Shirtloads of Science

What is the universe actually made of? Particle physicist Theresa Fruth join us at Shirtloads to explore one of science's greatest unsolved mysteries - dark matter! Making up roughly 85% of the universe, yet appearing in none of our known particles, dark matter is invisible, elusive and almost certainly the reason the universe (and us!) exist at all.

Theresa and her team are hunting for it anyway. Working 1.2 kilometres underground in a converted gold mine in regional Victoria, they're searching for WIMPs - weakly interacting massive particles - in one of the quietest, most interference-free environments on Earth. The lab is being built out now, and further experiments are on the horizon. We may be closer to one of the biggest discoveries in scientific history than we realise.

Professor Ollie Jay, a leading expert in heat and health, returns to Shirtloads to discuss the growing toll of climate change on human wellbeing and global economics. Insights drawn from the latest Lancet Countdown report show that over half a million people die from heat-related causes each year, and a million more from fossil fuel pollution - deaths that are largely preventable.

Rising temperatures are quietly reshaping our daily lives, from reducing physical and cognitive productivity, to costing the global economy an estimated trillion dollars annually. But it's not all bleak - Professor Jay highlights that meaningful change is within reach. With the right political action and long-term interventions, we can protect both public health and economic stability - the solutions are already in our hands.

In this episode, we speak with Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis about Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA) - short bursts of high-intensity movement built into everyday life, like walking briskly or carrying groceries. With only a quarter of adults exercising regularly, his research highlights how incidental activity, when done with enough intensity, can offer meaningful health benefits.

We discuss how VILPA is grounded in observational research and the idea of "exercise snacks" which describes quick, accessible moments of effort that add up. The focus is on helping people recognise and maximise these daily opportunities to improve fitness and support long-term health.

We're living through the great Space Boom and with great innovation comes a lot of whacky ideas... Astronomer and Associate Professor Michael Brown from Monash University joins me to discuss stupid things in space. The conversation dives into some of the more bizarre and ambitious ideas circulating the space industry, from firing villains and radioactive waste in to the sun to deploying giant orbital mirrors to light up Earth's dark side. Brown breaks down why many of these concepts are far less practical than they sound. With over 15,000 satellites circling earth, Brown also examines the promises and downsides of mega-constellations like Starlink, including how they operate and the challenges they pose for astronomers and the environment.

It's a fascinating and critical peek in to the intersection of innovation, risk, and imagination in the new space age.

In this episode I sit down with Professor Conny Aerts, a pioneering mathematician and founding figure of astroseismology, who reveals how scientists are "listenting" to stars to understand what's happening deep inside them. From oscillating stars to solar sunquakes, she explains how sound waves can measure the sun's size, age and activity.

Beyond the science, she shares her remarkable journey from a small rural town in Belgium where she had to attend an all-boys school, the only school near her family home. She was expected to become a seamstress but Conny's dreams were beyond this planet, leading her on a path toward becoming a highly acclaimed asteroseismologist.

We're scared to say the D word! But why is talking about death such a taboo? Dr. Hannah Gould, a cultural anthropologist at the University of Melbourne, joins me to discuss the topic in the wake of the release of her new book 'How To Die in the 21st Century'. The discussion dives in to the modern experience of dying, from the pressures of having a 'good death' to the reality of overly medicalised, 'prolonged dwindling'. Hannah unpacks how death isn't just biological but also cultural and legal, raising the question: When does death officially occur? The conversation is an invitation to rethink death - not as something to fear, but as something we can approach with openness, intention, and maybe even a sense of celebration

https://www.hannahgould.com/

When a problem with the James Webb Space Telescope left its images frustratingly out of focus, the solution wasn't fixed in space... it was fixed from Earth. At the University of Sydney, PhD students Dr. Louis Desdoigts and Max Charles spent two years rewriting and refining code to recalibrate a critical instrument designed by Professor Peter Tuthill: the Aperture Masking Interferometer.

Their breakthrough sharpened the telescope's infrared vision unlocking clearer views of distant worlds, including volcanic activity on Io, one of Jupiter's moons. In a fitting tribute, the pair even got matching tattoos of the hardware they helped fix! Not only did their work restore clarity to one of humanity's most powerful observatories, it also saved NASA the immense cost and impossibility of repairing the telescope in space.

This episode features Dr. Linzi Wilson-Wilde and Hannah Jarman discussing the realities of forensic science beyond shows like CSI. Through cases such as the Phantom of Heilbronn case and Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, they explore how flawed evidence and forensic myths have contributed to wrongful convictions. They also examine common misconceptions around techniques like bite mark analysis, fire investigation, and glass evidence. The conversation emphasises the importance of approaching forensic science holistically, recognising it as just one piece of the broader investigative puzzle. www.epistemicsolutions.com.au/

Pharmacist and science communicator Kate Thomas shares how a viral debunking video launched her into the world of online health education. In this episode we explore the booming "wellness woo" economy and sift through the weeds on why misleading short-form content spreads so easily and the risks of unregulated wellness influencers. Kate breaks down the truth about supplements, the power of placebo, and why accessible, personalised health advice is so hard to find online. She also highlights the important role pharmacists play in helping consumers make informed choices.

TikTok & Instagram: @PrescribeOrPass Linkedin: Kate Thomas

***Prof Lucas would like to provide the following clarification in regards to comments relating to prenatal BPA exposure and male autism spectrum disorder: "A positive association between high prenatal BPA exposure and ASD diagnosis was only seen in male offspring with a genetic predisposition to low aromatase enzyme activity." Professor Michaela Lucas, an Immunologist and Immunopathologist researching the health impacts of plastics, joins me to explore what microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals may be doing inside our bodies. We discuss how compounds like bisphenols and phthalates can act like hormone-mimicking molecules, the evidence linking plastic exposure to developmental and fertility concerns, and why some estimates of microplastics in the body may have been overstated. Professor Lucas also shares insights from her ongoing study in Perth examining how everyday exposures, particularly ultra-processed foods packaged in plastic, may contribute to microplastics in the body. Listeners can subscribe to receive the study results when they're released via www.uwa.edu.au/projects/the-perth-trial.

Linkedin: @prof-michaela-lucas/

I'm joined by Dr. Anna Broinowski - Senior Lecturer and Director of the Master of Film and Screen Arts at Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney - to unpack the rise of deepfakes and synthetic media.

We discuss the emergence of deepfake pornography in 2017, the fact that around 90% of deepfake content targets women and girls, and the growing use of AI in propaganda. From political manipulation to fake ads impersonating me (!), this episode explores how deepfakes are eroding trust, and what that means for the future of media, filmmaking and truth more broadly.

Nitrous oxide (better known as "laughing gas") is widely used in medicine as a safe anaesthetic and pain reliever. It's also found in whipped cream canisters and even used in car engines. But Angela Chiew, toxicologist and Associate Professor at UNSW, joins me to set the record straight: the growing recreational misuse of this easily accessible gas is causing serious long-term harm, including nerve damage, cognitive damage, weakening of the spinal cord and mobility impairments. Cases of misuse are rising globally, likely driven by how easy it is to legally purchase the drug in many countries. This episode unpacks the hidden dangers behind a gas many once thought was just a harmless high. Linkedin: Angela Chiew X: AngelaChiewA

In the final episode of the Great AI Safety Debrief series with Dr. Petr Lebedev, we discuss job eradication, AI alignment and the rise in cases of AI deceiving humans. Petr unpacks ideas like AI scheming, situation awareness, parasitic relationships between humans and machines, and even the possibility of AI developing belief systems of its own. We end by zooming out to existential risk, Alan Turing's early warnings, and why aligning AI with human values may be one of the most difficult (and urgent) challenges humanity must face.

Linkedin: Petr Lebedev palisaderesearch.org/

In part two, Dr. Petr Lebedev and I dive deeper into how modern AI systems are grown, not programmed, and the emergence of Shutdown Resistance. We explore AI performance in math and coding competitions, the rapid evolution of ChatGPT models, and why companies are already letting AI write the majority of their code. Petr explains how huge investments globally are pushing these systems forward faster than we can fully understand or control. The final episode in this 3 part series drops next week! Linkedin: Petr Lebedev palisaderesearch.org/

Intelligence is emerging from sand and less than 1% of the population seems to care! Physicist and science communicator Dr. Petr Lebedev joins the podcast following his SXSW talk to explore the rapid advancement of AI and how it's dramatically shifting the global status quo. From completing a PhD in physics and writing for Veritasium, to leading science communication at Palisade Research, Petr steps in to bring some clarity to the weird, wild, and worrying sides of AI. Did you know that no one truly understands how large language models actually work? We go deep on misaligned systems, humanoid and dog robots, and why many experts believe AI could pose a serious global risk. Is AI our greatest tool? Or something we're slowly losing control of? This conversation is big, so we've split it into three parts. Part two drops next week.

A mysterious glow from the centre of the Milky Way has scientists intrigued. Astrophysicist Geraint Lewis explains how this gamma-ray excess, first detected in 2009, could be evidence of dark matter particles interacting deep in our galaxy. With dark matter believed to make up a vast, invisible halo that holds galaxies together, uncovering the source of this glow may bring us closer to understanding what the universe is really made of.

www.geraintflewis.com/ Linkedin: geraint-lewis-4a499b1

In this episode, I'm joined by Professor Clare Collins, Australian dietitian and Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Newcastle. Clare is my go-to expert when it comes to all things nutrition, and today she's here to unpack the often confusing world of processed and ultra-processed foods.

We dive into what really separates the two, explore the role of additives, emulsifiers, and flavour enhancers, and discuss how some of these ingredients, designed to make foods more appealing, may be doing our health more harm than good. Plus, she shares practical, no-nonsense tips to help you make smarter choices next time you're wandering the grocery aisles.

Check out Clare's free online resource, No Money No Time, for simple, budget-friendly recipes and nutrition advice - nomoneynotime.com.au/ Follow Clare on X: @ProfCCollins and LinkedIn: Clare Collins.

In part two with Online Safety Consultant Troy Hunt (Have I Been Pwned), we unpack the risks of online age verification in light of Australia's social media ban, including the personal data (often times photos or government documents) sites may demand, and how these security practices can be questionable. Troy explains why we should be thinking more about data minimisation and the dangers of unnecessary data retention. We go through the safest multi-factor authentication methods, from SMS to physical keys, and Troy shares a personal phishing story, reminding us that no-one is immune to hacking thanks to increasingly sophisticated phishing techniques. https://haveibeenpwned.com/ Linkedin: Troy Hunt

In part two, Associate Professor Marian-Andrei Rizoiu from the University of Technology Sydney explains how misinformation and toxic online cultures spread. We dive into the "manosphere pipeline" targeting boys as young as 10, its real-world impacts on schools and families, and how it can escalate into radicalisation. Rizoiu outlines his team's six-stage pipeline - from passive curiosity to active involvement - and why simply giving people facts doesn't solve the problem. Instead, this is a human challenge, and his lab is exploring new ways to diffuse and counter online misinformation before it turns dangerous. Linkedin: Marian-Andrei Rizoiu

Most of us throw our clothes in the wash without a second thought, but what if that habit is doing more harm than good? In this episode, Dr. Holly Kaye-Smith, social change expert and communications specialist, challenges the way we think about cleanliness, climate action, and everyday laundry.

From surprising stats (over 90% of washed clothes aren't even dirty!) to the hidden environmental cost of every wash cycle, we dive into the myths, microplastics, and mindsets that shape our laundering routines. Holly shares practical refreshing techniques that save water, and why she recommends everyone have a "rewear chair." Connect with Dr Holly Kaye Smith on Linkedin Instagram - www.instagram.com/drhollyphd/ Youtube - www.youtube.com/@drhollyphd

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Andy Reisinger, an internationally recognised expert in climate change science and policy, with a focus on mitigation and agricultural emissions. Together, we unpack the concept of climate overshoot - why the world is set to exceed the 1.5°C warming limit within the next five years, and what that means for people and the planet. Dr. Reisinger explores whether the damage already done is reversible, what it would take to get back on track, and, hypothetically, the bold actions he would take if he had the power to drive real societal change to combat climate change. Linkedin: Andy Reisinger

Consumer technology expert Ashley Iredale returns for part two, bringing more surprising facts about everyday household appliances. We break down why your fridge actually contains more heaters than coolers, demystify the Energy Star rating system, and settle the debate on whether front-loading or top-loading washers are more efficient at cleaning clothes.

This episode i'm joined by Ashley Iredale, a consumer technologist and content producer whose winding career through industrial design has armed him with a trove of quirky tips and practical wisdom. Ashley breaks down the real efficiency of hand-washing versus dishwashers, explains how a dishwasher can double as an oven, and settles the age-old question of how toilet paper should hang. We also dig into his non-linear career journey and how it led to his deep well of surprising insights. There was so much to cover that Part Two lands next week!

Linkedin: Ashley Iredale

In this episode, I'm joined by the legendary Dame Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell - the pioneering astrophysicist who discovered pulsars, launching an entirely new field of astrophysics. She began her PhD searching for quasars, but soon noticed a strange, repetitive signal appearing night after night - so peculiar she jokingly labelled it LGM ("Little Green Men"). That signal would become one of the most important astronomical discoveries of the century, though the credit and Nobel Prize were controversially awarded to her supervisor. Dr Bell Burnell also shares why she donated $4.3 million of her own prize money to support underrepresented researchers in physics, especially women and girls, and the work she's doing to make the field more inclusive. We dive into her views on religion, her life in science since that landmark discovery, and her mission to help more young women pursue careers in physics.

This week I'm joined by John Staton, one of Australia's leading sunscreen-testing experts, to unpack the big headlines surrounding sunscreen safety. A recent Choice report revealed that 16 out of the 20 tested sunscreen products failed to meet their advertised SPF rating by a significant figure. John helps us to understand what is really going on. He breaks down how sunscreens actually work and the science behind SPF testing and why so many products fell short.

