The Cosmos Podcast

Saving the White Seahorse

Our Ultramarine series continues with Patrick Noble from Sea Life Australia and the Sydney Aquarium. Patrick discusses his involvement with saving the white seahorse, also known as the Sydney seahorse.

How to keep Sydney Harbour clean

In this Ultramarine podcast, we dive into the crucial issue of ocean pollution and explore real-world solutions. Let’s Science It Out hosts David Boldeman and Steven Boldeman are joined by Tom Batrouney and Ashley Hayes, two passionate advocates for marine conservation. In this episode, we uncover: 🔹 The impact of plastic waste and microplastics on Sydney Harbour and marine ecosystems. 🔹 How Seabin technology is helping clean up our waterways and collect crucial data. 🔹 The role of businesses...

Friends of the Red Handfish: a dive into the archive

When your neighbour is struggling, the community rallies around them – even if that neighbour is a fish. Keely Jobe’s small Tasmanian town shares its shores with the endangered red handfish. By telling the story of her involvement in local conservation efforts, Jobe considers how the community and scientists are both vital to saving at-risk species. As part of the Ultramarine project we are republishing some paid content for free. This long read was originally published in issue 101 of Cosmos pr...

Archaeology by ancestor

The village of Pang Pang is like many in Vanuatu. A dozen or so traditional houses, covered in native natangura palm leaves lay nestled between tall coconut palms and mango trees. Led for the first time by Indigenous archaeologists, a dig team at Pang Pang is tapping into the Pacific’s ancient past. Prianka Srinivasan was there to witness something special. As part of the Ultramarine project we are republishing some paid content for free. This story was originally published in issue 100 of Cosmo...

Birds Without Borders: A dive into the archive

Compact and easily overlooked, bar-tailed godwits make the longest known nonstop flight of any animal on Earth. Drew Rooke reports on the research that led to the amazing feat’s discovery – and that is changing much of our understanding of the science of these epic crossings. Narrated by Renee Garvin. As part of the Ultramarine project we are republishing some paid content for free. This story was originally published in issue 99 of Cosmos print magazine, in July 2023. You can read more amazing ...

Turtle Dreaming: A dive into the magazine archive

In a remote archipelago off Australia’s Top End, scientists and Indigenous rangers are collaborating to gather knowledge about the region’s large marine animals, which are thought to be in decline. Story and photography by DAVID HANCOCK, narrated by HANNAH HARMS. As part of the Ultramarine project we are diving into our archives and republishing some paid content for free. This audio content was created from a story originally published in issue 97 of Cosmos print magazine, in December 2022. You...

Can the nautilus survive the age of humans?

In the September 2022 Cosmos print magazine, Kate Evans looked at how the nautilus’s lineage made it through all five of Earth’s previous mass extinctions and asked can it survive the Anthropocene. The article has been read by Renee Garvin and published for free as part of our Ultramarine project , which is funded by Mindaroo Foundation.

Discover Antarctica

Ian Connellan and Gail McCallum talk to Jason Flesher, the Director of Discovery Operations for Scenic, about his experiences in Antarctica.

Cosmos Country - Coral Sea Snakes

Cosmos Country – Solar thermal storage

Satellite mapping

Cosmos Country – Managing the health of Australia's coastal bays and estuaries

Cosmos Country – Transitioning agriculture to net zero emissions

Australia’s farmers and agricultural industries are at the front line when it comes to dealing with the impacts of climate change. Agriculture also contributes 14% of the country’s emissions. The recently established Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (ZNE-Ag CRC) aims to help the agriculture industry transition to net zero by 2040 by bringing academic knowledge and agriculture experience together. In this episode of Cosmos Country , hosts Glenn Morrison and Jamie Seidel ...

Science Detectives: Why do animals come in different colours and patterns?

The Science Detectives are on another case. This week, Olivia Henry wants to know why animals come in so many different colours and patterns. The detectives talk to Devi Stuart-Fox, a professor of evolution and ecology at the University of Melbourne, to find out. This episode was hosted and produced by Imma Perfetto and edited by Andrew Wyrill. For more science news, visit cosmosmagazine.com and follow us on Instagram @cosmosmagazine Love the show? Let us know by rating and leaving a review on S...

Cosmos Country - A deep dive into our oceans

Regional communities looking for ways to diversify income and employment under climate change often turn to tourism. Recently, the Australian Tourism Commission created a data hub to help. It shows the value of Australian tourism by region; and the scale of incomes and number of people in the industry to be staggering. The Cosmos Country podcast speaks with two people involved in tourism about how events can contribute to a diversified economy. Archaeologist Dr James Hunter is curator of Naval H...

