In today’s episode, I speak to Dr Darryl Carlton about the evolution of Artificial Intelligence and what it means to us. I speak to him about the following topics: What is AI? (Generative & AGI) Uses of Generative AI The fear of losing jobs What does society mean in a world with AI? Accuracy of large language models Would reliance on AI make us dumber? Will AI be genuinely innovative? AI Governance Worldwide Download Episode 205 This episode is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/X7i...
Mar 15, 2025
In today’s episode, I speak to Ashen Vithana, a sleep scientist, and Alex Young, an entrepreneur and futurist, from the http://youtube.com/@thesnoozestrategists podcast. I speak to them about the following topics: – What is sleep science? – What makes for a good sleep? – Is there an impact from watching screens before bed? – Are sleeping pills a good idea? – What is the impact of exercise on sleep? – How useful are wearable health devices? – How does shift work impact sleep? Download MP3 of Ep 2...
Aug 06, 2023
In this episode, I speak to Dr Jürgen Knödlseder on the following topics: – What are the components of a carbon footprint in science, particularly in astrophysics research? – How was the lab’s carbon footprint estimated? – How do we continue to do research and minimise our carbon footprint? – What are some new ways that conferences are being conducted? – Looking at new research with “old” data – Are there enough astronomers to justify all the new instruments coming online? – How increasing co-op...
Jun 04, 2023
In this episode, I speak to Dr Jürgen Knödlseder on the following topics: – What are gamma rays? – How do we detect gamma rays? – The process of finding where the measurements of radioactive aluminium came from – The work Jurgen did on the Integral satellite – How do you focus gamma rays? – What is Bragg Reflection? Download MP3 of Ep 202 Become a Patreon This episode is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/g6bMPpRHN3U...
May 30, 2023
In this episode, I speak to PhD student, Ayush Pandhi on his research into how polarised light is affected by magnetism in space. Ayush’s paper referenced in this episode can be found here: https://arxiv.org/abs/2208.06417 Download MP3 of Ep 201 Become a Patreon
Oct 03, 2022
In this episode, I speak to engineering student Jamali Kigotho, who talks about his work on designing rooftop wind turbines for residential areas, how it would work and the possibilities around this. Download MP3 of Ep 200 Become a Patreon This episode is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/O_HvFKvIeN8...
Aug 22, 2021
In this episode, PhD student Luke Steller returns to talk to us about Venus and the asteroid Bennu. We discuss: * What does the discovery of Phosphene on Venus mean? * What creates Phosphene? * Could life exist on Venus, and how could life arrive on Venus? * Could life evolve on Venus itself? * Some information about the Osirus Rex spacecraft and its interaction with asteroid Bennu * What could the samples from Bennu tell us? Download MP3 of Ep 199 Become a Patreon Also check out Feedspot’s Top ...
Mar 15, 2021
In this episode, I talk to Luke Steller, who is a PhD candidate at the Australian Centre for Astrobiology at the University of New South Wales. I spoke to Luke about: – Luke’s background – How he became interested in astrobiology – Ancient life on Earth – How understanding ancient life on Earth influences the search for life elsewhere – Understanding how hot springs are involved in the formation of life – Life near deep sea vents – What do we think is required to form life? – The variability of ...
Dec 30, 2020
In this episode, I talk to Dr Onisha Patel, who is a structural biologist at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne, Australia I speak to her about: – How she got into science from her interest in art – What inspired her growing up – Structural Biology and what it is – Why knowing the shape of proteins is useful – Pseudo Enzymes – Understanding cancers through these techniques – Mixing art with structural biology – Her research – The Superstars of STEM Progra...
Oct 25, 2020
In this episode, I talk to Bec Lin, Shiyen Perera and Cyndy Li from Monash University who are all part of the Monash Solar Decathlon Team, and took part in the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Design Challenge. I speak to them about: – Their backgrounds – The Monash Solar Decathlon Team itself – The US Department of Energy competition – The individual projects each of the teams worked on, plus an outline of the winning project from another MSDT team Download MP3 of Ep 196 Become a Patreon...
Sep 27, 2020
In this episode, I speak to Dr Dyani Lewis on the research work she is undertaking as part of a larger team in studying chlamydia Download MP3 of Ep 195 Become a Patreon...
Sep 05, 2020
In today’s episode I talk to Davie Lee, a technology professional who has started up a programme to work with schools to help teach coding skills. The things we talk about include: David’s background What David’s aim was with GI Jamie The skills that coding can help you learn The great things David has seen that the students have done David’s future plans for GI Jamie Download MP3 of Ep 194 David’s website can be found at https://gijamie.com.au This episode’s Patreon listener is Brenton Edwards....
Jul 19, 2020
In today’s episode I talk to Troy Love, from Great Talk and Humour Australia about the importance of humour and happiness The things we talk about include: How Troy got into his current line of work Dealing with the corporate environment when it comes to humour The value of humour to people How to use humour to help others The correlation between comedy and mental health Do we all have a sense of humour? Some of the tricks behind presenting with humour Some suggestions for then pandemic lockdown...
May 17, 2020
In today’s episode, I speak to Dr Karen Lewis about her research into looking for moons around extra solar planets. Download MP3 of Ep 192
Mar 19, 2020
In today’s episode, I speak to award winning Science & Engineering Monash University student, Jamali Kigotho on his keen interest in sustainability in Africa, along with a few other things! We discuss: – His background – His interest in science and engineering – The work he has done in Kenya in looking at sustainable solutions for local communities to make a real on the ground difference – His work with the Tandum organisation – His interaction with the International Conference on Sustainabl...