In this episode, friend of the show and astrophysicist Professor Geraint Lewis returns to help me wrap my head around one of the strangest ideas in modern physics: Time Crystals.

After stumbling across a Nature article that left my brain pleasantly scrambled, I called up Geraint for a deep-dive into what time crystals are and why physicists are so excited about them. We explore why Time Crystals don't have real-world applications yet, but how they could open entirely new frontiers in future technology.

In this episode, futurist and award-winning scientist Dr Catherine Ball dives into the state of science in Australia, uncovering the good, the bad, and the overlooked. From humanoid robotics and wearable exoskeletons transforming healthcare, to Australia's lagging space economy, Ball offers an unflinching look at where we stand. She also highlights world-class cancer detection research happening in Australia, like PROCAN and early ovarian cancer screening innovations that deserve far more recognition. Passionate about inspiring the next generation, Ball shares her advice for young Australians ready to shape the future of science ww.drcatherineball.com/

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Renee Goreham, a physicist and nanotechnologist at the University of Newcastle, and passionate science communicator. Renee is an experimental physicist exploring how our breath could hold the key to detecting lung cancer early—by identifying specific proteins as biomarkers. We also delve into her PhD student's exciting research into a new red-light laser diagnostic tool for breast cancer. Along the way, Renee breaks down the basics of cell biology and shares her inspiring, non-linear journey through physics, nanotech, and beyond. A brilliant example of multidisciplinary science in action.

Follow Renee on TikTok: @dr_renee_goreham

In this episode, we speak with Associate Professor Leszek Lisowski, Head of the Translational Vectorology Unit at the Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI), about the cutting-edge world of gene therapy. He explains how viral vectors are engineered to deliver life-saving treatments for rare genetic diseases - many of which are so uncommon, they're only known by the name of the affected gene. Despite being often overlooked, genetic diseases impact 10% of adults and 30% of children in hospitals. Leszek sheds light on the challenges of diagnosis, the promise of emerging genetic testing, and how his work is paving the way for more accurate, effective therapies.

Linkedin: Children's Medical Research Institute, Leszek Lisowski

Facebook: @jeansforgenes

Instagram: @jeansforgenesau

In this episode, we're joined by Associate Professor Sharna Jamadar, a cognitive neuroscientist at Monash University, to explore how the brain uses energy, and how that changes across the lifespan. Did you know that a 10-year-old's brain uses over 50% of the body's total energy, compared to just 20% in adults? We dive into why younger brains work harder, the role of synaptic pruning and proliferation, and how the brain's organisation impacts cognitive efficiency. We also touch on the importance of glucose metabolism and its connection to age-related disorders like Alzheimer's. A fascinating look at the energy demands of our most complex organ!

Bluesky: @SharnaJamadar Linkedin: Sharna Jamadar www.sharnajamadar.com Email: Sharna.jamadar@monash.edu

My go-to guy for all cosmic things Prof. Geraint Lewis, astrophysicist at the University of Sydney, returns to unpack a fascinating New York Times article on a newly observed "onionlike" space explosion that may reveal a new type of supernova. We dive into what actually happens when a star dies, the onion-layer buildup of elements through nuclear fusion, and how these cataclysmic blasts forge the building blocks of life on Earth. Plus, we explore what this might mean for the ultimate fate of our own Sun. www.geraintflewis.com/ Linkedin: Geriant Lewis

In this episode, friend of the show Geriant Lewis, Professor of Astrophysics at the Sydney Institute for Astronomy within the University of Sydney, joins us to unpack a fascinating New Scientist article theorising on how a strange line of dwarf galaxies may have formed. We explore how high-speed collisions between dwarf galaxies can scatter gas and stars across space, sometimes giving rise to entirely new tidal galaxies. Geraint explains the latest thinking on where these dwarf galaxies come from and how these cosmic smash-ups might even shed light on one of the biggest mysteries in physics: the true nature of dark matter. www.geraintflewis.com/ Linkedin: Geriant Lewis Bluesky: cosmic_horizons

In this episode, I sit down with Marian-Andrei Rizoiu, Associate Professor and head of the Behavioral Data Science Lab at the University of Technology Sydney. Drawing on a three-year research project into the misinformation ecosystem, he reveals that online conspiracies aren't just about false facts. Instead, they meet deep human needs for belonging and identity.

We explore the idea that misinformation is less a content problem and more a human problem, fueled by the attention economy. Rizoiu also weighs in on the growing debate around restricting social media use, such as proposed bans for under-16s, unpacking the potential benefits and drawbacks.

Keep your ears peeled for Part 2 next week Linkedin: Marian-Andrei Rizoiu

In this episode, we sit down with two of today's most prominent defenders of science: Professor Michael Mann, world-renowned climate scientist, and Professor Peter Hotez, vaccine researcher and advocate for global health equity. Together, they've co-authored Science Under Siege, a powerful new book exposing the forces behind the global anti-science movement.

We explore the surprising parallels between climate denial and vaccine misinformation, and how both Mann and Hotez have faced personal attacks simply for standing by the evidence. They break down the five key drivers of anti-science - plutocrats, professionals, propagandists, petrostates, and the press - and reveal how these forces shape public discourse and policy.

This conversation is not just about diagnosing the problem, but about pathways forward: the urgent role of science communication, strategies to counter misinformation, and reasons to remain hopeful in the fight to reclaim trust in science.

www.michaemann.net

www.peterhotez.org

www.scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/books/science-under-siege-9781761381669

In part two of our conversation with Professor Carolyn Hogg, Research Manager of the Australasian Wildlife Genomics Group at the University of Sydney, we dive deeper into the science and strategy behind threatened species management.

Carolyn shares how her team is developing crucial genetic data to guide conservation, including breed-and-release programs with species like the Tasmanian devil. We discuss the vital role of biodiversity in sustaining planetary health, and the ambitious Earth Biogenome Project, which aims to map the genomes of all 12 million species of eukaryotic life on Earth.

Beyond the lab, Carolyn reveals how genetic insights are shaping real-world decisions—bridging the gap between cutting-edge science, social change, and the policies that determine the future of our ecosystems. Linkedin: Carolyn Hogg X: @HoggCarolyn, @BioplatformsAus, @ThreatenedSpGen https://wildlife-genomics.sydney.edu.au/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bioplatforms-australia/

From collecting urine samples in Antarctica to sampling whale snot to study reproduction, Dr. Carolyn Hogg's career is anything but ordinary. In this episode, she shares how her passion for protecting threatened species led her down some unexpected paths, including earning the nickname 'Dr. Snot'.

We chat about her PhD on whale behaviour, wild whale facts, and the creative ways scientists gather data in the field. There was so much to cover, we had to split it into two! Part 2 dives into her groundbreaking work in conservation genetics.

Linkedin: Carolyn Hogg X: @HoggCarolyn, @BioplatformsAus, @ThreatenedSpGen https://wildlife-genomics.sydney.edu.au/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bioplatforms-australia/

In this episode, Professor PJ Cullen, Chemical Engineering expert from the University of Sydney, breaks down the global nitrogen challenge. We explore why nitrogen is essential for life, the history of fertiliser - from the Guano Wars to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process - and how today's nitrogen production is harming the planet. Cullen introduces PlasmaLeap, his startup using non-thermal plasma to mimic lightning and fix nitrogen sustainably. We also dive into the risks of nitrogen storage, the 2020 Beirut explosion, and the urgent need to electrify chemical industries.

https://www.plasmaleap.com/ Linkedin: PJ Cullen

In this episode, we're joined by Troy Hunt, Australian online security consultant, creator of Have I Been Pwned, and one of the world's leading voices on data breaches. He breaks down the key differences between encryption and hashing, and what they mean for keeping your data safe. We dive into infamous data breaches, including the Ashley Madison case, and explore the often hidden, long-term impacts these leaks can have on people's lives. With online scams and breaches costing Australians over $3 billion every year, we also look at the rising threat of ransomware and why it's so hard to fight. This conversation opened so many cans of worms, we had to save the rest for part two. https://haveibeenpwned.com/ Linkedin: Troy Hunt

In this episode, we sit down with Australian climate scientist Professor Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick to explore the story of climate science, how we first discovered the planet was warming, and what we now know about the forces driving it. Sarah breaks down the role of carbon dioxide in trapping heat like a planetary blanket and shares insights from her cutting-edge research on long-term climate modelling. What would happen if we stopped emitting CO₂ today? The answers are sobering, yet they also offer hope, underscoring why optimism remains essential in the fight for a livable future.

Linked in: Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick

https://www.21centuryweather.org.au/

I had the honor of sitting down with Professor Donna Strickland, Nobel Prize-winning physicist the third woman in history to receive the prestigious award in physics. In our conversation, we discuss her groundbreaking work in laser physics and the journey that led her there. From her early academic interests to the moment she received the life-changing call from the Royal Swedish Academy at 5AM (?!), Donna shares insights into her discovery of chirped pulse amplification (CPA), a revolutionary technique that changed the field of high-intensity lasers. We discuss the science behind CPA and the moment she accidentally broke the fibre optic cable required for her PhD research. Donna reflects on the role of perseverance, collaboration, and the underestimated metric of "luck" in scientific discovery.

I'm joined by Dr. Heather Ford, ARC Future Fellow and Professor in the School of Communications at UTS, to explore the fascinating world of Wikipedia. Inspired by her article "We analysed 35,000 Wikipedia entries about Australian places. Some of them sanitise history" in The Conversation, we dive deep into the strengths and shortcomings of one of the internet's most beloved resources.

We unpack how Wikipedia works behind the scenes: who edits it, how "edit wars" break out, and why it remains such a radical platform — a place where history can be written in real time, sometimes even before events unfold.

Together, we question whether Wikipedia offers an honest account of Australia's past, particularly when it comes to Indigenous history.

This is a two-parter so be sure to tune in next week for part 2.

Connect with Dr. Heather Ford on Linkedin https://hblog.org/

In part two of my conversation with Dr. Graham Wild, we dive deeper into the fascinating world of hypersonic machines. We explore how sound waves behave at extreme speeds, the significance of the boundary layer, and what materials are best suited for these ultra-fast aircraft.

Connect with Dr. Graham Wild on LinkedIn

Twitter/X: @AerospaceDoctor

Aviation expert Dr. Graham Wild returns to take us beyond the basics of flight and into the high-speed world of subsonic vs. hypersonic aircraft. We break down the engine mechanics behind these incredible machines, and I squeeze in a humblebrag about sitting in an SR-71 (yes, okay, it was grounded).

It's a theory-packed episode, so we've split it into two parts. Catch Part 2 next week.

Connect with Dr. Graham Wild on Linkedin Twitter/ X - @aerospacedoctor

In 2020, Scientific American made waves with the provocative headline: "No One Can Explain Why Planes Stay in the Air." But is that really true? Dr. Graham Wild, senior lecturer in aviation science and technology at the University of New South Wales in Canberra, joins us to set the record straight.

In this episode, we dip our toes into the complex of flight. We scratch at the very surface of the topic in an episode that could easily take over 20 hours.

Connectt with Dr. Graham Wild on Linkedin Twitter/ X - @aerospacedoctor

Are ice baths really the recovery miracle they're made out to be? We plunge into the science with Dr. Hunter Bennett, lecturer at the University of South Australia, exploring the pros and cons of ice baths, when they're helpful, and when they might actually hinder your gains. We also unpack health misinformation online and Dr Hunter shares five evidence-based tips for anyone curious about cold plunges.

Connect with Dr Hunter Bennett on Linkedin Dr Bennett's article on Ice Baths in The Conversation https://theconversation.com/ice-baths-are-popular-for-exercise-recovery-and-general-wellness-but-what-does-the-science-say-250649

Dr. Brooke Nickel dives into the murky world of health misinformation on social media, exposing how overdiagnosis and unverified health claims are thriving in a mostly unregulated space. We explore the influence of online personalities, the power of personal anecdotes, and the urgent need for evidence-based guidance in digital health conversations.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Brooke Nickel on LinkedIn

Award-winning author and investigative journalist Alice Driver joins me to discuss her powerful new book, Life and Death of the American Worker. Her investigation exposes the deeply unethical practices within the meatpacking industry in the United States.

For Alice, this story is personal. She grew up in Arkansas, one of the country's poorest states and home to Tyson Foods, the largest meatpacking plant in America.

We delve into the harsh realities faced by the industry's workforce, many of whom are undocumented immigrants, with estimates suggesting that up to 30% of the labor force lacks legal status. Our conversation explores the severe health consequences these workers endure and the broader implications for workers' rights in America today.

Find Alice's book at https://www.alicedriver.com/ IG: @alice__driver

In this episode, Prof. Boris Kuhlmey and Prof. Peter Tuthill join me to discuss the Toliman Mission, a space telescope project focused on detecting Earth-like exoplanets around Alpha Centauri, our nearest star system, using precise astrometric measurements. We discuss logistics, the costs involved and the success rate of such an astronomical project.

Developed by a collaboration including the University of Sydney, NASA's JPL, and Breakthrough Initiatives, it aims to launch by 2026.

University of Sydney, Faculty of Science

Toliman: https://toliman.space/

Boris Kuhlmey www.sydney.edu.au/science/about/our-people/academic-staff/boris-kuhlmey.html linkedin: https://au.linkedin.com/in/boris-kuhlmey-48b45615 Peter Tuthill www.sydney.edu.au/science/about/our-people/academic-staff/peter-tuthill.html Bluesky: https://blueskydirectory.com/profiles/spiralstar.bsky

Almost all of the regional and remote communities in Queensland do not have fluoridated drinking water, so why is this a problem? Dentist Dr Michael Foley debunks the infamous NTP report which suggested that fluoridated drinking water lowered IQ and breaks down how fluoride actually works and why it's so important for our dental health.

