Beyond Infinity

In this fascinating discussion, Physicist Dr Tony Heyes explains the background and importance of the 1960s scientific revolution which became known as plate tectonics. He describes the roles played by German researcher Alfred Wegener and English geophysicist Frederick Vine in realising that it wasn't just a coincidence that the West coast of Africa and the East coast of South America have a similar shape and look like they might once have neatly fit together. Tony also explains geomagnetic pole reversals and the long-term cycles which influence climate and cause ice ages.

The SpaceX founder's plans for a regular shuttle service to the Red Planet; NASA's electromagnetic propulsion system confounds the experts. PLUS, resistance to new technologies and how automation could threaten half of Australian jobs.

After much procrastination, there's a space agency Downunder. And an Aussie satellite was launched from the ISS to study Earth's thermosphere. PLUS, Breakthrough Starshot aims to achieve 20% of the speed of light and go interstellar; The Kepler Space Telescope revealed weather on an exoplanet.

We discuss whether algorithm-generated music is any good. Is it creative or a strange perversion of the senses? We don't know, but still manage friendly conversation about London-based AI musicians Auxuman (or is it 'auxiliary human'?)

A look back at various stories we've done on the Social Network: UK kids disenchanted; The Zuck faces Congress; Queensland Uni study finds limiting time on FB lowers stress; Naming and shaming on FB; Does FB make you unhappy?

In a blow to Facebook's nascent Libra crypto project, online payments giant PayPal has decided to "forgo further participation... and to focus on advancing existing mission and business priorities". With doubts over regulatory approval, will other Libra associates follow suit?

The second known comet to travel through our solar system from interstellar space has been detected by amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov. Not much is known yet about this exotic object which is streaking by at over 110,000 kmh. But like its predecessor the cigar-shaped metallic Oumuamua, it's stimulating plenty of speculation about its composition and origins.

Hedge funds have for several years been using a trading strategy from outer space. Satellite speculators count cars, watch crops grow and follow oil inventories from on high and use this information to make significant gains playing equity markets. The question is: Is this fair?

Piers talks with leading experts on Buruli ulcers Professor Tim Stinear of the Doherty Institute and Professor Paul Johnson, Director of Research at Austin Health. While they acknowledge gaps in their understanding, they explain the spread of the disease from Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula to the Mornington Peninsula and why they believe mosquitos are the likely link from possums which carry the bacteria to humans.

More: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/infectious-diseases/beating-buruli

A new Chinese-made camera has 4 times the resolution of the human eye and can individually identify people in a crowd of tens of thousands. Its development is of concern to civil libertarians and others worried about how this supercam can feed vast amounts of data into China's burgeoning social credit system.