Shirtloads of Science - podcast cover

Shirtloads of Science

Dr Karl Kruszelnickishirtloadsofscience.libsyn.com
Dr Karl’s a curious optimist – a great combination for a science lover. Join him and his guests for weird facts, amazing conversation and remember, it’s never too late for a happy childhood. https://drkarl.com/

Episodes

Stolen Focus with Johann Hari (278)

Is attention-loss corroding civilisation? When we we fail to comprehend, are we putting ourselves at risk ? Dr Karl sharpens his focus on the research of Johann Hari and his new book 'Stolen Focus'.

Feb 27, 202233 minSeason 5Ep. 9

The Antikythera Mechanism with Dr. Andronis (277)

The Antikythera Mechanism is a portable planetarium from Ancient Greece. It is 2200 years old and the first known analog computer. Dr. Nick Andronis built one. The front shows the zodiac position of the first 5 planets, sun, moon phase and date. On the back a 72 year lunar and Olympic calendar with solar or lunar ecliplses. www.amclock.net drkarl.com...

Feb 20, 202223 minSeason 5Ep. 8

Omicron + with Prof Holmes (276)

2022 looked safe -then it wasn't . Dr Karl investigates with University of Sydney Prof Eddie Holmes. He was the first western source of the Wuhan genome. How could Omicron fool the world? How can we avoid being fooled again?

Feb 13, 202222 minSeason 5Ep. 7

Electricity & Magnetism with Professor Lewis (275)

We are counting on an electrified future to cut carbon emissions. Greener futures, as we plan them, depend on electricity and electro-magnetism. Dr Karl explores the physics of electricity and generators with Professor Lewis. drkarl.com geraintflewis.com

Feb 06, 202220 minSeason 5Ep. 6

Probiotics and Prebiotics with Professor Collins (274)

Every week new supplements are announced and promoted. Some can be useful additions to your diet but what about probiotics and prebiotics ? Dietetics professor Collins explains what they claim, what is in them and if they help.

Jan 30, 202235 minSeason 5Ep. 5

Electricity & electrons in a wire with Professor Lewis (273)

Electricity is a great foundation for sustainable energy but Dr Karl discovers how little he knows about the physics of electrons. We all have much to learn about the source of power from Professor Lewis. drkarl.com geraintflewis.com

Jan 23, 202229 minSeason 5Ep. 4

Stellar Lifecycles #2 with Professor Lewis (272)

What colour is our Sun? (or Sol as local folks call it). How long will it stay that way? Professor Lewis resumes his fascinating journey in time space and consciousness. We pick up where things are now and go forward to the end. How does it all end? Listen with Dr Karl on this multi-trillion year trip. drkarl.com geraintflewis.com...

Jan 16, 202219 minSeason 5Ep. 3

Stellar Lifecycles #1 with Professor Lewis (271)

For some stars, life begins at 10 billion years. Professor Lewis leads Dr Karl on a trillion year expedition from birth to a young adult expanding universe. The first part of a fascinating journey in time, space and consciousness. drkarl.com geraintflewis.com

Jan 09, 202221 minSeason 5Ep. 2

James Webb telescope with Dr Jessica Bloom (269)

There were high hopes for the Hubble space telescope. Eventually they were realised with pictures of galaxies beyond our widest visions. This century the James Webb promises both time and space with a different universal perspective. Dr Jessica Bloom on why this is a game changer.

Dec 27, 202122 minSeason 4Ep. 52

Forever Young with Dr Bloom (268)

The diseases of ageing are already overwhelming health care facilities. In the decades ahead, our older populations will put even more pressure on health unless there are medical breakthroughs. These diseases are proving stubborn to medicate and cures are very rare. A human fountain of youth has yet to show itself. In other animals, things appear easier to treat with less complex biochemistry to get in the way. Dr Bloom explains to Dr Karl why a family of proteins called Sirtuins may hold some h...

