Shirtloads of Science

In this episode, friend of the show Geriant Lewis, Professor of Astrophysics at the Sydney Institute for Astronomy within the University of Sydney, joins us to unpack a fascinating New Scientist article theorising on how a strange line of dwarf galaxies may have formed.  We explore how high-speed collisions between dwarf galaxies can scatter gas and stars across space, sometimes giving rise to ent...

In this episode, I sit down with Marian-Andrei Rizoiu , Associate Professor and head of the Behavioral Data Science Lab at the University of Technology Sydney. Drawing on a three-year research project into the misinformation ecosystem , he reveals that online conspiracies aren't just about false facts. Instead, they meet deep human needs for belonging and identity.  We explore the idea that misinf...

In this episode, we sit down with two of today's most prominent defenders of science: Professor Michael Mann , world-renowned climate scientist, and Professor Peter Hotez , vaccine researcher and advocate for global health equity. Together, they've co-authored Science Under Siege , a powerful new book exposing the forces behind the global anti-science movement. We explore the surprising parallels...

In part two of our conversation with Professor Carolyn Hogg , Research Manager of the Australasian Wildlife Genomics Group at the University of Sydney, we dive deeper into the science and strategy behind threatened species management. Carolyn shares how her team is developing crucial genetic data to guide conservation, including breed-and-release programs with species like the Tasmanian devil . We...

From collecting urine samples in Antarctica to sampling whale snot to study reproduction, Dr. Carolyn Hogg's career is anything but ordinary. In this episode, she shares how her passion for protecting threatened species led her down some unexpected paths, including earning the nickname 'Dr. Snot' . We chat about her PhD on whale behaviour, wild whale facts, and the creative ways scientists gather...

In this episode, Professor PJ Cullen, Chemical Engineering expert from the University of Sydney, breaks down the global nitrogen challenge. We explore why nitrogen is essential for life, the history of fertiliser - from the Guano Wars to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process - and how today's nitrogen production is harming the planet. Cullen introduces PlasmaLeap, his startup using non-thermal...

In this episode, we're joined by Troy Hunt,  Australian online security consultant, creator of Have I Been Pwned , and one of the world's leading voices on data breaches. He breaks down the key differences between encryption and hashing, and what they mean for keeping your data safe. We dive into infamous data breaches, including the Ashley Madison case, and explore the often hidden, long-term imp...

In this episode, we sit down with Australian climate scientist Professor Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick to explore the story of climate science, how we first discovered the planet was warming, and what we now know about the forces driving it. Sarah breaks down the role of carbon dioxide in trapping heat like a planetary blanket and shares insights from her cutting-edge research on long-term climate mod...

I had the honor of sitting down with Professor Donna Strickland, Nobel Prize-winning physicist the third woman in history to receive the prestigious award in physics. In our conversation, we discuss her groundbreaking work in laser physics and the journey that led her there. From her early academic interests to the moment she received the life-changing call from the Royal Swedish Academy at 5AM (?...

In part two of our chat with Dr. Heather Ford, we delve deeper into the hidden dynamics of Wikipedia — the world's largest encyclopedia and 8th most visited website, run largely by volunteers. We explore how pages are updated in real time, yet controversial topics like Indigenous place names often face delays and heated edit wars. Dr. Ford explains how this can lead editors to walk away, raising c...

I'm joined by Dr. Heather Ford, ARC Future Fellow and Professor in the School of Communications at UTS, to explore the fascinating world of Wikipedia. Inspired by her article "We analysed 35,000 Wikipedia entries about Australian places. Some of them sanitise history" in The Conversation , we dive deep into the strengths and shortcomings of one of the internet's most beloved resources. We unpack h...

In part two of my conversation with Dr. Graham Wild, we dive deeper into the fascinating world of hypersonic machines. We explore how sound waves behave at extreme speeds, the significance of the boundary layer, and what materials are best suited for these ultra-fast aircraft. Connect with Dr. Graham Wild on LinkedIn Twitter/X: @AerospaceDoctor

Aviation expert Dr. Graham Wild returns to take us beyond the basics of flight and into the high-speed world of subsonic vs. hypersonic aircraft. We break down the engine mechanics behind these incredible machines, and I squeeze in a humblebrag about sitting in an SR-71 (yes, okay, it was grounded). It's a theory-packed episode, so we've split it into two parts. Catch Part 2 next week. Connect wit...

In 2020, Scientific American  made waves with the provocative headline:  "No One Can Explain Why Planes Stay in the Air."  But is that really true? Dr. Graham Wild, senior lecturer in aviation science and technology at the University of New South Wales in Canberra, joins us to set the record straight. In this episode, we dip our toes into the complex of flight. We scratch at the very surface of th...

Are ice baths really the recovery miracle they're made out to be? We plunge into the science with Dr. Hunter Bennett, lecturer at the University of South Australia, exploring the pros and cons of ice baths, when they're helpful, and when they might actually hinder your gains. We also unpack health misinformation online and Dr Hunter shares five evidence-based tips for anyone curious about cold plu...

Dr. Brooke Nickel dives into the murky world of health misinformation on social media, exposing how overdiagnosis and unverified health claims are thriving in a mostly unregulated space. We explore the influence of online personalities, the power of personal anecdotes, and the urgent need for evidence-based guidance in digital health conversations. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Brooke Nickel on LinkedIn

Award-winning author and investigative journalist Alice Driver joins me to discuss her powerful new book, Life and Death of the American Worker . Her investigation exposes the deeply unethical practices within the meatpacking industry in the United States. For Alice, this story is personal. She grew up in Arkansas, one of the country's poorest states and home to Tyson Foods, the largest meatpackin...

In this episode, Prof. Boris Kuhlmey and Prof. Peter Tuthill join me to discuss the Toliman Mission , a space telescope project focused on detecting Earth-like exoplanets around Alpha Centauri, our nearest star system, using precise astrometric measurements. We discuss logistics, the costs involved and the success rate of such an astronomical project. Developed by a collaboration including the Uni...

Almost all of the regional and remote communities in Queensland do not have fluoridated drinking water, so why is this a problem? Dentist Dr Michael Foley debunks the infamous NTP report which suggested that fluoridated drinking water lowered IQ and breaks down how fluoride actually works and why it's so important for our dental health.

Dr Karl uncovers a lifelong Australian quest to restore comfort and hearing with custom made eardrum transplants. Called Cleardrums, Professor Marcus Atlas is close to passing regulatory hurdles for human trials. Ep407 [Repeat] drkarl.com

Dr Karl (former father of the year) talks with Dr Nick Fuller (recent dad) about teaching children how to eat. The good habits learned early lead to healthy lives. Ep396 [Repeat] Healthy Parents Healthy Kids by Nick Fuller DrKarl      

Why use a balloon to hunt the most elusive suff in the Universe? Dr Sirks takes Dr Karl through the history of Dark Matter and why astronomy is only part of the solution. Ep379 [Repeat] Dr Karl Dr Sirks  

Atmospheric Carbon is burning us up. CO ₂ is the big culprit but what about methane? Industry calls it "natural gas" but sheep and cattle belch millions of tons. Australian scientists have a very cool answer with seaweed. drkarl.com seaforest.com.au  

Weight loss medicines are never easy. What happens when your brain says you're full? Dr Karl and Professor Clare Collins explore the promises and pitfalls plus the ones that occasionally kill. drkarl.com

Our warming world means more humidity.  You can't see it but you can feel it.  Professor Ollie Jay introduces Dr Karl to wet bulb thermometers, how sweating works and why humidity gets you down.     DrKarl.com Prof Ollie Jay