Tuesday

Home Planet (Radio 4, 15.00-15.30) Weird parasites that can ‘control’ the mind.

A Good Read (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Wellcome Collection curator Ken Arnold discusses his favourite book.

Horizon (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) Did a penchant for cooking food neurologically wire up ancient humans to become the most powerful minds on the planet?

The Big Bang Theory (C4, 23.10-23.35) Another episode of the physics-inspired comedy.

Wednesday

Natural World (BBC2, 20.00-21.00) New insights into the social bonds and ‘language’ of elephants.

The Big Bang: What Happened Next? (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) Update on the LHC, which is now running smoothly after a troubled start.

Thursday

Material World (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Quentin Cooper investigates whether we really need traffic lights. A London study suggests that they may cause more delays and accidents than in their absence.

The Moral Code (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) Nature’s Adam Rutherford investigates whether humans are hardwired with an innate moral code.

Sunday

Desert Island Discs (Radio 4, 11.15-12.00) This week’s castaway is inspirational space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

Wonders of the Solar System (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) Brian ‘not him again’ Cox starts a new series about our cosmic back yard with a look at the sun (hopefully taking the necessary visual precautions).

Monday

Afternoon Play: Torchwood, Lost Souls (Radio 4, 14.15-15.00) The Dr Who spinoff goes radio, in this new story set in the CERN particle physics facility.

How Do They Do It? (FIVE, 19.30-20.00) Robert Llewellyn investigates the chemistry behind fire-proofing materials.

Tuesday

How Earth Made Us (BBC2, 20.00-21.00) In the final part of an excellent series, Iain Stewart examines how humans have had an impact on the geology and climate of the Earth.

The Big Bang Theory (C4, 23.10-23.35) Another episode of the physics-inspired comedy.

Wednesday

Yellowstone (BBC2, 19.00-20.00) Following the wildlife and geology of the US national park.

Natural World (BBC2, 20.00-21.00) The story of a lone killer whale, separated from its pod.

Physics Rocks (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) The ever-present Brian Cox speaks to celebrity physics enthusiasts, including Eddie Izzard.

Thursday

Material World (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Quentin Cooper (who I learnt this week comes from my home town of Grimsby) speaks to quantum physicists who think of the Universe as nothing but information.

Light Fantastic (BBC4, 20.00-21.00) Einstein’s insights into the nature of light.

Friday

Mastermind (BBC2, 20.00-20.30) This week includes a round on Charles Darwin.

Sunday

The Seven Ages of Britain (BBC1, 21.00-22.00) David Dimbleby reaches the 17th Century, when scientists such as Isaac Newton and Robert Boyle sowed the seeds of modern scientific method.

This week’s highlight comes on Thursday, when the ongoing struggle of Simon Singh and others to fix England’s dodgy libel laws is explored in a special Radio 4 programme.

Monday

The Tribes of Science (Radio 4, 15.45-16.00) A look at the inner world of computer scientists.

How Do They Do It? (FIVE, 19.30-20.00) Robert Llewellyn visits EADS-Astrium in Portsmouth to learn about satellite technology.

Costing the Earth (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) Alice Roberts explores how climate change might affect historic sites.

Tuesday

The Tribes of Science (Radio 4, 15.45-16.00) The zoologists at ZSL London Zoo.

Chips With Everyrhing (Radio 4, 16.00-16.30) The story of the silicon chip.

The Big Bang Theory (C4, 23.10-23.35) Another episode of the physics-inspired comedy.

Wednesday

The Tribes of Science (Radio 4, 15.45-16.00) The botanists at the Millennium Seed Bank.

Inside the Elephant Mind (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) Research into the pachydermic psyche.

Horizon (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) Does genius have neurological hallmarks?

Thursday

The Tribes of Science (Radio 4, 15.45-16.00) Up to Jodrell Bank to talk to astronomers.

Material World (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Sticking with the spacey theme, Quentin Cooper probes the CryoSat-2 satellite, which monitors polar ice.

Light Fantastic (BBC4, 20.00-21.00) The discoveries of James Clerk Maxwell.

Science on Trial (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) The ongoing battle to keep the libel laws out of science.

Friday

The Tribes of Science (Radio 4, 15.45-16.00) Mathhematicians at the Isaac Newton Institute of Mathematics.

Saturday

The Virtual Revolution (BBC2, 20.30-21.30) How using the web affects the brain with, you won’t be surprised to hear, comments from Susan Greenfield.

Tuesday

The Great Rift: Africa’s Wild Heart (19.00-20.00) How the climate and geology of the Great Rift Valley shaped the beginnings of civilization.

The Sky at Night (BBC2, 20.00-21.00) Steve Squyres discusses the agonising decision to abandon the Martian rover Spirit, trapped in a sand dune.

How Earth Made Us (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) Iain Stewart invokes fire in his latest look at how geology influenced human history.

