Best R Rex Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 84: SwRI’s 2025 R&D 100 Winners 32:06

Play Pause

9d ago32:06

32:06

SwRI picked up two “Oscars of Innovation,” R&D 100 Awards, in the 2025 R&D World Magazine competition. The R&D 100 Awards recognize the most significant technical accomplishments of the year. The prestigious award has honored top tier, revolutionary science and technology for more than 60 years. SwRI was recognized as co-developer on two winning pr…

1
Episode 83: Warner Robins Expansion 44:31

1M ago44:31

44:31

SwRI celebrates a first in its 78-year history — the purchase of land and construction of a new facility outside of its San Antonio headquarters. The 33,000-square-foot, $18.5 million building, equipped to advance national defense technology, is strategically located 3 miles from Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia. The building, featur…

1
Episode 82: Connected, Automated NEXTCAR 38:15

2M ago38:15

38:15

SwRI’s NEXTCAR project, funded by the Department of Energy, fuses connected and automated technologies to achieve increased vehicle efficiency. The system demonstrates up to 30% energy savings. NEXTCAR works with all vehicles — electric, hybrid or conventional — without changing the engine or hardware. This is a software solution that goes beyond m…

1
Episode 81: OSIRIS-REx Findings 31:40

3M ago31:40

31:40

NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security – Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission returned to Earth in September 2023 to drop off a sample of rocks and dust from the near-Earth, carbonaceous asteroid Bennu. The first U.S. mission to collect untouched, pristine material from an asteroid is giving scientists a gli…

1
Episode 80: SwRI Fuel Testing 28:00

5M ago28:00

28:00

We depend on clean, safe, reliable fuel for our personal vehicles, delivery trucks, emergency generators, aviation and so much more. Testing is critical to ensure fuel quality and safety. SwRI has conducted fuels and lubricants research since the late 1950s. Decades later, this important program continues the vital work of analyzing fuels to keep p…

1
Episode 79: Producing Graphene from CO2 Waste 39:29

6M ago39:29

39:29

SwRI is developing a process to produce graphene from carbon dioxide waste. Graphene is a valuable carbon allotrope with a wide range of applications. It is used in electronics like touchscreens, batteries, coatings, biomedical devices and more. While it can occur under the right chemical and thermal reactions in nature, it is not abundant, and it …

1
Episode 78: SWORD™ User-friendly Robotics Toolkit 37:56

7M ago37:56

37:56

The SwRI Workbench for Offline Robotics Development™ (SWORD™) is simplifying robotics motion planning. The user-friendly software allows developers to flow from computer aided design (CAD) to robotics management with ease. Robotics are used in manufacturing and other industries for “dull, dirty, dangerous” tasks. When designers move out of CAD for …

1
Episode 77: AI for Osteoporosis Risk 29:51

8M ago29:51

29:51

What do you know about your bones? SwRI is developing artificial intelligence (AI) for enhanced bone imaging to give patients a clearer picture of bone health. Current imaging methods, such as CT scans, protect patients from excess radiation but don’t provide detailed information on bone structure. SwRI technology runs these existing images through…

1
Episode 76: PUNCH: Imaging the Solar Wind 32:20

9M ago32:20

32:20

Launch is approaching for NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere or PUNCH mission, led by SwRI. Four suitcase-sized satellites equipped with special instruments are setting out to capture the first images of the solar wind, the stream of charged particles that flows out from the Sun’s corona. PUNCH will examine the solar wind in low…

1
Episode 75: Identifying Chemicals in Consumer Products 33:51

10M ago33:51

33:51

SwRI researchers used the machine-learning tool Highlight™ to evaluate dozens of consumer products for chemicals, and the potential for human exposure. They looked at clothing, upholstery, fabrics, rubber and plastics samples and subjected them to various heat settings and solvents. They determined what chemicals were present and whether they could…

1
Episode 74: 2024 Year in Review 31:36

11M ago31:36

31:36

It was a spectacular year of learning about Project Z, a total eclipse, H2-ICE, UHIs, Europa and more. If you listened in 2024, you’re familiar with these topics and are closing the year with a little more expertise in science and engineering. Now, we’re going back, recalling the SwRI technologies, tools, projects and programs that caught our atten…

