Even though we’re staying out of the Sun this week, we can’t stop thinking about it! Cat tells us all about the Sun’s corona, its crown-like atmosphere, and the solar wind of particles streaming out from it; and Claire runs us through the science and history of solar eclipses ..read more

Chris looks into the energy costs and economics of AI and how wider use will affect them, while Stu looks into the science of some of the claims around the supposed forest communication networks some authors have described.  ..read more

We’re getting into hot and cold water this week, as Claire talks to Dr Jarrod McKenna about the importance of Antarctica and its wildlife, including plankton, whales and penguins; and Chris speaks to Dr Maya Srinivasan from James Cook University about the current mass coral-bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef, what causes it, how corals can recover, and what needs to be done to protect the reef ..read more

This week on Lost in Science, Chris asks the question are blueberries blue? And answers it with a question, what is colour anyway? And Stu looks to the skies to wonder why the sudden renewed interest in landing stuff on the moon, and whether anyone is having much success doing so.  ..read more

Join Claire and Catriona this International Women's Day for a special edition of Lost in Science! Catriona explores cutting-edge technology transforming breast cancer screening, enhancing efficacy. Discover the latest breakthroughs shaping the future of healthcare. Meanwhile, Claire spotlights two pioneering women at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence, unraveling the mysteries of AI innovation. Tune in for a celebration of women in science, exploring advancements that impact lives and redefine the boundaries of knowledge.  ..read more

This week, Catriona tells us about the brightest-known object in the universe, a quasar 12 billion light years away that’s in fact a supermassive black hole that gobbles an entire sun every day; and we replay Claire’s story about new evidence for another theorised cosmic event, the Moon’s formation through a collision of the early Earth with the Mars-sized protoplanet Theia. Wolf et al. 2024. The accretion of a solar mass per day by a 17-billion solar mass black hole. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02195-xQian Yuan et al. 2023. Moon-forming impactor as a source of Earth’s basal mantle ..read more

This week on the show Claire chats to CSIRO researcher Leo Joseph about the recent publication of the complete genome of the Night Parrot, the elusive nocturnal bird thought to be extinct for much of the 20th century, and what this means for conservation efforts for the bird.Also on the show, 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?  ..read more

This week on the show Stu looks at the science of the material asbestos in light of this dangerous substance being found in mulch in public areas in Sydney. Also on the show, have you ever wondered why moths and generally insects are attracted to lights? Chris talks through some new research that sheds some light on the matter ..read more

This week, Catriona celebrates Valentine's Day the science way, showing what research on monogamous prairie voles can tell us about how hormones like dopamine and vasopressin affect our craving for love and affection; and Chris shares new research that suggests the bacteria that causes Buruli ulcer is spread between possums and humans by mosquitoes, and how to protect yourself from it.Lim et al. 2004, Enhanced partner preference in a promiscuous species by manipulating the expression of a single gene, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02539Amadei et al. 2017, Dynamic corticostriatal activity biase ..read more

The final Summer Series for the year, Chris talks Physics vs evolution, Claire talks about pathogens defrosting in long frozen ice and Stu discovers nematodes lurking everywhere, and some that can jump ..read more