Halfway to the Moon Suzanne and Lucy

In this week's episode we take a look at a fascinating new scientific study that suggests the anthropocene has affected speech itself - and how this could irrevocably change the field of linguistics.

Extinction is a fact of life. But five times in Earth's history, cataclysmic mass extinction events have wiped out not a few animals, but up to 96% of life in one go. And scientists are now raising the question: are we now entering the sixth great mass extinction?

In this episode we take you into the murky world of global trade deals - including the secretive tribunals where companies get to sue governments for billions.
Join us for this interview with the wonderful Dr Patricia Ranald, Convener of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network.

What neolithic beverage is still the world's third most consumed drink? That's right: beer! We delve into beer's 14,000 year old history and do a couple of sidebar trips via witches and the world's coolest nun. We also dig into why a drink the grew from one major climate shift may be killed off by another. 

It's called the jewel of Sydney, but below the surface of Sydney harbour is a toxic legacy. In this week's episode, we bring you the astounding tale of how one company, with one factory, has changed the way we will use the harbour for generations.

For years, we've protected nature on the idea that bigger is better: protecting big, isolated areas of 'untouched' wilderness is the only way to keep nature safe. But in 2018, research from Australia's University of Melbourne turned that idea on its head.
This week we look into the question: when it comes to protecting nature, is size everything?