1
Fossil Fuel Discovery, Australian Sailing and Forest Restoration 44:41

11M ago44:41

44:41

Hosts Bron Burton and Cabin Boy are joined by coastal palaeontologist Ben Francischelli, skipper of yacht ‘Irene’ Peter Ford, Scott Breschkin from The Nature Conservancy, and Deakin University marine ecologist Dr Jacqui Pocklington. Francischelli delves into his recent discoveries of fossil fuels. Ford discusses his involvement in the upcoming Role…

1
Aquatic Adventuring in Sunshine, Surf's Up and Endangered Leatherback Turtles 39:09

12M ago39:09

39:09

Join your hosts Anthony Boxshall and Kade Mills as they dive into an action packed episode this week! Rex Hunter sets the scene, describing his aquatic adventures in Sunshine, Victoria during the early 70s, and the team discusses Dr Ana Manero's research on the economic and wellbeing impacts of surfing, who is a Research Fellow in the Water Justice…

1
Episode 73: Targeting TBI 45:09

12M ago45:09

45:09

Traumatic brain injury or TBI occurs when an outside force causes a head injury that affects brain function or results in disability or death. TBI can happen to anyone. Causes include a fall, car accident and sports and combat injuries. SwRI researchers are targeting TBI with cutting-edge solutions. The Advanced Military Measure of Olfaction or AMM…

1
Swimming and the Psyche 45:49

1y ago45:49

45:49

Join your hosts Bron Burton, Dr Beach and the return of Dr Surf as they speak to Sydney author Chris Baker about his new book Swimming Sydney: A Tale of 52 Swims, specifically delving into the diversity of the swimming community and how it can improve the individual psyche. Jolyon Hoff, director of the film You Should Have Been Here Yesterday discu…

1
The Great Victorian Fish Count turns 22, The Great White Whale documentary & shipwrecks with Rex 43:16

1y ago43:16

43:16

Bron Burton and Anthony Boxshell are joined by Kade Mills as to chat about the 22nd birthday of the Great Victorian Fish Count. Then director Michael Dillon talks about his new documentary The Great White Whale, and Rex Hunter chats shipwrecks.By RRR - Triple R

1
Kelp Cultivation, Howling in the Ocean, & Jeff Maynard's Worst Marine Movies 42:09

1y ago42:09

42:09

Hosts Bron and Kade chat with Dr Prue Francis on her reserch and work on keeping kelp forests health which includes establishing seedbanks to protect the biological diversity of Golden Kelp. Theatremakers Caroline Patullo and Noa Fletcher Smith discuss their play Sea Wolves Howl - a celebration of the Mount Martha Sea Wolves, an intergenerational g…

1
Episode 72: SwRI’s Internal Research and Development 32:13

1y ago32:13

32:13

SwRI’s Internal Research and Development Program supports scientists and engineers exploring unproven ideas or concepts. The program’s researchers are making impactful discoveries that evolve into solutions for the Institute’s government and industry clients. Over the past decade, SwRI has invested more than $77 million into research and developmen…

1
Des Williams on diving in a 157 year old hard hat, Coelocanths, A Year on El Oro PLUS an in-house live band! 53:52

1y ago53:52

53:52

The studio is packed and bouncing with music this week as Anthony and Kade welcome an in-house band to play live on Radio Marinara. Between the tunes, we hear from Des Williams about his dive in a 157 year old deep-sea hard hat. Then, Alice Clements, introduces us to the Coelocanth, the 410 million year old species who was thought to be extinct unt…

1
Gaming, Bird Flu and Surfing 46:24

1y ago46:24

46:24

Bron Burton, Dr Beach and Kade Mills are joined by photographer and marine scientist Matt Testoni, birdwatcher Sean Dooley and author and professional Ironwoman Bonnie Hancock. Testoni delves into his creation of a new educational game called Big Fish, which is about sustainable fishing and ocean literacy in Tasmania. Dooley draws attention to conc…

