Lost in Science

In our final show for 2020 we look at some of the science we missed and what else would have been making the news if a particular virus hadn't rudely interrupted everything. Happy New Year!

It's Christmas time at Lost in Science! This week on the show Claire brings a new Australian native fauna version of the 12 days of Christmas, and Stu talks about what Santa Claus has to do with the most recent discovery that some Australian animals fluoresce under UV light. Also this week Chris returns to talk about what his what has been keeping him this occupied this Christmas - his twins - and...

This week on the show we hear Part 2 of an interview with Agricultural scientist Angela Pattison about her collaboration with Aboriginal traditional owners on how to incorporate native Australian grains into agricultural production. Claire also talks with Australian PhD candidate Adele Pentland about her discoveries of Australian Pterosaurs, and why such finds are so rare.

Stu talks about new research which is helping to combat bacterial infections through the delivery of antibodies into the gut system by an unlikely courier, a yeast cell! Also on the show, Claire gets into the International Year of Plant Health and looks at the plants of the ocean - seagrasses! What are they, why are they so important, and did you know there are tiny invertebrate sea bee-like creat...

A rewind back through the year to hear some of our stories you may have missed. Chris tackles the physics behind the tears of wine, and how they behave like a wave, Claire finds out how crafty conservation is saving an endangered bird in Tasmania, and Stu breaks the ice with a newly discovered form of solid water, it's hot stuff!

This week we are reminiscing about some stories from earlier in the yeah, Stu talks to Jen Sanger about a study which shows how bushfire frequency impacts forest regeneration, and Claire talks to David Baker-Gabb about the plight of the Plains Wanderer, a critically endangered bird of inland Australia. 

This week on Locked in Science Stu talks awards again, with the announcement of the Prime Minister's prize for Science for 2020, and Claire talks to Olaf Meynecke about studying the humpback whale which just finished is migration along the east coast of Australia

This week on Locked in Science Stu brings us two new science stories - first one looking at the discovery of water on the moon, and the second highlighting the work of NSW scientist of the year Professor Edward Holmes, who worked to identify the genome of the virus that causes COVID-19. Also on the show Claire talks us through the malady that is seasickness, what is caused by and how science can h...

This week on Locked in Science Stu looks at apps that claim to send you to sleep and how well they work according to science, while Claire reminds us that the annual Aussie Backyard Bird Count is here again in time for National Bird Week!

This week on the show Claire looks at research from the CSIRO looking at how long the virus causing Covid-19 can last on surfaces, and Stu delves into who has won 2020's Nobel prizes!

This week on Locked in Science Stu finds out why sometimes artificial flavouring might be healthier than natural flavours, and why some of them don't taste like we expect, and Claire takes a deep dive into inner space to find out some tentacular facts about octopods... octopi... octipides... octopuses!

This week on the show we are joined by science communicator and public health professional Alanta Colley as she gives us the update and low down on what is happening around the world with COVID-19 vaccine trials. Tune in to hear why the Oxford vaccine was paused, what new groundbreaking technology is being used to develop the vaccines, and why human challenge trials are the next big news, and why...

This week on Locked in Science Stu looks into ice that doesn't behave at all like ice, even though it's still made of plain old water, and Claire finds out who are the winners in this year's Ignobel Prizes, the annual awards for real science research that makes us laugh and makes us think. 

This week on the show we talk to Space Archeologist Dr Alice Gorman about one of the biggest science stories of 2020 - the discovery of phosphine gas on Venus, why this means there could be life swirling around in the atmosphere of our neighbouring planet and how this could change the we understand life itself. 

Locked in Science this week acknowledges National Endangered Species day on September 7th and looks at the fate of the Plains Wanderer, a ground dwelling indigenous bird whose grassland habitat is disappearing rapidly by talking to Dr. David Baker-Gabb, and Stu looks into Barley research that will help everyone get back on the beers in future

This week on the show Stu asks the question investigates the question of whether there are invasive worms living in our soils, and if so what effect do they have? Also on the show Claire talks about the breakthrough Australian research which has shown how highly effective an Australian innovation is at fighting dengue fever.

Claire tells us the story of how crafty researchers are protecting Pardalotes from prevalent problematic parasites, while Chris finds out if dogs are able to perceive the earth's magnetic field, and how we might be able to observe that in their behaviour. 

This week on the show Chris talks through the evidence for the effectiveness of ivermectin to treat COVID-19, and Stu takes us back to 2019, a more simple time, when science stories about zombie pigs were the most terrifying thing being reported!

It's all about coronavirus testing this week on Locked in Science, as Stu fills us in on the two main types of tests currently used for COVID-19: the PCR test that detects genes from the virus in nasal swabs, and the blood tests for antibodies; meanwhile Claire talks to Anne-Lise Chaber and Susan Hazel about their new research training sniffer dogs to detect whether people are infected.

This week on Locked in Science, with National Science Week only a matter of days away, Claire gives us a rundown of events happening all over the country, many of them accessible online, and Chris fills us in on his covid caused absence from the show, and we hear from his partner who was hit hard with the illness, but is now recovering. 

This week on Locked in Science, with National Science Week just around the corner Stu talks to plant scientist Dr Kim Johnson about an upcoming event called A Taste of Tomorrow exploring the future of foods - as part of the Possible Impossible online event series for National Science Week. Also on the show we bring you a story from the vault as Chris explores one of the great mysteries of the univ...

This week on Locked in Science Claire turns to watch the skies and look at some different kinds of corona in space, and Stu looks at some science that has been brought to light by the coronavirus and some that looks like it might help slow it down. 

This week on Locked in Science we speak to Biomedical Engineer Professor Sandra Kentish about the best way to effectively make yourself a mask to keep you and the community safe from COVID-19.  Also on the show Stu updates us on the latest forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology for an increase likelihood of rain from the La Niña effect.

On Locked in Science this week, Claire learns how frozen sewage is being used to track the presence of viruses in big cities, and Chris looks at some of the science behind IVF fertility