The Big Bang Theory (C4, 23.05-23.30) Another episode of the physics-inspired comedy, with a guest appearance by the Leonid meteor shower.

Wednesday

Natural World (BBC2, 20.00-21.00) The natural history of…Essex.

Horizon (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) The discovery that there are different flavours of infinity. Gödel and all that. A bold choice of episode, inasmuch as it’s not the most visual of subjects.

Thursday

Material World (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Quentin Cooper visits the BBC’s R&D department to look at new broadcasting technologies.

Light Fantastic (BBC4, 20.00-21.00) How light has changed our understanding of the universe, from Galileo to Hawking.

In Our Time (Radio 4, 21.30-22.00) Melvyn Bragg looks at the ‘unintended consequences of mathematics’, whatever that means.

Saturday

The Virtual Revolution (BBC2, 20.30-21.30) OK, not really science, but probably of interest to many on Nature Network. Aleks Krotoski looks at the tensions between the free web and commercialisation.

Sunday

Desert Island Discs (Radio 4, 11.15-12.00) Prof Jim Al-Khalili gets stranded on the island this week.

Monday

Start the Week (Radio 4, 09.00-09.45) Science gets the full agenda on Andrew Marr’s highbrow start to the week. Scientists including Jim Al-Khalili join the long-limbed journalist to discuss climate change, energy issues, and chemistry.

Tuesday

Great Lives (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Richard Dawkins talks about evolutionary theorist Bill Hamilton.

How Earth Made Us (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) Iain Stewart’s barnstorming geology show turns to the power of the wind in shaping human history.

The Big Bang Theory (C4, 23.05-23.30) Another episode of the physics-inspired comedy.

Wednesday

Natural World (BBC2, 20.00-21.00) A researcher claims that American prairie dogs have a ‘language’ second only to that of humans.

Thursday

Material World (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Quentin Cooper on biofuels.

2010: Space Odyssey to Europa (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) Could Jupiter’s moon harbour life? Don’t ask me. I just list this stuff.

Chemistry: A Volatile History (BBC4, 21.00-22.00) In the final part of this excellent series, Jim Al-Khalili charts the development of the field over the past century, and efforts to synthesise new elements at the extreme bottom right of the Periodic Table.

Saturday

The Virtual Revolution (BBC2, 20.30-21.30) OK, not really science, but probably of interest to many on Nature Network. Aleks Krotoski looks at the rise of Twitter and other sites for giving people a public voice.

If you only watch one thing this week (which would be a shame, as we’re in a golden season of science programming), tune in to Chemistry: A Volatile History on Thursday. Jim Al-Khalili approaches the subject with enthusiasm and wit, in this good old-fashioned documentary series. The audience are treated as intelligent, with no banal animations or tiresome recaps. Horizon take note.

Monday

Images That Changed The World (Radio 4, 15.45-16.00) The affable Mark Lythgoe looks at how biomedical images have changed our culture, beginning with X-rays.

Are Environmentalists Bad For The Planet (Radio 4, 20.30-21.00) Is the environmental movement full of lame ideas? Oo, controversial.

Super Recognisers (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) The science of face recognition.

Tuesday

Images That Changed The World (Radio 4, 15.45-16.00) A history of brain scanning.

How Earth Made Us (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) Iain Stewart turns his enthusiastic attentions and barnstorming CGI unit to how water has shaped civilisation. Highly recommended.

The Big Bang Theory (C4, 23.05-23.30) Episode six of this comedy show that everyone tells me I should watch, but I’ve yet to catch.

Wednesday

Images That Changed The World (Radio 4, 15.45-16.00) Mark Lythgoe on ulltrasound.

Natural World (BBC2, 20.00-21.00) Scientists at Edinburgh zoo give video cameras to chimps. Hilarity possibly ensues.

Thursday

Images That Changed The World (Radio 4, 15.45-16.00) Mark Lythgoe on microscopy.

Material World (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Quentin Cooper’s back from holiday to explore personalised cancer therapy.

Time (BBC4, 20.00-21.00) Michio Kaku concludes his temporal investigations with a look at ‘cosmic time’, relativity and the timescale of the atom.

Chemistry: A Volatile History (BBC4, 21.00-22.00) Jim Al-Khalili chronicles the foundations and growth of chemistry, continuing with the elucidation of the periodic table. This is great stuff.

Friday

Images That Changed The World (Radio 4, 15.45-16.00) Mark Lythgoe rounds off his series with a look at the iconic image of the double helix.

Saturday

The Virtual Revolution (BBC2, 20.30-21.30) One-time Nature Network event speaker Aleks Krotoski hosts a new series about the development of the web (the Guardian’s tech podcast is impoverished by her absence).

The Day After Tomorrow (C4, 20.00-22.20) I hesitate to add this to a listing of science shows, but the climate-gone-wrong flick is a decent action movie with plenty of spills if not so many thrills.

Sunday

The Greening of the Deserts (Radio 4, 13.30-14.00) How currently barren parts of the Earth may become more verdant with climate change.

