The Science Show - Separate stories podcast

Love, Anger and Betrayal follows 26 young British citizens as protest against the ongoing use of fossil fuels.

Few astronomical wonders are as spectacular as a total solar eclipse, when the Moon fully covers the Sun, plunging us into daytime darkness. If we're lucky, we can see this epic phenomenon as it happens — through special glasses, of course. But our preoccupation with looking at the sky means we may not notice what's happening to the animals around us. When it comes to birds, many of which rely on the Sun to tell them when to sing a dawn chorus, how does a solar eclipse change how they behave? And what are the wider implications in this artificially lit world? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith 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: [email protected]:Liz Aguilar, PhD student in bird reproductive behaviour at Indiana University BloomingtonMore information:Total solar eclipse triggers dawn behavior in birds: Insights from acoustic recordings and community scienceThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

David Ellis is investigating how technology might be redesigned to reduce or eliminate the loneliness which can arise for some users.

Phages are viruses which attack specific bacteria.

Biofilms are produced by microorganisms coming together and forming a community usually on a surface. The biofilm provides protection for the microorganism.

The idea is to see if technology can be used to support animals which live in isolation in zoos or sanctuaries.

A display at the British Science Festival featured sounds from animals we usually think of as being silent such as some fish, and sea horses.

Andre Geim was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010 for his work on graphene. Graphene is one atom thick, a lattice of carbon atoms and is a two-dimensional material.

Nobel Prize winner Takaaki Kajita laments poor support for research in Japan.

David Fisher reports on the 2025 Nobel Prizes for Medicine, Physics and Chemistry.

This has been a bumper year for whale-watching on Australia's east coast, with thousands of humpbacks spotted cruising along their annual migration route. This population was almost wiped out by whalers last century but has bounced back — and then some. A new estimate suggests there are now more of these humpbacks than in pre-whaling times. So why are the eastern Australian humpbacks going gangbusters while other populations aren't doing nearly as well? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith 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: [email protected]:Wally Franklin, marine scientist at Southern Cross University and the Oceania Project More information:Eastern Australian humpback whale population now well above pre-whaling levels, report findsBoom to bust? Implications for the continued rapid growth of the eastern Australian humpback whale population despite recoveryThe Oceania ProjectIf you want to hear about how other Australian whales are going, check out The plight of the southern right whales. This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

Despite the cloud, the UK has a telescope. It is cleverly located in the Canary Islands and specialises in short duration cosmic events such as supernovae and merging stars.

Madeline Robinson describes some of the nation’s most important archaeological sites, what they reveal, and she touches on why they are not widely known, despite their importance.

Flint Dibble says our civilisation is at risk if we don’t recognise facts, acknowledge threats and change the way we live.

Professor Kit Yates explores the science behind the predictions we make every hour of every day.

Keith George is using real time monitoring of elite sportspeople in the hope of identifying athletes at risk of cardiac problems.

Holly Ellis is The Scouse Scientist, a clinical scientist specialising in genetics. Holly launched ‘The Scouse Scientist’ on social media in 2019.

For decades, climate scientists have been tracking a curious phenomenon. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are steadily increasing overall but they also rise and fall in an annual rhythm — like the planet is breathing.Each spring, in the southern hemisphere, carbon dioxide levels start to plateau or maybe even drop slightly before shooting up again after summer.So what's driving these seasonal changes?You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith 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: [email protected]:Nick Deutscher, atmospheric chemist at the University of WollongongThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

There is concern that the impacts of climate change and water pollution may be impacting iconic local jellyfish.

Madeline Robinson argues human history is under threat of distortion from social media.

If you've been watching the Women's Rugby World Cup, you may have noticed players have been wearing special mouthguards that light up when they've suffered a significant knock to the head.It's the first time these concussion-predicting mouthguards have been trialled at a major competition.So in the wake of recent concussion concerns, from professional AFL and rugby league to community competitions, is this the future of sport?You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith 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: [email protected]:Kate O’Halloran, digital journalist with ABC Sport More information: Women's Rugby World Cup players trialling flashing mouthguards to help predict concussionsThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

Tom Lehrer wrote 37 satirical songs. As well as performing in live shows, he taught mathematics at Harvard, and the University of California and later taught a course in musical theatre.

