Lost in Science

It's the Lost in Science summer series, where we present tales from the Laborastory. This week, former WA Chief Scientist Professor Lyn Beazley tells the story of Australian geneticist and neurologist Pat Kailis; and comedian Jess Moir talks about the well-liked 17th century scientist, physician, alchemist and intellectual Katherine Boyle.

A Science Christmas Carol takes us to science past, where Chris looks at a trespass against science, which was happily corrected, Claire looks at the science of Christmas Present and what it means in Australia, and Stu looks to the future of Christmas in Space!

Do you like all things crypto-zoology? This week on the show Stu looks at the possible evidence of the cryptic Yeti of the Himalayas. Also, Manisha looks at the *scientifically proven* ways you can use your memory to the best of its ability using science. And Chris gives us an update on the recently described condition Aphantasia, or lacking a "minds eye", and how Australian scientists are finding...

On this sparkly, filthy, magical episode, we find out how come in the 21st century some water companies are still using dowsing or water divining to locate leaks, we learn that flies carry even more disease-causing bacteria than we thought, and we reveal how glitter is bad for the environment and we should all use bio-friendly but hopefully non-boring alternatives instead.

It's a big show this week: Manisha tells us all about the the New Zealand bird of the year, the Kea, and how intelligent it is. Also, Claire frightens us with news about paralysis ticks spreading allergy to red meat, as if paralysis wasn't bad enough. Stu explains how to use lasers to cool teeny tiny aluminium cans down to near absolute zero; and Chris finds out how and why crested pigeons make a...

This week on Lost in Science we hear from Dr Dominique Hes about house plants and a great new app that helps you green your home and clean the air. Also this week Claire takes a look at the newly discovered and described Orangutan, the first great ape to be discovered in over 70 years, and Chris talks about how physics and cosmic rays are helping to identify undiscovered chambers in the great Egyp...

Chris brings the story of striped feathered dinosaurs to life based on new discoveries of preserved pigments, and Claire dives deep into whaleontology to talk with Felix Marx, an expert on whale fossils and what they can tell us about their origins and spread throughout the world. 

Chris and Stu talk to PhD candidate Andrew Lynch about his research into genre fiction, including science fiction, and to screenwriter Sarah Dollard about her work on the longest running science fiction series in history, Doctor Who. 

This week, marine scientist Sophie Burgess tells us everything we want to know about scallops and how to predict their population, and microbiologist Tim Stinear explains why we shouldn't panic about Mycobacterium ulcerans, aka the flesh-eating bacteria that's causing Buruli ulcers on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, but how you can protect yourself nevertheless. DHHS website:https://www2.health.v...

After the announcement of a new Australian space agency, Chris looks back at Australia's forgotten history in space and what the future might hold. Meanwhile, Manisha tells us about how climate change may be causing Finnish owls to evolve more brown than grey plumage.

Claire looks into the future of Ethiopian coffee growing as climate change pushes coffee growers further up mountainsides for the best coffee. Chris runs through the winners of the 2017 IgNobel prizes for scientific research that makes you laugh, then makes you thinkStu talks to Cara Penton from Charles Darwin University who is researching the decline of indigenous mammal species in response to ch...

This week, Chris looks at inflammation, which is the immune response that leads to cold symptoms and which is also the subject of much research because of its connection to other conditions. Also, Claire talks to physicist Gail Iles about training astronauts, flying in microgravity, making magnetic nanoparticles and designing cubesats.

Associate Professor Jochen Brocks talks to Stu about the algae explosion that happened 650 million years ago, and offers answers as to how and when animals evolved. Also this week we take a look at Australian science's "night of nights" the Eureka Prizes, and the innovations of some of the winners.

Stu looks at what causes hiccups and if there is a surefire cure, while Chris answers the question "Magnets, how the fudge do they work?"

This week, Claire talks to bone marrow donor Ollie Barrand about what happens in a donation and how it saves lives. To find out more about joining the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, go to www.abmdr.org.auAlso, Chris asks marine biologist Genefor Walker-Smith all about the flesh-eating amphipods that attacked a Melbourne teenager.

This week on the show Chris explains the science and reliability of ancestry DNA kits. Claire talks to Tilly Boleyn about how are women and their innovations and stories are represented in museum collections. Stu ponders whether there are any undiscovered elements out in the universe.

Stu catches up with the Cassini probe's planned final days in orbit around Saturn, Claire looks at how sex is determined in animals, and Chris talks to Alan Duffy and Cara Santa Maria about their upcoming show in November, Beyond the Eye. 

This week, Chris tells us about an impending redefinition of the kilogram, Claire reveals a glue made from sticky slug excretions, and Stu looks at the lack of good science associated with gender testing in sporting competitions.

This week on Lost in Science Stu looks at the buzz around bees and pesticides, specifically one group of pesticides, the neonicotinoids. Is it all gloom and doom as the internet would have us think? Manisha looks at the phosphorus cycle and how megafauna poop plays a bigger role than expected in keeping our soils high in this essential nutrient. And did you know National Science Week is just aroun...