Science Queeries

JOY 94.9 - Rainbow Community Podcasts for our LGBTI, LGBTIQA+, LGBTQIA+, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGB, Gay, Lesbian, Trans, Intersex, Queer Communities
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Delve into the world of science with Cat

  1. 28 JAN

    Waddle We Know About Penguins?

    Penguins may live at the bottom of the world, but they’ve risen to the very top of our hearts. For Penguin Awareness Day, Dr Cat and archeologist Dr Wenjing Yu are sliding onto the Antarctic ice to celebrate these iconic birds. Having voyaged to Antartica as part of Homeward Bound, a leadership program for women and non-binary people in STEM, they encountered thousands of penguins in the wild. They chat about the penguins they met, what makes penguins such extreme overachievers, and why life in the cold demands clever adaptations. From first impressions to deep dives into penguin behaviour, survival, and sheer charisma, this episode proves that you don’t need to fly to be cool. Sometimes the best science comes with a tuxedo and a clumsy belly slide. Originally aired 20th January, 2026. The post Waddle We Know About Penguins? appeared first on Science Queeries.

    45 min

  2. 17 JAN

    Paws for Thought: Are Dogs Happy?

    We spend over $20 billion a year on our dogs in Australia — but are our dogs actually happy, or just very well accessorised? This week on Science Queeries, Dr Cat is sniffing out the science of dog happiness with interdisciplinary researcher at the University of Melbourne, Dr Mia Cobb. While animal welfare science has focused on preventing negative experiences, she is finally asking the tail-wagging question: are working dogs and pet dogs having positive experiences? From behaviour and body language to hormones in saliva, Mia explains how researchers are working to create one of the first scientifically validated measures of dog happiness — and why humans are surprisingly bad at judging how our dogs are really feeling. Originally aired 10th January, 2026. The post Paws for Thought: Are Dogs Happy? appeared first on Science Queeries.

    44 min

  3. 14 JAN

    Past Weather, Future Problems

    What if the key to Australia’s climate future is hidden in its past? When we talk about climate change, we often picture satellites, supercomputers, and graphs stretching into the future. But this week on Science Queeries, we’re turning back the clock, digging into dusty data, early thermometers and rain gauges, handwritten weather diaries, and historical records to understand what’s coming next. Dr Cat is joined by a climate scientist, Ruchit Kulkarni who’s part historian, part statistician, and part detective. Working at the University of Melbourne and ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, he uncovers how Australia’s past climates help us make sense of today’s extreme weather – especially heatwaves and bushfires. Explore how historical climate records reveal patterns we can’t see in modern data alone, and how looking back helps us plan for risk. When it comes to preparing for extreme weather, hindsight might just be our most powerful forecasting tool. *This podcast has been re-uploaded following an audio issue. As much as we want to be vocal about climate change, we don’t want you to have to listen to multiple voices at once. Originally aired 16th December, 2025. The post Past Weather, Future Problems appeared first on Science Queeries.

    43 min

  4. 11/12/2025

    Culture Shock

    This week, we cell-ebrate how far biomedical science has come. We start with the basics: why scientists grow cells in labs, how they do it, and why sometimes a cell line is better than borrowing cells from a real human. Then, we sit with the story of Henrietta Lacks and the immortal HeLa cells that were taken from her cancer (without consent) that revolutionised medicine. We tackle the massive ethical reckoning they demand. To finish, a leap into the future with organoids and 3D bioprinting, where researchers are literally growing tiny organs and printing living tissues. Originally aired 9th December, 2025. The post Culture Shock appeared first on Science Queeries.

