Lost in Science

This week, Claire speaks to medical researcher Eliza Colgrave about endometriosis, what it is, how common it is, and what science is telling us about causes, diagnosis and possible treatment; and Chris tells us about how 30 years since the controversial claims of cheap energy from cold fusion, the topic is being reexamined by Google.

This week we look into technology, being used for good and... less than good. Claire looks at how drones can impact the lives of wildlife Chris looks at how disruptive technologies can disrupt our lifestyles, and Stu looks at how science is begin gamified to solve some heavy number crunching science problems In games like Fold It, EteRNA and more. 

This week on the show Stu talks macadamia nuts with Dr Chris Hardner from the University of Queensland and the incredible new research just published suggesting most of the world's commercial macadamia nut stock may come from one tree in Australia. Also on the show Chris pays tribute to Murray Gell-Man, whose groundbreaking research investigating particle physics led to the discovery of none other...

This week, Stu tells us about the life of Australian spider expert Barbara York Main, who among many other things recorded the longest-lived spider in the world; and Claire talks to Dr Kiri Beilby about how age affects fertility in both women and men, and getting reliable information from sources like yourfertility.org.au

On this week's show, Stu talks to Dr. Sarah Piper about the possibility of using bacteria to deliver targeted insecticide, Claire finds out if all animals taste in the same way as people, and Chris looks into the problem of plastic pollution. 

This week on the show Chris asks the question "How do carnivorous plants get pollinators if they eat insects?", Stu talks about the essential element Phosphorus, and we hear all about the best of the best science films that made the grade for the SCINEMA the International Science Film Festival in 2019, happening in a city or regional centre near you!

This week, Chris looks at how measuring elements in samples brought back from asteroids could reveal where the Earth's water came from; Stu asks Greg Neely from the University of Sydney about his research into how box jellyfish cause pain, and how that could lead to an antidote; and Claire talks to Elodie Camprasse about scientists speaking about their work in pubs around the country for Pint of S...

Chris looks into claims of sexual harassment in the physics labs of the world, Claire talks to Kit Prendergast about the status of Australian native bee species, and Stu investigates the development of ionic flight, a means of propulsion that relies on no moving parts to fly a plane. 

This week, Chris looks at a discovery that perhaps too sensationally claims to show the moment the dinosaurs went extinct; and Claire speaks to Dwan Price from Deakin University about why some substances, such as peanut allergens, can get through our guts to cause an allergic reaction.

On this week's show, Claire finds out when to be wary of the Cassowary, and why they might be likely to attack people, Chris looks into the science behind the recent Black Hole Picture, and Stu finds out how to replace a broken heart, at least possibly in the future. 

This week on the show Claire speaks to immunologist Catriona Nguyen-Robertson about the link between exercise and immune function. Chris explains the new controversy surrounding the Night Parrot, and Stu looks at a medical case of a real life woman with super powers that are now helping others.

This week it's all about Australian species and the threats they face. Stu talks to Adam Cross about the native Albany pitcher plant threatened by poaching and loss of habitat; Claire visits the Australian sea lions at Kangaroo Island, at risk from gillnet fishing; and Chris counts down Australia's top ten invasive species as measured by how many species they threaten.

Stu fills us in on his favourite Anning, Mary Anning: Fossil Hunter, Chris talks to Alanta Colley and Ben McKenzie about their upcoming science comedy show "You Chose Poorly" and we also try out an experiment in our microwave to see if we can get sparks to fly from a grape!

This week on the show we catch up from Ellie Michaelides and Cathy Cavallo from Remember the Wild and hear about the Connected to Port Phillip Initiative to bring awareness and connection to the unique diversity of Port Phillip. Also on the show, comedian Seam M Elliott talks about his new comedy show playing at the Melbourne Interantional Comedy Festival Tesla: Deathrays and Elephants

This week, Stu looks at reports that insect populations are falling, and finds out that the threat may have been exaggerated. Meanwhile, Chris goes on a citizen science expedition and takes part in a flying-fox fly-out count, to find out how populations of these megabats are faring. If you're interested in joining the fly-out count, go to https://megabatcount.wordpress.com/

For International Women's Day, we bring you the stories of three incredible women: Maria Sibylla Merian, whose science and illustrations gave us an understanding of the lifecycle of insects; Lise Meitner, one of the physicists who first acheived nuclear fission, but missed out on the Nobel Prize; and Margaret Wu, one of many women whose calculations made great contributions to science, but didn't...

This week Stu talks about other lost explorers on planets in our solar system, Claire finds out if a spoon in your champagne bottle keeps the bubbles inside, and Chris finds out if gravity could help propel spacecraft to other stars

This week, Chris exhausts everyone with a heap of listener questions about fundamental physics, Stu tells us about an ambitious plan to turn South Australia's Yorke Peninsula into a wildlife sanctuary, and Claire speaks to comedian Alanta Colley about the Transitions Film Festival and its stories of sustainability and improving the world. Find out more at https://www.transitionsfilmfestival.com/

Claire tells us about research at RMIT University into making bricks out of biosolids, aka treated sewage; Chris looks at how science is used or not used in managing water flows in the Murray-Darling Basin; and Stu brings us another element, the bizarre, unique gallium that melts in your hands.

Stu celebrates the International Year of the Periodic Table, Chris talks to Dr. Mark Edmonds about his research into topological switching which will relax some of the boundaries to computing, and Claire finds out what a sustainable and healthy diet will really look like in the future. 

In the last of our 2019 summer series of tales from the Laborastory, stem cell researcher Megan Munsie tells the story of cloning pioneer Sir John Gurdon, and comedian Jess Moir talks about anthropologist Ruth Benedict.

This week our tales from the Laborastory feature comedian Alanta Colley with the story of everyone's favourite primatologist, Jane Goodall, as well as Lost in Science's own Chris Lassig talking about experimental particle physicist Chien-Shiung Wu.

This week our tales from the Laborastory feature comedian and game designer Ben McKenzie talking about Australian computer scientist Veronika Megler, creator of a revolutionary interactive adventure game in 1982; and reproductive scientist Kiri Beilby telling the story of English biologist Christopher Polge, pioneer of freezing sperm for artificial insemination.