The Science Briefing

LiSTNR

This is The Science Briefing, a podcast about the science of everything and your new go-to podcast for your snapshot of science news. Hosted by Dr Sophie Calabretto and featuring journalists from Cosmos Magazine, The Science Briefing brings you the latest research in technology, health, climate, physics, artificial intelligence, space and more. Hear what’s making news in science in Australia and across the globe every Tuesday and Thursday. Search The Science Briefing, or download the LiSTNR app to listen for free. 

  • 13 minutes 49 seconds
    How do you shave an ant? Science stories you might have missed in June

    Kathleen Folbigg is pardoned thanks to scientific discoveries, why scientists shaved artistic ants and do frogs have accents? These are the science stories you might have missed in June. 

    Today, Dr Sophie Calabretto is joined by Cosmos journalist Jacinta Bowler to chat about the science you might have missed last month

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    3 July 2023, 5:30 pm
  • 14 minutes 48 seconds
    Digging up the past: What can archaeology tell us?

    We've all heard of archaeology, but what exactly is it? A science or sociology?

    Well, it's a bit of both! 

    Today, Dr Sophie Calabretto is joined by Matthew Ward Agius to discuss all things archaeology, what they actually do and what we've been digging up recently. 

    You can see the reconstruction mentioned here, and the article about the trading post here

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 June 2023, 5:30 pm
  • 14 minutes 8 seconds
    Which Aussie mammal will take home the crown?

    We've all heard of Kangaroos and Koalas, but did you know that Australia is home to over 350 mammal species?

    Our diverse landscape is primed for mammal habitation, but unfortunately, Australia currently has the worst animal extinction rate in the world. 

    This is where the Australian Mammal of the Year competition comes in!

    Today, Dr Sophie Calabretto is joined by Cosmos Journalist, Imma Perfetto to chat all things mammals, how to get involved in Australian Mammal of the Year and why it's important. We also hear from Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Euan Ritchie.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 June 2023, 5:30 pm
  • 16 minutes 29 seconds
    The birds that are breaking world records

    Migratory birds travel astronomical distances every year, spanning the entire globe.

    Have you ever wondered how birds prepare for global migration? Or how far they travel? 

    Join Dr Sophie Calabretto as she chats to Cosmos Magazine journalist Imma Perfetto about migratory birds, how they navigate their way around and what they go through to endure the long journeys.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 June 2023, 5:30 pm
  • 9 minutes 31 seconds
    Tiny robots in your blood? The possibilities of nanotechnology

    Some things are so tiny you can't see them under a normal microscope – think proteins and molecules. These are a thousandth of the size of the red blood cells running through your veins.

    We measure these things in nanometres where one nanometre is a billionth of a metre.  

    Scientists have some adventurous ideas harnessing things at the nanoscale - a field called nanotechnology.  

    Some ideas are realistic, others are still science fiction.  

    Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Ellen Phiddian about nanotechnology, what's realistically possible and how on Earth you work with things this small.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 June 2023, 5:30 pm
  • 14 minutes 23 seconds
    Is Australia embracing the power of robotics?

    Painting? Firefighting? Is there anything Aussie robots can't do? These examples are just a glimpse into the world of Australian robotics, but where do we stand on the global scale? 

    Dr Sophie Calabretto is joined by Cosmos Magazine journalist Petra Stock to talk all things Aussie robots, what they can do and what's coming up next. 

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    14 June 2023, 5:30 pm
  • 9 minutes 56 seconds
    Botox: The science making it safer

    Botox contains the most toxic compound on earth, but if it's so dangerous, why is it so widely used? 

    Dr Sophie Calabretto is joined by Cosmos magazine journalist Jacinta Bowler to talk about the science behind botox, the risks associated with it and the research that is making it safer.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    12 June 2023, 5:30 pm
  • 9 minutes 39 seconds
    What on earth is quantum theory?

    Entanglement! Superposition! Qubits! What does it all mean?!

    Quantum theory is known for being largely unknown, but today, we're going to try to make it a bit more understandable.

    Dr Sophie Calabretto is joined by Cosmos Magazine journalist Evrim Yazgin to decode quantum mechanics and answer the question on everyone's lips, what on earth is quantum theory? 

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    7 June 2023, 5:30 pm
  • 13 minutes 10 seconds
    What do deep sea creatures and batteries have in common?

    We know more about space than we do the deep depths of the ocean, so it's no surprise that there are unknown species down there. Obviously this intrigues scientists, but why are miners so interested?

    Dr Sophie Calabretto is joined by Matthew Ward Agius to discuss the 5000 new species that have been discovered and what that has to do with mining.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5 June 2023, 5:30 pm
  • 10 minutes 32 seconds
    When did people start kissing? The science stories you missed in May

    The origins of butterflies, records of the first romantic kiss and unidentified sounds recorded in the stratosphere - here are the science stories you might have missed over the last month.

    Dr Sophie Calabretto chats with Cosmos Magazine journalist Ellen Phiddian about the stories you might have missed in May

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 May 2023, 5:30 pm
  • 11 minutes 35 seconds
    King of the dinosaurs Jack Horner says the t-rex could have had feathers

    Did dinosaurs have feathers, coloured skin and sing and dance?

    It's more likely than you think. 

    The mental image we have of dinosaurs has been drilled into us thanks to how the media has painted them - think Jurassic Park. 

    But how accurate is this image?

    Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist about unlocking what dinosaurs truly looked like.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 May 2023, 5:30 pm
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