The Science Show

We celebrate the life of James Lovelock, father of the Gaia hypothesis which describes how the Earth keeps things in balance favourable for life.

Climate change to bring mass migrationAdrian Smith leads the Royal SocietyExhibition shows the role of microbes in chocolate productionAussie Stem Stars - Emma JohnstonProsthetic device offers help for people with damaged or missing fingersWe need to fix this. Fast.

The Australian overland telegraph was a 3,200 km line connecting Port Augusta in South Australia to Darwin. It was completed in 1872 and allowed communication between Australia and the rest of the world. It was one of the great engineering feats of 19th-century Australia and was a significant milestone in Australia’s development. The line was built due to the determination of one man, a government employee, Charles Todd. As we celebrate 150 years since the line was completed, Sharon Carleton looks at the Charles Todd story, who it turns out was the first pioneer of STEM, way before the acronym had come into use.

In the final part of his series on the connections between developments in physic and music, the late Ian Johnston, physicist from The University of Sydney, explores developments in the twentieth century. In physics, communications technology saw valves come, and go, replaced by transistors, then silicon chips, leading to increased capacity and miniaturisation. In music, accepted conventions of harmony came under attack and composers experimented with more freedom. Musical styles developed using new electronic instruments offering new sounds and capability. In the end, Ian Johnston says the desires of music and physics are the same – both search for harmony.

In the nineteenth century western music moved from classicism to romanticism, and our knowledge of physics progressed in electricity, electromagnetism and the wave properties of sound. We also began to understand how the ear and brain work allowing us to perceive and appreciate music.

We continue our series of programs about the connections between physics and music presented by the late Ian Johnston from The University of Sydney.

The first European honey bees arrived in Australia on 20th May 1822. Four bee experts recount the effects on Australia's native bees, on honey production, on ecology and farming. And a new $2 coin is being released featuring bees, golden honeycomb and Eucalyptus flowers.

* Environmental laws for today, not tomorrow