Shirtloads of Science

Phones made today are super smart. Fast and versatile they can be so powerful to be spooky. Dr Matt joins Dr Karl to peel back the AI layers for a set of rules for the future.

Mining Engineer, Reality TV star, Astrophysicist, Author - What's left  for Dr Matt?

If we need to fully understand space we need more time - lots of it. Beyond the Hubble sphere things gets lumpy.

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Dr Karl asks a fellow physicist for the telltale signs when powerful people spread untruths. They are easy to spot and nasty.

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The graph points skywards. A thousand of years of data says "stop burning carbon". Prof Mann tells Dr Karl of how the USA responded to his articles in the early 1990s.

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Dr Karl interviews Dr Bloom in NYC on the ethics of Artificial Intelligence. If AI delivers misinformation, how could we tell?  

Dr. Karl

At the moment there are two G's in AI. Dr Karl gets the 360 tour of both with Dr Jessica Bloom in New York City.

DrKarl

Edwin Hubble is world famous. What about Henrietta Swan Leavitt? She found a way to measure and classify the universe. In Dava's book "The Glass Universe" she references the half million glass slides Henrietta and other women used to document both the northern and southern skies. 

Observe, Ask, Explain, Predict , Test. These are the steps scientists use to improve our knowledge. Dr. Suzie Sheehy is a particle physicist. She talks with Dr Karl about twelve significant experiments that changed the modern world.

https://drkarl.com https://suziesheehy.com   

 Data is omnipresent and society is very connected Thirty years ago futurists said tech "convergence" would deliver us seamless digital lives So are we there yet?. Dr Karl gets a fact check from "Converge" author Associate Professor Catherine Ball.

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Bird Brains are different. Professor Irene Pepperberg has been probing their psychology for decades. She is the author of the NY Times bestseller 'Alex and Me', the story of her 30-year experiment with a grey parrot. 

Alex the parrot

Auroras, fireballs and space junk. They are all visible.   Prof Lisa and Dr Karl discuss how and where you might spot them. Also, how you can get your name into space.

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lisaharveysmith.com

There is a family of chemicals that has drug companies popping corks. Obesity researcher Dr Nick Fuller explains to Dr Karl how they work and why they sometimes fail.

Healthy Parents Healthy Kids with Dr Nick Fuller

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Dr Karl (former father of the year) talks with Dr Nick Fuller (recent dad) about teaching children how to eat. The good habits learned early lead to healthy lives.

Healthy Parents Healthy Kids by Nick Fuller

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Dr Tom Crawford explains to Dr Karl how using fluid density might improve your sporting performance. Listen out for duelling and marathon running references.  

TomRocksMaths

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Playing sport on a rotating planet has advantages. Dr Tom Crawford gives Dr Karl tips on using Maths to score more goals and break records.

TomRocksMaths

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When degenerate electrons meet 0.47 of a solar mass what happens? This is the start of Dr Kirsten Banks' PhD thesis. Dr Karl investigates the secret behaviour of Red Giants in the Milky Way and their Helium flashes.  

Kirsten Banks (astrokirsten.com.au)

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The bird family tree may need pruning. Geneticists have made new connections that take us back to the great extinction event. Professor Ho explains to Dr Karl how this is changing our views on dinosaurs and chickens.

Prof Simon Ho

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Dr Karl learns a new German word 'dunkelflaute'. Rare in Australia yet it plays havoc in colder countries. Yet another reason why atomic reactors are a poor choice for Australia as Dr Barnes explains.

Dr Barnes

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Under current net zero plans, local renewables should directly supply 75% of our energy needs. What about the remainder? Dr Karl consults an engineer on why atomic reactors are a very poor choice for Australian conditions.

Dr Barnes

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Which planetary moons are the best? Space fanatic Kate Howells puts Dr Karl in orbit around some of our most interesting lumps of stuff. How will Earth's moon rate ?

