Science Friction
ABC listen
Science Friction's latest season is: Artificial Evolution. Almost 30 years on from the creation of Dolly the sheep, we may not be cloning humans, but the technologies that brought her into the world are increasingly influencing the foods we eat, the animals around us — even our own bodies. ABC environment reporter Peter de Kruijff follows the story of gene technologies all the way from Dolly right through to the present day.
Brain Rot (Season 3): We're looking at what being chronically online is doing to our brains. National technology reporter Ange Lavoipierre tackles the wildest ways people are using tech and the big questions about our own use - from falling in love with AI companions to data-dumping your life into a language model.
Cooked (Season 2): Why do some studies show ice cream is good for you, why do some people say they feel good going carnivore? Do we really need as many electrolytes as the internet tells us? Dr Emma Beckett examines what these confusing findings tell us about how nutrition science works.
AI Overlords (Season 1): AI didn't come from nowhere. And its development hasn't been a smooth and simple process. It's been rife with drama, conflict, and disagreement. Online technology reporter James Purtill looks at where AI came from, who controls it, and where it's heading.
Brain Rot (Season 3): We're looking at what being chronically online is doing to our brains. National technology reporter Ange Lavoipierre tackles the wildest ways people are using tech and the big questions about our own use - from falling in love with AI companions to data-dumping your life into a language model.
Cooked (Season 2): Why do some studies show ice cream is good for you, why do some people say they feel good going carnivore? Do we really need as many electrolytes as the internet tells us? Dr Emma Beckett examines what these confusing findings tell us about how nutrition science works.
AI Overlords (Season 1): AI didn't come from nowhere. And its development hasn't been a smooth and simple process. It's been rife with drama, conflict, and disagreement. Online technology reporter James Purtill looks at where AI came from, who controls it, and where it's heading.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 12, 2025 • 0sec
03 | Cooked: Mystery in the Mediterranean
Dr. John Carlisle, an NHS anaesthetist known for his work in identifying research fraud, joins the discussion about the integrity of nutrition studies. They unravel the complexities of the Mediterranean diet's trial data, revealing discrepancies that cast doubt on its acclaimed health benefits. The conversation shifts to the retraction of the PREDIMED study, emphasizing trust issues within nutrition research. Furthermore, they highlight the need for transparency and the significance of understanding the core components of dietary evidence to combat misinformation.
Feb 5, 2025 • 0sec
02 | Cooked: All-meat eaters say they feel great - but why?
Delve into the carnivore diet trend, featuring personal stories from followers who swear by their meat-only meals. Hear about the surprising health benefits they report, such as improved mental clarity and energy levels. The podcast tackles the cultural significance and identity ties within dieting communities while shedding light on potential long-term health risks. As personal dietary choices shape social interactions, explore the psychological complexities and community dynamics that influence adherence to this controversial lifestyle.
Jan 29, 2025 • 26min
01 | Cooked: Could ice cream actually be good for you?
Two decades ago, nutritional epidemiologists made a startling finding – that people eating more ice cream were less likely to develop diabetes.In the years since, various groups have tried to account for this peculiar scientific signal — with limited success.In multiple studies the link between ice cream and a reduced risk of diabetes persists. Yet nutrition experts globally still aren’t convinced.But if it’s not true, what’s causing the signal?Grab a spoon and dig into culture, causation and confounders — and the joy of a tub of ice cream.Credits:Presenter: Dr Emma BeckettProducer: Carl SmithSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Nathan TurnbullThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.More information:Nutrition Science's Most Preposterous Result - The Atlantic.Here's the scoop on the new thinking about ice cream, yogurt, cheese and health - WBUR.Dairy and your heart health - Heart Foundation.
Jan 28, 2025 • 0sec
00 | INTRODUCING — Cooked
For Science Friction, a new series — Cooked!On Cooked, we dig into the nuance of nutrition. Why are studies showing that ice cream could be good for you? Do we really need as many electrolytes as the internet says? And why are people feeling good on the carnivore diet?Nutrition and food scientist Dr Emma Beckett helps comb through the evidence on food groups and ingredients like meat, dairy and salt — to unpick why nutrition studies can be so conflicted and confusing.
Nov 28, 2023 • 26min
06 | Is super-intelligent AI around the corner?
Behind the rise of AI there's big questions about where this technology is going.Is it going to be super intelligent — and if that happens — is it going to kill us all?In our final episode, we're diving into the future and unpacking the full spectrum of expert predictions, from the idea that we're on the brink of creating human-level AI, to fears that AI will make humanity extinct.Come meet our future AI overlords.
Nov 21, 2023 • 26min
05 | The year the world woke up to AI with a bang
2023 was the year powerful new AI technology went mainstream, with image generators and tools like ChatGPT.And people quickly started wondering where these advances were taking them.This is the story of 2023 in three chapters: the first contact, the backlash that followed, and the new reality.It's the story of actors fighting back against plans to replace them with digital clones, writers suing AI companies for stealing their words, and students figuring out how to use their new magical writing tool.
Nov 14, 2023 • 26min
04 | If you control AI, you control the world
AI is often portrayed as being all about technology. But it is also about money and control. Because those who control AI, may control the world.In the AI world, there are two names that keep coming up: OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, and its CEO, Sam Altman.Who is Sam Altman? How did his tiny company leapfrog the tech giants and win the scramble for control of AI? And what are Altman's plans for the future?
Nov 7, 2023 • 26min
03 | The bumpy history of driverless cars and their AI brains
When you think about a driverless car future, perhaps your mind goes to being driven around, watching movies from the backseat and drinking martinis.For over a decade, perfect driverless cars have seemed only a few years away. But in reality, they were nowhere close.Now, driverless cars are finally being rolled out in some cities.But (like humans) they're crashing and causing chaos.So are driverless cars finally here? Or is teaching a car to drive simply too difficult?
Oct 31, 2023 • 26min
02 | Locked up by AI for a crime he didn't commit
As ChatGPT shows us, AI can do some amazing stuff. But it does some creepy stuff as well. And it's already been responsible for locking up innocent people.The story of how AI scanned millions of drivers licences and accused Michigan man Robert Wiliams of a crime he didn't commit.When human biases lead to neural networks going rogue.
Oct 24, 2023 • 26min
01 | The day modern AI toppled humanity's champion
Exploring the victory of AlphaGo against a human Go champion, the podcast discusses the rise of AI and the power of neural networks. It delves into the historical dispute between Minsky and Rosenblatt regarding AI development and highlights the early days of neural networks research.
