Lost in Science

It's all physics this week on Lost in Science, as we replay our interviews with theoretical physicist Sean Carroll on the many worlds of quantum mechanics and the nature of time - for more see https://thinkinc.org.au/events/carroll - and astrophysicist Krystal De Napoli talking about 65,000 of Indigenous Australian knowledge of the stars and nature - see http://www.aboriginalastronomy.com.au

In this episode of our summer series we hear about the Victorian Biodiversity Conference happening in Melbourne from two early career researchers Ally Nance and Rachel Nalliah. Also this week, we revist a favourite story of 2019, when Chris introduced us to the Cat-fox of Corsica and whether science can provide the evidence to take it from folklore to fact.

The Russians tried to get people on the moon first, but they achieved a number of other amazing feats of space exploration instead. Stu fills us in on the space race and just how close it was in the mid 20th century with the help of Chris and guest Jacinta Bowler. Back on earth, Claire asks researcher Eliza Colgrave why not much seems to have changed for many women suffering Endometriosis, and wha...

In this episode of the Lost in Science summer series, Stu talks all things small and delves into who are the world's tiniest animals. Chris brings the science to the studio by doing live experimentation looking at the science of how knots are formed. And Claire takes us back to the announcement of UNESCO heritage listing of the Budj Bim cultural landscape on the land of the Gunditjmara people of w...

In this episode of the Lost in Science summer series, Chris explains the holographic principle, where physicists claim that our three-dimensional universe could be a two-dimensional illusion. And we look back on another highlight of 2019, when Claire and Stu discussed a grisly mystery in Western Australia that led to a benefit for Australian ecology.

In this episode of the Lost in Science summer series, Chris gives a run down of some basic points about climate change science. And we look back at Claire's story from December about scientists' plans to save koalas from bushfires, and Stu's tale of two elements, tellurium and selenium, that are significant for producing solar cells.

A look back at some of the stories covered in 2019, on this episode Claire talks to Dr. Gabriel DaSilva about air quality around the world, then hear from Dr. Linden Ashbrook about the details of the IPCC report on climate released late last year. 

The team wrap up another year of science, Stu looks back on some stories we loved, Claire looks back on stories we miseed, and Chris explains one last mysterious science discovery of the year, the X17 particle. 

We answer some questions from the kids at Coolbinia Primary in Western Australia, and Chris tells us how to win (almost) every time when cracking Christmas crackers!

Chris shows us the surprising similarities between music from different cultures around the world (find out more at www.themusiclab.org); Claire shares how bushfires have devastated koala populations, and how some scientists hope to preserve them; and Stu tells us about efforts to create chimeras combining different species for organ transplantation.

This week on the show Chris speaks to world renowned theoretical physicist Sean Carroll about multiple worlds, the possibility of time travel, and whether the last Avengers film got the science right. Also,  Claire chats to geochemist Hayden Dalton about his research looking at the chemistry of diamonds that have travelled from the mantle to the surface via volcanic explosion, and what these can t...

Claire talks to Dr. Krystal de Napoli about what thousands of years of indigenous understanding of astronomy can teach science, and Stu investigates the chilling case of the Atomic Bunker Cannibals! 

Chris fills us in on the discovery and identity of the mysterious, semi-mythical cat-fox of Corsica; Claire frightens us all with the highly venomous Irukandji jellyfish from northern Australia, which threatens to become more dangerous due to climate change; and Stu tells us about how it's possible to incept zebra finches with false memories of songs.

This week on the show Claire talks about how the bin chicken was a sacred bird in Egypt, and the Australian genetics research helping to tell this story. Chris looks at things in black and white and striped all over, by reviewing the research around why zebras have evolved stripes. And Stu discusses where DNA and RNA evolved from, and how German scientists are recreating primordial RNA creating so...

Stu finds out why some German neuroscientists put algae in a frog's brain, Claire investigate's an eagle's massive phone bill, and Chris looks into a new story of human origins in Africa. 

It's our annual Lost in Science Fictions special! In celebration of the lunar landing 50th anniversary, Stu gives us the rundown on fictional voyages to the Moon throughout history, Chris fact-checks David Bowie's Space Oddity, and Claire gives a spoiler-filled science review of the movie Ad Astra.

This week we honour the winners of the 2019 Nobel prizes in the science categories, and Stu takes a trip to space to explore some new discoveries, and mark the passing of a space pioneer. 

This week, Chris speaks to palaeontologist Hazel Richards about the bizarre features of extinct Australian marsupial megafauna, the Palorchestids; and Stu tells us about a mind-controlled cyborg exoskeleton that's given a Frenchman with a spinal cord injury the ability to move again.

Stu investigates a bacterial disappearing act that has impaired doctors treating chronic infection patients, Chris Talks about how science really advances based on a study of changes in biomedicine after researchers die, and Claire fills us in on a new super oyster that can handle changed water conditions and how they might be useful in the future. 

Claire and Stu discuss a grisly mystery in Western Australia that leads to a benefit for Australian ecology, and Chris tries to untangle the mystery of why headphone cables get tangled up in your pocket. 

This week, Chris explains how recent media reports about a possible higher stroke risk for vegetarians missed the big news of their lower rates of heart disease; Claire shocks us with the discovery of new, high-voltage species of electric eels – sorry, "knifefish"; and Stu tells us about research into developing an anti-ageing pill that targets the thymus gland.

It is the Eureka Prizes once again, Australian Science's night of nights, and Claire catches us up on the who the winners were! Chris takes us to Scotland and to the science making headlines to uncover Lochness Monster DNA. And ever wanted to clone your beloved dog or cat? Stu talks about the costs, the science, and the progress of the pet cloning industry.

Claire talks to Linden Ashcroft about the recent IPCC report on climate change and what it means, and Stu tries to see what is the smallest animal on earth.