Lost in Science

Stu, Linden and Chris break down this years science Nobel Prizes: the Physics Prize for the IceCube neutrino observatory; the Physiology & Medicine Prize for controlling nerve cells with light via optogenetics; and the Chemistry Prize for figuring out how biological molecules are only right- or left-handed.

This week we welcome three students from the University of Melbourne's Science Communication program. Meredith, Maeve and Annisa share the science stories they've gotten lost in recently: the power of periods, bioplastics loved by worms, and the impact of light exposure on our heart.

The team discuss the use of AI technology in education, whether its use is making students less able to complete their studies, whether it's harder to assess that when they use it, whether the technology is making us less intelligent, and whether its output is any good. Linden also discusses with the team changes to butterfly wings linked to climate change and temperature in their natural habitat.

This week, Chris digs into a curious signal in the hunt for dark matter that may be a sign of a new particle responsible for 85% of the matter of the universe; and Linden and Kate breeze through the current record-breaking El Niño event, and what it may or may not mean for global and local climate and weather.

Chris, Stu and Linden discuss the winners of this year's Ig Nobel prizes, from simultaneously soiled underpants to milky cockroaches. This is the 36th year of the awards celebrating science that make you laugh, then make you think.

Stu talks to Nicola Sockhill about her research into urban vegetation, and how only planting grass and trees might not be the best use of space as far as planting for people; and biodiversity and we discuss some of the stand-out winners of the 2026 Eureka prizes awarded earlier this month.

This week, Chris talks to Dr Julia Henning from Adelaide University about how bad humans are at understanding cat behaviour, particularly knowing the difference between play-fighting and wanting to be left alone; and Naina talks to the team about a new observation of bottlenose dolphins in Queensland using shells as tools to catch fish.

Lost in Science is made at the studios of 3CR in Melbourne who turn 50 this year. We uncovered archival material of the station covering an eclipse of the sun in 1976 from the Grampians in Victoria. Kate Bongiovanni tells us about some amazing volcano history, including some inventions that are not immediately obvious connected to eruptions.

Was Soundgarden on the money when they predicted black hole suns? Can Coke fix an upset stomach? Join Stu, Chris and Linden to find out on this week's episode of Lost in Science.

This week Linden interviews two guests who have undertaken grand adventures in the name of research. Science communicator and trainer Emma Donnelly followed her fascination with the science of champagne all the way to France, while climate scientist and communicator Kate Bongiovanni undertook an expedition to Indonesia to uncover the regions most vulnerable to sea level rise. You can learn more about Emma's work at Culinary Science, and read about Kate's Indonesian work on the UN Global Pulse Medium page.