1
Tales, Whales and Cinematic Fails 42:00

1y ago42:00

42:00

With Bron Burton and Cabin Boy at the helm, Kerri Erler comes aboard to share her new children's book, "Bozo the Brave", which recounts the true story of the cockerspaniel who managed to swim "The Rip", the notoriously treacherous waters between Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff. Next, we hear from Dave Donnelly of the Dolphin Research Institute gives…

1
Episode 71: Europa Clipper Mission 33:45

1y ago33:45

33:45

NASA’s Europa Clipper mission will investigate a vast saltwater ocean beneath the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. The spacecraft, equipped with nine instruments, will gather data in search of ingredients that support life. SwRI designed and built two of the instruments onboard Clipper, the Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph and the Mass Spectrom…

1
How we can help clean up the Bellarine Peninsula and what a local not-for-profit is doing about it 47:18

1y ago47:18

47:18

Our hosts Bron Burton and Kade Mills chat to coastal paleontologist, Ben Francischelli, about the conclusion of his latest exhibit which explored the prehistoric creatures of our bayside. Shortly after, James Murphy, found of the not for profit organisation Southern Ocean Environmental Link (SOEL), reports from Queenscliffe to discuss the current s…

1
Reef Restoration projects, Queenscliff's Literary Festival's new focus on the marine & Jeff's worst underwater movie #5 44:45

1y ago44:45

44:45

Our host Bron Burton invites Scott Breschkin to discuss about The Nature Conservancy reef restoration project and its progress. While later we see Queenscliff Literary Festival Director, Elizabeth McCarthy, chat about the festival's open-armed welcome to literary marine-lovers. And finally, Jeff Maynard brings in #5 for his top ten worst underwater…

1
Teen Ambassadors, Malaria Cure, and a Book about the Sea 44:12

1y ago44:12

44:12

Anthony Boxshall and Kade Mills are joined by a group of teen marine ambassadors, Marine Biologist Researcher Dr Joana Ferreira Costa and author James Bradley. The teen ambassadors explain how spending their school holidays underwater has influenced their passion for the ocean and how we can help protect it. Dr Costa explores the role of corals in …

1
Episode 70: Urban Heat Island Data Tool 36:25

1y ago36:25

36:25

When dense concentrations of pavement and buildings replace green spaces, a community risks becoming an urban heat island (UHI). UHI temperatures can be up to 20 degrees higher than surrounding areas, causing heat-related health and safety problems for people in the community. SwRI is working with the city of San Antonio to rapidly identify UHIs an…

1
Award-winning writer Amorina Kingdon explains how sound rules the underwater world 40:21

1y ago40:21

40:21

The team catch up with string of guests whom include marine researcher, Dave Donnelly, explaining the adolescent periods in whales. PhD student Morgan Ellis who discusses their research about the ecology of the North Pacific waters. Kara Hull reports from South Australia about the cuttlefish season while later award-winning science writer Amorina K…

1
A Focus on Blue Nomads 43:57

1+ y ago43:57

43:57

Anth, Dr Beach and Dr Surf are joined by Dom La Fountaine and Pete Kirk-Williams. Dom and Pete describe their lives as ‘Blue Nomads,’ delving into what they are and what they are like.By RRR - Triple R

1
Episode 69: QuickSounder Environmental Satellite 37:44

1+ y ago37:44

37:44

SwRI is designing, building and operating the QuickSounder satellite, a collaborative mission between NASA and NOAA and the first in a new generation of low-Earth orbit environmental satellites. NOAA’s low-Earth orbit satellites collect weather data and provide information for the 3-to-7-day forecasts we use to plan our days and stay safe in severe…

1
Spider crab migrations, blue whale sightings, plus stingrays and ocean sediments 41:46

1+ y ago41:46

41:46

Bron Burton and Kade Mills conclude their series behind native spider crab migration with marine ecologist, Dr Elodie Camprasse. The team also chat with marine scientist Dave Donnelly about recent blue whale sightings near Phillip Island and PhD student Molly Grew, explains the role that estuary stingrays play in turning over ocean sediment. Finall…

1
Dr Paul Hardisty on the ongoing impacts of global warming in the Great Barrier Reef 36:03

1+ y ago36:03

36:03

Join Bron Burton & Dr Beach chat with award-winning author and scientist, Dr Paul Hardisty, about the devastating effects of global warming in the Great Barrier Reef. Then later, see the team dive deep with paleontologist, Ben Francischelli, about his most recent exhibit, Prehistoric Bayside.By RRR - Triple R

