The Science Show

Australia’s megafauna, new building materials, and dung beetles

Unique insights into the latest scientific research and debate, from the physics of cricket to pr...

The story of mammals, how they coexisted with dinosaurs for 225 million years and survived when dinos couldn’t

Trees – allowing native species to return in Scotland, clearing them away in the Amazon, and seeing how they work in Tasmania

Vale James Lovelock

We celebrate the life of James Lovelock, father of the Gaia hypothesis which describes how the Earth keeps things in balance favourable for life.

Best approach for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Climate change to bring mass migrationAdrian Smith leads the Royal SocietyExhibition shows the role of microbes in chocolate productionAussie Stem Stars - Emma JohnstonProsthetic device offers help for people with damaged or missing fingersWe need to fix this. Fast.

Celebrating Charles Todd and the overland telegraph

The Australian overland telegraph was a 3,200 km line connecting Port Augusta in South Australia to Darwin. It was completed in 1872 and allowed communication between Australia and the rest of the world. It was one of the great engineering feats of 19th-century Australia and was a significant milestone in Australia’s development. The line was built due to the determination of one man, a government employee, Charles Todd. As we celebrate 150 years since the line was completed, Sharon Carleton loo...

The physics of music - part 6

In the final part of his series on the connections between developments in physic and music, the late Ian Johnston, physicist from The University of Sydney, explores developments in the twentieth century. In physics, communications technology saw valves come, and go, replaced by transistors, then silicon chips, leading to increased capacity and miniaturisation. In music, accepted conventions of harmony came under attack and composers experimented with more freedom. Musical styles developed using...

The physics of music - part 5

In the nineteenth century western music moved from classicism to romanticism, and our knowledge of physics progressed in electricity, electromagnetism and the wave properties of sound. We also began to understand how the ear and brain work allowing us to perceive and appreciate music.

The physics of music - part 4

We continue our series of programs about the connections between physics and music presented by the late Ian Johnston from The University of Sydney.

Celebrating 200 years of honeybees in Australia

The first European honey bees arrived in Australia on 20th May 1822. Four bee experts recount the effects on Australia's native bees, on honey production, on ecology and farming. And a new $2 coin is being released featuring bees, golden honeycomb and Eucalyptus flowers.

Environmental laws fail future generations and the history of Antarctic exploration

* Environmental laws for today, not tomorrow

Cameras used to count feral cats, and how much of pain is in the mind

* Hobart - Australian city of science* New ways of thinking about pain* Getting the cameras right to count feral cats* Boab nuts used to reflect on archaeology

Goodbye giant kelp – 95% lost in fifty years

* Primary students present E=mc2 The Musical* Giant strides in energy storage and plastic recycling* Seaweeds – thousands of species many with untapped potential* Giant kelp in massive drastic decline* UV light reveals rare fossilised spiders* Tasmania home to 2,499 species of beetles

Parrots and humans – extreme species with shared behaviours and first image of the black hole at the centre of our galaxy

* Black hole images allow theories to be tested* Journals slow to act despite evidence of scientific fraud or misconduct* Parrots and humans – extreme species with shared behaviours* New technology brings new life to exhibits at Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery* Vale Caroline Jones

Where did the Universe come from?

* Science needs to develop trust for links to grow* Kids space adventure combines human fight for survival with planetary science* Where did the universe come from?* There’s more to geoscience than mining

Musk promises brain implants for spinal injuries and AI and help for Australian sea lions

* A call for more controls over possible brain manipulation and monitoring* Global risks require new approach to governance* Consumption linked to biodiversity and extinction risk* Missouri Botanical Gardens moves its annual orchid show online* Australian sea lions in an ongoing decline

Young scientists forced abroad for work and the twelve experiments that helped make the modern world

* Thankyou Australia and goodbye* Lyrebird song a possible indication of population health* Twelve experiments that changed our world – the story of how we came to understand the universe* Science Media Centres – linking the media to scientists

Celebrating Gregor Mendel the father of genetics

Celebrating Gregor Mendel the father of genetics

Wollongong transformed, secrets of monotremes revealed, and help for Tonga

* University plays a key role as Wollongong transforms* New ideas about evolution and spread of monotremes* Space missions excite school students for STEM* High anxiety remains after Tongan tsunami

How our biggest threat is us

* New idea explains the enormous heat of the Sun’s corona* All environmental problems traced to immense human impact* This teenager loves science* Centre for the Digital Child studies impact of technology on children

Carbon movie explores the misunderstood element which has allowed life to happen

* Election hopes for science* Carbon – the element with a nice voice* Secondary science – more analysis, less rote learning, not so much time for history* Catastrophe – higher risk than most people might think

The end of astronauts?

* The end of astronauts?* The First Astronomers* Kiama students' hopes for International Youth Science Forum* Derek Denton – working and publishing science at age 97

Electric outboards making a splash and David Stewart celebrates 40 years recording bird calls

* Soviet scientists locked up or killed for accepting Mendelian genetics* E-boats bigger and stronger* Birds – today’s link to dinosaurs* David Stewart – 40 years recording bird calls

The future of scientific collaborations in doubt following Russia's attack on Ukraine, and warnings of dire climate impacts made years ago.

* Scientific collaborations in doubt following Russia's attack on Ukraine* Warnings on climate and flooding seen in today’s massive property losses* Parkinson's Disease – it’s like walking through honey* New approach for those with OCD to cope with unwanted mental images* Creswell Eastman discovers iodine deficiency disorder, then helps millions of children* Sea stars and urchins move south with warmer waters changing ecosystems* George Ivanoff helps us survive the supernatural

Compelling novels highlight ecosystems under pressure and vale Richard Leakey

Horridus to help answer questions about Triceratops and other dinosCharlotte McConaghy’s compelling novels built on complex characters in a fast-changing natural worldVale Richard Leakey

We were warned of pandemic in 1994, and hydrogen for far north Queensland

Artificial intelligence – promises and threatsDrone helps control invasive species on Norfolk IslandTriceratops comes to MelbourneHydrogen coming for Cape York communitiesPandemic – how we were warned

How trees are gold – when alive

Human population the driver of greenhouse emissions and all environmental wowsMeg Lowman - a voice for treesFlying foxes crashing

How tsunami have impacted Australia’s east coast and a new approach to limit the threat

Politicians unfairly maligned – Robin BatterhamRisk of tsunami on east Australian coastSubmerged mats could dissipate energy of tsunamiDespite all we know, biodiversity loss is at an all-time highWA to end logging in native forests

Advice for scientists confronting doubters and the mysterious pulsing object in space

Scientists: don’t feed the doubt machineMysterious object in our galaxy sends pulses every 18 minutesFred Watson – celebrating 25 years on ABC radioIQ tests, genes and environment - views from 1984 and today

Genes help us love nature, geothermal on the cusp, and vale E. O. Wilson

Connection with nature linked to genesVale E. O. WilsonGeothermal on the cusp in Australia?Ancient Serbian settlement changes the view of early human society in Europe