@SpaceKateH

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A shadow of Covid-19 lingers for many. Dr Karl continues his discussion with front-line clinician Professor Steven Faux. Good diagnosis and management offer some a healthy future. 

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Long Covid

Poor health lingers after some Covid-19 infections. Dr Karl discusses the symptoms and solutions with a front-line Australian clinician as they delve into his book 'Long Covid’.

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Long Covid

Physics experiments, two centuries old, can still be used to probe matter and energy. Caitlin Thurn takes Dr Karl through the simple yet extraordinary results.   

Dr Karl fact checks with Professor Lewis. What is the current understood state of the Universe and how close is the end ?

Geraint F Lewis

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Professor Clare Collins explains her ongoing research into one of the world's big killers - blood pressure. 

Prof Clare Collins

Dr Karl

Dr Karl visits a list of stellar phenomena with interpretive help from radio astronomer Dr Laura Driessen. Topics include brown dwarfs, proper motion, Jumbos and Universal wobbles. 

https://astrolaura.com/

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Dr Karl investigates the science of rear emissions with a dietetics Professor Clare Collins. How much per day? What makes them smell? What makes them feel hot?

Prof Clare Collins

Dr Karl

Crops under attack, falling nutrition, viruses spread by Insects. Dr.Trebicki researches agriculture on a warming planet and the news is not great. Dr Karl addresses the myth that Carbon Dioxide is good for all plants.

@PiotrTrebicki Dr Karl

Silicon chips are everywhere. Will they continue to multiply ? Does meeting carbon reduction targets rely on Solid State efficiency ? Dr Karl talks benefits and costs with Dr Lang.

Dr Karl

Dr Lang

Why use a balloon to hunt the most elusive suff in the Universe? Dr Sirks takes Dr Karl through the history of Dark Matter and why astronomy is only part of the solution.

DR kARL

Dr Sirks

There is a perception that the worst pesticides were banned years ago. So why are Insects (including bees) in decline? Dr Sanchez-Bayo says a family of water soluble pesticides are to blame. He names them and wants to know why they are still being sprayed in Australia.  Dr Sanchez-Bayo Dr Karl

One of the most popular diets today was studied by professor Varady over 20 years ago. She now teaches in Chicago. Dr Karl finds out why intermittent fasting is so successful. 

Dr Karl

Prof Krista Varady

Cat ladies, Australians and Chickens have all helped to advance our knowledge of Viruses and their link with Cancer. Dr Gregory has investigated the history and written a book about how we got where we are. 

dr Karl

 A/Prof Morgan

X: @DrGMorgan

Threads: @dr.gregory.morgan

Blue Sky Social: @drgregorymorgan.bsky.social

When Aircraft accidents happen we investigate how and why. Dr Sonya Brown tells Dr Karl about the process of improving safety and the importance of learning from incidents.     

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Dr Sonya Brown

The observed Universe is very binary and occasionally poly. Professor James takes Dr Karl inside a collapsing star and suggests how the last ray of starlight will shine.

Dr Karl

Professor James

How should we explain bumps in the observations of Stars? Cosmology is full of intangible forces. Professor Renee James explains "Helium Flash", why it is mostly invisible to us and when density matters.

Dr Karl

twitter@drcrj

Lung Disease is killing more of us each day.  As temperatures rise, why is our air more contaminated ?  Dr King explains how it's happening and what to do about it.

Dr Karl

Dr Bronwyn King

In part 2,  Prof Lewis introduces Dr Karl to Quarks, Leptons and Bosons. It's a messy subatomic zoo and still our Standard Model of everything.Avoid brain pain and listen to part 1 first . 

Dr Karl

Professor Geraint Lewis

The Standard Model for everything ... is full of weird names and strange numbers. In part 1,  Prof Lewis explains to Dr Karl how we got into this mess and why this mess still holds true.

Dr Karl

Professor Geraint Lewis

Vapes are 21st century inventions but the science of smoking and its dangers are well known. Prof. Chapman tells Dr Karl how Vapes are likely to be worse than tobacco, why "Puff Parameters" lead to such conclusions, and how lung cancer became a top killer.

