Ultramarine: the science of our oceans and waterways

This is an episode from our new podcast, It Starts With... available on Apple , Spotify and ConnectSci . If you enjoy this, check out part 2 of our turtles chat on It Starts With... Australia’s freshwater turtles are some of the country’s most fascinating and under-appreciated animals. They can live for decades, survive incredible injuries, help clean river systems and in some cases even breathe u...

David Boldeman speaks with CSIRO marine biogeochemist Dr Elizabeth Shadwick about one of Australia’s most important long-running ocean climate observation programs, the Southern Ocean Time Series south of Tasmania. Anchored in waters around 4500 metres deep, this remote ocean observatory allows scientists to measure how the Southern Ocean absorbs heat and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and ho...

Host David Boldeman speaks with ConnectSci science journalist Imma Perfetto about new research that has, for the first time, measured the hearing range of humpback whales in the wild. The discussion explores why understanding whale hearing is critical, particularly because whales rely heavily on sound for communication, navigation and finding food in the dark ocean environment. Imma explains that...

David Boldeman is joined by science journalist Ellen Phiddian to explore a deceptively simple question: how do scientists actually know the oceans are warming? The conversation unpacks the global network of measurements that allow researchers to track heat across the world’s oceans, from early ship-based observations to modern satellite systems and autonomous Argo floats that dive thousands of met...

Four and a half thousand years ago, people were already navigating the dangerous waters of the High Arctic. In this episode of the ConnectSci Podcast Ultramarine series, David Boldeman speaks with journalist Evrim Yazgin about new research showing how ancient Arctic communities crossed open ocean, thrived in extreme environments, and even helped shape the ecosystems around them. For the latest sci...

We travel nearly ten kilometres beneath the surface of our own planet to explore one of the most extraordinary discoveries in modern science. For decades, the search for extraterrestrial life has focused on distant planets and far-off stars. But some of the most compelling clues may be hiding in the deepest trenches of Earth’s oceans. In total darkness, under crushing pressure and without any sunl...

Mosquitoes are usually framed as pests and disease carriers. But what if they are simply one of the most successful species at adapting to the environments we have built? In this episode Ultramarine, David Boldeman is joined by medical entomologist Dr Véronique Paris to explore the hidden water systems inside our cities and how they shape mosquito life. Véronique is a Research Fellow in Medical En...

Ocean currents are the hidden systems that regulate Earth’s climate, moving heat and energy around the planet. But as the ocean warms, those currents are beginning to shift, with major consequences for Australia. In this episode of the Ultramarine, science journalist Ellen Phiddian explains how ocean currents work, how scientists track their movement, and why predicting their future is so complex....

David Boldeman is joined by science journalist Ellen Phiddian to explore the strange and often misunderstood physics of tides. The conversation unpacks why most coastlines experience two tides a day, why tidal behaviour varies so dramatically around the world, and what tide charts are actually measuring. Along the way, they examine spring and king tides, the influence of geography and ocean shape,...

This episode explains how sea level rise is measured — not just that it’s happening. It demystifies the tools, the data, and the validation process that sit behind one of the most talked-about climate metrics. Sea level is a baseline measurement that underpins city planning, infrastructure design, flood risk modelling, and long-term coastal decision-making. Understanding how we know builds trust i...

In this Ultramarine episode of the Connect Sci Podcast, host David Boldeman speaks with Sean Daly from Citizens of the Reef about how students, teachers, and everyday Australians can play a real role in protecting the Great Barrier Reef. Sean explains the major threats facing coral reefs — especially climate change and outbreaks of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish — and why traditional scientific monitori...

Australia has more than 1.7 million farm dams, and together they play a far greater role in climate and environmental health than most people realise. In this episode of the ConnectSci Podcast, host David Boldeman speaks with Dr Martino Malerba, freshwater ecologist and Senior Lecturer at RMIT University, about the surprising science behind these small but significant water bodies. Hosted on Acast...

Host David Boldeman explores the underwater world of the Sydney Seahorse ( Hippocampus whitei ) with marine expert Patrick Noble from Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. This small, endangered species is the only seahorse listed as threatened in Australia, and Patrick shares the incredible science and conservation efforts working to save it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dive into the crucial issue of ocean pollution and explore real-world solutions with two passionate advocates for marine conservation. Ultramarine hosts David Boldeman and Steven Boldeman are joined by Tom Batrouney, environmental advocate and community lead at Seabin, and Ashley Hayes, Community Social & Environmental Impact Lead at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. Together they unpack how citizen a...