Fuzzy Logic Science Show

How can a pair of physicists / cosmologists have something new to say about cancer? Never mind that they are two luminaries in their field. Professors Paul Davies and Charley Lineweaver are exploring ideas that upend traditional views of why cancer occurs. Is it really just a case of rogue cells in a sort of internal Darwinism, or is it something else? And why did Rod drop a water bottle to illust...

Have you seen the classic movie Blade Runner? Philip K Dick was the quirky writer of sci-fi novels, and the author of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Imagine what it would be like to encounter the robotic-artificial intelligence reincarnation of PK Dick. This was the product of a collaboration between robotocists and AI researchers in 2005 when they built the animated replica. Unfortunately i...

How can we help prevent falls?  What are the real hidden dangers of home renovation?  Could we be eating algae meat anytime soon?  Emma, Jen and Broderick answer these questions and more.  Includes a special demonstration of Auto-Tune software turning Emma's speech into song!

We have a packed show today including special interview with Prof Tevor Ireland from the ANU who's in the news this week with results from the Hayabusa mission to collect dust from the Itakawa asteroid.  And what a story it is! The little spacecraft went on an extraordinary journey with lots of trials a tribulations along the way. Plus fresh from our visit to the USA we interview Prof Jean Brodie,...

Things heat up this week as Fuzzy talks about how bushfires affect climate change, what HIV and dementia have in common, why bees honey is so good for you and who crows can recognise. Presented by Rachel & Broderick.   Originally broadcast on 03/07/2011.

In this episode of Fuzzy we learn why a sawfish has a saw, how plant gels could help people walk again, where bees travel around canberra and whether being a leftie really does make you smarter. Presented by Nat & Broderick.  Originally broadcast 12/06/2011.

Today's guest with wonderfully eclectic range of topis, is pioneering neurologist Dr Colin Andrews. He works with leading edge treatments of neuro-diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinsons Disease. He was recently on the 7:30 Report after successfully treating an MS patient with a combination of chemo therapy and bone marrow replacement. Along the way we also talk about drugs, accidents,...

The poor old cockroach, the insect everyone loves to hate. But there's a lot more to the humble roach. Did you know some varieties live for 15 years? Did you know some rear their young? And then there's another poor friend, the slug (no, not an insect).  Our guest today, Martyn Robinson from the Australian Museum reveals an unexpected way you might actually find them useful. They can do more than...

We all use paper. Lots of paper. But we also love trees, and do we ever think about how many trees it takes to make our paper? And building paper pulp mills in Australia is very controversal. We talk to Dr Tom Rainey from the Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, QUT who's been looking at how we make paper, and sugar can bagasse as an alternative source for pulp. Interview by Kiri, Michael...

We avoided yesterdays apocalypse and managed to broadcast another episode of Fuzzy Logic.  Broderick & Pallavi discuss the psychology behind the apocalypse, dark energy and the genes for your teeth.  They are also joined by Australia's most respected amateur astronomer, David Reneke and Claire Grylls takes you into the wild with some scary animals.

Last week we recorded Dr Fiona Wood at the ANU, talking about her life, her work, and her passion. Her energy, her skill, and her passion were evident, and I believe everyone in the room was moved by her words. It was also great to meet her after our phone interview a couple of weeks earlier. Not apparent to Fuzzy listeners was the fact that her phone was on the blink as we were trying to make the...

How do you treat sleep apneoa? Here's are some intriguing cures you might not have heard of. Today we combine two personal stories, one on sleep apneoa, and the other hydrocephalus (literally "water brain") with expert commentary from Prof Lynne Bilston (check out her interesting bio ). Plus a look at seatbelt and motorcycle helmet safety. (Note this podcast includes interviews with Debbie and Kar...

I never met Prof Frank Fenner, but by all accounts he was a generous and talented scientist. Rabbits however, would not mourn his passing. Find out why in this personal tribute by the current director of John Curtin School Medical Research, Prof Julio Licinio. In this wide ranging interview we also discuss obesity, deep brain stimulation, and what it takes to translate advances in medicine into re...

