Episodes

  • How do you shave an ant? Science stories you might have missed in June
    Jul 3 2023

    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.

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    14 mins
  • Digging up the past: What can archaeology tell us?
    Jun 28 2023

    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

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    15 mins
  • Which Aussie mammal will take home the crown?
    Jun 26 2023

    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.

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    14 mins
  • The birds that are breaking world records
    Jun 21 2023

    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.

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    16 mins
  • Tiny robots in your blood? The possibilities of nanotechnology
    Jun 19 2023

    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.

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    10 mins
  • Is Australia embracing the power of robotics?
    Jun 14 2023

    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.

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    14 mins
  • Botox: The science making it safer
    Jun 12 2023

    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.

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    10 mins
  • What on earth is quantum theory?
    Jun 7 2023

    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.

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    10 mins