Dr Karl uncovers a lifelong Australian quest to restore comfort and hearing with custom made eardrum transplants. Called Cleardrums, Professor Marcus Atlas is close to passing regulatory hurdles for human trials. Ep407 [Repeat]

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Dr Karl (former father of the year) talks with Dr Nick Fuller (recent dad) about teaching children how to eat. The good habits learned early lead to healthy lives. Ep396 [Repeat]

Healthy Parents Healthy Kids by Nick Fuller

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Why use a balloon to hunt the most elusive suff in the Universe? Dr Sirks takes Dr Karl through the history of Dark Matter and why astronomy is only part of the solution. Ep379 [Repeat]

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Atmospheric Carbon is burning us up. CO₂ is the big culprit but what about methane? Industry calls it "natural gas" but sheep and cattle belch millions of tons. Australian scientists have a very cool answer with seaweed.

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seaforest.com.au

Weight loss medicines are never easy. What happens when your brain says you're full? Dr Karl and Professor Clare Collins explore the promises and pitfalls plus the ones that occasionally kill.

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Our warming world means more humidity. You can't see it but you can feel it. Professor Ollie Jay introduces Dr Karl to wet bulb thermometers, how sweating works and why humidity gets you down.

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Prof Ollie Jay

Summer heat waves are increasing - so AC or fan, what is best? The answer becomes unclear when air temperatures are in the high 30s. Professor Jay takes Dr Karl inside your sweat glands to discover the physics of keeping cool.

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Prof Ollie Jay

Author and astrophysicist Marcus Chown is a great explainer. A British stargazer, he studied under Richard Feynman in California. Dr Karl puts him to the test talking about Marcus' latest book on black holes "A Crack in Everything".

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@marcuschown

Physics on both galactic and personal scales are explored and answered with Dr Jessica Bloom and Dr Karl.

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We are so lucky to be alive. Dr Sara Webb's 'The Little book of Cosmic Catastrophes' looks at dangerous galactic neighbours. So what are the chances of finding Earth 2.0 ?

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Dr Karl consults with circular economy expert, experienced waste manager, change maker and garbologist Belinda Chellingworth. Waste is expensive so well-designed product cycles makes it better for us all. drkarl.com

BC Consulting

A shameless piece of cross promotion for ABC podcast 'What the Duck' with Dr Ann Jones about plant and animal reproduction. Contains names of body parts, fluids, graphic descriptions and one swear word.

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What the duck podcasts

Global Warming is caused by burning fossil fuels. "Slick: Australia's Toxic Relationship With Big Oil " is journalist Royce Kurmelovs' account of our role. Dr Karl and Royce and explore how the science was silenced Down Under.

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Dr Karl talks with the Australian working on the surface of Mars, Dr Adrian Brown from NASA. Hear how AI saved "Percy" the Rover, what those leopard-spotted rocks could mean and Dust devil strategies.

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Dr Adrian J Brown

Dr Frederic Bertley is a leading educator, President and CEO of the Center for Science and Industry (COSI), one of America's top-ranked science museums. Dr Karl explores tactics in the war on Pseudo and Anti-science.

drkarl.com

Cosi.org

Feelings live in our brain. Some are painful like anxiety and addiction and can ruin lives. So why aren't hypnotherapy treatments more widely used? Dr Karl asks Stanford University psychiatrist and leading researcher on hypnosis Dr David Spiegel with 50 year's experience.

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Dr Spiegel

What will our human space colonies look like? Dr Karl checks with research spanning more than 10,000 years. Meet University of Sydney's Professor Roland Fletcher.

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Prof Fletcher

Stand-up comedian, ex-maths teacher and author Matt Parker chats about his bestselling book on three-sided figures called Love Triangle. Dr Karl explores what fascinates us about trigonometry.

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matt parker

When Artificial Intelligence is everywhere what should be the rules? Dr Karl and Natasha Blycha test Isaac Asimov's Laws of Robotics and find they need updating.

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Author and astrophysicist Marcus Chown tells of the forgotten Australian female astronomer who helped discover the first black hole. Dr Karl digs deeper into Marcus' latest book on black holes "A Crack in Everything".

DrKarl.com

@marcuschown

In this repeat episode, Dr Karl uncovers a lifelong Australian quest to restore comfort and hearing with custom made eardrum transplants. Called Cleardrums, Professor Marcus Atlas is close to passing regulatory hurdles for human trials.

drkarl.com

Prof Puckett from the US explains how America lost its fire ant war and Jess Ward-Jones on the struggle to learn what is killing our Alpine Eucalypts (Snow Gums).

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Professor Richard Scolyer is the 2024 joint Australian of the Year. Dr Karl probes skin cancer therapies and immunotherapies with a researcher who has put his life on the line.

drkarl.com

https://twitter.com/ProfRScolyerMIA

https://www.facebook.com/ProfRScolyer

https://www.instagram.com/profrscolyer/?hl=en

Phones made today are super smart. Fast and versatile they can be so powerful to be spooky. Dr Matt joins Dr Karl to peel back the AI layers for a set of rules for the future.

Mining Engineer, Reality TV star, Astrophysicist, Author - What's left for Dr Matt?

If we need to fully understand space we need more time - lots of it. Beyond the Hubble sphere things gets lumpy.

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Dr Karl asks a fellow physicist for the telltale signs when powerful people spread untruths. They are easy to spot and nasty.

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The graph points skywards. A thousand of years of data says "stop burning carbon". Prof Mann tells Dr Karl of how the USA responded to his articles in the early 1990s.

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Dr Karl interviews Dr Bloom in NYC on the ethics of Artificial Intelligence. If AI delivers misinformation, how could we tell?

Dr. Karl

At the moment there are two G's in AI. Dr Karl gets the 360 tour of both with Dr Jessica Bloom in New York City.

DrKarl

Edwin Hubble is world famous. What about Henrietta Swan Leavitt? She found a way to measure and classify the universe. In Dava's book "The Glass Universe" she references the half million glass slides Henrietta and other women used to document both the northern and southern skies.

There is a family of chemicals that has drug companies popping corks. Obesity researcher Dr Nick Fuller explains to Dr Karl how they work and why they sometimes fail.

Healthy Parents Healthy Kids with Dr Nick Fuller

DrKarl

Dr Tom Crawford explains to Dr Karl how using fluid density might improve your sporting performance. Listen out for duelling and marathon running references.

TomRocksMaths

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Playing sport on a rotating planet has advantages. Dr Tom Crawford gives Dr Karl tips on using Maths to score more goals and break records.

TomRocksMaths

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When degenerate electrons meet 0.47 of a solar mass what happens? This is the start of Dr Kirsten Banks' PhD thesis. Dr Karl investigates the secret behaviour of Red Giants in the Milky Way and their Helium flashes.

Kirsten Banks (astrokirsten.com.au)

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The bird family tree may need pruning. Geneticists have made new connections that take us back to the great extinction event. Professor Ho explains to Dr Karl how this is changing our views on dinosaurs and chickens.

Prof Simon Ho

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Dr Karl learns a new German word 'dunkelflaute'. Rare in Australia yet it plays havoc in colder countries. Yet another reason why atomic reactors are a poor choice for Australia as Dr Barnes explains.

Dr Barnes

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Under current net zero plans, local renewables should directly supply 75% of our energy needs. What about the remainder? Dr Karl consults an engineer on why atomic reactors are a very poor choice for Australian conditions.

Dr Barnes

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Which planetary moons are the best? Space fanatic Kate Howells puts Dr Karl in orbit around some of our most interesting lumps of stuff. How will Earth's moon rate ?

@SpaceKateH

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A shadow of Covid-19 lingers for many. Dr Karl continues his discussion with front-line clinician Professor Steven Faux. Good diagnosis and management offer some a healthy future.

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Long Covid

Poor health lingers after some Covid-19 infections. Dr Karl discusses the symptoms and solutions with a front-line Australian clinician as they delve into his book 'Long Covid'.

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Long Covid

Physics experiments, two centuries old, can still be used to probe matter and energy. Caitlin Thurn takes Dr Karl through the simple yet extraordinary results.

Dr Karl fact checks with Professor Lewis. What is the current understood state of the Universe and how close is the end ?

Geraint F Lewis

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Professor Clare Collins explains her ongoing research into one of the world's big killers - blood pressure.

Prof Clare Collins

Dr Karl

Dr Karl visits a list of stellar phenomena with interpretive help from radio astronomer Dr Laura Driessen. Topics include brown dwarfs, proper motion, Jumbos and Universal wobbles.

https://astrolaura.com/

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Dr Karl investigates the science of rear emissions with a dietetics Professor Clare Collins. How much per day? What makes them smell? What makes them feel hot?

Prof Clare Collins

Dr Karl

Crops under attack, falling nutrition, viruses spread by Insects. Dr.Trebicki researches agriculture on a warming planet and the news is not great. Dr Karl addresses the myth that Carbon Dioxide is good for all plants.

@PiotrTrebicki Dr Karl

Silicon chips are everywhere. Will they continue to multiply ? Does meeting carbon reduction targets rely on Solid State efficiency ? Dr Karl talks benefits and costs with Dr Lang.

Dr Karl

Dr Lang

There is a perception that the worst pesticides were banned years ago. So why are Insects (including bees) in decline? Dr Sanchez-Bayo says a family of water soluble pesticides are to blame. He names them and wants to know why they are still being sprayed in Australia. Dr Sanchez-Bayo Dr Karl

One of the most popular diets today was studied by professor Varady over 20 years ago. She now teaches in Chicago. Dr Karl finds out why intermittent fasting is so successful.

Dr Karl

Prof Krista Varady

Cat ladies, Australians and Chickens have all helped to advance our knowledge of Viruses and their link with Cancer. Dr Gregory has investigated the history and written a book about how we got where we are.

dr Karl

A/Prof Morgan

X: @DrGMorgan

Threads: @dr.gregory.morgan

Blue Sky Social: @drgregorymorgan.bsky.social

When Aircraft accidents happen we investigate how and why. Dr Sonya Brown tells Dr Karl about the process of improving safety and the importance of learning from incidents.

DrKarl.com

Dr Sonya Brown

The observed Universe is very binary and occasionally poly. Professor James takes Dr Karl inside a collapsing star and suggests how the last ray of starlight will shine.

Dr Karl

Professor James

How should we explain bumps in the observations of Stars? Cosmology is full of intangible forces. Professor Renee James explains "Helium Flash", why it is mostly invisible to us and when density matters.

Dr Karl

twitter@drcrj

Lung Disease is killing more of us each day. As temperatures rise, why is our air more contaminated ? Dr King explains how it's happening and what to do about it.

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Dr Bronwyn King

In part 2, Prof Lewis introduces Dr Karl to Quarks, Leptons and Bosons. It's a messy subatomic zoo and still our Standard Model of everything.Avoid brain pain and listen to part 1 first .

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Professor Geraint Lewis

The Standard Model for everything ... is full of weird names and strange numbers. In part 1, Prof Lewis explains to Dr Karl how we got into this mess and why this mess still holds true.

Dr Karl

Professor Geraint Lewis

Vapes are 21st century inventions but the science of smoking and its dangers are well known. Prof. Chapman tells Dr Karl how Vapes are likely to be worse than tobacco, why "Puff Parameters" lead to such conclusions, and how lung cancer became a top killer.

Dr Karl.com simonchapman6.com

On Jan 1st , Australians have new buying restrictions for vapes. Prof Chapman guides Dr Karl through the Science of Nicotine addiction, how to battle Big Tobacco and why access rules must change. Dr Karl.com simonchapman6.com

Epigenetic jellies did not help. Feral bees made it worse. When a species-jumping parasite landed in Australia, our biosecurity controls ultimately failed. Bee geneticist Dr Remnant explains to Dr Karl how we lost round one against Varroa and the battles now being planned.

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Dr. Remnant

Human prosperity has risen on the wings of bees - until recently. A species-jumping parasite has landed in Australia. Bee geneticist Dr Remnant explains to Dr Karl how and why this is so risky.

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Dr. Remnant

Space hardware needs to be reliable, affordable and repairable. Recycling rockets and reprogramming helicopters are all part of a day's work for support staff.

Adrian Brown

Dr karl

Salts prove Mars once had water. The rings tell us more about how and when this happened. Also the story of the lost chopper and how they found it. Dr Karl with first-hand accounts from Percy's driver.

Adrian Brown

Dr Karl

Dr Karl gets a detailed briefing on a giant starry bubble just announced. Professor Lewis includes CMB, BAOs and traces of Dark Matter in his explanation.

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Geraint F Lewis

There are F Bombs in the Oppenheimer movie but no mention of G Bombs. Dr Karl probes Prof Lewis for the original source of atomic energy . The answer is surprising.

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Geraint F Lewis

Dr Karl meets Assistant Professor Lisa Piccirillo who unravelled an age-old knotty problem with four dimensional topology. Professor Piccirillo will deliver the Simon Marais Memorial Lecture at The University of Sydney on 7 November, register here.

Dr Karl

Professor Lisa Piccirillo

How far can we "see" through Space-Time? Professor Lewis takes Dr Karl to a place where everything is in slo-mo (relatively). The discussion naturally concludes with Time Machines.

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Geraint F Lewis

How do Cosmologists measure Space-Time? Professor Lewis explains Einstein's clocks and the new cosmic ticks.

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Geraint F Lewis

What governs the resources, risks and rewards on the Moon, Mars and beyond? Dr Karl gets a booster shot of Space law with specialist lecturer Duncan Blake.

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Duncan Blake

What are the rules for human behaviour in Space ? Dr Karl gets an introduction to Space Law history with specialist lecturer Duncan Blake.

