Lost in Science

Mar 05 2025 515 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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International Women's Day Special

This week, we celebrate International Women's Day! Claire explores the global impact of breast cancer, a disease that affects millions of women worldwide, and talks about some of the latest research and challenges in the fight for better treatments and outcomes. Meanwhile, Linden shares the inspiring story of pioneering chemist and Isabel Joy Bear, who defied expectations to become

Toxic Miscalculations and Wombat burrows

This week on Lost in Science, Chris digs into the surprising miscalculations of toxins in black plastic utensils—should we be worried about what’s lurking in our plastic spatulas? Meanwhile, Linden takes us underground (metaphorically, of course) to explore the world of one of Australia’s most beloved marsupials: the wombat! How do we know where they burrow, and what can sate

Caterpillars and asteroids

This week, Claire comes out of the chrysalis to talk about metamorphosis, and how caterpillars turn into butterflies; and Chris looks into the risk of Asteroid 2024 YR4, which currently has about a 2-3% chance of hitting Earth in 2032. Keep up with NASA's latest risk assessment.

Year of quantum and floss leaders

Back in action for 2025, we kick of our first show of the year with Linden talking about the scientific evidence supporting flossing your teeth, and why people got upset it was dropped from US dental hygiene guidelines some years ago. And Chris welcomes us all to the International year of Quantum, but what does it mean, and who is it for? Tune in to find out.

Summer Series: Antimicrobial Honeys Ants & Shameful Science

This week on the show we head back in the archives to hear Claire's interview with Profesor Dee Carter all about her research looking at the unexpected antimicrobial properties of honey ants, and how they could be solution to anitbiotic resistance challenges ahead.Also on the show Stu gets into some of the shameful history of zoology, and the Acclimatisation society of Victoria.

Summer Series: How time flies and Night Parrot

The summer series continues as we revisit stories from the archives. And this week Chris asks the question, how can time fly without wings? Or more specifically, is there is any scientific basis for feeling like time is passing quicker than each year? Also Claire chats to CSIRO researcher Leo Joseph about sequencing of the complete genome of the Night Parrot, the elusive nocturnal

Summer Series: Satellite up the sky, and animal crossings

Lost in Science summer series continues, Catriona talks about satellites causing problems for astronomers who can't see past them, and Claire explains how we can help native animals who can't necessarily see the danger in our roads.

Summer Series: Basics of alkaline water and great women in science herstory

Our summer series continues with stories from past shows, this week Stu looks into the basic chemistry of alkaline water and why it isn't a panacea for anything much at all. And Chris talks about two historical female figures of scintific importance who may not be the household names they deserve to be.

Summer series: Animals teaching us how to love and how to fly

Chris tells us about an amazing new discovery of dinosaur tracks in Britain, then we continue our replay of classic stories from the archive: Catriona shows what we can learn about love and affection from the hormones of monogamous prairie voles, and Chris shares the formula for the frequency of flapping wings to fly, and uses it to calculate how fast a human would need to flap the

Summer Series: Bird Flu and Inverse Vaccines

This week on Lost in Science, dive into our summer series as we revisit stories from the archives. Claire explores the impacts of bird flu on wild and domestic birds, while Catriona delves into the science of inverse vaccines and how they could help the body "forget" harmful immune responses.