Science Detectives: South Pole rain

It doesn’t rain at the South Pole. Why not? Will global warming change that? This question from a Cosmos reader was a task for The Science Detectives. Cosmos journalism intern Tyler Fisher was asked to investigate, to find out what’s going on.

Science Detectives: Does the sun always rise in the east?

We learn in school that the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west. But we also know the Sun doesn’t stay in the same part of the sky the whole year round – it’s higher at some points and lower at others. So what’s going on? What about the Moon? How does its path change across the sky? On the latest episode of Science Detectives , a new podcast series from Cosmos , Ellen Phiddian gazes at the sky to figure out how its two biggest hits change their appearance. She’s joined by Mary Adam, an as...

Cosmos Country: Reefs

Series one ep: 14 When coral reefs disappear more is lost than animals and evonomic benefits. Dr Tommy Fellowes at the USyd’s School of Geosciences Geocoastal Research Group talkas to Cosmos Country reporter Glenn Morrison.

Cosmos Country - Quolls

Cosmos Science regional reporters Jamie Seidel and Glenn Morrison find out how quolls were transported across the country to help re-wild an arid reserve in outback WA.

Science Detectives: Whale teeth

At the beginning of 2023, scientists made a surprise finding. The pygmy right whale, which is the smallest of the baleen whales, didn’t move far from waters in the Southern Ocean . It’s surprising because long-distance migration is a behaviour practised by most other baleen whales. Knowledge of this enigmatic species, which is a filter-feeder using baleen to sift tasty but tiny marine life from seawater, is slowly, but surely, on the rise. But is this baleen like having a set of teeth? Or is it ...

Cosmos Country - Resilience

Cosmos Country - Ammonia

Podcast Next Gen: How important are marine microbes?

If marine microbes are Earth's unsung heroes, year 12 student Emelia is singing their praises. They produce 50% of our oxygen, are a crucial part of the food pyramid and they can even help us understand the ancient world. In this episode of Podcast Next Gen, join Emelia as she unpacks marine microbes in all their fabulous forms. Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos Magazine and the National Youth Science Forum. The reporters are year 12 students from across Australia – the next gen...

Science Detectives: Mangroves

Science can answer most of life’s big and little questions – but you don’t always have scientist on hand to explain their reasoning. Now you do, with a new Cosmos Science Detectives podcast finding the experts and interrogating them to help answer your burning inquiries. The crack Cosmos team of newsroom science journalists will leave no stone unturned. They’ll open a case file; find evidence and witnesses; and give you the detail you need to close a case of “uncertainty.” In this episode, they ...

Cosmos Country - Microgrids

Podcast Next Gen: Is there poetry in maths?

While for most of us, maths might conjure up equations and stuffy professors, for year 12 student Matilda, she thinks of poetry. From weird and wonderful mathematical sequences popping up in traditional verse structures, to the mathematics of metre and rhythm, and even completely numerical poems, maths is everywhere. In this episode of Podcast Next Gen, join Matilda as she dives into poetic mathematics and mathematical poetry. Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos magazine and the N...

Podcast Next Gen: What's the science behind the aurora?

For those lucky enough to have been able to experience it, an aurora is an incredible sight. But year 12 student Hajara wanted to know what was happening behind the scenes to cause these gorgeous hues. In this episode of Podcast Next Gen, she investigates how it occurs, where the colours come from, and exactly when and where you can find the auroras. Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos magazine and the National Youth Science Forum. The reporters are year 12 students from across Au...

Cosmos Country: water

Podcast Next Gen: What's the best music to study to?

Have you ever been trying to study and turn on some music, but discover that what you’ve picked is just too good? Instead of focusing on your work, you end up vibing with the song. Jorja, a year 12 student and robotics enthusiast wanted to know why, and so she hooked up her own brain to find out. Explore Jorja’s brain on music, why jazz might be the most meditative, and why you need to keep an eye on those gamma waves. Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos magazine and the National ...

Podcast Next Gen: Why does spicy food feel hot?

We all know the feeling – sweat forming on your brow and your face heating up. Eating something spicy is not an easy thing to forget. Year 12 student Stephanie wanted to know why spicy food is just so hot. In this episode of Podcast Next Gen she discovers why a study used strawberry jam spiked with capsaicin, why one food acts like tear gas, and why you might need to fake it to you make it when it comes to spice. Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos Magazine and the National Youth ...