The Science Show

Get ready for gravitons, dark photons and transition states. Kathryn Zurek takes us on a tour of the bewildering world of quantum physics.

A couple of months ago, a killer started mobilising off the South Australian shore — one that would wipe out marine life, make surfers feel sick, and smother picturesque beaches in thick foam.The culprit? A bloom of tiny organisms called microalgae. We can't see them with the naked eye, but in big enough numbers, they can devastate ecosystems.So what made the South Australian algal bloom so lethal, and can anything be done about blooms like it?

People have been in the Australian wilderness for generations. But can people be considered part of the natural landscape or will they always have an impact?

Daswin De Silva, a Professor of AI and Analytics at La Trobe University, dives deep into the revolutionary concept of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). He discusses how AGI could outperform humans across various tasks, raising questions about its potential to solve global issues like climate change. Daswin emphasizes the significance of regulatory frameworks as the technology evolves and explores the fine line between the benefits and risks of AGI's rapid development. Will it save us or challenge our very existence?

Sharon Carlton, a dedicated science communicator, and Ariane Rod, a brilliant science historian, dive into the life of Mary Somerville, a remarkable 19th-century scientist. They unveil her inspiring journey from limited education to correcting Newton's work and aiding in the discovery of Neptune. The discussion highlights the challenges faced by pioneering women in math and science and how Somerville’s groundbreaking contributions have persevered through time. They also explore the evolution of light theory and Mary’s enduring legacy as a trailblazer for future generations.

Bruce Warrington, CEO and Chief Metrologist of the National Measurement Institute, dives into the fascinating world of measurement. He discusses the historical significance of the Treaty of the Metre, which unified global measurement standards. Listeners will learn how the metric system emerged during the French Revolution and the challenges in defining the metre. Warrington explains the shift from physical lengths to atomic precision and underscores the crucial role accurate measurements play in everything from manufacturing to everyday life.

Amateur fossil hunters make a major discovery. And Marilyn Renfree describes the sophisticated reproduction of marsupials.

Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) were named by whalers because their high oil content made them the "right" ones to kill.In the decades since whaling was banned, southern right numbers increased — but a new study shows that population growth stalled, and might've dropped a bit, despite current numbers still far below what they were in pre-whaling times.So what's going on with the southern rights?

David Walker at UCLA says he can halt aging in fruit flies. Can the same concepts be applied to humans? And two tertiary students and an artist describe combining science and artistic pursuits.

Cobras, taipans, black mambas — Tim Friede's been intentionally bitten more than 200 times by some of the most venomous snakes on Earth.And he survived, mostly because years of self-injecting venom let him develop immunity to them.(Please do not try this yourself!)Now his blood's been used to make a broad-spectrum antivenom that researchers say may protect against nearly 20 deadly snakes.But this is not how antivenom is usually made. So how are snake antivenoms produced, and where are we with a "universal" version?