Lost in Science

Chris explains the maths and physics of successfully skydiving without a parachute, Manisha talks about how Australia's tectonic plate is splitting and moving faster than expected, and Claire speaks to analytical chemist Oliver Jones about drugs in sport.

You might have missed it but late 2015 Australia saw unprecedented large-scale mangrove die-back in the Gulf of Carpenteria. This week we hear from Professor Damien Burrows from James Cook University about the mangrove die back event; what caused it and what we know about it. Also, a new report produced by the Foodprint Melbourne Project estimates that Melbournians generate over 200kg of food wast...

Tasha Stanton from the University of South Australia talks to us about her research into chronic pain and how our perception of our body can change our reactions to it. Manisha finds out if urban birds are more agressive than their country cousins, and why there is a difference. Julie McInnes from the University of Tasmania talks to Chris about the changing diet of the Albatross, and how researche...

This week, we find out whether science can settle the question of whether saturated fat is good or bad for you, how colour works and the discovery of an unusual new blue pigment, and about bioengineering of spider web from silk worms.

This week Stu looks at morphine, a drug commonly known for its potent analgesic effects and the new research suggesting that it might not have the effect we think it does. Also special guest meteorologist Nate takes us through the difference between weather and climate and talks about two climate science papers published in the same week one good news, one bad news. And Chris concludes his series...

This week, Chris talks to alcohol researcher Michael Livingston about the surprising decline in youth drinking, Claire finds out whether vitamin C prevents the common cold, and Stu reveals the mechanical innovations nature beat humans at.

Politics and batsWhere does each major Australian party sit on science policy? Manisha continues her story about bats, pollination and climate change

The vulnerable Lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) pollinates cactus flowers and the cactus flowers feed the bats. A nice, win-win arrangement, but what happens when climate change changes their schedules? You may have heard about a recent study claiming potatoes cause high blood pressure. But should you believe it? Should you believe any diet science news? We also talk to Lisa Baile...

This week Chris gives us the lowdown Genetically Engineered Crops; Experiences and Prospects, also known as the National Academy of Sciences recently released 400 page report assessing the safety of genetically modified foods. If this leaves you hungry for more the report is available for download here. And speaking of hungry, if you have a Labrador or Retreiver that's always famished, you are not...

Chris talks about two problem species: carp, which is about to be given herpes by Barnaby Joyce, and Noisy miners, which are native birds that drive out other species. Also, Manisha talks about the recent Canadian wildfires that are so big they create their own weather systems, and Stu interviews microbiologist Paul Fisher who works with a team at Latrobe University including Dr. Sarah Annesley an...

Chris talks about the phenomenon of Aphantasia, where some people can't picture things in their minds. Claire discusses a new potential treatment for tasmanian evil facial tumour disease. Manisha talks about the recent Eta Aquarid meteor shower visible in the Southern Hemisphere each year.

This week Manisha puts her fears to one side to give us an insight into saltwater crocodiles. Did you know that saltwater crocodiles 20 different vocalisations they can make with one another. Also, we all know that Japan is prone to natural disasters, but they also have contingency plans to deal with them. Stu celebrates the birthday and the Nobel prize winning work of occasionally controversial B...

Can ugly animals compete with the good and the bad for research and conservation funding? Manisha discusses a recent article in Mammal Review. Chris looks at whether insects have a unique view of the world and what this tells us about the evolution of consciousness. And Stu combines the concepts of studying insects and researching pest animals, and talks to Ernie Steiner from the WA Department of...

The Great Barrier Reef is being devastated by a coral bleaching event caused by rising temperatures. How bad is it, what's being done and what can we do? We talk to James Kerry, project manager of the National Coral Bleaching Taskforce, to find out. Speaking of symbiosis, we talk to Gregory Crocetti, one of the creators of the new graphic novel The Invisible War, about the life and death battle fo...

We look at the bystander effect, the psychological phenomenon where people ignore those who need help, and what can be done to overcome it. We also examine the so-called "wanderlust gene", aka DRD4-7R, said to be associated with the urge to travel and the desire for novelty. And we find out whether the phytoestrogens in your soy and linseed are good for your health.

New Evidence about early hominin known as the Hobbit (Homo floresiensis) show it may not have been a contemporary of modern humans. The new Tesla 3 from Elon Musk might be the electric car people are waiting for, or it might not. Lost in Science regular Manisha fills us in on her recent field work studying Australian Microbats.

This week, Chris talks about WD-40 and its secret formula of hydrocarbons, Stu celebrates the birthdays of René Descartes and another scientist whose name is found in most laboratories, and Claire tells us about the discovery of a pregnant Tyrannosaurus Rex and the world's largest dinosaur.

This week on Lost in Science we investigate the ethics and opportunities of Sci-Hub - Pirate Bay for scientific journal articles. This website was created in 2011 by scientist Alexandra Elbakyan, from Kazakhstan, in reaction to the high cost of scientific research papers behind paywalls. And did you know that all cold and flu tablets are not created equal? Stu looks into the chemistry and pharmaco...

This week, Chris exposes rumours of new particle discoveries, Claire tells us about Australia's only female Nobel Prize winner, medical researcher Elizabeth Blackburn, and Stu gives us an estimate of how long we've got till the end of the universe.

The design of a phase one drug trial in France is being widely questioned after one participant died after administration of a new drug. Countries with insufficient landfill space are using rubbish as a fuel source to generate energy. Rabbits have caused problems in Australia for agriculture and the natural environment since the 19th century, but removing them has shown positive results for native...

For this special edition of Lost in Science we speak to three women at different stages of their career in science and technology about their research, what drives them, and who inspires them. We hear from Mechantronics Engineering student Alex Ware about her experiences and why Ada Lovelace is inspiring a new generation of women in technology. Also Maddy Yewers, PhD candidate and advocate for men...

Everybody's excited about gravitational waves, but why? What do they mean? How were they found, with lasers? How can we possibly know they came from two black holes a billion years ago? How can a whole sun's worth of energy have been used up? How can gravity "wave", as it were? What do colliding black holes sound like? (Much more musical than you'd expect, it turns out.)Claire has some questions,...