Shirtloads of Science
Episodes
The Secret Life of Stars part 2 (big ones) with Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith (218)
Stars come in many sizes. Dr Karl visits the large and strange with Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith. The p rofessor and Dr karl wrestle with "the Secret Life of Stars". drkarl lisaharveysmith
The Secret Life of Stars with Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith (217)
How old is our sunlight ? What is our Sun made of ? Where do we rank in the stellar nursery ? Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith and Dr Karl wrestle with "The Secret Life of Stars". drkarl lisaharveysmith
Future Universe History part 2 with Professor Lewis (216)
From star nurseries through physics and chemistry, the Kruszelnicki-Lewis explanation of the lot continue. Unashamedly from an Earthling perspective it is based on accepted 2020 theories. Professor Lewis confesses he's a Silurian. www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com
Future Universe History part 1 with Professor Lewis (215)
Dr Karl and Prof Lewis describe our universal beginnings Where did we come from? Where are we going? At a crossroad of Nordic and Celtic cultures this is the first part of a groundbreaking podcast. Universal Origins 101 http://drkarl.com www.geraintflewis.com
Black Hole Ergosphere with Professor Geraint Lewis (214)
Dr Karl has his mind blown by the Ergosphere. Black Holes reveal themselves as engine rooms of the Universe. Spinning Black Holes add another dimension. Who knew they spun? Who knew that made such a difference? Professor Geraint Lewis on the evolving science of darkness. www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com...
Value of Life with Professor Richard Denniss (213)
Covid-19 has sparked global debate about the balance between commerce and the cost of health care. Does a life have a price ? If so, what is it ? Economist, Richard Denniss, talks Dr Karl through the Australian Government budget papers where a dollar value is listed. ( Note this varies around the world) drkarl.com
Dr Karl's Surfing Safari through Science (211)
Bernie Hobbs guests Shirtloads to talk about "Dr Karl's Surfing Safari through Science " with Dr Karl. His latest book has spiders, anuses and Black Holes. Nothing is off limits. It also includes pop-up Dr Karl holograms. Find out how. drkarl.com
Nanotech Food with Professor David Julian McClements (210)
Could we feed a growing population, reduce greenhouse gases and improve sustainability at the same time? Professor David Julian McClements thinks so. He says nanotech foods have answers and they may even be healthier. Critics say , like GM crops, nanotech has to be low risk and beat consumer resistance. A nutrition revolution or frankenfood ? Dr Karl gets a taste of a future. Drkarl.com https://www.umass.edu/foodsci/faculty/d-julian-mcclements...
Black Holes and the 2020 Nobel Prize with Professor Lewis (209)
...and the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics goes to - Black Hole Research - split three ways. 50% to Roger Penrose and his "robust prediction of Einstein's general theory of relativity". Andrea Ghez and Reinhard Genzel shared the rest for finding "a supermassive compact object at the centre of our galaxy". Dr Karl probes Prof. Lewis on what this means and why Black Holes have glowing rings. www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2020/summary/...
The Simulation with Professor Lewis (208)
Is this real or a Simulation ? How much science and how much fiction is there in movies like the Matrix, Fantasia, Total Recall or Dark Star? Is this a rehearsal ? How might we tell ? Dr Karl does a 2020 reality check with Professor Geraint Lewis. www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com
The Brightest Stars with Professor Lewis (207)
Which stars shine brightest ? Professor Geraint Lewis tells Dr Karl about the ultra-shiny heavenly objects he has found. www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com
Life on Venus with Dr Bloom (206)
Sixty years ago Venus was our twin - tropical but possibly Earth-like. NASA's 1962 Mariner 2 mission blew that up . It showed Venus unfit for life - too hot with hostile chemistry. Glimmers of hope have recently appeared. Doctors Jess and Karl discuss life on Venus. With sharper instruments and more knowlege of Life - what are the chances? www.drkarl.com
When Black Holes collide with professor Geraint Lewis (205)
We are learning more about Black Holes with the latest detection Technology. Prof. Geraint Lewis tells Dr Karl about how we found black hole twins, how we know they are not identical and what it means for Einstein's predictions. www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com
The Universe has a Dark Side with Professor Geraint Lewis (204)
Dr Karl probes Professor Lewis on the latest on Dark Matter. Is it evenly spread ? Are there Dark Halos ? Galactic contact - fact or fiction ? Big questions with the best answers we have at the moment. (Trigger Warning - ep includes Dark Light) www.geraintflewis.com drkarl.com
How Bent is our Universe ? with Dr Jessica Bloom (203)
An episode of colossal proportions on the shape of space. Your mind will be blown in multiple dimensions. Dr Jessica also explains to Dr Karl three ways the Universe can end. (Trigger warning : none have a restaurant and donuts are mentioned many times).
Food for Health with Dr Nick Fuller (202)
Dr Karl visits Dr Nick for a health and diet check-up. In Covid times it is harder to stay in shape. Dr Fuller talks through the basics and what we can do to make healthy changes that last - whatever your age. Twitter: @drnickfuller Website: www.intervalweightloss.com.au More from Dr Nick include Fasting(164), Worst and Best(140), Salt(124), Fads(120), White Drinks(114 ) & Diet(86)...
