Celebrating David Attenborough’s 100th birthday and a new way of making vaccines
The much-loved naturalist David Attenborough is 100. And still working!
May 08, 2026•54 min
The Science Show
The Science Show gives Australians unique insights into the latest scientific research and debate, from the physics of cricket to prime ministerial biorhythms.
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Episodes
Lab Notes: What happens if a major ocean current … stops?
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a vast current that helps move water and energy right around our planet, from top to bottom. Scientists say it is slowing down — and might stop altogether, with dire consequences for the global climate if it does. So how do major ocean currents work, why is it slowing down, and what will happen if it collapses? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Austr...
May 07, 2026•11 min
Australian science under strain
Australia’s research potential is not matched by funding. Belinda Smith speaks to scientists impacted and science minister Tim Ayres responds.
May 01, 2026•55 min
Lab Notes: AI data centres are coming to remote Australia
The Kimberley region is more than 2000 kilometres north of Western Australia's capital city, Perth. The area is both extremely remote and extremely beautiful. So why is it the proposed location for Australia's biggest "AI factory"? Why do we need this massive AI data centre? And are these factories likely to be built in other remote parts of Australia? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll fi...
Apr 30, 2026•11 min
Response to Australia’s ESO rejection
Despite the many benefits from a multi-country collaboration on a major astronomy project, Australia will not be part of the European Southern Observatory after 2027.
Apr 24, 2026•55 min
Response to Australia’s ESO rejection
Despite the many benefits from a multi-country collaboration on a major astronomy project, Australia will not be part of the European Southern Observatory after 2027.
Apr 24, 2026•55 min
Lab Notes: Aussies loved Artemis II — and they want more
Australians were captivated by the recent Artemis II mission — and they’re hungry for more. New YouGov polling reveals surging national interest in space exploration and its future. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more. Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.au Featuring: Brooke Schlesinger, associate directo...
Apr 23, 2026
Getting more from fertiliser, viral DNA's vital role and help from hookworms!
Secretions from hookworms are being used to develop treatments for autoimmune diseases which include food allergies.
Apr 17, 2026•55 min
Lab Notes: Is measles back?
In 2024, measles claimed an estimated 95,000 lives around the world – despite the fact that we have an effective, affordable vaccine. In Australia, at least 80 cases have been recorded this year. So is measles back?
Apr 16, 2026•11 min
Australia says no to European Space Agency collaboration, applications of quantum mechanics and testing trees’ response to rising carbon dioxide
The biggest science infrastructure requires collaboration. Australia has said no to joining the European Southern Observatory and will not share in the discovery, the experience and many benefits.
Apr 10, 2026•55 min
Australia says no to European Southern Observatory collaboration, applications of quantum mechanics and testing trees’ response to rising carbon dioxide
The biggest science infrastructure requires collaboration. Australia has said no to joining the European Southern Observatory and will not share in the discovery, the experience and many benefits.
Apr 10, 2026•55 min
Lab Notes: What can we grow on the Moon?
The main aim of NASA's Artemis program is to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon — so what will we eat? And can food be actually be grown there? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more. Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.au Featuring: Matthew Gilliham, director the ARC Centre of Excellence in Pl...
Apr 09, 2026•11 min
Australian and New Zealand research presented at Falling Walls Berlin
Carl Smith reports from Falling Walls 2025 and speaks to presenters from Australia and New Zealand who were there sharing their research with the world.
Apr 03, 2026•55 min
Lab Notes: Can we replace lab animals?
Humans have done experiments on animals for thousands of years — but animal testing has always been controversial because of the concerns for animal welfare. Recently, there have been more and more efforts to find alternatives to lab animals. So how is this quest going? What's on the horizon – and will we ever get rid of lab animals completely? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episo...
Apr 02, 2026•11 min
Saving Australia’s R&D, robot for cleaning up oil, and quantum physics with Paul Davies
Paul Davies explains some of the weirdness that is quantum physics
Mar 27, 2026•53 min
Lab Notes: NASA's mission to the Moon
It's more than 50 years since humans went anywhere near the Moon — but that's about to change. After a series of delays, NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch in early April. So what's the aim of the mission, where exactly are the astronauts headed, and why is it happening now? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so...
