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Chris Lassig Podcasts

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Lost in Science

Chris Lassig, Stuart Burns, Claire Farrugia and Linden Ashcroft.

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Entertaining news and discussion about research that has impact on society and providing a wide range of science and technology news. Distributed nationally on the Community Radio Network.
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A recent study suggests elephants have nicknames for each other. Find out more with Jessica on this week's episode. Photo by Nam Anh on Unsplash In this week's episode we welcome two students from the University of Melbourne's Science Communication program. Jessica and Niqi discuss the amazing communication styles of elephants, and try to quash bad…
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This week on Lost in Science, Claire speaks with researcher Saskia Gerhardy about her fascinating new work revealing that the critically endangered plains-wanderer has a much wider habitat than previously thought – including the discovery of a new population in South Australia.And from the archives, Chris revisits a conversation with animal reprodu…
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This week on the show we continue our Quantum for Dummies series, celebrating the International Year of Quantum. Claire takes the “dummy” seat once again, putting Chris, our resident quantum physicist, to the test with questions about the mysterious principle of uncertainty. Plus, we head into the archives to revisit Stu's interview with Dr Ellie P…
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In this National Science Week episode, Linden unmasks some famous performers who also have a science background; and Chris shares some new research into how static electricity works, which is still unsolved after thousands of years. Sobarzo, J.C., Pertl, F., Balazs, D.M. et al. Spontaneous ordering of identical materials into a triboelectric series…
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This week on Lost in Science, Linden explores fascinating new evidence that Homo naledi may have buried their dead 250,000 years ago—over three times earlier than we thought humans developed such rituals. What does this mean for our understanding of cultural evolution? Meanwhile, Chris dives into the curious world of convergent evolution—why do so …
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This week, Chris breaks down the latest experimental results from the Large Hadron Collider, which confirmed an asymmetry between matter and antimatter, but not enough to explain the imbalance seen in the universe; and Linden explains the power of clouds, and new research showing that how they respond to climate change can make it worse. LHCb Colla…
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This week to celebrate International Year of Quantum, Claire gets all her most basic quantum questions answered by Chris - what is Quantum, why should we be celebrating, and when will quantum technology teleport pizza to my door? Also on the show we head back into the archives and a story from Claire on new research using gut bacteria to switch blo…
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Linden talks about a recent study into the effect of generative AI use on cognitive function and Stu talks to Kim Dyball, Executive Manager of the Young Indigenous Womens' STEM Academy and how a Churchill fellowship is going to help improve outcomes for young indigenous women in STEM in AustraliaBy Claire Farugia, Stu Burns, Linden Ashcroft guest: Kim Dyball
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This week on Lost in Science: Did you know the Andromeda galaxy is heading straight for us? Chris unpacks new research that pushes the expected Milky Way-Andromeda collision a few billion years further into the future. Meanwhile, Stu investigates cannonball fungi—tiny but mighty organisms that launch their spores over six metres! Find out how these…
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This week, Linden talks to researcher Michael Wheeler about the dangers of too much sitting, whether it really is the new smoking, and how to aim for more exercise; and Chris updates us on the search for a ninth planet in our Solar System (not counting) Pluto, why some astrophysicists believe it exists, and a dot seen in old telescope data that may…
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This week on Lost in Science Chris dives into the debate over seed oils—are they really toxic villains in your pantry, or just misunderstood kitchen staples? He unpacks the science behind the controversy that's spreading across social media faster than a hot fry in canola oil.Meanwhile, Claire swings back to a fascinating story about great apes and…
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This week, Claire examines new data on the detection of a potential chemical bio-signature on exoplanet K2-18b, and whether it strengthens the case for alien life; and Chris responds to media reports of possible over-diagnosis and over-medication of ADHD by looking at the data and current research and best practice. Have We Been Thinking About A.D.…
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In this episode of Lost in Science, Claire chats with Young Australian of the Year Dr Katrina Wruck — a groundbreaking green chemist working to break down harmful "forever chemicals." As the first Torres Strait Islander to receive an Australian of the Year award in any category, Dr Wruck shares her journey, the science behind her research and how s…
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This week, Chris examines claims by Microsoft researchers to be building a fault-tolerant quantum computer chip using obscure physics, and why many are sceptical of it; and Linden speaks to tephrochronologist Saini Samim about using crystals in ancient volcanic ash to determine the age of fossils. Microsoft press release, https://azure.microsoft.co…