Dr Karl.com simonchapman6.com

On Jan 1st , Australians have new buying restrictions for vapes. Prof Chapman guides Dr Karl through the Science of Nicotine addiction, how to battle Big Tobacco and why access rules must change. Dr Karl.com simonchapman6.com

There are many sleep myths.  Dr Karl clears up some with sleep researcher Professor Banks. So are there links between bad sleep and inflammatory disease?

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Creatures surround us . All we have to do is look. Professor Dieter Hochuli shows us a living world right on our doorstep.

https://www.urbanfieldnaturalist.org/book

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@dieterhochuli

Medicinal use of cannabis is a big deal. How many cannabinoid chemicals are there? How receptive is the human body? Can you drive a car after CB pain relief? The answers vary. Dr Karl and Dr Bahceci have the Australian science. Always check with your local authorities on the law. @DilaraB_PhD

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Someone you know is being treated for Arthritis. Fifteen per cent of Australians suffer pain daily and there are few safe drugs. This has led to shelf loads of "supplements" and "alternatives".  Does any of it work? Professor Collins compiles the best research to date. Most do nothing (so don't waste your health, time or money). nomoneynotime.com.au

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What is the best way to protect your skin? Dr Karl seeks ground truths from an industrial chemist. Is it all in the science of drying paint ?

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Epigenetic jellies did not help. Feral bees made it worse.  When a species-jumping parasite landed in Australia, our biosecurity controls ultimately failed. Bee geneticist Dr Remnant explains to Dr Karl how we lost round one against Varroa and the battles now being planned.

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Dr. Remnant

Human prosperity has risen on the wings of bees - until recently. A species-jumping parasite has landed in Australia. Bee geneticist Dr Remnant explains  to Dr Karl how and why this is so risky.

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Dr. Remnant

Space hardware needs to be reliable, affordable and repairable.  Recycling rockets and reprogramming helicopters are all part of a day's work for support staff.

 Adrian Brown

Dr karl

Salts prove Mars once had water. The rings tell us more about how and when this happened. Also the story of the lost chopper and how they found it. Dr Karl with first-hand accounts from Percy's driver. 

Adrian Brown

Dr Karl

Dr Karl gets a detailed briefing on a giant starry bubble just announced. Professor Lewis includes CMB, BAOs and traces of Dark Matter in his explanation.

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Geraint F Lewis

There are F Bombs in the Oppenheimer movie but no mention of G Bombs. Dr Karl probes Prof Lewis for the original source of atomic energy . The answer is surprising. 

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Geraint F Lewis

Dr Karl meets Assistant Professor Lisa Piccirillo who unravelled an age-old knotty problem with four dimensional topology.  Professor Piccirillo will deliver the Simon Marais Memorial Lecture at The University of Sydney on 7 November, register here.

Dr Karl

Professor Lisa Piccirillo

How far can we "see" through Space-Time? Professor Lewis takes Dr Karl to a place where everything is in slo-mo (relatively). The discussion naturally concludes with Time Machines.

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Geraint F Lewis

How do Cosmologists measure Space-Time? Professor Lewis explains Einstein's clocks and the new cosmic ticks. 

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Geraint F Lewis

What governs the resources, risks and rewards on the Moon, Mars and beyond?  Dr Karl gets a booster shot of Space law with specialist lecturer Duncan Blake.  

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Duncan Blake

What are the rules for human behaviour in Space ?  Dr Karl gets an introduction to Space Law history with specialist lecturer Duncan Blake.  

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Duncan Blake

Stars & Cows with astrophysicist Prof Peter Tuthill & Wildlife Conservation Biologist Tiahni Adamson (356)

The story of how a local oncologist took a pledge against Big Tobacco to the United Nations and had it passed. Dr Karl talks with Dr Bronwyn King about her crusade against the merchants of preventable disease through tobacco-free portfolios.

