Shirtloads of Science

...and the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics goes to  - Black Hole Research - split three ways. 50% to Roger Penrose and his "robust prediction of  Einstein's general theory of relativity".  Andrea Ghez and Reinhard Genzel shared the rest for finding "a supermassive compact object at the centre of our galaxy". Dr Karl probes Prof. Lewis on what this means and why Black Holes have glowing rings.  www.ger...

Is this real or a Simulation ? How much science and how much fiction is there in movies like the Matrix, Fantasia, Total Recall  or Dark Star? Is this a rehearsal ? How might we tell ? Dr Karl does a 2020 reality check with Professor Geraint Lewis. www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com

Which stars shine brightest ? Professor Geraint Lewis tells Dr Karl about the ultra-shiny heavenly objects he has found.    www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com

Sixty years ago Venus was our twin - tropical but possibly Earth-like.  NASA's 1962  Mariner 2 mission blew that up . It showed Venus unfit for life - too hot with hostile chemistry. Glimmers of hope have recently appeared. Doctors Jess and Karl discuss life on Venus. With sharper instruments and more knowlege of Life - what are the chances? www.drkarl.com  

We are learning more about Black Holes with the latest detection Technology. Prof. Geraint Lewis tells Dr Karl about how we found black hole twins, how we know they are not identical and what it means for Einstein's predictions.  www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com

Dr Karl probes Professor Lewis on the latest on Dark Matter. Is it evenly spread ? Are there Dark Halos ? Galactic contact - fact or fiction ? Big questions with the best answers we have at the moment. (Trigger Warning - ep includes Dark Light)  www.geraintflewis.com drkarl.com

An episode of colossal proportions on the shape of space. Your mind will be blown in multiple dimensions. Dr Jessica also explains to Dr Karl three ways  the Universe can end. (Trigger warning : none have a restaurant and donuts are mentioned many times).  

Dr Karl visits Dr Nick for a health and diet check-up. 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 - whatever your age. Twitter: @drnickfuller Website:  www.intervalweightloss.com.au More from Dr Nick include Fasting(164), Worst and Best(140), Salt(124), Fads(120), White Drinks(114 ) & Diet(86)

Are "Goldilocks" zones overrated ? Can the mediocrity principle be overturned ? What about outer Galactic suburbs - are they the place to be ? Dr Karl and Prof Lewis discuss interstellar Real Estate and the best places to live.   www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com

Speed limits are painful. So why is there a light speed limit on space travel (299,792km/s) ? Surely we can bend Einstein without breaking the Universe. Dr Karl (antigravity enthusiast) and Professor Geraint Lewis (real scientist) take it to the limit. How fast can we go ?

Meet the Black Hole family. Dr Jessica Bloom takes Dr Karl through the three we've identified so far. So do they do more than suck ? Was Roger Penrose on the money when he suggested darkness as an energy source? The big questions are discussed in this second dark podcast. 

Extraordinary discoveries are being made in the galactic darkness. Dr. Jessica Bloom assembles the historical, theoretical and observational data that are causing a rethink of black holes. Why are they at the astrophysical crossroads ?  And Dr Karl estimates our civilization's Kardashev ranking - how advanced are we ? Part 1 of a double black hole podcast. https://drkarl.com/    https://en.wikiped...

Entropy comes from the Greek word for transformation. It is often used to describe the irreversible evening-out of stuff. In astronomy it is often called "the Heat death of the Universe". Entropy originated with the centuries-old laws of thermodynamics. So how is Entropy holding up? Dr Karl and professor Geraint Lewis put it to the test.  http://www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com

2020 is a milestone in space travel. The International Space Station received astronauts from a privately owned mission. So how do the USA's shuttle, Russia's Soyuz and Musk's Dragon stack up ? Doctor Karl and Professor Geraint Lewis review the modern history of human space flight.      http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/ http://drkarl.com

Ninety years ago we first measured the rate of our expanding Universe. Today our accuracy is better but the new techniques are producing different numbers. Are there gremlins in our measurements or is it the Universe travelling in unexpected ways ?  Dr Karl and Prof Geraint Lewis discuss this huge question. http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/ http://drkarl.com

First observed in 2007, FRBs are becoming a very useful astronomical tool. In 2020,  flashes were analysed and suggested an answer to that age-old question about the Universe. Most of it is unobserved - so where is it hiding ? Dr Karl and Prof Lewis take a walk through the FRBs and Magnetars, the new phenomena making headlines . Drkarl.com   https://theconversation.com/half-the-matter-in-the-unive...

What does "proving" a theory  really mean ? Is there a difference between Scientifically proving or proving it Mathematically ? Dr Karl and Prof Geraint Lewis discuss the meanings of these ideas and how they are applied today. From pandemics to climate change, we depend on solid science - so how do you tell if something has been proved?  http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/ http://drkarl.com

Solar PV Panels have transformed our energy mix in the 21st century. Efficiency is up and costs and carbon emissions are lower.  What next ? Imagine a solar film that squeezes 10% more out of the sun ? Professor Anita Ho-Baillie walks Dr Karl through solar PV and this phenomenal new approach. Barely 10 years in development, is there a Perovskite Solar efficiency race already ?  

They're Cosmic ... but are they Rays ? Dr Karl gets the briefing from a recent University of Sydney astrophysics graduate, Dr Jessica Bloom. Cosmic Rays were found ages ago and still baffling us with more questions. Dr Jessica and Dr Karl go to the ends of the earth on this cosmic quest.      https://drkarl.com/ https://www.facebook.com/astrokitten/photos/  

Lockdowns are a rational first response to a pandemic but what happens while we wait for a vaccine or treatment to be developed ? Dr Karl joins Prof Holmes in Part 3 of this series looking at Covid-19 tests. What is the difference between them ? Professor of Virology, Eddie Holmes also explains how our immune system fights a virus and why this one has been so hard to beat - so far.  @EdwardCHolmes...

Pandemics are complex so we rely on statistics to manage them. So how come the numbers vary so much around the world? Dr Karl asks Virology Professor Holmes why and also discovers which local factors also affect Covid-19 statistics.  Australia's secret national chook stockpile is revealed and Professor Holmes estimates the rubbery-ness of some well known figures. Note: episode recorded in late May...

Virology and evolutionary biologist Professor Eddie Holmes takes Dr Karl time travelling to visit a deadly virus. Many of today's treatments took thousands of years to develop.  Smallpox proved to be a tough virus to manage but it also taught us how to fight back. From skin scratching to cows, the American Civil War, Baltic mummies and DNA -  Science finally stopped smallpox in its tracks.  @Edwar...

A-Prof Alice Motion explores the chemistry and properties of the 29th element for Dr Karl.  This persistent contact killer is amazingly passive (nothing else is needed). We've known of its benefits for thousands of years and yet chrome, plastics and stainless steel prevail in our healthcare facilities.  @all_isee @_breakinggood https://drkarl.com/

Dr Simon Murphy explains to  Dr Karl the extraordinary behaviour of a star in the early stages of life.  Observed only recently, it widens our understanding of new stars.  https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2020/03/10/astronomy-new-type-of-pulsating-star-discovered.html http://drkarl.com  

We can't see the Great Attractor but we've measured its presence. We're falling into Virgo and Virgo can't resist its force. Is Dark Energy involved? What is the "zone of avoidance"? Professor Geraint Lewis helps Dr Karl with his homework.   http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/ http://drkarl.com