Sophie Ly takes us to Palau to meet scientists and traditional knowledge custodians who are working together to uncover the secrets of Palau’s ancient terraces.

Archaeologist Madeline Robinson looks at how humans like to mark their presence.

Australia’s known for having some of the world’s toughest sunscreen standards, but in June, that reputation was rocked. Independent testing of 20 sunscreens found 16 did not meet their advertised SPF50 rating, including three children's sunscreens and three sold by the Cancer Council. So how are sunscreens tested, and what can we learn from these recent SPF revelations?You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith 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: [email protected]:John Staton, scientific director at SciPharm More information:Choice report finds popular Australian sunscreens fail to meet SPF claims on labelThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

Archaeologist and PhD student Madeline Robinson challenges us to see the past as a story which continues today and involves us all.

Robyn Williams visits the Subantarctic Plant House, the Seed Conservation Centre and marvels at some extremely old trees.

Peter Bernhardt reviews the approach of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s new president Lúcia G. Lohmann.

Researchers are investigating whether quantum particles impact biological processes such as photosynthesis or as wounds heal.

Sydney psychiatrist Jim Holmes wrote a diary covering his early bouts of recurrent pneumonia, leading to his eventual diagnosis of mesothelioma and developing illness.

Affordable solar light and power has been introduced to 8,800 homes in a poor, remote region of Malawi.

When you think of leaders in the space sector, big hitters like NASA and private companies like SpaceX spring to mind.But since the very beginning of the Space Age, Australia has played a role in the space flight industry.And this year, an Australian company tried to launch a rocket from Australian soil.So why is Australia building and launching rockets at all, especially when so many nations are already miles ahead?You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.

As The Science Show celebrates 50 years, we remember John Clarke’s contributions to early Science Shows and point to a film just released looking at John’s life, produced by his daughter Lorin.

Reactions in birds’ eyes where proteins respond to the Earth’s magnetic field may provide information for birds in flight.

Author Zoe Kean explores humans’ place in the web of life uncovering evolutionary mysteries which carry the potential to offer humans a better life.

Report presents simple solutions to reduce food waste in hospitals and aged care facilities.

One in four Australians get hay fever, and as the planet warms, our seasonal sneezes and sniffles are tipped to get much, much worse.

Every now and again, dozens or even hundreds of perfectly healthy looking whales strand themselves on a beach. Scientists have a few theories on why they do this.

There are many examples in nature where sneaky behaviour wins over size, brutishness, or the best display. Other reproductive behaviours as seen in some spiders include self-sacrifice.

Anthropologist Anna-Zoë Herr explores how hope is not just a feeling, but a practice that helps us stay connected to what matters in uncertain times.

Sara Russell explains the latest theory of how complex molecules were formed in the outer reaches of the Solar System and made their way to planets in the inner Solar System including Earth.

Spring in the US brings distress to some. Which plants are the cause?

Short-form video rewards us quickly. Are we now unable to concentrate on anything longer?

Fresh Australian dietary guidelines are due next year, and they’ll likely focus on the health of the planet as well as people.

Lynelle Johnson describes the benefits of electric powered outboard motors over petrol engines for watercraft.

Frog ID allow people to submit recordings of frogs. It has been running for 7 years and collected more than 1.3 million calls. Thirteen new species have been discovered.

In Birdsong of Tomorrow, Nathan takes a playful and heartfelt look at our rapidly changing environment and how birds use song to attract potential mates, to protect their territory, to warn and to teach.

This week a meteorite went through a roof in the USA and proved to be older than our 4.5 billion-year-old planet. Sara Russell describes how these precious relics are tracked and retrieved.

Targeting small atomic groups around genes shows promise in the treatment of genetic blood diseases.

Meat ants don't sound like the most endearing Australian animals. These purple-red insects are super territorial, swarming and biting anything that threatens their nest. But it turns out they're not just aggressive, flesh-tearing fighters. They're also farmers, architects, and — best of all — cane toad exterminators.