Top Galactic Neighbourhoods with Prof. Geraint Lewis (201)
Are "Goldilocks" zones overrated ? Can the mediocrity principle be overturned ? What about outer Galactic suburbs - are they the place to be ? Dr Karl and Prof Lewis discuss interstellar Real Estate and the best places to live. www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com...
Faster than Light with Prof. Geraint Lewis (200)
Speed limits are painful. So why is there a light speed limit on space travel (299,792km/s) ? Surely we can bend Einstein without breaking the Universe. Dr Karl (antigravity enthusiast) and Professor Geraint Lewis (real scientist) take it to the limit. How fast can we go ?
Black Hole Families with Dr Jessica Bloom (199)
Meet the Black Hole family. Dr Jessica Bloom takes Dr Karl through the three we've identified so far. So do they do more than suck ? Was Roger Penrose on the money when he suggested darkness as an energy source? The big questions are discussed in this second dark podcast.
Black Hole Origins with Dr. Jessica Bloom (198)
Extraordinary discoveries are being made in the galactic darkness. Dr. Jessica Bloom assembles the historical, theoretical and observational data that are causing a rethink of black holes. Why are they at the astrophysical crossroads ? And Dr Karl estimates our civilization's Kardashev ranking - how advanced are we ? Part 1 of a double black hole podcast. https://drkarl.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale...
Entropy with Prof Geraint Lewis (197)
Entropy comes from the Greek word for transformation. It is often used to describe the irreversible evening-out of stuff. In astronomy it is often called "the Heat death of the Universe". Entropy originated with the centuries-old laws of thermodynamics. So how is Entropy holding up? Dr Karl and professor Geraint Lewis put it to the test. http://www.geraintflewis.com http://drkarl.com...
Shuttle vs Soyuz vs Dragon - Rocket Science with professor Geraint Lewis (196)
2020 is a milestone in space travel. The International Space Station received astronauts from a privately owned mission. So how do the USA's shuttle, Russia's Soyuz and Musk's Dragon stack up ? Doctor Karl and Professor Geraint Lewis review the modern history of human space flight. http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/ http://drkarl.com
How constant is the Hubble constant with professor Geraint Lewis (195)
Ninety years ago we first measured the rate of our expanding Universe. Today our accuracy is better but the new techniques are producing different numbers. Are there gremlins in our measurements or is it the Universe travelling in unexpected ways ? Dr Karl and Prof Geraint Lewis discuss this huge question. http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/ http://drkarl.com
Fast Radio Bursts and Magnetars with professor Geraint Lewis (194)
First observed in 2007, FRBs are becoming a very useful astronomical tool. In 2020, flashes were analysed and suggested an answer to that age-old question about the Universe. Most of it is unobserved - so where is it hiding ? Dr Karl and Prof Lewis take a walk through the FRBs and Magnetars, the new phenomena making headlines . Drkarl.com https://theconversation.com/half-the-matter-in-the-universe-was-missing-we-found-it-hiding-in-the-cosmos-138569...
The concept of Proof with Professor Geraint Lewis (193)
What does "proving" a theory really mean ? Is there a difference between Scientifically proving or proving it Mathematically ? Dr Karl and Prof Geraint Lewis discuss the meanings of these ideas and how they are applied today. From pandemics to climate change, we depend on solid science - so how do you tell if something has been proved? http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gfl/ http://drkarl.com...
Prof. Anita Ho-Baillie and Perovskite Solar Cells (192)
Solar PV Panels have transformed our energy mix in the 21st century. Efficiency is up and costs and carbon emissions are lower. What next ? Imagine a solar film that squeezes 10% more out of the sun ? Professor Anita Ho-Baillie walks Dr Karl through solar PV and this phenomenal new approach. Barely 10 years in development, is there a Perovskite Solar efficiency race already ?
Cosmic Rays with Dr Jessica Bloom (191)
They're Cosmic ... but are they Rays ? Dr Karl gets the briefing from a recent University of Sydney astrophysics graduate, Dr Jessica Bloom. Cosmic Rays were found ages ago and still baffling us with more questions. Dr Jessica and Dr Karl go to the ends of the earth on this cosmic quest. https://drkarl.com/ https://www.facebook.com/astrokitten/photos/...
Covid-19 - The Tests with Prof Eddie Holmes (190)
Lockdowns are a rational first response to a pandemic but what happens while we wait for a vaccine or treatment to be developed ? Dr Karl joins Prof Holmes in Part 3 of this series looking at Covid-19 tests. What is the difference between them ? Professor of Virology, Eddie Holmes also explains how our immune system fights a virus and why this one has been so hard to beat - so far. @EdwardCHolmes https://drkarl.com/ Note: episode recorded in late May 2020 using data available at the time...
Covid-19 - The Numbers with Prof. Eddie Holmes (189)
Pandemics are complex so we rely on statistics to manage them. So how come the numbers vary so much around the world? Dr Karl asks Virology Professor Holmes why and also discovers which local factors also affect Covid-19 statistics. Australia's secret national chook stockpile is revealed and Professor Holmes estimates the rubbery-ness of some well known figures. Note: episode recorded in late May 2020 using data available at the time. @EdwardCHolmes https://drkarl.com/...