In the face of the Sun – the upcoming solar eclipse
There's a hybrid total eclipse coming to Australia this month - but it'll only be visible from the West. Fred Watson explains what it all means
Apr 05, 2023•12 min
Self Improvement Wednesday
A weekly lesson on a specific topic with some of Sydney's greatest teachers.
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Episodes
Tracking wildlife: from birds to platypus
Professor Richard Kingsford from UNSW has tracked a lot of animals in his time, and he shares some fascinating insights into how it's done.
Mar 15, 2023•12 min
So You Want to be a Scientist?
"When you have diverse teams working on problems, you get better solutions."
Mar 08, 2023•15 min
A Focus on the Fabulous Fig
From Adam and Eve to Moreton Bay, what makes fig trees so special?
Jan 25, 2023•11 min
Australia's most beautiful bugs
Have you seen flashes of metallic blue or iridescent gold in your own backyard?
Nov 30, 2022•10 min
How were the moons of Mars formed?
A new mission to the red planet could uncover the answer.
Nov 16, 2022•11 min
Could a volcano pop up in your own backyard?
The answer is: maybe! Volcanic activity is more common than you might think, and volcanoes can be born in the blink of an eye.
Nov 09, 2022•13 min
How did women live in early human society?
The role of women before settled agriculture is more complex than you might think
Nov 02, 2022•11 min
Thecla, Found Families and Philosophy
Thecla is someone that most of us would never have heard of, yet during her time, it seems she was a figure more popular than the Virgin Mary.
Oct 19, 2022•9 min
The plant destroyer
Learn more about the microbes that love eating through some of our most important food sources.
Oct 05, 2022•11 min
How do trees respond to climate change?
Trees are invaluable for absorbing carbon - how will they fare in a changing environment?
Sep 07, 2022•11 min
Why is the Mediterranean diet so good?
And where did it really come from?
Aug 31, 2022•9 min
Who were the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence?
The order of "gay male nuns" founded in San Franciso in the late 70s found its way to Sydney in the 80s.
Aug 17, 2022•10 min
Exit, Pursued by a Bear
The most infamous and inexplicable death in Shakespeare's work comes from The Winter's Tale, which sees Antigonus leave the scene being chased by a previously unmentioned bear!
Jul 27, 2022•10 min
A Masterclass in Memory
Our memory is something that defines us; it plays a huge part in who we are. So how does it all work, and can you improve it?
Jul 20, 2022•12 min
How and why we count our wildlife
It might seem easy, but counting our wildlife can be difficult, and it's vitally important for conservation.
Jul 13, 2022•13 min
Life on Mars? It could be possible
Mars may have been very similar to Earth's climate in the past, says Fred Watson, Australia's Astronomer at Large
Jul 06, 2022•10 min
Ngarigo - Living in the Snowy Mountains for 20,000 years.
What was life like for the Ngarigo people, who lived in one of Australia's only alpine regions in the Snowy Mountains?
Jun 08, 2022•14 min
Co-infections: How pathogens work together in the human body
'Flurona' is just one example of when pathogens exist together in the human body
Jun 01, 2022•10 min
Captain Thunderbolt, the Gentleman Bushranger
The story of the 'gentleman bushranger', the longest-roaming outlaw in Australian history.
May 25, 2022•10 min
The Invertebrate Workforce
How we give big tasks to the tiniest of creatures
May 18, 2022•12 min
Who is Migaloo?
Find out all about the curious white whale Migaloo, who looks like an iceberg underwater. Your teacher for Self Improvement Wednesday is Dr Vanessa Pirotta, Wildlife Scientist at Macquarie University.
May 11, 2022•9 min
How do stalagmites and stalactites form?
Ever wondered how those ethereal mineral formations are created in caves? Prof Andy Baker, cave and karst expert at UNSW’s School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences is your teacher this week for Self Improvement Wednesday.
May 04, 2022•10 min
Turtles with a bite! Meet a baby Alligator Snapping Turtle
Learn all about the the prehistoric-looking alligator snapping turtle. It's the largest freshwater turtle in North America and among the largest in the world. With its spiked shell, beaklike jaws, and thick, scaled tail, this species is often referred to as the "dinosaur of the turtle world." Ben Britton, Director of the Wild Cat Conservation Centre joins Richard Glover for Self Improvement Wednesday.
Apr 27, 2022•11 min
The dangers of consuming too much salt
Australians consume on average almost twice the recommended amount of salt per day.
Apr 20, 2022•12 min
Orchids: masters of deception
They're the most diverse plant family in the world and they've managed to survive in all kinds of environments thanks to a whole lot of kooky and deceptive survival techniques. Learn about some of the sneaky tactics used by orchids with Distinguished Professor Kingsley Dixon from the School of Molecular and Life Sciences at Curtin University.
Apr 13, 2022•9 min
Public transport as a public space
Train carriages, station platforms and other transport like buses and ferries are also some of the most-used public spaces in our cities – many thousands of us share these intimate spaces with strangers every day.
Apr 06, 2022•10 min
The lines of succession to the British Throne
The lines of succession to the British Throne
Mar 30, 2022•10 min
The extra lives of the Roman poet, Virgil
Virgil was the Roman poet credited with keeping the flies out of Naples.
Mar 23, 2022•12 min
Why do bugs invade my home when it rains?
The wet weather has driven many insects out of their homes to seek shelter elsewhere — often in our homes.
Mar 16, 2022•13 min
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