Jan 10, 2020
In today’s episode, I speak to Nick Robinson about his new IMAX documentary, “The Wild Top End 3D” We discuss: – How he got into documentary making – The process of making a documentary and an IMAX documentary – The background of making The Wild Top End – Some amazing facts from the documentary and some of the amazing people involved in the film Download MP3 of Ep 190 A big thank you to Kate Piasecka and IMAX Melbourne for making this episode happen....
Sep 15, 2019
In today’s episode I speak to Dyani Lewis about her path from a science researcher to the path of a science journalist. Download MP3 of Ep 189
Sep 10, 2019
In today’s episode I speak to Michael Dalton-Smith, who is a Canadian adventurer with over ten years of experience filming in some of the most remote and challenging places in the world. He spoke to me about the release of his latest documentary on IMAX, “Volcanoes 3D” We spoke about: – Michael’s background – What inspired him to get into documentary making – His non volcanic interests – The making of the documentary – Some amazing facts about volcanoes Download MP3 of Ep 188 A big thank you to ...
Apr 01, 2019
In today’s episode, I speak to Dr Dyani Lewis on the topic of plant genetics. Download MP3 of Ep 187
Mar 31, 2019
With the release of IMAX’s “Pandas 3D” recently, I talk to Dr Jake Owens, an American conservational biologist based at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan, China, and the project work he has been doing in terms of Panda re-introduction to the wild and conservation work that the documentary is based on. I spoke to Jake about: – His background and journey into the world of conservation – His previous projects and conservation work – The work being done in China to reintro...
Jun 10, 2018
In today’s episode, I talk to Kirsten Banks, a young female physics and astronomy student at the University of New South Wales. Topics we cover include: – How Kirsten got into physics and astronomy – Her interest in archeaoastronomy – Australian Aboriginal astronomy – Research interests – Females in science and physics Download MP3 of Ep 185...
May 22, 2018
In today’s episode I speak to Dr Zara Dennis, who has appeared on the podcast previously. We catch up on what she’s been up to since we last spoke, and I talked to her after she Topics we cover include: – Mixing Zara’s interest in flying with education – What sparked her interest in flying – Her piloting career – The Growing Teacher Tall Poppies Award – The Amazing Spaghetti Machine contest – Her collaboration with PrimeSci in providing holiday programmes to children – Taking her classes out to ...
Sep 30, 2017
In today’s episode, I talk to Anant Tanna once again. This time we talk about his interest in science outreach, why it’s important, and the fun of learning science. Topics we cover include: – Why is outreach important? – Why is science outreach, in particular, important? – How should outreach be approached? – Why does science need outreach compared to other industries? – The need to do more outreach now than in the past – Understanding the need for fundamental research and indirect outcomes of s...
Jun 03, 2017
In today’s episode, I speak to Joanna Corby, who was visiting the University of New South Wales from the University of Virginia, while doing research into Large Organic Molecules in High Mass Star Forming Regions in our galaxy. We spoke about – What region of our galaxy is being looked at? – What are the major chemically distinct regions in this area? – Are these chemical compounds restricted to these areas? – How complex are these molecules? – What is the relationship between this and life in s...
Jun 02, 2017
In today’s episode I speak to Anant Tanna from the University of New South Wales School of Physics, about his research on looking for invisible galaxies. During our conversation, we cover: – What are invisible galaxies? – How do we find distant galaxies that we can’t see via their own light? – What are redshift distances? – How does looking at neutral hydrogen emissions help show distances of galaxies? – How are multiple galaxies detected along the same line of sight? Download MP3 of Ep 181...
Apr 05, 2017
This Episode of Brains Matter celebrates the 10 year anniversary of the show. Yes, Brains Matter has hit the double figure mark. Starting out on the 16th of October 2006, the show has covered a wide range of topics and amazing guests. In today’s show, I speak to Clive Weeks, who has been involved with the podcast for some time, and reminisce about the past ten years. The show is also a little bit of fun and turns things around a little bit – listen in to find out! Also featured on today’s show a...
Nov 03, 2016
In today’s episode I speak to Dr Michael Childress from the Australian National University. He talks to me about his research into supernovae. During our conversations, we cover: – His research into the progenitors of supernovae – The techniques used to determine what type of stars they were before going supernovae – The difference between the types of supernovae – At what point would a star blow up? Listen in! Download MP3 of Ep 179...
Oct 28, 2016
In this episode I speak to Dr Roland Crocker from the Australian National University on the topic of Fermi Bubbles – what are they and how do they form? Listen in to find out! Download MP3 of Ep 178...
Aug 30, 2016
I speak to Angus Wright from ICRAR who speaks to us about the GAMA project and radio astronomy, and the work he is doing as part of his PhD in the GAMA collaboration. Download MP3 of Ep 177 This episode is supported by the Monash Centre for Astrophysics ....
May 12, 2016
Do you or someone you know dislike getting the needle? Well in today’s episode, I speak to Dr Anushi Rajapaksa from the Murdoch Children’s Institute on her research into delivering vaccinations via a spray. We also talk about DNA vaccines and personalised medicine. Sounds intriguing! To find out more, listen into the episode! Download MP3 of Ep 176...
May 07, 2016