1
Ocean Plastic, Spider Crab Updates and Composing Ocean Music 43:29

1+ y ago43:29

43:29

Bron Burton and Kade Mills are joined by Colleen Hughson and Fisherman Gary Ryan to find out how a 10-day walk along the Western Victorian Coast led to a novel partnership to tackle plastic pollution in the fishing industry with plastic-free lobster pots. Plus, Deakin University's Dr Elodie Camprasse returns with a Giant Spider Crab Watch update. N…

1
From Festivals to Shipwrecks 39:53

1+ y ago39:53

39:53

Anthony Boxshall and Dr Beach are joined by Dr David Donnelly and Rex Hunter. Dr Donnelly provides updates about the Phillip Island Whale Festival. Hunter describes the wreck of the TSS Nairana, which blew ashore in Port Melbourne in February 1951.By RRR - Triple R

1
Crab Palooza, The Whale Migration, Ocean Literacy and Shark Puns 41:58

1+ y ago41:58

41:58

Join the team as they delve into spider crab season with Dr Elodie Camprasse from Deakin University, and talk with David Donnelly from the Dolphin Research Institute about the whale migration. Jody Plecas speaks to how she became involved in Ocean Literacy and her passion for ocean education, and Jeff Maynard returns with the worst shark puns in sh…

1
Prehistoric Bayside Exhibition, Giant Crabs Migration and Seaweed Secrets 47:19

1+ y ago47:19

47:19

Join hosts Bron Burton and Dr. Beach on Radio Marinara this week. Palaeontologist Ben Francischelli previews the prehistoric bayside exhibition at Brighton Town Hall (29 June - 25 August 2024). Elodie Camprasse discusses the Giant Spider Crab migration at Port Phillip Bay, and Julie A. Phillips explores marine flora in her book, The Lives of Seawee…

1
Episode 68: The Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) 35:01

1+ y ago35:01

35:01

An SwRI-led consortium is tackling decarbonization of the transportation industry with a hydrogen internal combustion engine or H2-ICE vehicle. The world is on a deadline to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Experts say multiple technologies are needed to dial back global warming and attain that rigorous goal. SwRI engineers and members of t…

1
Everything is Water, A Giant Spider Crab Update, and the Disabled Divers' Association 36:53

1+ y ago36:53

36:53

Hosts Bron Burton, Cabin Boy and Kade Mills speak with Simon Clearly about his first non-fiction book Everything is Water. The book details Simon's experience walking 344km alongside the Brisbane River (the Maiwar), and the lessons he learns along the way about the importance of water and the ways in which it connects us. The hosts also get the wee…

1
Australian Marine Life: What's Been Happening? 42:06

1+ y ago42:06

42:06

Hosts Bron Burton and Dr Beach are joined by dive reporter Cara Hull and marine scientist David Donnelly. Hull delves into the value of marine protected areas in the Great Southern Reef. Donnelly discusses the sightings of humpback whales in Port Phillip and Western Port.By RRR - Triple R

1
Fam's Last Show! Shipwrecks, Eels and the 7th Worst Marine Movie 42:15

1+ y ago42:15

42:15

Join the team for Fam's last show, where they speak to Rex Hunter who delivers a shipwreck story with a strange occurence. Fam delves into all things eels due to popular demand, and Jeff Maynard also joins the team to discuss the 7th worst marine movie, where crabs are getting aggressive.By RRR - Triple R

1
Episode 67: SwRI’s Space Robotics Center 34:11

1+ y ago34:11

34:11

Engineers in SwRI’s new Space Robotics Center are developing software to operate robots in space. Robots are called in when a job is too dangerous for humans but they move differently in space. The Space Robotics Center captures cosmic characteristics, like lighting fluctuations and low friction, allowing development of robotics in a space-like env…

1
Penguins, Kelp and Marine Literature 45:36

1+ y ago45:36

45:36

Bron Burton, Kade Mills and Cabin Boy are joined by Earth Care St Kilda Vice President Dr Flossy Sperring, two members of The Nature Conservancy Australia (Scott Breschkin and Paul Tompkins), and Great Ocean Quarter storyteller Mick Sowry. Dr Sperring discusses the role of Earth Care St Kilda volunteers in providing care for penguins. Breschkin and…

