Lost in Science

In honour of our home stations 3CR's 50th anniversary we are delving deep into the archives for a show full of former presenter's stories

Linden chats to Ben Francischelli about the birth and life of Prehistoric Bayside, a museum in Melbourne's southeast dedicated to marine fossils found in the area. In this extended chat, Ben explores how his career has led to building his own museum collection, what that involves, and the incredible fossils you can find in Melbourne's blue backyard.

Stu catches up with Dr. John Wentworth from the Royal Melbourne Hospital to talk about Type1Screen, a nationwide project aiming to identify people at risk of developing Type 1 diabetes in order to develop treatments to prevent progression of the illness. See https://type1screen.org/ for more details

This week on Lost in Science, Stu explores new research into how animals perceive time differently — and how that perception is tied to the pace of their lives. Why does a fly seem to react in slow motion compared to us, and what does that reveal about survival, metabolism and evolution?Also on the show, we celebrate the 100th birthday of David Attenborough by taking a tour through some of the remarkable creatures that scientists have named in his honour — from geckos and spiders to ancient fossils and deep-sea wonders.

Chris follows the trail of research trying to answer the question of why sharp things in nature like teeth and stingers all have a similar shape, and whether it’s due to evolution or physics; and Linden latches onto leaches, how they’re still used in medicine but are also inspiring robots and weather prediction.

Linden chats to Dr Mia Cobb, Chaser Innovation and John McKenzie Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne. Mia shares her career journey that led her to be a canine welfare researcher. Dogs do so much for us, but how can we use science to make sure we are giving them their best lives?

While people talk about the weather in speculative terms, it's interesting to note that chimps may do the same, but they also share some darker human traits we may not be so proud of. And Stu finds that (of course) not everything natural is safe or good, exploring the natural (but extinct) nuclear reactors of Gabon.

This week, Stu looks into the accuracy of AI as a medical search tool, and finds that published studies give mixed results; and Chris expands on last year's Ig Nobel Prizes to find out more about the physics of a perfect pasta sauce, and the role of emulsifiers.

Claire and Linden talk all things Artemis II this week, with a special focus on how Australia is contributing to the program. We congratulate amateur astronomers from southeastern Queensland for their recent award, and explore how you can take part in international Citizen Science Month. To find a project for you, check out SciStarter, the Australian Citizen Science Association, or Zooniverse.

This week on Lost in Science, Claire dives into something very close to home — pregnancy — unpacking fascinating new research showing how both first and second pregnancies can reshape the brain for the long term, and what those changes might actually mean for how we think, feel and parent.Plus, it’s school holidays, and Linden’s in the kitchen cooking up some hands-on science with a true unsung hero of the veggie world… the humble cabbage.