In this discussion, Professors David Raubenheimer and Steve Simpson share insights from their work at the Charles Perkins Centre, focusing on nutritional ecology and biology. They connect the dots between climate change, protein sources, infectious diseases, and nutrition, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach to health. They emphasize the collective responsibility for improving food systems and the impact of rising carbon levels on crop nutrient content. Their conversation also highlights the transformative power of art and collaboration in advancing research.

In a fascinating discussion, renowned biologists David Raubenheimer and Steve Simpson delve into the shocking impact of ultra-processed foods on our diets. They dissect how profit-driven motives overshadow nutrition, leading to unhealthy eating habits. The conversation touches on the significant transformation of protein needs throughout life stages and the alarming tactics used in marketing, especially towards children. Their insights encourage a reevaluation of food choices and emphasize the need for a balanced, health-oriented diet.

David Raubenheimer, a Professor at the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre, dives into the evolution of human diets alongside co-host Steve Simpson. They discuss how fire and stone tools revolutionized our eating habits and led to agriculture, while revealing its mixed effects on health. Globalization's impact on traditional foods, especially in Bhutan and New Caledonia, showcases alarming shifts towards ultra-processed diets. The conversation stresses the urgent need for policies supporting Indigenous food practices in the face of modern challenges.

Moving out of the lab and into the wild, Professors David Raubenheimer and Steve Simpson take a look at how animals' natural environments provide everything they need for a healthy diet. From chasing a single grasshopper through the Arizona desert to measuring the urine of wild Borneo orang-utans, David explains how carefully animals in the wild select what they eat, and why. And we hear about some of the risks taken by passionate scientists living among the animals for their research. Hosted by novelist Charlotte Wood, the first writer-in-residence at the Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney. More details: EAT LIKE THE ANIMALS THE CHARLES PERKINS CENTRE, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY CHARLOTTE WOOD

Professors David Raubenheimer and Steve Simpson, esteemed biologists at the University of Sydney, delve into the fascinating world of nutrition. They uncover the differences between benign and unhealthy obesity, and discuss how protein intake affects longevity and reproduction. Discover why craving barbecue chips could have you reaching for an egg instead. Their research links fruit flies and mice findings to human health, emphasizing the importance of fiber and whole foods while exploring the trade-offs in our diets. Prepare for some eye-opening insights!

Professors David Raubenheimer and Steve Simpson from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre unveil groundbreaking insights into our appetites and nutrition. They discuss the ‘protein leverage hypothesis’ and its implications for human diets, revealing how protein needs shape our food choices. The duo also shares their research on the dietary habits of various animals, from spiders to primates, highlighting the complexities of nutrition and appetite regulation. They tackle the challenge of shifting long-standing scientific beliefs while shedding light on the link between diet and health.

In this fascinating discussion, Professors David Raubenheimer and Steve Simpson share their journeys from curious children to leading scientists in nutritional ecology. They recount hilarious childhood experiments, like reconstructing a cow skeleton and David's bee hypothesis. Their collaboration at Oxford sparked groundbreaking research on locusts, unveiling complex dietary needs. The conversation emphasizes how nurturing curiosity and challenging established norms can lead to pivotal scientific discoveries.