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tobaccofreeportfolios.org

Meet tyre nerd and chemist Dr Linda Mitchell. She works in stewardship - trying to improve our recycling of rubber.  How many old Australian tyres are exported and burned each year? Way too many and Dr Mitchell knows how we can do better.

DrKarl.com TSA Lindylulu77

Professor Davis and Dr Karl delve into the universal tensions and cosmic ripples.  Are there frozen clumps at regular intervals leading back to the Big Bang?

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@tamarastro

Dr Karl meets two Green Chemists. For 30 years they have been encouraging sustainable and cleaner chemical processes. 

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Dr Paul Anastas

John Warner

Will 2023 be the year that we both see and feel more gravity waves? Dr Karl probes Prof Lewis about what is so exciting linking LIGO with Pulsars.

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Geraint F Lewis

Meet a scientist working to build and test a fusion power plant. Fusion Professor Howard Wilson has intimate knowledge of plasma - the stuff inside stars - and what is needed to safely contain it on earth.  Prof. Wilson

PhD student Kirsten Banks takes Dr Karl on a deep journey towards a new candle standard. Stellar seismology and the search for exoplanets may make galactic maps more accurate. @Astrokirsten

Gene therapies are being approved for a growing number of conditions. Professor Alexander talks to Dr Karl about how they work and the decades of testing to make them safe.

Prof. Ian Alexander

Dr. Karl

Nature needs our help to beat global warming. Dr Karl consults Prof D'Alessandro about her team's work to pull carbon out of the air using solar power. Professor D'Alessandro

Dr Karl

Around 20 years ago a worldwide hormone scare took hold. Was it a media beat-up?  Dr Natasha Vavrek takes Dr Karl through the experiment that caused it and numbers that were misreported. Today HRT is called MHT and is safe again.

thebubbletasmania

DrKarl

Australia has implemented laws to permit the use of some psychedelic drugs in strictly controlled circumstances. Psychedelics researcher Dr Paul Liknaitsky and acclaimed author Heather Rose discuss the possibilities and complexities. #shirtloadsofscience

Heather Rose

Dr Paul Liknaitzky

Astrophysicist, author, and speaker Neil deGrasse Tyson joins Dr Karl to talk about science communication. Today needs global action based on solid science like never before - so how to frame it ?  

July 23 NZ-Au-Sg Tour dates

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Healthy eating begins in the mouth.  How much should you chew food?   What sized bites are best? Can Dental Health affect your gut?  Dr Karl masticates these topics with Dietetics Professor Collins.

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Wind-powered turbines are powerful machines. So why only three blades? Dr Rosemary gives Dr Karl an introduction to the engineering and physics of getting electricity from air currents.

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How can we measure space? Dr Karl consults a Radio Astronomer on units. Please note: Star Wars and Hans Solo references included.

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Could a black hole photobomb a star? Dr Laura Driessen explains.

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Too hot for synthesis ? Too cool to stick ? The early universe is a bog for electrons . Dr Karl gets the latest on Dwarfs vs Dwarves with Prof Lewis.

Electricity is how Australians get to 43% net zero by 2030. Transport must be part of that plan. Dr Sturmberg has been testing strategies to put electric cars on the grid, in the home and out in paddocks.

Recorded in Dec 2022 information was correct then. bjornsturmberg.com

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Matter and Energy continue to raise shadowy questions in physics. Dr Karl tests some recent dark theories with Professor Lewis.

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geraintflewis.com

Why do popular weight loss programs fail just when you feel they should work ? Dr Nick applies science to a healthy body and has good news. 

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interval weight loss

In dating shows there is always the promise of a perfect match. Can this idea be found in Astrophysics ? Dr Karl checks with Professor Lewis.  

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geraintflewis.com

What are quantum computers? Dr Jessica explains the world of quantum and what to expect in the decades to come.

What are the biggest black holes called? Supermassive. Dr Jessica Bloom talks about these cosmic monsters and the amazing technology used to photograph them.

