Lost in Science

Oct 30 2024 497 ep. 1.1k

Lost in Science Podcast artwork

Entertaining news and discussion about research that has impact on society and providing a wide range of science and technology news. Distributed nationally on the Community Radio Network.

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Lost in Science Fiction rewind

Some classic stories from our annual Lost in Science Fiction specials from years gone by. Chris and Stu talk Star Trek with popular culture researcher Andrew Lynch, Claire gets stuck into a hearty meal of Soylent Green, and Catriona wonders aloud why we still don't have hoverboards and flying cars

Puberty blockers & smartphones on the brain

This week, Cat takes us through the science of puberty blockers, and how they can help young people sort out their gender identity; and Stu calls up the long list of research into the effects of smartphone use.

Gut Health, Chronic Disease & Space Junk

This week on Lost in Science, Claire chats with Dr. Matthew Snelson about how our diet affects gutmicrobiome health and the link with chronic diseases. And we dig into the archives with Chris to explore space junk—who's responsible for putting it up there, tracking it, and bringing it down.

Close call elections and more moony news

Is it just Chris or are elections getting closer and closer of late? He spoke to psephologist Adrian Beaumont and was surprised by what he was told. And Stu has been looking at the moon and finding out there's more discoveries about the moon all the time, and not just regarding our local satellite(s).

Short-term mini-moons & cave diving for fossils

This week, Cat tells us what makes a moon, and how they can only orbit us temporarily like Earth’s latest mini-moon 2024 PT5; and Claire takes us underground and underwater as she speaks to palaeontologist Meg Walker about diving for megafauna fossils in South Australia’s limestone caves.

Wow! Signal Mystery and Microbes on the Move

This week on Lost in Science, Chris investigates fresh research into the mysterious Wow! signal detected by the Big Ear radio telescope, and could it be evidence of a weird cosmic outburst? Meanwhile, Stu takes us on a journey through the sky—examining how microbes hitch a ride on atmospheric currents, traveling vast distances across the planet. How far can these tiny travelers g

An Ignobel time of the year

How can a plant imitate the leaves of a plastic plant when it has no eyes, and no brain? How can a dead fish swim? Can animals breathe through their bums? These are the questions that have driven scientists and philosophers to insomnia and madness for centuries, but now, the Ignobel prizes has brought their answers to light. This week on Lost in Science

Invisible mice & whale secrets

This week, Stu tells us about new research making animals invisible, or rather their tissue transparent, using a common food dye; and Cat tells us about how humpback whales make and use nets of bubbles as tools for hunting, and recently discovered secrets of their mating and birth.Zihao Ou et al. Achieving optical transparency in live animals with absorbing molecules. Science 385,

Back in time: Cat Taste & Wombat Citizen Science

This week on Lost in Science, we're taking a trip back in time to revisit two fascinating stories! First up, Chris dives into the curious world of cat taste—exploring why our feline friends are such picky eaters and the evolutionary reasons behind their unique palate. Then, Claire catches up with Dr. Julie Old to chat about the incredible wombat and the groundbreaking citizen sci

Long Covid risk & skyglow pollution

This week, Chris speaks to virologist Assoc. Prof. Kirsty Short from the University of Queensland about their new online calculator which estimates your risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes and Long Covid; and Cat tells us about how skyglow blocks our view of the stars and First Nations' Sky Country, and why it should be possible to fix.COVID-19 Risk Calculator: https://corical.immuni