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This week Linden talks about methane as a greenhouse gas, and a new study showing that rivers with more waterfalls release more methane; and Stu runs us through the different parts of our immune system, including a recently discovered power of proteasomes within cells helping to attack invading bacteria. Rust, R.L., Frizzell, A. & Kessler, J.D. Wat…
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This week, we celebrate International Women's Day! Claire explores the global impact of breast cancer, a disease that affects millions of women worldwide, and talks about some of the latest research and challenges in the fight for better treatments and outcomes. Meanwhile, Linden shares the inspiring story of pioneering chemist and Isabel Joy Bear,…
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This week on Lost in Science, Chris digs into the surprising miscalculations of toxins in black plastic utensils—should we be worried about what’s lurking in our plastic spatulas? Meanwhile, Linden takes us underground (metaphorically, of course) to explore the world of one of Australia’s most beloved marsupials: the wombat! How do we know where th…
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Back in action for 2025, we kick of our first show of the year with Linden talking about the scientific evidence supporting flossing your teeth, and why people got upset it was dropped from US dental hygiene guidelines some years ago. And Chris welcomes us all to the International year of Quantum, but what does it mean, and who is it for? Tune in t…
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This week on the show we head back in the archives to hear Claire's interview with Profesor Dee Carter all about her research looking at the unexpected antimicrobial properties of honey ants, and how they could be solution to anitbiotic resistance challenges ahead.Also on the show Stu gets into some of the shameful history of zoology, and the Accli…
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The summer series continues as we revisit stories from the archives. And this week Chris asks the question, how can time fly without wings? Or more specifically, is there is any scientific basis for feeling like time is passing quicker than each year? Also Claire chats to CSIRO researcher Leo Joseph about sequencing of the complete genome of the Ni…
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Our summer series continues with stories from past shows, this week Stu looks into the basic chemistry of alkaline water and why it isn't a panacea for anything much at all. And Chris talks about two historical female figures of scintific importance who may not be the household names they deserve to be.…
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Chris tells us about an amazing new discovery of dinosaur tracks in Britain, then we continue our replay of classic stories from the archive: Catriona shows what we can learn about love and affection from the hormones of monogamous prairie voles, and Chris shares the formula for the frequency of flapping wings to fly, and uses it to calculate how f…
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This week on Lost in Science, it’s our final show of the year! Chris challenges the team—and you—to a 2024 science quiz. Have you been paying attention to the biggest science stories of the year? Plus, Claire discusses some of the weird and wonderful research from 2024 worth celebrating. Join us for fun, facts, and a celebration of the science that…
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For our Christmas episode, Linden speculates what Santa may see on his journey, such as changes in rivers as described in a recent study; and Cat crunches the numbers on how many houses Santa may need to visit, and how. Dongmei Feng, Colin J. Gleason ,More flow upstream and less flow downstream: The changing form and function of global rivers. Scie…
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This week we welcome our new Lost in Science team member, climate scientist Linden Ashcroft, and learn all about her research compiling historical weather records to understand the patterns in our continent’s past (see lindenashcroft.com); and speaking of weather, Cat reveals some surprising ways to tell the weather, using crickets chirps, drying s…
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In this spine-tingling Lost in Science Fiction special, Catriona channels her inner Doc Brown to explore if harnessing lightning could actually be a viable renewable energy source—just like Back to the Future! Meanwhile, Chris dives into the biology of the iconic Xenomorphs from the Alien universe, dissecting what makes these terrifying creatures t…
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Some classic stories from our annual Lost in Science Fiction specials from years gone by. Chris and Stu talk Star Trek with popular culture researcher Andrew Lynch, Claire gets stuck into a hearty meal of Soylent Green, and Catriona wonders aloud why we still don't have hoverboards and flying carsBy Stu Burns, Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, Chris Lassig, Claire Farrugia guest: Andrew Lynch
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This week on Lost in Science, Claire chats with Dr. Matthew Snelson about how our diet affects gutmicrobiome health and the link with chronic diseases. And we dig into the archives with Chris to explore space junk—who's responsible for putting it up there, tracking it, and bringing it down.By Matthew Snelson, Claire Farrugia, Chris Lassig
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