1
Penguins, Giant Kelp Forest and Marine Literature 49:54

1+ y ago49:54

49:54

Bron Burton, Kade Mills and Cabin Boy are joined by Earth Care St Kilda Vice President Dr Flossy Sperring, two members of The Nature Conservancy Australia (Scott Breschkin and Paul Tompkins), and Great Ocean Quarter storyteller Mick Sowry. Dr Sperring discusses the role of Earth Care St Kilda volunteers in providing care for penguins. Breschkin and…

1
Surf Sounds, Spider Crabs, Edible Seaweed 47:02

1+ y ago47:02

47:02

Hosts Bron Burton and Dr Beach explore a variety of topics pertinent to Australia’s marine life. They talk first with engineer and fluid dynamics expert Richard Manasseh and sound artist Elissa Goodrich about their research and music for the Surf Sounds Project. This is followed by a weekly update from marine ecologist Dr Elodie Camprasse about spi…

1
Cheerful Blobfish, A Giant Spider Crab Update & Northern Pacific Sea Stars 48:00

1+ y ago48:00

48:00

Zoologist Julie Murphy comes in to chat about her new childrens book titled "cheer up blobfish", Also on the show is Dr. Elodie Campasse, marine ecologist to talk about mass aggregations of sea creatures like giant spider crabs. and Neil Blake chats about the correlation between sea life deaths and the mass influx of northern pacific sea stars.…

1
Erosion in the Mekong Delta, Spider Crabs, Coastal Restoration in Europe, and the Penguins of St Kilda 38:49

1+ y ago38:49

38:49

This week on Radio Marinara, the team dive into all things coastal. The team first speak with Dr David Wright about his work to combat erosion in the Mekong Delta, followed by the weekly update from Deakin University's Dr Elodie Camprasse on where the spider crabs are. They also speak with Professor Agustin Sanchez-Arcilla on REST-COAST, an EU-fund…

1
Eels and Underwater Immersion 42:44

1+ y ago42:44

42:44

The team are joined by Cara Hull, who is currently on location at the Bass Coast on the Great Southern Reef. She has gone in search of short-finned eels, which acts as the impetus for an entertaining discussion regarding their patterns of movements and places of habitat – surprising the hosts to find out that you can find eels as close to home as t…

1
Radio Marinara- 21 April 2024 39:02

1+ y ago39:02

39:02

In this week's episode the team dive into ocean related topics, where Dr Elodie Camprasse joins once again to inform listerns about the spider crabs, and Richard Pensak from Earth Care St Kilda sheds light on sea stars. Dr Alessandro Toffoli also fills the team in about what's happening with the rouge waves in Vistoria and artist Anatol Pitt discus…

1
Episode 66: Collecting Data from Destruction 33:49

1+ y ago33:49

33:49

SwRI Senior Research Engineer Dr. Kristin Ulmer is sharing her experience traveling to Turkey in February 2023, just after devastating, powerful earthquakes and aftershocks rocked the region. Thousands died and were injured as buildings and homes collapsed. Ulmer joined a research mission to uncover evidence and information in the aftermath of the …

1
Humpback Highway: Diving Into the Mysterious World of Whales 32:44

1+ y ago32:44

32:44

This week the team speak to Dr Vanessa Pirotta, a self-declared ‘whale addict’ and author of 'Humpback Highway'. Vanessa talks about her initial attraction to whales at a young age, leading to an indepth study of them during her PHD. What started as a fascination for those mysterious animal she had only ever "seen or heard of in children's books" g…

1
A Deep Dive into Surfing and Pesticide Watch 44:58

1+ y ago44:58

44:58

Dr Beach and Dr Surf are joined by shaper of DMS Surfboards Dillion Milenkovich and Deakin University researcher Brady Hamilton. Milenkovich discusses his mobile surf museum and his podcast called ‘Salt of the Peninsula’. Hamilton explains his nationwide citizen science project called Pesticide Watch, which is aimed at engaging the public to monito…