ChatGPT launched for free in 2022. Like Google it devoured vast data but regurgitated it in human-like responses. Is it truly a marvel? Dr Karl and Prof Toby Walsh put ChatGPT to the test.

Future archaeology may see our time now as an "Age of Plastic". Already sedimentary rings are forming. Dr Karl discusses solutions with Bioplastics and Dr Yi Shen. 

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The James Webb Space Telescope has expanded our Universal view. Where is it changing? Dr Karl gets an update from Professor Geraint.

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geraintflewis.com

China has a Lunar landing program. It is as ambitious as NASA was in 1969. Dr Karl probes Space journalist Bradley Perrett on how soon we might see Chinese craft on the moon.

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NASA vs Space X vs Virgin vs China vs Russia. Today's Space Race is multi-dimensional and growing. Australia is about to start its own program. Dr Karl talks with space journalist Bradley Perrett about the road ahead.

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"Alternative facts" ? Claire Klingenberg is an expert at debunking such things. In Europe she engages, listens and changes hardened conspiracy and "woo" theorists. She is the Chair of the European Council of Skeptical Organisations and shares her wisdom with Dr Karl.

@ClaireAccendit

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AI is hardware-based. It runs on electrons.  Synthetic biology is where Biotech meets IT. It will revolutionise manufacturing & automation. Is a simultaneous Green & IT revolution on its way? Professor Claudia Vickers tells us more.

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Is fair pay for workers a modern idea? How about sustainable agriculture ? A Sydney museum has artifacts to show these are ancient concepts from far away. Should they be sent home? Dr Karl discusses the merits of archaeological repatriation with Dr. Barker.

sydney.edu.au/museum drkarl.com 

Prof Geraint Lewis takes you back to the birth of our stars. He uses Optic fibres, Robotic observations, Grisms, Hermes and Galah. It all happens at the AAT using 2DF. All these terms are explained wonderfully. This is the art of looking at what's not there. (Warning this podcast may contain Backronyms). 

Kirsten Banks recently graduated from Sydney University. She has a deep passion for space and astronomy and writes on her twitter page "I won't be the next Brian Cox, I will be the first Kirsten Banks proud wirajuri woman ". Discover an entirely different view of the heavens from an Indigenous Australian. @astrokirsten

Research is showing that "Happy" meals are real. Not only do you feel better at the dinner table, those  feelings are long lasting. Also you can amplify the good effects by how you dine. Spoiler Alert - fast food is not the answer. http://healthyeatingquiz.com.au/

Covid19 is revealing stark truths. The preservation of human life is both economic and cultural. Is there a better path ? Dr Karl discusses the value of a human life with Australian economist Dr. Richard Denniss. Both sides of the balance sheet have merit.  

Summers Link

Eating ethically may become compulsory. If climate change escalates as estimated, carbon-intensive animals and crops may need to be rationed. Food scientist, Professor David Julian McClements, is optimistic that solutions may be at hand. Could we engineer less carbonised food and design a healthier diet ? Dr Karl samples the future of food.

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On the surface of Mars, the NASA Perseverance Rover is bottling rocks to be returned to Earth. How will they get back? Why are the samples so valuable? Dr Brown, Australian Scientist with the mission, has the latest news in the second part of his discussion with Dr Karl.

@DrAdrianJBrown1

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While planet earth was in Covid lockdown, a NASA spacecraft left for Mars. Perseverance ("Percy" to its friends)  is on a mission to unlock planetary secrets. Dr Adrian Brown gives Dr Karl the latest news from the Martian surface. @DrAdrianJBrown1 drkarl.com

The world's largest coral reef is in trouble. Chief Scientist for Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Dr Wachenfeld, talks with Dr Karl about what he is seeing. Twenty five years ago waves of hot water were first measured. They continue with intensity. Will the COP Accords be enough to save our reefs?  

gbrmpa.gov.au\

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Particle physics makes discoveries each day. Professor Carena gives Dr Karl the latest on the relationship between dark matter and neutrinos. 

Professor Marcela Carena

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