Mar 26, 2026•12 min
Possums thought to be extinct found in Papua, early Indigenous ingenuity, and how we adjust to ultra-processed food
Two ancient Australian possums, thought to be extinct, are now known to survive in Indonesian Papua
Mar 20, 2026•55 min
Lab Notes: Super-K flu is here … but it's not our biggest problem
A fast-moving strain of influenza known as "Super-K" is circulating in Australia and has been driving up flu numbers around the world. Virologists are constantly tracking strains like this as they come and go. Professor Kirsty Short, shares her anxiety about the flu season ahead, as well as a surprising recent win — and a call to arms about vaccination. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll f...
Mar 19, 2026•11 min
New idea for the origin of language
Conventional explanations for how humans became ‘the language animal’ focus on our need to cooperate to hunt, fight or make tools. Now, evolutionary biologist Madeleine Beekman suggests a new idea for origin of language: the need to share childcare.
Mar 13, 2026•55 min
Lab Notes: Slip! Slop! Slap! SUCCESS!
Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world — but there's some good news for Aussie kids. The presence of moles is a strong predictor of melanoma and researchers in Queensland have found that the number of moles found on children's bodies has halved in recent decades. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much...
Mar 12, 2026•11 min
Astronomy and toxicology converge at Caltech
When raised lead levels were noticed in Los Angeles last year, a chemist — who usually examines asteroids — quickly saw that the fires that ravaged the region in January 2025 were to blame.
Mar 06, 2026•55 min
Lab Notes: Why air traffic won’t return to normal for months
Major international airports in the Middle East have been closed this week due to the war with Iran, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded. So, what happens after a major airspace closure? How do pilots know where they should fly? And how long will it take to get things back to normal? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space ...
Mar 05, 2026•11 min
How the US came close to losing half its science funding
Robyn Williams reports from the 2026 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Feb 27, 2026•53 min
Lab Notes: The surprising history of the backyard sprinkler
Backyard sprinklers have transformed the Aussie urban landscape. But their path to domination of our suburbs was haphazard — and hinged on the inventions of several knockabout tinkerers. Meanwhile with a rapidly drying climate, we may need to re-consider our reliance on this invention. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and...
Feb 26, 2026•11 min
Stories told by feet
An ancient human may be a new species, and extinct giant kangaroos - could they hop?
Feb 20, 2026•55 min
Lab Notes: Why buying a star name is nonsense
A quick online search reveals multiple paid services for naming stars as commemorative gifts. You'll be provided with a certificate and a map for finding your star in the sky. But these names are not official and are not used by astronomers — or anyone else, for that matter. So what's going on, and how do stars really get their names? Featuring: Laura Driessen, radio astronomer at the University of Sydney You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jon...
Feb 19, 2026•13 min
Ancient humans lived in an Indonesian cave until Homo sapiens arrived
A cave in Sulawesi was home to our ancestors for tens of thousands of years. Archaeologists are piecing together the story.
Feb 13, 2026•55 min
Lab Notes: Skincare, pregnancy and a minefield of mixed messages
Retinoids are big business for reducing wrinkles and treating acne — but there's conflicting advice on their safety for pregnant women. Should manufacturers of these skincare products be providing warnings? Or are the risks not that great? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more. Get in touch with us: labnotes@a...
Feb 12, 2026•11 min
Social media ban impacts political knowledge of young Australians
Australia’s social media ban aims to protect young people from online threats, but it may also restrict their access to discussion of democracy and political systems.
Feb 06, 2026•54 min
Lab Notes: Can we tap the brakes on energy-hungry AI?
AI seems to be absolutely everywhere at the moment. While we're still waiting for the productivity revolution — or the jobs apocalypse — the energy costs of AI are already staggering. So how should we think about those environmental impacts of AI? And what can we learn from previous turns of the great technological wheel? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour...
Feb 05, 2026•12 min
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