Dec 19, 202127 minSeason 4Ep. 51

Primordial Black Holes with Professor Lewis (267)

In 1966, two Soviet cosmologists proposed the existence of primordial black holes. 55 years on, evidence mounts that these ancient bodies actually exist. They are the stem cells of the cosmos scattered on a universal matrix and may be pre-atomic. Professor Lewis takes Dr Karl back to the very beginning for an encounter with these dark beasts. drkarl.com geraintflewis.com...

Dec 12, 202127 minSeason 4Ep. 50

Static Electricity with professor Lewis (266)

A zap from a doorknob or a lightning bolt that sets fire to a forest, these events are notoriously unpredictable. If there is an imbalance of electric charge, a Static Electricity event "might" happen. Things like air humidity or microscopic superficial bumps can play a role – but how much? Professor Lewis explains the known physics and yet-to-be discovered secret life of static electricity with Dr Karl. drkarl.com geraintflewis.com...

Dec 05, 202126 minSeason 4Ep. 49

Cannibal Stars with Professor Lewis (265)

What happens when a star gets hungry? Could it eat another star? Cosmic cannibalism is a thing. 500 million years ago in a galaxy far, far away – to be precise, about 500 million light years away one of two stars gobbled the other. Professor Lewis explains to Dr Karl the physics and cosmology of devouring your neighbours. drkarl.com geraintflewis.com...

Nov 28, 202126 minSeason 4Ep. 48

Covid comms with Professor Leask (264)

Covid continues to test public health and communications. Our best explainers have put themselves in the front line to keep us safe. Some, including Professor Julie Leask, have been threatened. Dr Karl discusses why health professionals have been under attack for doing their Job. drkarl.com

Nov 21, 202128 minSeason 4Ep. 47

Nobel Physics 2021 with Professor Tuthill (262)

The 60s, 70s and 80s was when their prize-winning work was done., Their modelling made "Groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of complex systems". These Nobel physicists explored how to estimate climate changes with greenhouse gasses. Nobel-2021 drkarl.com...

Nov 07, 202123 minSeason 4Ep. 45

Cyber Society with Professor Genevieve Bell (261)

Cybernetics meets anthropology - Professor Genevieve Bell loves blended disciplines. She is a renowned anthropologist, technologist, and futurist. She spent more than two decades in Silicon Valley. Her passion - making tech work better with humans and social systems. Too often technologists forget human needs or exploit weaknesses. Both can lead to disaster. Dr Karl in conversation with a progressive Australian futurist. htttps:\\drkarl.com @feraldata...

Oct 31, 202128 minSeason 4Ep. 44

AI Myths #4-6 busted with professor Toby Walsh (260)

Artificial Intelligence is proliferating so how deep will it penetrate society. Are Robot domestic helpers, interpreters, navigators, lawyers or judges on their way? What about autonomous nuclear submarines? Should we be drawing lines? AI expert professor Toby Walsh has answers for Dr Karl's questions. https:\\drkarl.com @TobyWalsh...

Oct 24, 202123 minSeason 4Ep. 43

AI Myths #1-3 busted with professor Toby Walsh (259)

Artificial Intelligence is here and embedded in modern life. So how best to traverse those “uncanny valleys” between robots and humans? Can computer Art or Sculpture express human feeling? Could AI math (re-factorable numbers) keep us safer? Professor Toby Walsh is an expert and has answers for Dr Karl. https:\\drkarl.com @TobyWalsh...

Oct 17, 202124 minSeason 4Ep. 42

Dr Bloom and women in science (258)

October 15th is Ada Lovelace Day and celebrates women in science, tech, engineering, and math. Ada was Lord Byron's daughter but most significantly she realised the potential of computers two centuries ago. Ada is now believed to be the first person to publish an algorithm. She is one of many women forgotten by science as Dr Jessica Bloom tells Dr Karl. https:/drkarl.com...

