Lost in Science

This week on the show Stu investigates the MTHFR gene, a gene that helps the body to process folate, but is also at the centre of some dubious misinformation by the "Wellness Industry".Also on the show this week, Chris turns his mind to the Northern Hemisphere's summer, and the fires that are currently burning in the arctic circle - why is this happening, and what will be the effects!

This week in the spirit of the International Year of Plant Heatlh, Stu tells us about the arms race between brassicas – which include vegetables such as cabbages, kale, cauliflower and broccoli – and their pests and diseases; meanwhile Claire shares what it's like to get tested for COVID-19, and how recent research shows that "superspreaders" could be responsible for clusters of coronavirus outbre...

This week on the show we delve into some controversial medical science. First up Chris revisits the research on Hydroxychloroquine, also known as Donald Trump's favourite COVID-19 medication, and the most recent research about this treatment that has come out, and subsequently been retracted. Also this week Stu brings us up-to-date on CRISPR and what medical advances are currently being made, and...

This week on Locked-in Science we confront some common fears, as Claire speaks to Victoria Camilieri-Asch about her research on shark brains to find out how well they can really smell; and Stu investigates rumours of flying spiders, with some surprising results.

This week on another episode of Locked-in Science, Chris talks to Pint of Science speaker Kyla Adams about research into the vortices of quantum fluids, and Claire brings us a story from water scientist Bradley Moggridge in his own words finding connections between his indigenous heritage and his scientific career. 

This week on the show Stu speaks to Dr Jen Sanger from the University of Tasmania about her research which suggests that logging forests can increase the intesnity of bushfires. Also on the show, Chris shares some personal news, him and his partner are expecting twins! So in true scientific fashion, he has hit the scientific journals and brings us the most uptodate research into the science of twi...

This week's Locked-in Science brings us International Nurses Day in 2020, which is also the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, marking 200 years since the birth of Florence Nightingale. Clare talks to Professor Marie Gerdtz from the University of Melbourne about what has and hasn't changed since then, and the impact on nurses of the COVID-19 pandemic. And Stu brings a galaxy of space new...

On the show this week, we continue our Locked in Science show, with Chris looking into the (grape) pressing issue of why wine sticks to the side of your glass, and Claire explores the wild world of Sourdough. 

This week on Locked in Science, Claire speaks to Paul Bertsch from the CSIRO about the successful detection of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in sewage in Brisbane, as a way of tracking infections. Also, Stu shares some science that's become possible due to people being in lockdown, and Chris tells us about Australia's rapidly updated guidelines for treating COVID-19, which can be found online at covi...

This week on Locked in Science, our second socially isolated show Claire suggests some citizen science projects you can take part in while in isolation, some which could help find treatments for COVID-19, and some that will get your mind off it altogether. And now that we are all online shopping more Stu looks at what the relative carbon footprint is of online versus in store shopping. And Chris i...

In our first remotely recorded, socially distant episode, we look at some of the research on the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the disease COVID-19. Claire tells us about a new study into how long the virus lasts in the air and on various surfaces, Stu explains what’s involved in developing a vaccine, and Chris dives into the controversy around possible treatment with chloroquine and hydroxychloroqui...

Chris talks to epidemiologist Freya Shearer about the impacts of COVID-19 and how it's transmitted, Stu looks at how new viruses can appear, and Claire explains at how to look after ourselves if we self isolate during the pandemic. 

It's the International Women's Day Lost in Science special with special guests Alanta Colley and Sarah Nagorcka joining Claire in the studio. This week on the show Sarah tells the incredible story of pharmacologist Gertrude Elion and her story of dedication and perseverance in the face of sexism. Also about how women in STEM around the world are increasing recognition of female identifying scienti...

This week, Chris ranks the biggest explosions ever in the universe, Stu reveals how 42,000-year-old nematodes are coming back to life from thawing permafrost, and Claire speaks to Ellie Michaelides about the Wild by Nature short film competition. Details at www.rememberthewild.org.au/wild-by-nature

This week on the show Claire chats to Professor Jared Cole from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science about how quantum mechanics is helping to create more efficient and sustainable solar panels and why this is so important. And Chris describes new research suggesting that global human body temperatures have been cooling over the last 100 years.

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.