This week, Chris talks to rehabilitation specialist Professor Steven Faux about his new book on Long Covid, to find out what we know about it and its causes, and current best practice for treatment and recovery. We also speak to comedian Alanta Colley about the Sci Fight comedy debates, with the next event on 2 May 2024 discussing Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain implants.Long Covid by Professor Steven Faux, https://www.murdochbooks.com/search?page=1&keyword=long%20covidSci Fight Science Comedy Debates, https://www.scifight.com.au/

This week on Lost in Science, Stu examines the invasive fire ant crisis and innovative control measures. Meanwhile, Chris explores bird evolution, spotlighting the Hoatzin, or "stink bird," known for its unique digestion and ancient traits. Tune in to discover how science is tackling ecological threats and unraveling avian mysteries.

Even though we’re staying out of the Sun this week, we can’t stop thinking about it! Cat tells us all about the Sun’s corona, its crown-like atmosphere, and the solar wind of particles streaming out from it; and Claire runs us through the science and history of solar eclipses.

Chris looks into the energy costs and economics of AI and how wider use will affect them, while Stu looks into the science of some of the claims around the supposed forest communication networks some authors have described.

This week on the show Catriona takes us into the realm of tuberculosis vaccines, describing the latest breakthroughs and how they diverge from conventional approaches. From novel formulations to enhanced efficacy, explore the promising advancements reshaping the fight against TB. Meanwhile, Stu delves into COVID-19 research, analyzing global data to uncover insights into mortality rates and the effectiveness of containment measures, including the astonishing tale of a German citizen receiving over 200 vaccine doses.

We’re getting into hot and cold water this week, as Claire talks to Dr Jarrod McKenna about the importance of Antarctica and its wildlife, including plankton, whales and penguins; and Chris speaks to Dr Maya Srinivasan from James Cook University about the current mass coral-bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef, what causes it, how corals can recover, and what needs to be done to protect the reef.

This week on Lost in Science, Chris asks the question are blueberries blue? And answers it with a question, what is colour anyway? And Stu looks to the skies to wonder why the sudden renewed interest in landing stuff on the moon, and whether anyone is having much success doing so.

Join Claire and Catriona this International Women's Day for a special edition of Lost in Science! Catriona explores cutting-edge technology transforming breast cancer screening, enhancing efficacy. Discover the latest breakthroughs shaping the future of healthcare. Meanwhile, Claire spotlights two pioneering women at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence, unraveling the mysteries of AI innovation. Tune in for a celebration of women in science, exploring advancements that impact lives and redefine the boundaries of knowledge.

This week, Catriona tells us about the brightest-known object in the universe, a quasar 12 billion light years away that’s in fact a supermassive black hole that gobbles an entire sun every day; and we replay Claire’s story about new evidence for another theorised cosmic event, the Moon’s formation through a collision of the early Earth with the Mars-sized protoplanet Theia. Wolf et al. 2024. The accretion of a solar mass per day by a 17-billion solar mass black hole. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02195-xQian Yuan et al. 2023. Moon-forming impactor as a source of Earth’s basal mantle anomalies. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06589-1

This week on the show Claire chats to CSIRO researcher Leo Joseph about the recent publication of the complete genome of the Night Parrot, the elusive nocturnal bird thought to be extinct for much of the 20th century, and what this means for conservation efforts for the bird.Also on the show, 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?