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Duncan Blake

Stars & Cows with astrophysicist Prof Peter Tuthill & Wildlife Conservation Biologist Tiahni Adamson (356)

The story of how a local oncologist took a pledge against Big Tobacco to the United Nations and had it passed. Dr Karl talks with Dr Bronwyn King about her crusade against the merchants of preventable disease through tobacco-free portfolios.

drkarl.com

tobaccofreeportfolios.org

Meet tyre nerd and chemist Dr Linda Mitchell. She works in stewardship - trying to improve our recycling of rubber. How many old Australian tyres are exported and burned each year? Way too many and Dr Mitchell knows how we can do better.

DrKarl.com TSA Lindylulu77

Professor Davis and Dr Karl delve into the universal tensions and cosmic ripples. Are there frozen clumps at regular intervals leading back to the Big Bang?

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@tamarastro

Dr Karl meets two Green Chemists. For 30 years they have been encouraging sustainable and cleaner chemical processes.

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Dr Paul Anastas

John Warner

Auroras, fireballs and space junk. They are all visible. Prof Lisa and Dr Karl discuss how and where you might spot them. Also, how you can get your name into space.

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lisaharveysmith.com

Will 2023 be the year that we both see and feel more gravity waves? Dr Karl probes Prof Lewis about what is so exciting linking LIGO with Pulsars.

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Geraint F Lewis

Meet a scientist working to build and test a fusion power plant. Fusion Professor Howard Wilson has intimate knowledge of plasma - the stuff inside stars - and what is needed to safely contain it on earth. Prof. Wilson

PhD student Kirsten Banks takes Dr Karl on a deep journey towards a new candle standard. Stellar seismology and the search for exoplanets may make galactic maps more accurate. @Astrokirsten

Gene therapies are being approved for a growing number of conditions. Professor Alexander talks to Dr Karl about how they work and the decades of testing to make them safe.

Prof. Ian Alexander

Dr. Karl

Nature needs our help to beat global warming. Dr Karl consults Prof D'Alessandro about her team's work to pull carbon out of the air using solar power. Professor D'Alessandro

Dr Karl

Around 20 years ago a worldwide hormone scare took hold. Was it a media beat-up? Dr Natasha Vavrek takes Dr Karl through the experiment that caused it and numbers that were misreported. Today HRT is called MHT and is safe again.

thebubbletasmania

DrKarl

Australia has implemented laws to permit the use of some psychedelic drugs in strictly controlled circumstances. Psychedelics researcher Dr Paul Liknaitsky and acclaimed author Heather Rose discuss the possibilities and complexities. #shirtloadsofscience

Heather Rose

Dr Paul Liknaitzky

Astrophysicist, author, and speaker Neil deGrasse Tyson joins Dr Karl to talk about science communication. Today needs global action based on solid science like never before - so how to frame it ?

July 23 NZ-Au-Sg Tour dates

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What is the best way to protect your skin? Dr Karl seeks ground truths from an industrial chemist. Is it all in the science of drying paint? Ep342

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Healthy eating begins in the mouth. How much should you chew food? What sized bites are best? Can Dental Health affect your gut? Dr Karl masticates these topics with Dietetics Professor Collins.

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Wind-powered turbines are powerful machines. So why only three blades? Dr Rosemary gives Dr Karl an introduction to the engineering and physics of getting electricity from air currents.

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How can we measure space? Dr Karl consults a Radio Astronomer on units. Please note: Star Wars and Hans Solo references included.

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Could a black hole photobomb a star? Dr Laura Driessen explains.

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Too hot for synthesis ? Too cool to stick ? The early universe is a bog for electrons . Dr Karl gets the latest on Dwarfs vs Dwarves with Prof Lewis.

Electricity is how Australians get to 43% net zero by 2030. Transport must be part of that plan. Dr Sturmberg has been testing strategies to put electric cars on the grid, in the home and out in paddocks.

Recorded in Dec 2022 information was correct then. bjornsturmberg.com

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Matter and Energy continue to raise shadowy questions in physics. Dr Karl tests some recent dark theories with Professor Lewis.

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geraintflewis.com

Why do popular weight loss programs fail just when you feel they should work ? Dr Nick applies science to a healthy body and has good news.

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In dating shows there is always the promise of a perfect match. Can this idea be found in Astrophysics ? Dr Karl checks with Professor Lewis.

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What are quantum computers? Dr Jessica explains the world of quantum and what to expect in the decades to come.

What are the biggest black holes called? Supermassive. Dr Jessica Bloom talks about these cosmic monsters and the amazing technology used to photograph them.

ChatGPT launched for free in 2022. Like Google it devoured vast data but regurgitated it in human-like responses. Is it truly a marvel? Dr Karl and Prof Toby Walsh put ChatGPT to the test.

Future archaeology may see our time now as an "Age of Plastic". Already sedimentary rings are forming. Dr Karl discusses solutions with Bioplastics and Dr Yi Shen.

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Bird Brains are different. Professor Irene Pepperberg has been probing their psychology for decades. She is the author of the NY Times bestseller 'Alex and Me', the story of her 30-year experiment with a grey parrot.

Alex the parrot

The James Webb Space Telescope has expanded our Universal view. Where is it changing? Dr Karl gets an update from Professor Geraint.

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geraintflewis.com

China has a Lunar landing program. It is as ambitious as NASA was in 1969. Dr Karl probes Space journalist Bradley Perrett on how soon we might see Chinese craft on the moon.

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NASA vs Space X vs Virgin vs China vs Russia. Today's Space Race is multi-dimensional and growing. Australia is about to start its own program. Dr Karl talks with space journalist Bradley Perrett about the road ahead.

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"Alternative facts" ? Claire Klingenberg is an expert at debunking such things. In Europe she engages, listens and changes hardened conspiracy and "woo" theorists. She is the Chair of the European Council of Skeptical Organisations and shares her wisdom with Dr Karl.

@ClaireAccendit

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AI is hardware-based. It runs on electrons. Synthetic biology is where Biotech meets IT. It will revolutionise manufacturing & automation. Is a simultaneous Green & IT revolution on its way? Professor Claudia Vickers tells us more.

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Is fair pay for workers a modern idea? How about sustainable agriculture ? A Sydney museum has artifacts to show these are ancient concepts from far away. Should they be sent home? Dr Karl discusses the merits of archaeological repatriation with Dr. Barker.

sydney.edu.au/museum drkarl.com

On the surface of Mars, the NASA Perseverance Rover is bottling rocks to be returned to Earth. How will they get back? Why are the samples so valuable? Dr Brown, Australian Scientist with the mission, has the latest news in the second part of his discussion with Dr Karl.

@DrAdrianJBrown1

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While planet earth was in Covid lockdown, a NASA spacecraft left for Mars. Perseverance ("Percy" to its friends) is on a mission to unlock planetary secrets. Dr Adrian Brown gives Dr Karl the latest news from the Martian surface. @DrAdrianJBrown1 drkarl.com

The world's largest coral reef is in trouble. Chief Scientist for Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Dr Wachenfeld, talks with Dr Karl about what he is seeing. Twenty five years ago waves of hot water were first measured. They continue with intensity. Will the COP Accords be enough to save our reefs?

gbrmpa.gov.au\

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Particle physics makes discoveries each day. Professor Carena gives Dr Karl the latest on the relationship between dark matter and neutrinos.

Professor Marcela Carena

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Particle physics is amazing science. Professor Carena works on the edge and gives Dr Karl an insight into why bosons matter.

Professor Marcela Carena

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Someone you know is being treated for Arthritis. Fifteen per cent of Australians suffer pain daily and there are few safe drugs. This has led to shelf loads of "supplements" and "alternatives". Does any of it work? Professor Collins compiles the best research to date. Most do nothing (so don't waste your health, time or money). Ep316nomoneynotime.com.au

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The last thing you expect to see at an oncology ward is a cash machine. Professor Robert Tindle discusses the unequal and sometimes unfair cost of treating cancer. Is your cancer common? Did a drug company successfully navigate the health system? In Australia the difference can be enormous. Robert's book is "Your Cash or your Cancer."roberttindlescience.com

drkarl.com

Professor Peter Tuthill and Dr Karl live on stage at Sydney Ideas. They peel back how and why the James Webb Space Telescope (our Infrared Eye in the sky) has keys for survival. Earth is already out of balance with an extra 600,000 Hiroshima atom-bombs of heat every day. The good news? Climate change is measurable and can be stopped. Audio Podcast edited for listening pleasure.

Sydney Ideas event and video:

https://www.sydney.edu.au/engage/events-sponsorships/sydney-ideas/2022/peter-tuthill-karl-kruszelnicki-invisible-infared.html

drkarl.com

If Antimatter exists, why isn't there anti-food ? Stuff you can eat to lose weight. Dr Fuller has discovered interesting results from 2020 research based on thermogenisis. This is not a diet. It won't take weight off but it could cut weight gain by 250%.

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Data is omnipresent and society is very connected Thirty years ago futurists said tech "convergence" would deliver us seamless digital lives So are we there yet?. Dr Karl gets a fact check from "Converge" author Associate Professor Catherine Ball.

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Are there more questions than answers ? Dr Karl probes Prof. Lewis on 5 numbers from a Science magazine. How much (or little) do we know?

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geraintflewis.com

Taylah Griffin shares her inspiring career pathway from her early passion for STEM to being the first Indigenous person in Australia to graduate with an Honours degree in Electrical and Aerospace Engineering. She now works for Boeing Defence Australia and is on a fast career trajectory. #shirtloadsofscience #indigenousSTEM

Psychedelic drugs in the 50s & 60s offered hope for relief from some mental illnesses. Lawful access to these chemicals was shut off in 1971 by US President Nixon. Fifty years later the science is mounting for their therapeutic use. Dr. Bahceci works in this area and explains to Dr Karl the latest research. This podcast discusses mental health and suicide. Some may find this confronting or distressing. If this material raises concerns for you, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636

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Could 2023 be the year we stopped the Covid ? Dr Karl meets a Sydney virologist working on this mission. Dr Megan Steain gives a viral history of the past three years and an outline of her project to develop better vaccines.

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@m_steain

Space exploration needs good communication. Dr. Karl grills NASA veteran Dr. Younes.

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Their guts are called Nuclear Pasta. You need X-Ray space telescopes to capture their burps. Observations take kiloseconds. What kind of stellar monsters are inhabiting our galaxy? Dr Adele Goodwin gives Dr Karl an insight.

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Monopoles and Inflation are Cosmic. Professor Lewis shows Dr. Karl their theoretical universal origins.

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geraintflewis.com

There are more than a new set of lenses on the JWST. It has better eyes, a giant sun shield and a new brain. Professor Lewis helps Dr Karl interpret the astounding images coming from our Lagrange point.

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geraintflewis.com

Antisocial behaviour is increasing. Why ? Professor Arvanitakis dissects the problem and gives Dr Karl some practical solutions.

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Prof Arvanitakis

Creatures surround us . All we have to do is look. Professor Dieter Hochuli shows us a living world right on our doorstep.

https://www.urbanfieldnaturalist.org/book

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@dieterhochuli

Near the South pole is a buried time machine. It can take us back to our Ice Ages . Dr Jong explains what it is and why science in Antarctica is crucial in understanding Climate Change.

So many earthly problems can be addressed- at least theoretically - with Hydrogen. Most involve switching from carbon but many engineering issues arise. We have never done this at scale. Is Hydrogen the answer? Dr Karl discusses a H2 Future with Dr Fiona Simon from the Australia's Hydrogen Council.

drkarl.com

h2council.com.au

The good news for intermittent fasters is that cutting calories reduces your weight. The bad news? Shorter eating windows may have no effect on your long-term health. intervalweightloss.com.au

Medicinal use of cannabis is a big deal. How many cannabinoid chemicals are there? How receptive is the human body? Can you drive a car after CB pain relief? The answers vary. Dr Karl and Dr Bahceci have the Australian science. Always check with your local authorities on the law. EP299 @DilaraB_PhD

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BMI (Body Mass Index) is a universal health tool. Dr Karl and Dr Nick delve into its past and why it still is an indicator of good health despite many shortcomings. intervalweightloss.com.au

Forensic science explores physical evidence at a crime scene. So what does forensic psychology add? Can behavioural patterns be left at crime scenes? Associate Professor Paterson explains this new field to Dr Karl. drkarl.com

All our computers are obsolete - theoretically. On the horizon are superfast devices operating close to the speed of light at the extremity of the limits of physics. This is the world of Professor David Reilly. Dr Karl gets a glimpse of the Quantum PC.

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What keeps gamblers in the game? How many wins? Not as many as you think. Sociologist Dr Tobias-Webb explains to Dr Karl why some imagine they are on a winning streak when they are not - and the technology exploiting these beliefs. A journey through the risk and reward structures of the human mind.

Drkarl.com

Jupiter is a huge planet. It is more than twice as massive as all the others combined. So what stops it from catching fire and becoming a star ? Professor Lewis describes the physics of gassy giants.

There are many sleep myths. Dr Karl clears up some with sleep researcher Professor Banks. So are there links between bad sleep and inflammatory disease?

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Babylonian clay tablets are not always as they seem. What looked like a Pythagorean spreadsheet turned out to be much more. An Australian mathematician has applied his rural experience and research skills to reveal links to social changes 4,000 years ago . Dr Karl and Dr Mansfield discuss why and how this is. NB - Base 60 will be mentioned. drkarl.com

Dietetics Professor Collins has found four ingredients to improve our health. They are inexpensive, easy to prepare and natural. She has even road tested recipes to try. htttps:\\drkarl.com https://nomoneynotime.com.au/

Virologists now agree on the area where the COVID-19 epidemic began in Wuhan, China. Dr Karl asks Professor Holmes how they arrived at this conclusion and the photos he took of the site before the outbreak began.

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Observe, Ask, Explain, Predict , Test. These are the steps scientists use to improve our knowledge. Dr. Suzie Sheehy is a particle physicist. She talks with Dr Karl about twelve significant experiments that changed the modern world. Ep288 [Repeat]

https://drkarl.com https://suziesheehy.com

Earth-like planets are rare but the hunt for more is on. Professor Glazebrook is Principal Investigator for the James Webb telescope and introduces Dr Karl to the world of infra-red observation.