We all like to make a difference, but some do more than others. Dr Fiona Wood, Australian Living Treasure, former Australian of the Year, known to many Australians for her work on treating burns.  She is best known for the 'spray on skin' treatment, but her work is much more extensive than that. What does a burn do, how does the body react, and how can we treat them?  Also an interesting look at w...

To peer deeper into the bowels of the universe we need to take the next big step in radio astronomy.  How about one that's a square kilometer?  No, that's not the size of the paddock, that's the surface of the collecting area. We're talking about a big project. Think the Snowy Mountains scheme, think the Large Hadron Collider. Big. Australia is in the running to host the SKA . Special guests today...

Ben and Broderick were a bit fuzzy this week and put together a bunch of science from a huge range of disciplines.  Online dating, trips to mars and Van Gogh's paintings make up the miscellaneous fun.  Special guest Claire phones in from Sydney to share some of her stories from the wild.

Ever wondered whether dark matter is really dark or how galaxy clusters are formed in a rapidly expanding universe wherby galaxies seem to be racing away from each other. Listen to Prof Ken Freeman from the Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics, ANU, on fuzzy along with the weekly doze of other stories rocking the world of science.   Eamon and Pallavi present...

In this special collaboration between mental health show Transforming Perceptions and Fuzzy Logic, we talk about drugs and the mind. How are drugs used in psychiatry, what are cultural perceptions on mental health and treatment. Dr Jeffrey Looi, Research Centre for the Neurosciences of Ageing, ANU Medical School is our guest today. Interview by Aine, Rod, Fiona

What are the limits to life? If it does exist elsewhere, what might it be like? Carbon or silicon, two legs or three, and is intelligence really special. Dr Charley Lineweaver returns to Fuzzy for a fascinating discussion on the nature of life. Charley was recently in a documentary on SBS "My Mum Talks to Aliens". He questions the human urge to think we are the pinnacle of evolution. Interview by...

How many senses do you have?  You might not have a sixth sense like in the movie, but you definitely have more than five!  Tune in and listen as Emily, Jill & Broderick discuss some of your lesser known senses.

In the final Fuzzy for 2010 we talk to material scientist Dr Darren Goossens about his research, how the shape or crystals change how they behave and some of the work at the Australian Synchrotron.  Eamon, Ben and Broderick are there for the interview and also bring you some highlights from the year of science. Dr Darren Goossens is the ACT Tall Poppy for 2010 which was awarded by the Australian I...

We all have to cope with tragedy in our lives, but it's hard to imagine on a scale of the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and few of us ever encounter the dark results of violent crime. Fuzzy listeners will be well aware that shows like CSI don't really describe what foresnic scientists do, but here's someone to tell you first hand. Dr James Robertson is director of National Centre for Foresnics...

Does it hurt when you wee? Are you losing your faculties? Here are a couple of conditions we hope we never have: urinary tract infections and Alzheimer's disease. What are the symptoms, how do we get it, and what can we do about it. Research brought to you by University Canberra students: Carissa, James, Anh;  and Warsan and Veronika. Hosted by Rod.  Part 2 of 2. We're on FaceBook http://www.faceb...

Is laughter good for you (of course), but should it be part of medicine? Should we harvest pig organs - not just for food, but for transplantation?  And what happens when the the Earth lets rip with a really big volcano. Our guests today are science communications students from the University of Canberra who'll bring you these topics. Laughter - Jaimee, Orleena, Yelena. Xenotransplantation - John,...

A few weeks back, during the Australian Science Festival we managed to catch up with The Doctor (no, not that one). Funny thing how I managed to catch him. The media minder said no, he was not available to record a promo for us. But we thought oh, what the heck, we'll give it a go anyway. So I turned up at his public talk with voice recorder, and promo all scripted, and wearing my extremely stylis...