    35 min

  5. 05/12/2025

    T-cell-ebrating Progress: HIV, Immunity & Hope

    HIV targets the very immune cells meant to protect us. But science – and community – keep fighting back. This World AIDS Day, Dr Cat and Dr Jen Juno chat about how HIV infects CD4 T cells and can lead to AIDS, and how ART and PrEP have transformed lives, empowering HIV+ people to thrive, to build relationships, to have sex and families without fear, and to know they are not a risk to the people they love. But there is still no cure for HIV. Dr Jen is an immunologist who explores the role of T cells in infectious diseases. She leads a research group at The University of Melbourne and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. She is studying the lesser-known, unconventional or “hipster” T cells that could bring us closer to a cure. While there’s still a long way to go in terms of ensuring access to treatment for all who need it, and working towards a cure, there’s a lot to T cell-ebrate in terms of how far we’ve come. Originally aired 2nd December, 2025. The post T-cell-ebrating Progress: HIV, Immunity & Hope appeared first on Science Queeries.

    38 min

  6. 29/11/2025

    Stuffed With Science

    Before you check out at the Black Friday sales… check this Science Queeries episode out. Why do we fall into a festive food coma after a big Christmas or Thanksgiving feast? Is it the turkey, the carbs, or just the emotional aftermath of spending too many hours with relatives? Dr Cat is serving up a full Thanksgiving science spread. We’re carving into the psychology that makes Black Friday deals so irresistible. We’re turkey-ing (talking?) about whether your holiday roast really makes you sleepy and the delicious chemistry behind the Maillard reaction: the reason foods turn golden brown, smell incredible, and taste delicious. So, before you spend more money than you intended (or indulge in enough food to send you into a food coma)…spend a little time listening to this. Originally aired 25th November, 2025. The post Stuffed With Science appeared first on Science Queeries.

    33 min

  7. 21/11/2025

    Cloudy With a Chance of Bias

    Ever wondered how much of you is floating around in the cloud? We dive into the world of big data: who gets counted, who gets mis-categorised, and who gets left buffering forever. From algorithmic bias to the very real land and water swallowed up by data centres, we’re unpacking the hidden costs of the digital world. When it comes to artificial intelligence and big data, the world is messy… and beautifully so. We’ve seen how technology can scale harm, scale hope, and sometimes scale chaos. Dr Cat and technologist Dr Sophia Frentz decode what machine learning algorithms get wrong about people, especially transgender and gender-diverse communities. We’re talking the cloud, the costs, and the marginalised communities who end up paying the most. We’re also talking about the beautiful opportunities that AI can provide. On LGBTQIA+ STEMM Day and in Transgender Awareness Week especially, Dr Cat is grateful for people like Dr Sophia, who remind us that science gets better – and more inclusive – when everyone gets to show up as their full self. Originally aired 18th November, 2025. The post Cloudy With a Chance of Bias appeared first on Science Queeries.

    49 min

  8. 16/11/2025

    Mind the gap: from science capital to “gendered” brains

    We’re getting very meta: communicating about science communication. Why do some people have more of a “head start” when it comes to pursuing STEM? Shanii Phillips teaches us how to make some serious capital gains – science capital gains that is – and boost your interest in STEM. Shanii is a PhD student at the Australian National University and based SciTech exploring the idea of “science capital” and how science centres and science communication can help everyone feel at home in STEM. We explore how science capital can make or break someone’s sense of scientific identity. Then, Dr Cat dives into the science behind the so-called “male” and “female” brain and how that myth that they’re different led to neurosexism. This episode all about belonging — in science centres, in STEM careers, and even inside your own head. Originally aired 11th November, 2025. The post Mind the gap: from science capital to “gendered” brains appeared first on Science Queeries.

    42 min
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5
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2 Ratings

About

Delve into the world of science with Cat

Information

  • Creator
    JOY 94.9 - Rainbow Community Podcasts for our LGBTI, LGBTIQA+, LGBTQIA+, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGB, Gay, Lesbian, Trans, Intersex, Queer Communities
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © JOY Melbourne Inc. All Music and Lyrics reproduced in this podcast are licensed for use through APRA-AMCOS and/or PPCA and/or directly with artists
  • Show Website
    Science Queeries