Lost in Science

This week Stu looks at some recent discoveries in our spatial backyard around the solar system, and Chris looks into new research that points to a cleaning chemical as a possible cause of Parkinsons disease

Claire talks about the deadly fungus Amanita phalloides, the Death Cap which kills more people than any other foraged fungus every year, and how an antidote might help bring that number down. Stu is back on the AI train, looking at some positives from medical research that may save time and give people more time by saving lives.

This week, Stu explains how nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert the essential element into ammonia for biological use, and how new research transfers this ability to photosynthetic organisms; and Chris looks at scientific experiments into near-death experiences, including a recent study showing spikes in brain activity when the heart stops beating. Parnia et al. 2014 “AWARE—AWAreness during REsuscita...

Chris talks to Julie McInnes about the work of the Macquarie Island foundation in restoring and protecting the ecosystem of an Australian Antacrctic island, and Stu looks into the use of human tissue in computing technology. 

This week we celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in ICT with an interview with Linda McIver about gender representation and the worrying aspects of machine learning including the potential for implicit bias. Also on the show Chris takes us down to the local park and applies the scientific method to the humble playground swing! Can you apply physics to make you go higher?

Milk glorious milk... all mammals share one common trait, they all start their lives on a liquid diet, made possible by the wonder of the mammary gland. Claire has a look into the diversity of this gland that unites more than 6000 species of animal including humans. And Stu has a look at the scientific method and offers some questions to ask about claims that might sound sciencey, but really are n...

This week, Stu looks into research about how to prevent or pull people away from beliefs in conspiracy theories; and Chris reports on a recent study that detected sounds emitted by plants under stress.

This week on the show Claire speaks to Aaron Eger from the Kelp Forest Alliance about these incredible underwater habitats, the threats they are under, the research being done and how we can all help be part of the solution. Find out more info and how to help: www.greatsouthernreef.comAlso on the show, everyone's favourite topic, Dinosaurs! Stu looks at some new research into dinosaur anatomy that...

This week on the show Chris delves into the weird and wonderful world of crystals and the science behind quasicrystals and time crystals. Also on the show Stu talks about new research that uncovers some of what we did not understand how cells double and then divide.

This week Chris touches on the ongoing search for an origin of covid-19, but also jumps back into the science of the multiverse, or at least one version of the hypothesis suggested by quantum mechanics. And Stu looks back into the history of IVF in human reproduction, and takes a look forward to possible future technologies in the field. 

This week, Stu gives us the buzz on research into why mosquitoes bite some people more than others, so that hopefully one day something can be done about it; and Chris digs into recent claims of the discovery of superconductors that work at room temperature, and why many physicists are sceptical about it.

For this special epidode for International Women's Day we speak to geologist Dr Ashleigh Hood about her fascinating research that has taken her around the globe asking huge existential questions and figuring out how life evolved on this planet. Also on the show Catriona shares the stories of less recognised women in science.

We're all diet conscious on this week's show, as Claire delves into the relative environmental credentials of various animal proteins to find out if feathers, fur or fins are doing the best by the earth as a protein source. And Chris looks at a health issue which has affected him personally and will affect many people in their lives, the risk of cardiovascular disease. How is it measured, what is...

This week, Stu talks about a fossil discovery that overturns the existing theory of which species was the original vertebrate to evolve; and Chris looks into the sensational notion that supermassive black holes may be harbouring the dark energy that drives the accelerating expansion of the universe.

This week on the show we hear about the science of weather balloons, (or are they spy balloons?) and why they are so important to developing robust weather forecasting. Also on the show Stu takes a look at some of the ground breaking science that happened over the month of January.

Chris takes a trip through the planet core to find out why news reports were telling that the core had stopped spinning, and Stu takes a look at the new technology of ChatGPT, what is it, what does it do, and is it the end of take home exams?

Claire returns to Lost in Science this week, to tell us what she’s learnt about her new baby, and how the needs of altricial human infants compare to other precocial animals that are ready to get up and go straight after birth; and Chris examines a new study into how the proportion of disruptive or paradigm-shifting research has declined across fields, and what may be the reasons for that.

A rerun of an interview from June 2022 with Barkandji woman Zena Cumpston, curator of Emu Sky, an exhibition which explores and illuminates Indigenous perspectives related to science, innovation, plant use, land management and agricultural practice. Her book was published in September 2022, co-authored with Michael Fletcher, Lesley Head and is called Plants Past Present and Future

It’s another Summer Series episode of greatest hits, in which we hear from immunologist and science communicator Catriona Nguyen-Robertson about her recently completed PhD research and direct personal experience of how the immune system's T cells can also target fats and oils; and Catriona also tells us about studies into pharmacological waste or medicines in our waterways, including Prozac (fluox...

Summer series continues as we hear from Claire about close encounters of a monotreme kind, and how they are being saved in the wild. And also Claire looks into the detective story of figuring out how mammals became warm blooded animals and what it has to do with ears.

This week on the Lost in Science Summer Series, we replay our interview with climate scientist Professor Michael Mann about how not to lose hope about climate change, and Chris gives an update on how the climate is looking coming into 2023.

In our final episode for 2022, Stu gives a lightning overview of some of the many important science stories we didn’t have time to cover, and Chris runs back over the stories that have had updates since we last talked about them.

It’s a festive food episode, as Chris digs into the science of Christmas pudding, particularly how it’s cooked so differently to regular cakes thanks to physics and chemistry; and Stu digs even deeper into one of the chemical reactions involved, the Maillard reaction that makes cooked food brown and tasty.

Catriona investigates the origins of cat people, or more specifically where and when did cats become domesticated. And also, whether they are truly domesticated at all. Chris looks at a favourite insect, the colourful and seasonal Australian Christmas beetle, which many people think is disappearing, but a national citizen science project aims to keep tabs on the flying baubles. 

This week, Chris talks to climatologist Michael Mann, creator of the famous Hockey Stick Graph, about his research into rising temperatures, and what we can do to continue reducing emissions and not give in to doom; and with World Soil Day upon us, Stu gives us a run down on the basics of soil and the new CSIRO website https://ansis.net/Tickets to see Michael Mann in May and June 2023 are availabl...