The Science Show - Separate stories podcast

ABC Australia

3.0 (4)
NATURAL SCIENCES
UPDATED WEEKLY

The Science Show gives Australians unique insights into the latest scientific research and debate, from the physics of cricket to prime ministerial biorhythms.

1H AGO

Lab Notes: Slip! Slop! Slap! SUCCESS!

Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world — but there's some good news for Aussie kids. The presence of moles is a strong predictor of melanoma and researchers in Queensland have found that the number of moles found on children's bodies has halved in recent decades. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more. Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.au Featuring: Nick Martin, human geneticist at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteExtra information: Halving of Australian children's naevus counts during 1992-2016 and change in sun behaviour Hopes for lower melanoma risk as study finds number of moles on children's bodies halved in 25 years This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar people.

11 min
5D AGO

Australian brilliance in radio astronomy

Dr John Bolton, once of the Radiophysics Laboratory in the CSIRO to conduct secret research on radar for the military, also helped pioneer radio astronomy after the Second World War. He was invited to Caltech to show them how to build radio telescopes — but then resigned and returned to Australia to build the legendary Parkes Telescope. Guest Jonas Zmuidzinas Professor of physics Director of Caltech Optical Observatories Caltech PresenterRobyn Williams

5 min
5D AGO

How finance intersects with space science

Harriet Brettle studied finance, had several varied jobs in leadership, and now heads the Keck Institute for Space Studies at Caltech. Like the “professor of everything” Bob May from Australia, who once combined his mathematical physics with the head of the Bank of England, Harriet can take risks with projects based on knowing both what’s worthwhile scientifically and sensible financially. Guest Harriet Brettle Executive director of the Keck Institute for Space Studies Caltech PresenterRobyn Williams

10 min
5D AGO

In praise of mid-sized planets

Erik Petigura is a professor of physics and astronomy at UCLA who specialises in discovering planets smaller than giants like Neptune and bigger than Mars and Earth. Our Solar System has none of these intermediate planets, so what's the attraction? Guest Erik Petigura Professor of physics and astronomy UCLA Presenter Robyn Williams

13 min
5D AGO

Robyn rides in a driverless car

Once the stuff of science fiction, self-driving cars are now a common sight in some American cities. Robyn Williams rode in a robot taxi around Phoenix, Arizona. Guest Kylie Ahern Science publisher at STEM Matters and The Brilliant Presenter Robyn Williams

7 min
5D AGO

An asteroid chemist who studies LA lead levels

When raised lead levels were noticed in Los Angeles last year, Professor Francois Tissot, who usually examines the chemistry of asteroids, quickly saw that the fires that ravaged the region in January 2025 were to blame. He reveals the current extent of the concern and suggests Australia inspects its own burned regions too. Guest Francois Tissot Professor of geochemistry Caltech PresenterRobyn Williams

17 min
6D AGO

Lab Notes: Why air traffic won’t return to normal for months

Major international airports in the Middle East have been closed this week due to the war with Iran, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded. So, what happens after a major airspace closure? How do pilots know where they should fly? And how long will it take to get things back to normal? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more. Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.au Featuring: Amy Briggs, science reporter Extra information: Air travel may be disrupted by the Iran war for months. This is whyThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

11 min
FEB 27

A telescope that sees in the far infrared

How do you establish a telescope? For Caltech astrophysicist Professor Jonas Zmuidzinas, the answer involves time, money, and incredibly sensitive detectors that can pick up everything from water in the dusty discs around young stars to galaxies in the far reaches of the Universe.

8 min

See All (1.3K)

3

out of 5

4 Ratings

The Science Show gives Australians unique insights into the latest scientific research and debate, from the physics of cricket to prime ministerial biorhythms.