Monday

The Sky at Night (BBC4, 20.00-20.30) The Northern lights.

Darwin’s Struggle – The Evolution of the Origin of Species (BBC4, 21.00-22.00) Drawing on correspondence, the latest in the BBC’s Darwin carnival pieces together how the great man came to write his great book.

Tuesday

Robert Winston’s Musical Analysis (Radio 4, 13.30-14.00) The moustachioed polymath turns his attention to the illnesses of composes, beginning with Schumann who may have suffered from bipolar disorder.

Home Planet (Radio 4, 15.00-15.30) Listeners’ questions about the natural world.

Horizon (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) A challenge to perceptions of cannabis. Can it really cause schizophrenia and lead to the use of harder drugs?

Wednesday

Terry Pratchett: Living With Alzheimer’s (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) The recently knighted Discworld author discusses cutting-edge treatments for the neurodegenerative disease.

Thursday

Material World (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Science from a balloon…over the Arctic.

Leading Edge (Radio 4, 21-21.30) The latest scientific stories.

Saturday

Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life (BBC1, 21.00-22.00) Repeat showing. David Attenborough presents his personal views on Darwin’s ideas and their relevance today.