The Great Rift: Africa’s Wild Heart (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) Chiming in with Iain Stewart’s show (Tuesday), this place looks at how water has shaped and affected the likely birthplace of our species.

Tuesday

Home Planet (Radio 4, 15.00-15.30) Questions about the the natural world and environmental sciences.

How Earth Made Us (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) Iain Stewart begins a five part series exploring how geological forces have shaped our species.

The Big Bang Theory (C4, 23.15-23.40) Episode five of the new series.

Wednesday

Natural World (BBC2, 20.00-21.00) Of all the big cats, why are leopards the most successful at adapting to changing environment?

Horizon (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) Why people pop pills, and whether it’s worth it.

Thursday

Material World (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) The ubiquitous Gareth Mitchell stands in for Quentin Cooper in a history special looking at the technology of 1000 years ago.

Jimmy’s Global Harvest (BBC2, 20.00-21.00) Jimmy Doherty visits Californian bioscience labs to investigate how farmers might grow crops in future.

Time (BBC4, 20.00-21.00) Michio Kaku explores the beginnings of time. And don’t forget to plat the Michio Kaku drinking game. Just take a sip of your beverage of choice every time he uses the phrase ‘in the future’.

Chemistry: A Volatile History (BBC4, 21.00-22.00) New series in which Jim Al-Khalili chronicles the foundations and growth of chemistry, beginning with the search for new elements.

Saturday

HIGHLIGHT Nerdstock: Nine Lessons and Carols For Godless People (BBC4, 21.45-23.00) Some of the most entertaining skeptics in the world unite on-stage for this Christmas special. Includes turns from Robin Ince, Simon Singh, Brian Cox, Ben Goldacre and Richard Dawkins.

Sunday

The Greening of the Deserts (Radio 4, 13.30-14.00) How currently barren parts of the Earth may become more verdant with climate change.

Tuesday

Home Planet (Radio 4, 15.00-15.30) Questions about the the natural world and environmental sciences.

Great Lives (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Jenny Agutter nominates Austrian physicist Lise Meitner.

The Big Bang Theory (C4, 23.15-23.40) Episode four of the new series.

Wednesday

Horizon (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) Why do viruses kill? Why can’t we all be friends?

Thursday

Material World (BBC4, 16.30-17.00) Quentin Cooper visits the ALMA astronomical facility in Chile.

Time (BBC4, 20.00-21.00) Michio Kaku asks whether humans can ever be immortal, and whether hypnotism can really revive long-forgotten memories.

The Secret Life of Chaos (BBC4, 21.00-22.00) Jim Al-Khalili looks at the science of structure – how order and even intelligence can emerge from dust.

Sunday

Aristotle’s Lagoon (BBC4, 21.00-22.00) Imperial College’s Armand Leroi reveals how Aristotle’s observations of the natural world helped lay the foundations of modern biology.

Monday

The Infinite Monkey Cage (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Nature’s Adam Rutherford joins Brian Cox and Robin Ince for this week’s show.

Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (More 4, 19.00-20.00) The annual lecture series is scandalously relegated to this D-list channel where nobody will stumble across it. For those who can find the channel, this year’s talks are themed around plant biology with Prof Sue Hartley of the University of Sussex. The series continues all week at the same time.

Man on Earth (C4, 21.00-22.00) Tony Robinson looks at how climate change has wiped out civilisations of yore.

Frontiers (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) The continuing threat posed by earthquakes to South-East Asia.

Tuesday

Home Planet (Radio 4, 15.00-15.30) Questions about the the natural world and environmental sciences.

All in the Mind (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) Examining researchers whose names have become associated with the disease they described.

Defining the Decade (Radio 4, 21.30-22.00) How have leaders’ attitudes to climate change altered since 2000?

Christmas Eve

Material World (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Quentin Cooper picks another scientific theme.

What Scientists Believe (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) Zoologist Andrew Gosler is interviewed.

Sunday

Walking on the Moon (Radio 4, 20.00-21.00) Buzz Aldrin reflects, for the six trillionth time, about his big adventure.

Monday

The Infinite Monkey Cage (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) A wry look at the world through the eyes of scientists, with Brian Cox, Robin Ince and Ben Miller.

Life (BBC1, 21.00-22.00) The final part of this nature series looks at the survival tactics of primates.

Man on Earth (C4, 21.00-22.00) Tony Robinson discovers how the end of the last ice age led to the birth of civilisations.

Frontiers (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) Proposals to check asylum seekers’ credentials via DNA checks.

Tuesday

Home Planet (Radio 4, 15.00-15.30) Questions about the the natural world and environmental sciences.

All in the Mind (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) The latest neuroscience and psychology research.

Thursday

Material World (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Quentin Cooper picks another scientific theme.

What Scientists Believe (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) Interview with Clare Lloyd, Professor of Respiratory Immunology at Imperial College.