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Dr Karl talks with an Aussie who works full time on the surface of Mars. Meet Dr Adrian and his RC explorer "Percy". They are looking for water on the red planet and pushing the boundaries of science .

http:\\drkarl.com

@DrAdrianJBrown1

https:\\drkarl.com

Once you find gravity waves, what's next ? Gold ! The most stable and heavy element we know of lies central to our interpretation of our cosmos. Coincidence ? Dr Karl consults Prof Murphy.

https:\\drkarl.com

The 21st century has been huge for physics. We are now able to build experiments to test Einstein's theories. Professor Tara Murphy has been there and gives Dr Karl an insider's view of modern physics.

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Resolving subatomic particles in an expanding universe is complex. Can multi-dimensional maths help ? Dr Karl visits Prof. Greene to find out what string theory is and if there are answers.

https://drkarl.com

https://www.briangreene.org

Dr Daniel Zarin has spent his career studying and teaching the science of forests. In a conversation recorded at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo headquarters in New York City, Zarin tells Dr Karl why he recently left the philanthropic sector to become Executive Director for Forests and Climate at WCS and why trees are the asset we need to revalue today.

drkarl.com

wcs.org

Viruses. We know where they come from. We know how they spread. Virologist Professor Holmes from Sydney University lays a three-point plan to stop them with Dr Karl.

https://drkarl.com

We want Cooler climates. Are carbon and coal are burning us up? Economist Dr Denniss runs his ruler over the climate ledger with Dr Karl.

https:\\drkarl.com

@RDNS_TAI twitter

Is attention-loss corroding civilisation? When we we fail to comprehend, are we putting ourselves at risk ? Dr Karl sharpens his focus on the research of Johann Hari and his new book 'Stolen Focus'.

The Antikythera Mechanism is a portable planetarium from Ancient Greece. It is 2200 years old and the first known analog computer. Dr. Nick Andronis built one. The front shows the zodiac position of the first 5 planets, sun, moon phase and date. On the back a 72 year lunar and Olympic calendar with solar or lunar ecliplses.

www.amclock.net

drkarl.com

2022 looked safe -then it wasn't . Dr Karl investigates with University of Sydney Prof Eddie Holmes. He was the first western source of the Wuhan genome. How could Omicron fool the world? How can we avoid being fooled again?

We are counting on an electrified future to cut carbon emissions. Greener futures, as we plan them, depend on electricity and electro-magnetism. Dr Karl explores the physics of electricity and generators with Professor Lewis.

drkarl.com geraintflewis.com

Every week new supplements are announced and promoted. Some can be useful additions to your diet but what about probiotics and prebiotics ? Dietetics professor Collins explains what they claim, what is in them and if they help.

Electricity is a great foundation for sustainable energy but Dr Karl discovers how little he knows about the physics of electrons. We all have much to learn about the source of power from Professor Lewis. drkarl.com geraintflewis.com

What colour is our Sun? (or Sol as local folks call it). How long will it stay that way? Professor Lewis resumes his fascinating journey in time space and consciousness. We pick up where things are now and go forward to the end. How does it all end? Listen with Dr Karl on this multi-trillion year trip.

drkarl.com geraintflewis.com

For some stars, life begins at 10 billion years. Professor Lewis leads Dr Karl on a trillion year expedition from birth to a young adult expanding universe. The first part of a fascinating journey in time, space and consciousness.

drkarl.com geraintflewis.com

Australia has a new Antarctic Vessel. Jono Reeve takes Dr Karl on a virtual tour of the features of the RSV Nuyina.

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RSV Nuyina

There were high hopes for the Hubble space telescope. Eventually they were realised with pictures of galaxies beyond our widest visions. This century the James Webb promises both time and space with a different universal perspective. Dr Jessica Bloom on why this is a game changer.

The diseases of ageing are already overwhelming health care facilities. In the decades ahead, our older populations will put even more pressure on health unless there are medical breakthroughs. These diseases are proving stubborn to medicate and cures are very rare. A human fountain of youth has yet to show itself. In other animals, things appear easier to treat with less complex biochemistry to get in the way. Dr Bloom explains to Dr Karl why a family of proteins called Sirtuins may hold some hope.

In 1966, two Soviet cosmologists proposed the existence of primordial black holes. 55 years on, evidence mounts that these ancient bodies actually exist. They are the stem cells of the cosmos scattered on a universal matrix and may be pre-atomic. Professor Lewis takes Dr Karl back to the very beginning for an encounter with these dark beasts.drkarl.com geraintflewis.com

A zap from a doorknob or a lightning bolt that sets fire to a forest, these events are notoriously unpredictable. If there is an imbalance of electric charge, a Static Electricity event "might" happen. Things like air humidity or microscopic superficial bumps can play a role – but how much? Professor Lewis explains the known physics and yet-to-be discovered secret life of static electricity with Dr Karl.

drkarl.com

geraintflewis.com

What happens when a star gets hungry? Could it eat another star? Cosmic cannibalism is a thing. 500 million years ago in a galaxy far, far away – to be precise, about 500 million light years away one of two stars gobbled the other. Professor Lewis explains to Dr Karl the physics and cosmology of devouring your neighbours.

drkarl.com geraintflewis.com

Covid continues to test public health and communications. Our best explainers have put themselves in the front line to keep us safe. Some, including Professor Julie Leask, have been threatened. Dr Karl discusses why health professionals have been under attack for doing their Job.

drkarl.com

Venus and Mars may have once supported life. What went wrong? Professor Tuthill walks Dr Karl through the physics of changing climates on our neighbours. There are lessons for us Earthlings.

drkarl.com

The 60s, 70s and 80s was when their prize-winning work was done., Their modelling made "Groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of complex systems". These Nobel physicists explored how to estimate climate changes with greenhouse gasses.

Nobel-2021

drkarl.com

Cybernetics meets anthropology - Professor Genevieve Bell loves blended disciplines. She is a renowned anthropologist, technologist, and futurist. She spent more than two decades in Silicon Valley. Her passion - making tech work better with humans and social systems. Too often technologists forget human needs or exploit weaknesses. Both can lead to disaster. Dr Karl in conversation with a progressive Australian futurist.

htttps:\\drkarl.com

@feraldata

Artificial Intelligence is proliferating so how deep will it penetrate society. Are Robot domestic helpers, interpreters, navigators, lawyers or judges on their way? What about autonomous nuclear submarines? Should we be drawing lines? AI expert professor Toby Walsh has answers for Dr Karl's questions.

https:\\drkarl.com

@TobyWalsh

Artificial Intelligence is here and embedded in modern life. So how best to traverse those "uncanny valleys" between robots and humans? Can computer Art or Sculpture express human feeling? Could AI math (re-factorable numbers) keep us safer? Professor Toby Walsh is an expert and has answers for Dr Karl.

https:\\drkarl.com

@TobyWalsh

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.com

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 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

@arc_cuava

Cuava1 Cubesat

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.

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

"Falling towards Virgo" is a big something . Our galactic future is wrapped up in it (according to current physics). Prof Lewis leads Dr Karl through our projected future. Also tips on how to spot Geraint's personal Quasar.

www.geraintflewis.com

http://drkarl.com

The Kruszelnicki-Lewis sagas continue. The Future History part 3 is Unashamedly from an Earthling perspective it is based on accepted current theories. Professor Lewis confesses he's a Silurian. www.geraintflewis.com

http://drkarl.com

For completists "Future Universe History' parts 1 & 2 were eps 215 & 216.

Imagine you have a trillion dollars to solve some really big problems. Things like climate change, disease and poverty. Dr Karl meets Rowan Hooper from the New Scientist, who has written about the economics of giant projects. They are more affordable, some pay for themselves and some become more expensive the longer we do nothing.

@rowhoop

drkarl.com

Covid19 is revealing stark truths. The preservation of human life is both economic and cultural. Is there a better path ? Dr Karl discusses the value of a human life with Australian economist Dr. Richard Denniss. Both sides of the balance sheet have merit.

Summers Link

When atoms were smashed, particle physics went nuts. The subatomic domain should describe everything but so many pieces are missing. Dr. Karl and Professor Lewis look inside the atom in this podcast. So what the flip is subatomic particle physics ?

drkarl.com

Our lives are governed by physics. It is the science of matter and energy and without both we wouldn't be here. This past century we have discovered more about physics than ever before. Dr. Karl and Professor Lewis are going atomic in this podcast. So what the flip is particle physics ?

Drkarl.com

A disease has infected our civilisation. It is not a virus but we created it. Dr Richard Denniss calls it "Affluenza" and it may ruin everything if we don't fix it soon.

@RDennisTwitter

Curing Affluenza

Drkarl.com

Australia is sunny and flat. It should be the perfect place for Electric Vehicles. So why are Australians so slow to buy them ? Dr Karl asks lead journalist, Bridie Schmidt, from thedriven.io newsletter about the sluggish takeup downunder.

Boundless. Limitless. The concept of Infinity has been with us for millennia. Dr Jessica leads Dr Karl on some mind experiments to see how our finite minds comprehend the universal.

Four popular diets. Professor Collins gives two a conditional tick. It's Fast vs Mono vs Noom vs Charcoal. Can you pick the best ? Years of expertise sorts the dangerous from the reliable - rpt

drkarl.com

the conversation

Specialist jobs are being created right now. Annie Handmer is ahead of the game as a "Space Diplomat". If junk from the sky kills your satellite or pollutes your land then space law applies. You need representatio. Who to call ? Discover how innovation and passion fuel a fresh generation of innovators.

A new drink category has sprung up in your supermarket. The Labels say "Milk" but what's really inside ? On the internet you'll find all kinds of nice things being said, but some of these products have hidden health hazards. Loss of bone mass, weight gain and bad cholesterol buildup are some of them. Others are lousy value for money. Doctor Nick lists the healthy and economical choices for every diet. @drnickfullerwww.intervalweightloss.com.au drkarl.com

International Health Workers witness daily tragedies . Sometimes they get sick too. Where are the science comedian without borders? Meet Alanta Colley. With many tales to years abroad, she talks of the parasites she's been infected with, those she's seen and read about. Does Dr Karl & Dr Alice test the formula "Tragedy+Time = Comedy". rpt

When maths goes wrong in the real world , it can cost billions. Dr Karl quizzes Matt Parker on the mishaps with planes, bridges, drilling and PAC-MAN. From unboxing calculators for YouTube to why footballs should be donuts (if you believe the signs), this is Recreational Mathematics. A comedy of errors with some brilliantly told disaster stories. RPT

drkarl.com

Dr Karl has a thought experiment for Professor Lewis. What if you could travel at one Earth G (9.8 m/s^2). How far could you go in one human lifetime ? The answer and explanation will astound you.

Stars come in many sizes. Dr Karl visits the large and strange with Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith. The professor and Dr karl wrestle with "the Secret Life of Stars".

drkarl

lisaharveysmith

How old is our sunlight ? What is our Sun made of ? Where do we rank in the stellar nursery ? Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith and Dr Karl wrestle with "The Secret Life of Stars".

drkarl

lisaharveysmith

From star nurseries through physics and chemistry, the Kruszelnicki-Lewis explanation of the lot continue. Unashamedly from an Earthling perspective it is based on accepted 2020 theories. Professor Lewis confesses he's a Silurian. www.geraintflewis.com

http://drkarl.com

Dr Karl and Prof Lewis describe our universal beginnings Where did we come from? Where are we going? At a crossroad of Nordic and Celtic cultures this is the first part of a groundbreaking podcast. Universal Origins 101

http://drkarl.com

www.geraintflewis.com

Dr Karl has his mind blown by the Ergosphere. Black Holes reveal themselves as engine rooms of the Universe. Spinning Black Holes add another dimension. Who knew they spun? Who knew that made such a difference? Professor Geraint Lewis on the evolving science of darkness.

www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com

Covid-19 has sparked global debate about the balance between commerce and the cost of health care. Does a life have a price ? If so, what is it ? Economist, Richard Denniss, talks Dr Karl through the Australian Government budget papers where a dollar value is listed. ( Note this varies around the world)

drkarl.com

Eating ethically may become compulsory. If climate change escalates as estimated, carbon-intensive animals and crops may need to be rationed. Food scientist, Professor David Julian McClements, is optimistic that solutions may be at hand. Could we engineer less carbonised food and design a healthier diet ? Dr Karl samples the future of food.

drkarl.com

Bernie Hobbs guests Shirtloads to talk about "Dr Karl's Surfing Safari through Science " with Dr Karl. His latest book has spiders, anuses and Black Holes. Nothing is off limits. It also includes pop-up Dr Karl holograms. Find out how.

drkarl.com

Could we feed a growing population, reduce greenhouse gases and improve sustainability at the same time? Professor David Julian McClements thinks so. He says nanotech foods have answers and they may even be healthier. Critics say , like GM crops, nanotech has to be low risk and beat consumer resistance. A nutrition revolution or frankenfood ? Dr Karl gets a taste of a future. Drkarl.comhttps://www.umass.edu/foodsci/faculty/d-julian-mcclements

...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.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.comhttps://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2020/summary/

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.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale

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-universe-was-missing-we-found-it-hiding-in-the-cosmos-138569

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 https://drkarl.com/

Note: episode recorded in late May 2020 using data available at the time

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 2020 using data available at the time. @EdwardCHolmes https://drkarl.com/

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. @EdwardCHolmes https://drkarl.com/ Note: episode recorded in late May 2020 using data available at the time

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

Dr Karl & Prof G. Lewis discuss the gaps and guesses that string together our understanding of the Cosmos. So what happens if we find a mistake in one of Einstein's predictions ? It's one of the discussion points in Geraint Lewis' latest book written with Luke Barnes. https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-cosmic-revolutionary-s-handbook-luke-a-barnes/book/9781108486705.html drkarl.comhttp://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/

It's part two of the Neutron star exploration with Professor G. Lewis. He takes Dr Karl layer by layer down to the core. Things are so squashed in there that quantum physics takes over. Escape from the lockdown inside a star where things go subatomic. http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/

What happens when you squeeze a star ? Dr Karl gets inside one with Professor G. Lewis. They travel from the subatomic level up with the latest on Neutron Stars. Trigger Warning - Quarks and Bosons are mentioned . It's part one with more from the Neutrons next time. http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/

To study the stars, look to the ocean. Water ebbs and flows under the influence of gravity. Astronomers see tides in moons, stars and around black holes. Dr Karl talks with two astrophysicists who recently measured a bulging star with earth-like tides.

