Beasts Behaving Badly with Dr. Ann Jones (482)
Shirtloads of Science
Dr. Ann Jones joins me to chat about her hilarious new What the Duck? series, Nature's Most Wanted, which dives into the wild world of criminal animals. We investigate some of nature's strangest case files… a duck caught speeding (twice), drug-addicted parrots, an underwear-nicking cat, drunk elephants, and heavyweight hamsters! A funny look at the surprising ways animals collide with the human rules we've created.
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Seaweed! The Humble Organism Fighting Climate Change with Assoc. Prof. Alex Campbell (481)
Shirtloads of Science
Marine Ecologist Assoc. Professor Alex Campbell takes us into the wonderful, under-appreciated world of seaweed and makes the case that it might be one of our most powerful allies against climate change! We dive into seaweed's evolutionary history and the troubling decline now underway: as ocean temperatures rise, marine organisms are shifting toward the poles at a rate of over 60km per decade to escape the heat, with Tasmania's once-thriving giant kelp forests shrinking by a staggering 90% since the 1990s due to devastating changes to their habitat. But the story isn't all bad news....
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Why Weight Loss Drugs Don't Work On Their Own Dr. Nick Fuller (480)
Shirtloads of Science
I’m joined by Dr Nick Fuller to dissect the long-term effectiveness of weight loss medications and why lasting results do actually require more than medication alone. Nick explains why evidence-based behavioural weight management programs remain the first-line approach to weight loss built on three key pillars: diet, exercise and sleep (did you even know that sleep plays a big role in regulating hunger hormones?!) Drawing on his team’s research, Nick shares why many people regain weight after stopping medication and why behavioural change is essential for sustainable success (and keeping...
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Inside Microsoft’s Global Research Lab With Dr. Peter Lee (479)
Shirtloads of Science
This episode I’m joined by Dr Peter Lee, Head of Research at Microsoft, to explore the ideas shaping the future of technology. Leading 14 research laboratories globally and overseeing a research and development program that receives more than 10% of Microsoft’s overall budget, Dr Lee shares his journey to the top of one of the world’s largest innovation engines. From AI tools transforming early cancer detection and predicting protein structures in hours (instead of years!), to discovering new battery materials and improving weather forecasting through deep learning, the conversation...
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The (Not So) Boring Billion with Prof. Dietmar Müller (478)
Shirtloads of Science
In this episode, we speak with Dietmar Müller about the "Boring Billion", a seemingly quiet period in Earth's deep history that may have been crucial for the evolution of complex life. Drawing on his latest research, Müller explains how plate tectonics, passive continental margins, and volcanic outgassing shaped Earth's slow carbon cycle and gradually oxygenated the oceans during the mid-Proterozoic era. Müller also reflects on how young the science of plate tectonics really is, and discusses the open-source EarthByte tools his team at the University of Sydney has developed to model...
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Solving a Cosmic Radio Signal Mystery with Kovi Rose (477)
Shirtloads of Science
Astronomer and soon-to-be Dr. Kovi Rose joins us to discuss his newly published Nature Astronomy paper on one of the universe’s newest mysteries: strange repeating flashes of radio waves and X-rays coming form deep within our galaxy! His team’s discovery of ASKAP J174 has helped identify the source as a pair of stars orbiting each other, with a white dwarf pulling or accreting material from its companion. This discovery could help unlock the origins of mysterious signals flashing across the sky, unlocking even more secrets of the universe.
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Coffee & Blood Pressure Explained with Prof. Clare Collins (476)
Shirtloads of Science
Professor Clare Collins returns to the pod to answer a common question: does coffee raise your blood pressure? We also discuss how genetics influence whether you're a fast or slow caffeine metaboliser, the beneficial phytonutrients found in coffee, why decaf still has health benefits, and when people with high blood pressure may need to be more cautious with their intake. nomoneynotime.com.au
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The Hidden Health Benefits of Honey with Prof. Clare Collins (475)
Shirtloads of Science
Friend of the pod Professor Clare Collins returns to dive down into the sticky depths of the surprisingly powerful world of honey - far beyond being "just a sugary liquid". From the hallucinogenic "mad honey" of the Rhododendrons to the science behind medical-grade honey dressings that can heal wounds days faster than conventional treatments, Dr. Clare explains why this ancient food deserves a second look. We dive into honey's beneficial micronutrients, anti-inflammatory properties, and why the nutritional profile can vary dramatically depending on where bees source their pollen. Clare...
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The Hunt for Dark Matter with Dr. Theresa Fruth (474)
Shirtloads of Science
What is the universe actually made of? Particle physicist Theresa Fruth join us at Shirtloads to explore one of science's greatest unsolved mysteries - dark matter! Making up roughly 85% of the universe, yet appearing in none of our known particles, dark matter is invisible, elusive and almost certainly the reason the universe (and us!) exist at all. Theresa and her team are hunting for it anyway. Working 1.2 kilometres underground in a converted gold mine in regional Victoria, they're searching for WIMPs - weakly interacting massive particles - in one of the quietest, most interference-free...
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The Human Cost of One Degree with Prof. Ollie Jay (473)
Shirtloads of Science
Professor Ollie Jay, a leading expert in heat and health, returns to Shirtloads to discuss the growing toll of climate change on human wellbeing and global economics. Insights drawn from the latest Lancet Countdown report show that over half a million people die from heat-related causes each year, and a million more from fossil fuel pollution - deaths that are largely preventable. Rising temperatures are quietly reshaping our daily lives, from reducing physical and cognitive productivity, to costing the global economy an estimated trillion dollars annually. But it's not all bleak -...
info_outlineMining Engineer, Reality TV star, Astrophysicist, Author - What's left for Dr Matt?