Oct 10, 202126 minSeason 4Ep. 41

Australia's Chief Scientist, Doctor Cathy Foley (257)

Doctor Karl talks with the Chief Scientist of Australia. Superconductors, Sunscreen, LEDs, Phonons, Vaccines - is anything off limits? In an age where science is everywhere how does a Chief Scientist operate ? https://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/ Twitter @ScienceChiefAu drkarl.com...

Oct 03, 202131 minSeason 4Ep. 40

What's eating Professor Davies ?

Dr Karl and cosmologist professor Paul Davies discuss what we are still learning about the Universe. Antigravity, inflation, Olbers' paradox, extraterrestrial life - have been eternal puzzles. Piece by piece we are assembling a bigger picture ... but is it getting any clearer ? https://drkarl.com/ https://beyond.asu.edu/ [email protected]...

Sep 26, 202128 minSeason 4Ep. 39

A Cycling Universe with Professor Geraint Lewis (255)

Is our universe one of a long cycle of repeating universes? Or is it something different? Dr K takes a ride with Prof Geraint through concepts of cycling universes. http://www.drkarl.com http://www.geraintflewis.com

Sep 19, 202133 minSeason 4Ep. 38

Marsupial Immunity with Professor Kathy Belov (254)

130 million years ago marsupials roamed the earth along with dinosaurs. Today only marsupials survive. Dr Karl meets Professor Kathy Belov to discover their secrets of survival and what we are now learning from them. Anyone for koala peptides ? http://www.drkarl.com https://twitter.com/kathybelov...

Sep 12, 202124 minSeason 4Ep. 37

Globular Mysteries with Prof Geraint (253)

Globular clusters are spherical collections of stars. The Milky Way has 150. Most galaxies have them. Professor Lewis gives an update on these freaky outliers. Are they are older and wiser residents of galactic space? http://www.drkarl.com http://www.geraintflewis.com

Sep 05, 202131 minSeason 4Ep. 36

Baryonic vision with Prof Geraint and Dr Karl (252)

Did the Big Bang make a noise? Can we measure the acoustics of a star? Neutrons or Protons - which lasts longest ? A 20-year experiment has answers to questions we never thought of asking. Professor Geraint Lewis reveals to Dr Karl the power of the baryon. http://www.drkarl.com http://www.geraintflewis.com...

Aug 29, 202128 minSeason 4Ep. 35

DrKarls Q&A school (244)

On Wednesdays Dr Karl meets with school students around Australia (and sometimes overseas). He loves hearing what the curious young minds are thinking about. Their questions often set off new ways of thinking. Occasionaly the simplest questions are the hardest. This episode of Shirtloads is a Q&A session with the students from Aspendale Primary School, Victoria in May 2021. Enjoy! https://drkarl.com

Aug 22, 202141 minSeason 4Ep. 34

CUAVA-1 - Australia's Blue Carbon Space mission (250)

Dr Karl investigates Australia's latest CubeSat mission. It's called "CUAVA-1" and aims to measure blue carbon from space. Geosciences Associate Professor Eleanor Bruce is coordinating the team of researchers mapping coastlines for aquatic vegetation. Space Physics Professor Iver Cairns is squashing the technology into a package the size of a fat packet of biscuits. Dr Karl uncovers a truly Australian "Apollo 13" story . It includes a fishing line, amateur radio enthusiasts and a clever ground c...

Aug 15, 202127 minSeason 4Ep. 33

The INSPIRE-2 CubeSat incident (249)

Dr Karl uncovers a truly Australian "Apollo 13" story . It includes a fishing line, amateur radio enthusiasts and a clever ground crew who "worked the problem". The mission was INSPIRE-2. Professor Eleanor Bruce and Professor Iver Cairns tell this extraordinary story. drkarl.com Inspire2 Cubesat @arc_cuava...

Aug 08, 202126 minSeason 4Ep. 32