A perfect poo has metrics. Dr Clare and Dr Karl describe the best solid expressions. Length, thickness, mass and diet. What makes the perfect poop ? https://theconversation.com/had-constipation-here-are-4-things-to-help-treat-it-123364

Seventy-five percent can be described by Einstein. The remainder? It drove Albert to question his work till his dying day. Dr Karl and Dr Lewis discuss evidence for the missing theory . http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/

They're back ! Dr Karl on why carbon dioxide is so insidious in the atmosphere. Dr Alice Motion on the best Instagrams yet of our sun and Dr Jessica Bloom on the rise of bio-robots. The original shirtloads gangsters are in the lab.

American climatologist Michael Mann drew a chart back in 1999 . It's called "The Hockey Stick Graph" because of the way it shoots up. There was no new information in it and it drew on agreed international temperature data. Like Charles Darwin, Dr Mann dared to publish. His "hockey stick" still makes him a target for fossil fuel lobbyists. So what happens when a scientist is taken on by powerful interests ? Dr Karl asks him about the experience.

One star, observed in outback Australia, may hold new clues to dark matter and black holes. It's a milky way neighbour but moving very fast. Prof Geraint Lewis takes Dr Karl on his quest for answers. http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/

The Young Australian of the Year Award recognises 16- to 30-year-old Australians. It rewards their achievements and contributions. Dr Karl meets Corey Tutt, the NSW winner for 2020. Corey has already made an extraordinary difference with his Deadly Science initiative.

The Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990. It is named after the American astronomer who found our universe was expanding. Ninety years on, with much better kit, Hubble's ideas still hold. The question is how fast are we inflating? This is the Hubble tension and Prof Geraint Lewis leads Dr Karl through the deep space discussion. http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/

What is the science behind warning pregnant women to stay away from cat faeces ? It involves a parasite (called "Toxo" for short) that migrates between humans and their cats. The risk to unborn children is real and world renowned expert, Professor Justine Smith, takes Dr Karl through the life cycle from Kitty Litter to the eyeballs.https://www.flinders.edu.au/people/justine.smith

A dietary study in Europe reveals a connection between processed foods (and drinks) and cancers. 8 years of research they tried to eliminate factors such as socioeconomic and diet preferences from the data but the link remains strong. What does it mean for you ? Doctor Karl and Professor Claire Collins discuss.

https://theconversation.com/research-check-will-eating-ultra-processed-foods-give-you-cancer-91984

Dr Kyra Sim treats takes Dr Karl through The benefits of exercise - after eating. @kyrasim

We are officially in an interglacial period - between ice ages. Dr Karl talks with Australian Glaciologist Dr Tas van Ommen about the times when Ice sheets were a kilometre thick. What caused them and how long did they last. Understanding our climate history is our best chance for anticipating its earth's future. Recorded in Antarctica

Dr Karl and AI expert Dean Blumenstein from UTS Sydney discuss the application of drones being deployed on Australian beaches. Can deep learning improve on helicopter surveillance ? Could a drone save someone faster than lifeguards ? How safe in are we in the hands of AI ?

Guardian Australia's 2017 bird of the year was the Magpie. They are notorious for swooping and pecking bike riders so why are they so popular ? Dr Karl joins Prof Kaplan in the cradle of bird life. Australia saved the birds and some of the smartest ones are still here. https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781760554200/

Dr Nick Fuller investigates the claims behind fasting diets and why today, most of us will end up where we started and feeling Hangry. He and Karl go through a recent study to show how deceptive it can be. It's not willpower that lets us down but something much deeper. There are proven long-term plans - fasting is not one of them. Twitter: @drnickfuller Website: www.intervalweightloss.com.au

Marine Biologist Dr. Daniela Ceccarelli has been studying the Great Barrier reef for around 20 years. She lives and works there and has uncovered some of the complex relationships between seaweed, algae, fish and coral. One of her surprising discoveries involves the humble Damsel fish. Dr Karl talks to her on Magnetic Island about her research and containing the damage that agricultural run-off and sea temperatures are having on reefs.

What controls our sex life ? Dr Amee Baird has a tremendous insight into this. As a clinical neuropsychologist, she has studied many people whose sexual behaviour suddenly changed. It remains a taboo subject for many, and so she has written a book about what she has learned. Dr Karl spoke with Dr Amee Baird in Sydney about her book "Sex in the Brain". https://newcastleneuropsych.com.au/dr-amee-baird/

Dr Bernie probes the Augmented Realities inside Dr Karl's new book. Are the 3D animations impressive ? Do the walking, talking virtual Karls look amazing on her phone ? Is this the new frontier in science publishing ?

https://drkarl.com/books/

2019's Australian of the Year Award was most unusual, shared between two extraordinary people - Veterinary Surgeon, Craig Challen and Anaesthetist Richard Harris. They were pivotal in the rescue of a Soccer team trapped in a cave deep in the mountains of Thailand. In this special 50-minute podcast Dr Richard Harris takes Dr Karl through that extraordinary cave rescue during the South-east Asian Monsoon. https://www.penguin.com.au/books/against-all-odds-9781760890957

Dr Alice Gorman is an internationally recognised leader in the emerging field of space archaeology. So how do you create a job like that? It begins with rubbish. Dr Alice takes Dr Karl back to the fundamentals of preservation and how to sort space junk from the keepers. @drspacejunk.

How do you un-boil an egg? A Professor of Chemistry showed what was possible and won an Ig-Nobel Prize. It's all about the structure of proteins and how you fold them.

Firestorms attacked Australia's Capital City in 2003. Four people died. Dr Karl meets Prof Jason Sharples. His analysis has altered the world's understanding of fire. In certain conditions fires jump, dance and then go their own way .

https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/our-people/associate-professor-jason-sharples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navier%E2%80%93Stokes_equations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H1eVy6O3Fo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Canberra_bushfire

The discovery of a planet beyond our solar system was rewarded with a share of the 2019 Nobel Physics Prize. Thousands more exoplanets have since been discovered but is there life out there? Rocket propulsion Scientist Dr Rachel Brachman and astro-chemist Dr Michael Malaska join Dr Karl to scope how and where to start looking for signs of life beyond Earth.

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scientist-for-a-day/home/ https://eyes.nasa.gov/ https://projectpanoptes.org/ @WATSONpstar

2019's Nobel Physics prize was shared by three Astrophysicists: Jim Peebles for his Big Bang cosmology plus Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz for their discovery of exoplanets. To discover life out there, we need Astrobiologists. Rocket propulsion Scientist Dr Rachel Brachman and astro-chemist Dr Michael Malaska are turning their talents towards biology and the search for extra-terrestrial life.

Polio, smallpox, measles, whooping cough - the list goes on. Vaccination has saved more human lives than other treatments. Dr David gives Dr Karl the facts on our biggest medical miracle - training our immune system to fight deadly invaders.

Dr Karl embraces Sand Talk. The first Australians have been exchanging complex concepts this way for 60,000 years. Climate Change and the nature of Time can both be discussed (in Sand Talk).Tyson Yunkaporta and Dr Karl share traditional wisdom and science.

https://www.bookdepository.com/Sand-Talk-How-Indigenous-Thinking-Can-Save-World-Tyson-Yunkaporta/9781925773996

July 2019 marked 50 years since the Apollo moon landing. Days later, Chris Kraft, a visionary behind Mission Control and Nasa's first flight director died aged 95. Dr Karl talks with Matt Abbott - a flight director for 40 shuttle missions. Matt worked on the ISS Robotic arm and is now fine-tuning mission control for the upcoming Orion missions - returning to the moon and beyond. @Aquarius_Flight

Silicosis is a deadly lung condition. It is an occupational disease traditionally associated with stone masons and miners. Today new generations are at risk. From workers on infrastructure to home handy-persons cutting concrete, fine particles of silica can be inhaled without the right protection. Kate Cole tells Dr Karl how to stay safe.

Digging big holes is dangerous work. Silicosis is a cumulative and sometimes fatal disease resulting from breathing in certain types of dust from broken rocks. Kate Cole is Occupational Health and Hygiene Manager for the new Sydney Metro. She talks with Dr Karl about the history and science of dust diseases.

Romans used Red Dog sacrifices but could not stop it. Decades ago Science slowed the red fungi with new strains of cereal crops. Food security is back in the headlines and the battle is not over according to Professor Robert Park. Winds continue to spread deadly spores that kill the wheat crops we rely on. robert.park@sydney.edu.au

Dr Karl and Dr Sim work through a Diet that balances the needs of farmers, ecologists and your body to find a natural balance. The diet (published in the Lancet) is meant to challenge us towards a sustainable and healthy future.

Dr Karl talks with University of Sydney researcher Marilena Demayo about the complex process of identifying and unravelling autism. @MMDeMayo

Research is showing that "Happy" meals are real. Not only do you feel better at the dinner table, those feelings are long lasting. Also you can amplify the good effects by how you dine. Spoiler Alert - fast food is not the answer. http://healthyeatingquiz.com.au/

How to make Graphene at home, how to visualise a Black Hole and the accidental Car Key immobiliser. Doctors Karl, Alice and Jessica with the latest.

It's 20 years since our first modern Global Coral Bleaching event. Now they are regular, harder and faster. A deadly trio of climate change conditions are killing corals. Dr Emma Camp, a Marine Bio-geochemist, is at Ground Zero on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. She might have discovered some micro-biological interactions that could throw corals a lifeline. @emmafcamp https://emmafcamp.com/

Statistics are essential today.They are complicated and easy to misinterpret. Clearly communicated results can make a world of difference to new ideas. Dr Emi and Dr Karl discuss smart ways to reveal your data. http://soapboxscience.org/soapbox-science-2019-sydney/

41 recent Diets have been ranked by US Health professionals. Dr Nick Fuller takes Dr Karl through the top and bottom of the chart. Is there a new Number One this year ? Will it be the 5/2, Keto, Dash or Mind ? Before you start your next diet, listen to this Podcast. Twitter: @drnickfuller Website: www.intervalweightloss.com.au

Dr Gavin Scherer tells Dr Karl of an Environmental catastrophe that engulfed a brand new Australian suburb. How did it happen? What did it take to fix? A blow by blow account of what it takes to undo decades of bad choices. http://bit.ly/2JZqXmi

The PFAS family of chemicals were Jet-Age wonders. Now some of them are biohazards that can cause cancer in high concentrations. PFAS are proving very hard to contain and break down. Dr Gavin Scherer has the job of finding them and making them safe. https://www.aecom.com/au/pfas/ https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/

Dr Kyra Sim treats takes Dr Karl through The benefits of exercise - after eating. @kyrasim

How we are training computers to look and see like us, how young Danish Citizen Scientists discovered new bacteria and the Benjamin Franklin effect - no kites or thunderstorms involved. Dr Alice Motion, Dr Jessica Supernova (aka Bloom) and Dr Karl return.

Tongue to tail, our bodies need this more than ever. The science is absolute - hearts, brains, bodies, guts - this works. It's affordable, tasty and we all need more of it. Bananas, popocorn and high cocoa dark cholocate ? Professor Claire and Dr Karl both have upped their fiber intake. http://healthyeatingquiz.com.au/

Geology reveals deep history. For recent history , 1 to 2 million years, glaciology has answers. The bubbles buried in ice in Antarctica are like a time machine for our atmosphere. Earth's Ice Ages are out of kilter and we need to know why. Dr Karl and Dr Tas van Ommen talk about the next 4 Antarctic summers of drilling required to discover what is really going on.

We are officially in an interglacial period - between ice ages. Dr Karl talks with Australian Glaciologist Dr Tas van Ommen about the times when Ice sheets were a kilometre thick. What caused them and how long did they last. Understanding earth's history is our best chance for anticipating its future.

In the 60's the Green Revolution promised to feed the world. It succeeded with huge productivity gains, new products and profits. Now we are discovering a legacy. Plus More than 40% of this species are declining and a third are endangered. Plus does you body smell different while watching certain movies. Dr Alice Motion and Dr Karl discuss.

