Nefertiti, Mary Wollstonecraft, Karl Marx and Albert Einstein; explore great works of literature such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the poetry of John Donne; uncover the stories behind cultural masterpieces including Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel; or journey from Jupiter and the death of stars, to the theories of Plato and Aristotle. In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.

Episodes

Joseph Roth (1894-1939) served as a definitive chronicler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s collapse, capturing the profound sense of loss and displacement following the First World War. Born in the border town of Brody, Roth rose to prominence as a journalist and novelist in Vienna and Berlin, utilizing the feuilleton ...

Cybernetics

28 May 2026

52m

AI processed

Cybernetics, defined as the study of communication and control in animals and machines, originated from WWII-era research into anti-aircraft signal processing. This field introduced the concept of circular causality, where feedback loops allow systems to adjust behavior toward specific goals. Pioneers like Norbert Wien...

Indian Indentured Labour

21 May 2026

51m

M.C. Escher

14 May 2026

55m

Handel's Messiah

07 May 2026

54m

The Spanish-American War 1898

30 Apr 2026

55m

AI processed

The 1898 Spanish-American War marked a pivotal shift in global power, signaling the end of Spain’s imperial era and the emergence of the United States as a dominant international force. Driven by the "ripe fruit" policy and strategic interests in sugar and naval expansion, U.S. intervention in Cuba—catalyzed by the sin...

Silicon

23 Apr 2026

52m

AI processed

Silicon, a fundamental element forged in dying stars, serves as the primary building block for planetary formation and modern electronics. Its unique atomic structure, characterized by four-fold bonding, allows for the creation of diverse silicate minerals and high-purity semiconductors essential for microchip technolo...