Shirtloads of Science

October 15th is Ada Lovelace Day and celebrates women in science, tech, engineering, and math.  Ada was Lord Byron's daughter but most significantly she realised the potential of computers two centuries ago. Ada is now believed to be the first person to publish an algorithm. She is one of many women forgotten by science as Dr Jessica Bloom tells Dr Karl.  https:/drkarl.com  

Doctor Karl talks with the Chief Scientist of Australia. Superconductors, Sunscreen, LEDs, Phonons, Vaccines  - is anything off limits? In an age where science is everywhere how does a Chief Scientist operate ?     https://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/ Twitter @ScienceChiefAu drkarl.com

Dr Karl and cosmologist professor Paul Davies discuss what we are still learning about the Universe.  Antigravity, inflation, Olbers' paradox, extraterrestrial life - have been eternal puzzles. Piece by piece we are assembling a bigger picture ... but is it getting any clearer ? https://drkarl.com/ https://beyond.asu.edu/ deepthought@asu.edu

Is our universe one of a long cycle of repeating universes? Or is it something different? Dr K takes a ride with Prof Geraint through concepts of cycling universes. http://www.drkarl.com http://www.geraintflewis.com

130 million years ago marsupials roamed the earth along with dinosaurs.  Today only marsupials survive. Dr Karl meets Professor Kathy Belov to  discover their secrets of survival and what we are now learning from them. Anyone for koala peptides ?  http://www.drkarl.com https://twitter.com/kathybelov

Globular clusters are spherical collections of stars. The Milky Way has 150. Most galaxies have them. Professor Lewis gives an update on these freaky outliers. Are they are older and wiser residents of galactic space?  http://www.drkarl.com http://www.geraintflewis.com  

Did the Big Bang make a noise? Can we measure the acoustics of a star? Neutrons or Protons - which lasts longest ? A 20-year experiment has answers to questions we never thought of asking. Professor Geraint Lewis reveals to Dr Karl the power of the baryon.  http://www.drkarl.com http://www.geraintflewis.com

On Wednesdays Dr Karl meets with school students around Australia (and sometimes overseas). He loves hearing what the curious young minds are thinking about. Their questions often set off new ways of thinking. Occasionaly the simplest questions are the hardest. This episode of Shirtloads is a Q&A session with the students from Aspendale Primary School, Victoria in May 2021. Enjoy! https://drkarl.c...

Dr Karl investigates Australia's latest CubeSat mission. It's called "CUAVA-1" and aims to measure blue carbon from space. Geosciences Associate Professor Eleanor Bruce is coordinating the team of researchers mapping coastlines for aquatic vegetation. Space Physics Professor Iver Cairns is squashing the technology into a package the size of a fat packet of biscuits.  Dr Karl uncovers a truly Austr...

Dr Karl uncovers a truly Australian "Apollo 13" story . It includes a fishing line, amateur radio enthusiasts and a clever ground crew who "worked the problem". The mission was INSPIRE-2. Professor Eleanor Bruce and Professor Iver Cairns tell this extraordinary story.  drkarl.com Inspire2 Cubesat @arc_cuava

In 2015 our observable universe unofficially added a new dimension. Dr Karl talks with ANU Professor Susan Scott about why she had to keep the discovery of gravitational waves a secret. Also how gravitational waves are helping us understand black holes so much better. @ozgravityguru drkarl.com

In 2016 our observable universe officially added a new dimension : Gravitational waves. On that international LIGO team was an Australian theoretical physicist. Dr Karl talks with ANU distinguished professor Susan Scott about those observations and what Neutron stars may be revealing about their insides.  @ozgravityguru drkarl.com

The fastest circumnavigation route by sea is via the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. It is also the most dangerous. Australian solo sailer, Lisa Blair,  has been there once already. She now is trying again . Dr Karl finds out why. lisablairsailstheworld.com drkarl.com

At best, Earth is 1/3 soil. In recent years much has turned to dirt.  This too-little-reported extinction crisis threatens us all. Chef and Farmer Matthew Evans gives Dr Karl his insight on the inch-thick survival strategy that could save us. We need to reinhabit the surface of our earth with a natural biome.   drkarl.com Matt Evans

Budgets are economic planning documents. Spending will feed growth. Cuts cause shrinkages.  So what do Australian budgets say about the future ? Dr Karl asks economist Dr Richard Denniss' for his insights into the choices for 2022 and beyond. (Ute=Utility=Pickup (USA) & Uni=University) @RDNS_TAI Drkarl.com  

Dr Karl meets a PhD student studying frogs on Australia's East Coast. Many species are on the edge of extinction. Frogs living on the fringe of human habitations are most at risk. So how best can we best care for biodiversity ?   IUCN Redlist Frog ID App ebird

Celebrities often support pills, potions and creams that purport to make you look younger. What about dietary supplements for your skin ? Jennifer Aniston became the face of one brand's collagen campaign recently. Is there any science in it ? Professor  Clare Collins tells Dr Karl.  the conversation nomoneynotime

Dietician Professor Clare Collins gives this celebrity diet expert analysis. UK singer Adele claimed it transformed her (along with Pilates and a personal trainer). The diet is based on a group of proteins called "Sirtuins". Adele sang its praises but is Sirtfood a fad, a fact or something in-between? the conversation    

What is inside the heart of an atom ? Why does it stay together ? The relative dimensions of atoms are huge - Imagine a fly in a cathedral (the fly is a nucleus). Professor Lewis takes Dr Karl on a journey to the center of matter as we know it.   drkarl.com www.geraintflewis.com

Dr Karl visits Dr Nick to compare two currently popular diets - the Low carbohydrate and the Ketogenic diet. . Dr Fuller talks through the basics of both and and what you can do to make lasting healthy changes. @drnickfuller intervalweightloss.com.au

Taxonomy is how science classifies life. Sage Fitzgerald is a coral taxonomist and in  this episode she schools Dr Karl on how it works. They discuss the phoenix project and the chase for new coral species and news from the Great Barrier Reef.  Sage is also involved in the 'Pint O Science' Festival running until 28 May 2021. @seasciencesage coralprojectphoenix.org

Dr Karl visits Dr Nick for an analysis of the latest diets. In Covid times it is harder to stay in shape. Dr Fuller talks through the basics and what we can do to make healthy changes that last. @drnickfuller intervalweightloss.com.au

An interview with one of the pilots of a 10.9 km dive into the Mariana Trench. It is deeper than Everest is high . The two-seat submersible is capable of withstanding huge forces and Dr Karl discusses the extreme physics and engineering needed to build and test the craft.    drkarl.com  

When subatomic particles make news, Dr Karl and Professor Lewis are ready to help. The "chubby electron" has been neglected for decades, so why the fuss ? By popular request here is a special episode dedicated to why muons matter. www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com  

What happens when the temperature seriously drops? Will "Dead Star" be more than a David Bowie album? Are protons the new Time lords? How Cool is a cool Universe ? Proessor Lewis updates Dr Karl on what the end of time miht look like. www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com