Did you know the atmospheric layer that shields us can also clean dirty water ? Meet 3 MegaKennies. Scientists who know about ozone and how to use it. Australia's largest music festival site produces a Megalitre of waste per day for a few weeks each year. They have a plant that ticks all the environmental boxes. Dr Jake O'Brien, Ben Kele and Guy Scott explain. https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/16984

As the Christian world marks almost 2,000 years of Easter, Dr Karl searches for million-year-old air bubbles. The Chief Scientist for the Australian Antarctic Division, Dr Gwen Fenton, outlines why it will take 4 antarctic summers to drill for air that will answer fundamental questions about Climate Change, plus Krill and the fish that Dr Karl stopped eating.http://www.antarctica.gov.au/

To operate at the earth's extremities you need a special skillset. Dean has been a professional chef, mining machine operator and martial arts instructor. Dr Karl discovers how this produces rock solid members of our Antarctic support team. Dr Karl traveled south to Casey research station as part of the Australian Antarctic Program. @AusAntarctic

Antarctica has virgin soil which is frozen most of the year. Inside are some of the most hardy and unusual life forms including Tardigrades. RMIT Professor Suzie Reichman and PhD Student Jordan McCarthy are studying the local species and to trying to answer how they survive and how tolerant they are to human occupation. Dr Karl traveled south to Casey research station as part of the Australian Antarctic Program.@reichman_lab @AusAntarctic

For every Scientist in Antarctica at least 5 support staff are needed. Dr Karl meets one of them. Sharon Labudda. She's in logistics but will turn her hand to fixing engines, carting supplies or getting scientists and their experiments done safely. Dr Karl also gets a lesson in how to speak Antarctican. What's a Yellow Hagg, the AAD, a Deezo or an FTL? Dr Karl traveled south to Casey research station as part of the Australian Antarctic Program. @AusAntarctic

If you want to know how Global Warming works, ask a Glaciologist. Dr Karl talks with Dr Ben Galton-Fenzi about his measurements on the Totten Glacier - one of the fastest flowing in Antarctica. His measurements, models and predictions are rewriting the timetable for ocean level rises. Dr Karl traveled south to Casey research station as part of the Australian Antarctic Program. @AusAntarctic

Dr Karl gives Dr Alice a first hand report on Antarctica in February 2019. So how is climate change affecting the area ? Who are the scientists and what are Australians like living in our coldest territory ? Dr Karl traveled south to Casey research station as part of the Australian Antarctic Program @AusAntarctic

We all need Salt, but too much makes you sick. Too much for too long kills you. So how much is enough and which foods have it ? Dr Nick busts FIVE common Myths to help you toward a simple lower-salt lifestyle plan. Feel better and you're likely to lose some weight. Twitter: @drnickfuller Website: www.intervalweightloss.com.au

Dr Karl probes Damien Manuel from Deakin University on the foundations of modern Cyber warfare. From Stuxnet to Brexit, Trump16 and IIWAM, our Digital space is being warped and manipulated. Part 2 on Dr Karl's 2019 Cybersecurity podcast.

Dr Karl probes the Director for Centre for Cyber Security Solutions, Damien Manuel, on digital safety. Smartphones, Digital health records, Credit Cards, Huawei and the most common types of cyber warriors. Update your shields in 2019 because smart refrigerators can launch DDOS attacks. Karl and Damien discuss the telltale signs and what to do.

Dr Karl meets Daniel Alexander. Daniel donates blood plasma every second week. Find out how his particular blood can save the lives of babies. His body chemistry is rare and he's one of oly 150 Australians currently supporting this vital program. Blood is central to life and our immune system. Donating in Australia https://www.donateblood.com.au/

Imagine something that would undo all the bad stuff you put in your mouth. Now that would be a Super Food. Superfoods do not exist and Dr Nick Fuller takes Dr Karl through recent claims. Twitter: @drnickfuller Website: www.intervalweightloss.com.au

Dr Karl and AI expert Dean Blumenstein from UTS Sydney discuss the application of drones being deployed on Australian beaches this summer. Can deep learning improve on helicopter surveillance ? Can a drone save someone from drowning faster than lifeguards ? How safe in are we in the hands of AI ?

Two decades in and the 21st century being swarmed by digital services - both wanted and unwanted. Dr Karl discusses how we've got here - and where we're going with AI expert, Dean Blumenstein from UTS Sydney. When deep neural networks have lifetimes of human learning inside, Are we heading towards a safer space ?

Meet Rebecca Whittle, an Australian Teenage Gold medallist in the 2018 Science Olympics. Rebecca was part of a four-member team representing us at the International Earth Science Olympiad. While sports dominate media, it is brain power that will provide for our future. Discover more and the games set for Adelaide in 2019. asi.edu.au amt.edu.au https://www.facebook.com/AustralianScienceOlympiads

An aspiring space diplomat tries to determine space law using the Antarctic Treaty. Both were set in the Cold War but the times have changed. Compare and contrast with Dr Karl and Annie.

Is the ultimate cleaning compound a human byproduct ? What if Evolution was part of an experiment ? Can a Virus kill Bacteria ? Plus Dr Karl reports on his recent visit to Mongolia.

Dr Karl & Dr Alice bring you some of 2018's remarkable innovations. A process that transformed manufacturing and surgery, the "Deborah" Number and why a team of researchers went to a Post Office to investigate Male Erectile Disfunction. https://twitter.com/DoctorKarl

7% of the listeners to this podcast will be affected by attacks of lower back pain. For both men and women it is a debilitating condition. Worse still, some prescriptions result in death. Professor Chris Maher challenged orthodoxy in a 2018 Lancet article with a set of treatment guidelines. Dr Karl helps decode the article for you.

https://www.nps.org.au/ http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/people/academics/profiles/christopher.maher.php

You are qualified and experienced. An invitation comes to speak at an international conference. Your research questions 30+ years of practice. Which path do you choose ? You know most of your audience will walk away disappointed. If you're Prof Chris Maher you follow both the Scientific Method and Hippocratic Oath. Is it evidence based ? Is it subject to independent testing ? Does the practice harm patients ? That day Ergonometrists walked away unhappy but it was a victory for patients in pain. Dr Karl and Prof Chris Maher discuss the day ergonomics took a dive.

http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/people/academics/profiles/christopher.maher.php

Obesity, Diabetes and Heart Disease are ruining the lives of otherwise healthy people. Many of us are at risk through uninformed choices. Doctor Karl consults dietitian Dr Kyra Sim and analytical chemist Dr Yvette D'Entremont for the latest. Did you know your lungs play a huge role in weight management ?

Eddie Woo is Head Teacher Mathematics at a government high school in Sydney, Australia - and a whole lot more. He is someone with a gift for teaching and is now internationally regarded for the lessons he posts online with his woo tube channel. https://misterwootube.com/

Kirsten Banks recently graduated from Sydney University. She has a deep passion for space and astronomy and writes on her twitter page "I won't be the next Brian Cox, I will be the first Kirsten Banks proud wirajuri woman ". Discover an entirely different view of the heavens from an Indigenous Australian. @astrokirsten

A.I. is already surrounding us. The internet, cars, courts, recruitment agencies. Already serious issues are surfacing. For instance removing prejudice is proving very difficult. The data sets we train our devices with are imprinting our own society back into the system. Author Ellen Broad leads Dr Karl inside the machine with her book "Made by Humans : The AI Condition". https://www.mup.com.au/books/made-by-humans-electronic-book-text

Inequality. How dangerous is it ? Are our democracies fair ? Author Tim Dunlop says even the Ancient Greeks didn't trust their democracy to popularity contests. They recognised human weakness and used alternatives. Tim also has a convincing explanation of how privatisation fails and why hope exists. Dr Karl and the future of everything with Tim Dunlop. https://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/books/future-everything/

Dr. Katerina Kimmorley co-founded Pollinate Energy, a solar startup, in Bangalore India. She's since helped expand that business to three more cities, cutting carbon and transforming lives. What drove her from Sydney to the the London School of Economics and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation ? Dr. Kimmorley tells Dr Karl - (and is at the Sydney Spark statup festival). https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-role-of-women-entrepreneurs-in-tackling-climate-change-tickets-49158532494 http://sparkfestival.co/program/#

Two Polymaths share stories from the past few Millennia. Bill reveals his DNA profile and links to European History. Karl on Empires and psychopaths. Who said the week should be 7 days long ? How Unready was Ethelred ? Many of Bill Baileys tour dates are sold out. Dr Karl had Laryngitis at the time of recording and has recovered.

They're 300 million years old. They're almost invisible and they are deadly. Cubozoa, Box jellyfish or Irukandji, are both the smallest and the most venomous jellyfish in the world. There are more than 50 species and Dr Karl joins Lisa-ann Gershwin on her hunt for more. When Box jellyfish fire their stingers, the pain and other symptoms are collectively known as Irukandji syndrome and it can kill. But something as thin as pantyhose can save your life - how does that work ? http://lisagershwin.com

What careers open up for Physics graduates? What if you add a PhD in Chemistry? Meet Sydney University graduate Dr Michelle Deaker talking with Dr Karl about her journey. She started with some entrepreneurial spirit and then added an eye for opportunity. Dr Michelle turns research and ideas into products and then takes them to market. Her Australian venture capital portfolio includes a world-leading vaccine Nanopatch, a watch for tracking dementia patients and a new diagnostic in oncology. Got a new idea for Dr Michelle ? one-ventures.com.au

Longitude was maritime history's greatest scientific breakthrough. Dr Karl discovers why with Kevin Sumption and James Hunter from the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. What connects Lieutenant James Cook to the early computers ? Extraordinary nautical tables and accurate clocks. From these innovations space exploration was possible. (from 2016)

The original "AI" could be Avian - and from Australia. Professor Gisela Kaplan with Dr Karl of her research on why Australian birds are smarter than their Northern cousins. NOTE = Professor Kaplan is highly qualified with vast experience treating wild birds. Do NOT attempt her methods at home. The talons of birds of prey can result in serious injury.

A dietary study in Europe reveals a connection between processed foods (and drinks) and cancers. 8 years of research they tried to eliminate factors such as socioeconomic and diet preferences from the data but the link remains strong. What does it mean for you ? Doctor Karl and Professor Claire Collins discuss.

https://theconversation.com/research-check-will-eating-ultra-processed-foods-give-you-cancer-91984

So you want to solve the Dark Energy conundrum ? Then you need to be patient. It'll be clumpy, relativistic and you'll be seeing double at times. It will take you to Chile and Germany. Dr Karl explores Dr Lewis's quest for a universal holy grail.

95 % of diets fail. By middle age you will try over 60 diets and 19 times out of 20 you will not lose weight. Australia is now the 5th fattest nation on earth (ahead of the UK). Join Dr Karl & Dr Fuller from Sydney University and a plan that is friendly to the human condition . Fad diets will fail. On average we will spend more than 30 years on diets during our lifetime. With a $60 billion weight loss industry, do they really want you succeed? www.intervalweightloss.com.au

Prof Geraint Lewis takes you back to the birth of our stars. He uses Optic fibres, Robotic observations, Grisms, Hermes and Galah. It all happens at the AAT using 2DF. All these terms are explained wonderfully. This is the art of looking at what's not there. (Warning this podcast may contain Backronyms).

Meet one hardworking Sydney Uni student, Vanessa Pirotta. She works with a boat and a drone. Off Sydney (and in Antarctic waters) she has developed a health profile of migrating whales without touching them. Whales have a 12 month gestation cycle. They synchronise with the seasons. From the tropics to the roaring 40's marine mammals have a story we must listen to.

When Nature magazine published the top 10 researchers of 2017 there was one Australian. A radio astronomer ? no. A paleontologist? no. She is a professor of Molecular Oncology working with the "the Post-Truth Initiative". Doctor Karl interviews our world leading researcher on how she beat fake science. "Seek and Blast" is the software she helped develop in her spare time. An uplifting story on beating the cheats.

Hypersonic space injection is different. It's fast like a Kangaroo, Air breathing like a lungfish and reusable like a keepcup. UQ's Professor Michael Smart takes Dr Karl through an Australian development that could jumpstart the space program downunder. It has been part of a research program spanning 30 years and Hypersonics could be ready to fly in 5 years says Professor Michael - (with an injection of money).

Dr Karl and Dietetics Professor Claire Collins measure popular weight-loss supplements against the scientific literature. She finds one supplement you could easily overdose on. She finds another that has only ever worked in Japan. How much actual evidence is there ? Save your money and Listen. Proven and affordable solutions are here.

Infrared Invisibility from Polar Bears, Secret Elephant Sounds and Tentacle Camouflage.

Before the Space Race there was a race to find and name new elements. Atom smashers and reactors were the tools to make new super-heavy metals - unknown on earth. Who leaked the announcement of two new radioactive elements on a Children's Quiz show ? Transfermium wars - What were they ? Who died getting Einsteinium ? Chemistry World journalist and author, Kit Chapman, tells Dr Karl about the people behind the unpronounceable names with big atomic numbers at the bottom of the table and the race that is still running.

Before the Space Race began there was a chemistry race - the hunt for new elements. The Russians may have organised the periodic table but it was the Americans that began filling in the blanks. These heavy elements could not be found in nature, you had to create them in cyclotrons and reactors. Chemistry World journalist and author, Kit Chapman, tells Dr Karl about the people behind the 20 or so unpronounceable names at the bottom of the table. In this podcast we count up from atomic number 93. Who wrote a personal letter to Stalin urging a soviet atomic program ? What was the Frankenstein-like moment in San Francisco (just before Pearl Harbour) that changed the war? Which superhero prompted the raid on the offices of DC Comics ?

Lose weight by drinking special Tea - that sounds easy... but is it good ? Dietetics professor Clare Collins, takes Dr Karl through seven Botanical tinctures that make this claim. Snake Oil or Science ?

http://theconversation.com/science-or-snake-oil-do-skinny-teas-boost-weight-loss-87353

https://www.newcastle.edu.au/online-learning/moocs/the-science-of-weight-loss

The stars at night are only a fraction of what we know should be there. So where are all those missing bits from our universe? This is a lifelong quest for Professor James Green from Colorado University in Boulder. Since his student days, he has been designing payloads for NASA rockets (and the Hubble space telescope) looking at invisible stuff. So how do you see in the cold black soup of space? What is a Sounding Rocket? Why do Wimps beat Macho's ? These and many more questions are answered in Dr Karl's latest podcast.

What would a biohacked future look like ? What would stop Supervillians creating seceret labs ? Who polices the Cyborgs ? What is the controversial 5th pillar of biohacking ? Doctor Karl and Australia's most famous biohacker discuss.

Imagine visiting a doctor in the not too distant future. Afterwards she sends off data to a local gene lab to give your body a small upgrade. This is the world of biohacking. A place where biololgy is being controlled and shaped to our will - just like we have mastered computers. This episode bounces from In-Vivo to In-Silico and back again, visits the Last Universal Common Ancestor and involves a real human cyborg. Doctor Karl and Mr Meow Meow (Australia's most famous biohacker) explain this brave new world. Part One of a two part podcast.

Doctor Alice on Interstellar Chemistry. Doctor Karl answers the vital question "Do Fish Drink?". Dr Almost Jessica on where it is best to listen to podcasts. A Deep edition. The Shirtloads podcast Team back for 2018.

Doctor Karl takes the Healthy Eating Quiz followed by a dietary checkup with Professor Claire Collins. Have you tried being Flexetarian ? 24 minutes of simple, healthy, free and inspiring suggestions. For maximum effect take the quiz before the podcast and compare your score with the Doctors. healthyeatingquiz.com.au

From Floppy Hats, to Firebirds, The Dark Knight and the Broken Escalator Phenomenon. Doctor Karl is joined by Alice and Jessica as the explore the science behind three observed phenomena. The fire carrying birds of Northern Australia, the dark orbiter that will not die and why people brace themselves when there is no apparent danger.

Econobabble is an invented language that deliberately obscures what you think words describe. Words like "unemployment" and "subsidy" are simple at first glance. Wait till you find out what they really mean ! Are you wasting your time looking for certain jobs, investing your savings in the wrong place or voting against you best interests? Are your definitions up to date? 1962, William S. Burroughs suggested that language could be a virus in his book "The Ticket That Exploded". This 30 minute podcast might be the inoculation you've been looking for.

Note: Statistics and examples are for illustrative purposes only. Some are out of date and possibly wrong. The interview was recorded this in late 2017 before the Queensland state election.

August 17 2017 will go down in in Astrophysics history . A LIGO event triggered a 50 telescope 24 hour 360 degree operation which yielded astronomy gold. Prof Tara Murphy was at ground zero when the results came in but she would have to be patient for the ripples to show up on Australian Radio Telescopes. In the data was the solution to a Cold war mystery. A compelling first hand account of a new frontier of discovery.

If every death was a good death, then euthenasia would be widespread. Today most countries ban it. Why? Professor Linda Shields has unearthed some of the reasons and they are within living memory. She is a Professor of Rural Health and has written of an under-reported genocide. One-third of a million disabled people (adults and children, male and female, physical and intellectual) were killed during the Nazi regime and the people who did that killing were nurses. Her book is Nurses and Midwives in Nazi Germany: The "Euthanasia Programs.

Dietitian, Care Collins gives Dr Karl a full 360 on a diet that is getting researchers pumped up. Imagine a menu that stimulated the blood brain barrier, made you think you were full early and might starve cancer cells. Sounds good but there are dangerous side effects in the long term. Ketogenic is a medical diet, is difficult to stick with and may actually have no long term weight loss benefits.

We are what we eat. Organic, low fat, pesticide-free, High Fibre ; Consumers pay extra for foods with health benefits like these. But when food is packaged, how do you know what is really inside ? Welcome to the world of Food Fraud. This Shirtloads podcast stars two British Scientists who have investigated and written about it in their book "Sorting the Beef from the Bull". Bio-Geo-Chemist Richard Evershead and Biologist Nicola Temple expose food criminals with forensic science. (first podcast in 2017)

Marine biologist, diver and author Dr Helen Scales takes Dr Karl deep beneath the waves to share her passion for the ocean. Helen talks about the secret life of molluscs (shellfish). Hear about 'clacking' oysters, the legend of the Golden Fleece (sea silk) and a creature resembling a pinecone crossbred with a slug. There's maths in the spirals, slave trading in the cowrie and just imagine a Harry Potter golden snitch of the sea… it's real and plays an incredibly important role.

Dr Michael has found some fascinating new applications and treatments using worms. From gut health, treating Coeliac disease and healing chronic wounds - there's relief to be found in our tubular friends. Join Dr Karl with Dr Michael Smout (from the Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine) at James Cook University. If words like bile, kilodaltons and cysts put you off - stick with this - it's an uplifting tale of research that could make us feel a lot better.

Dr Karl takes up the challenge of saving the world . Joining him are fellow doctors Derek Muller and Petr Lebedev. All three are in the Science communication business. So how do we convince the world to act on climate change ?

The people of Madagascar have fascinating stories. Did you know the first settlers came from South East Asia ? That some of their traditions are almost 2,000 years old ? That 90% of Madagascan flora and fauna are found nowhere else on earth. Dr Karl and local guide Lala Harivelo takes us on a cultural tour of the world's 4th largest island.

Bill Nye is a household name in the United States. Former Engineer for Boeing, he has a real knack of explaining things. On the panel are Peter Lebedev (investigating how YouTube videos could be made better) and Tom Gordon from Sydney University (resident science communicator at the School of Physics). Clear and accurate communication is fundamental to Science. In 2017, how do you counter beliefs that are ultimately harmful to others and the world at large ? Fascinating discussion.

Edwin Hubble is world famous for his discoveries. Henrietta Swan Leavitt is not. Henrietta was on a team that found a way to measure and classify the universe. They were employed as "human computers" (before the machines existed). Dava's book "The Glass Universe" refers to the half million glass slides Henrietta and other women used to document both the northern and southern skies. An inspiring story of collaboration and discovery.

How do you repel Cyber Espionage ? Architecture says Dr. Barry - The carefully designed structure of things like networks, software and the organisations around them. The latest wave of attacks is Ransom-ware. Dr Karl finds out how to avoid being held hostage. Dr Barry also gives Karl a bunch of tips for keeping your files secure at home and atwork. How often should you update your operating system software? Data backups - how many and where ? Wifi security, Script Kiddies and more.

How do stock exchanges, nuclear power plants or the military check their computer security ? They hire penetration testers - Cyber security experts who secretly test both IT and organisational security. Dr Karl gets the low-down from Chris Gatford, director of a company called Hacklabs. You will not believe how some places make it easy to get inside.

We rarely get to hear "insider" stories of extraterrestrial discovery. Doctor Karl meets Warwick Holmes - Australian Avionics Systems Engineer on Rosetta. He worked on the Philae mission (the one that orbited the comet) seeking the chemical signatures of life. He gives us a blow by blow account of extraterrestrial exploration in the 21st Century. How do you test hardware to fly by the sun and withstand comet dust? How does a lad from South Australia land the best job on earth ? Beam us up Warwick ! First Podcast in 2016

Self-described 'professional space history nerd' Amy Shira Teitel and Dr Karl talk about spaceflight before NASA. Her book 'Breaking the Chains of Gravity' covers cutting edge rocket planes like the X-15 (and its surprising link with tractor seats), the team of seamstresses making high-altitude balloons to send to the edge of space, and how paper plates inspired the engineering of early spacecraft. Extraordinary, intimate stories from a time almost lost from in space-age literature. First podcast in 2016.

From 2009 to 2013, the Kepler Space telescope looked for exoplanets. It stared unblinkingly at a patch of sky which Dr Batalha had selected hoping to find potential life supporting planets in the Goldilocks zone. Then something bad happened. Find out what can go wrong and how Dr Karl's mind was blown to astronomical proportions.

From 2009 to 2013, the Kepler Space telescope looked for exoplanets – planets outside our solar system. It stared unblinkingly at a patch of sky which Dr Batalha had selected hoping to find not just exoplanets, but exoplanets in the Goldilocks zone. Find out what happened, what can go wrong and how Dr Karl's mind was blown to astronomical proportions.

SOFIA is the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy.

Some German astronomers have made a one hundred inch telescope that picks up infrared. They bent it and shrunk it so that it fits into a NASA provided 747 Jumbo Jet. Dr Karl was lucky enough to be taken up for a ride. He spoke with Oliver Zeile about the engineering that keeps the telescope focused and on-target, and with Melanie Chavance who is studying the birth of stars in our nearest galaxy.

Team Shirtload confesses all when they chat about how they got into science. Was it the nifty lab coats? Being able to use big words with authority? For Karl it has something to do with coathangers in the long grass. But for all it was about the beauty of the logic inherent in the scientific method. Great book recommendations as well.

On the 15 September, 2017, after a long and happy life, the spacecraft Cassini will do (or did, depending on when you listen to this) a suicide plunge into the atmosphere of Saturn, the ringed planet.

This episode is a repeat, originally released in March 2017.

Dr Linda Spilker has been with NASA's Jet propulsion Lab since 1977. Her work spans Voyager missions and the current Cassini mission. With 40 years of exploration experience, enjoy our extended edition of Shirtloads. Also find out how Australia may play a vital role in decoding Saturn's rings. (Warning: Contains Physics, Chemistry, inter-planetary exploration and traces of Biology).

Of all hot beverages, Coffee may be the healthiest. It is loaded with antioxidants and beneficial nutrients and it may even lower the risk of some nasty diseases. Dietitician Prof Clare Collins & Dr Karl go through the mounting Scientific evidence. Importantly Professor Collins also goes through the risk factors for some and who should avoid it altogether. Shirtloads of Espresso Science this week.

Dr Alice has a look at possible life but not as we know it on Titan. Close to but not quite, Dr Jessica on Australia's place the future shape of Space Agencies. And Dr Karl on how hungry can make you angry and irrational.

Dr Lucie Green is a Solar Researcher. She studies our natural power source – that Great Nuclear Reactor in the Sky, the Sun.

Come along for the ride with me, Dr Karl, as Dr Lucie helps discover how fusion works, why the light we see is ancient (as old as we are), how to tell if there's an astronomer in your car, and the best place to view planet alignments and magellenic clouds. Shirtloads with Dr. Karl is Out Of This World - with added physics.

To celebrate National Science Week in Australia, we all got together under the umbrella of the Sydney Science Festival to have a fun night called SquizCo – in other words, Science Plus Quiz = Comedy.

We had two teams of top-notch scientists battling it out in an Arena of Knowledge and Wits under the watchful eye of host and fellow Sleek Geek Adam Spencer, with Dr Karl as the Brains Trust.

Dr Karl and Dr Helen - talking about ..World's longest echo, how to photograph the molecules inside an explosion, Oceans, Coffee rings and climate change.

Dr Helen Czerski describes Physics today as "messy" and "complex" and she loves it.

In this episode - just about, almost on-the-verge of becoming Doctor Jessica on the physics of chemical bonding in spider's silk and how it might help us to build better stuff. Dr Alice on computer modelling predicting the shape of eggs. Dr Karl tells us about the first road trip by car.

Making sense of the Heavens above is extreme science. Add radio telescopes and that becomes multi dimensional. Then apply stresses that destroy 4 wheel vehicles in the desert and you have this week's Shirtloads guest. Dr Karl and Professor Lisa (Harvey-Smith). Radio astronomer and Ultra Marathon Runner who quit formal schooling aged 11. Unique in the science fraternity and she is focused on big Science. In her own words "There are no Bigger questions than the ones being asked by astronomers. Where do we come from? Where are we going? Are we alone?"

This week the team are all in the wild blue yonder. Dr Alice talks about mice pups and space and burying sperm deep under the lunar surface. Dr Karl dreams of carbon free plane travel and passengers making space for the lightest element in the universe. And just about a fully formed Dr Jessica on making the newest blue a physical reality.

What makes white coffee so foamy and delicious. That delightful crunch when you bite into the perfect meringue. Scientifically they're both made of the same stuff - protein. Prof Claire Collins takes us on a journey beyond the taste buds to find the perfect foam for coffee and the prime meringuine making conditions. There is Science behind our recipes and with these tips you will do better. Dr Karl and Prof Collins are here to help.

Things are not always how they seem: Dr Karl explains how to be buff, good looking and scientifically believable in order to con the gullible. Almost Dr Jessica explains how a statistical quirk could look like a collision with another universe. And Dr Alice explains that how that wine you're drinking could taste better in another bottle while listening to your favourite violinist playing a Stradivarius that may or may not sound better than an ordinary violin.

This podcast is about Science and a chart. Team leader, Professor Michael Mann, drew it 20 years ago using good science. It's been named "The Hockey Stick Graph" because of the way it shoots up. It had no new information. Instead it drew on an international scientific consensus.

The issue was that it suggested that humans had already changed our climate. The other problem was the clarity with which it expressed those man-made forces. You didn't need to be a scientist read or understand it. Dr Michael Mann, like Charles Darwin, dared to publish. The self-evident conclusion by many, unleashed powerful interests against both Dr. Mann and the science community. Dr Karl Talks with him about the experience.

Blue Sky Science. This week the lamb in a bag - Dr Alice on the research that may help save premature babies. Almost Dr Jessica with a cat in a box wanted dead and/or alive. And Dr Karl on the viruses that eats bacteria - maybe there is a future for humans despite antibiotic superbugs.

We are what we eat. Organic, low fat, pesticide-free, High Fibre ; Consumers are charged extra for foods with health benefits like these. But when food is packaged, how do you know what is really inside ? Welcome to the world of Food Fraud. This Shirtloads podcast stars two British Scientists who have written all it in "Sorting the Beef from the Bull". Bio-Geo-Chemist Richard Evershead and Biologist Nicola Temple. Dr Karl talking with the "Mulder and Sculley" of the food fraud forensic world.

Natural Nukes - Dr Karl explains how the earth created a nuclear reactor billions of years before we figured out how. Extreme gravity, relativistic rotation speeds and could-have-been alien lighthouses - almost Dr Jessica explains the strange science of the Pulsar. Plus Dr Alice on things that shouldn't go boom - the Lithium-ion batteries that power all our devices.

From the age of six, Xiuhtezcatl has been out to improve our world. He worked locally to get pesticides out of parks, coal ash contained, and fracking moratoriums. He has addressed the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York. He is currently a plaintiff in a youth-led lawsuit against the US federal government for their failure to protect the atmosphere for future generations.

On a brief visit to Australia he talks with Dr. Karl on how to achieve meaningful change as a youth activist.