Science Friction

By ABC AustraliaSociety & Culture Science

Science Friction episodes

October 06 INTRODUCING — Outbreaks
From mystery illnesses to flesh-eating bacteria and the looming threat of bird flu — outbreaks can push scientists, communities and health systems to their limits.
For Science Friction on ABC Radio National, Belinda Smith looks back on some of the disease outbreaks that shaped Australia.
Hear about the scientists racing to find answers, the unusual diseases they're hunting, and the everyday people caught in the middle.
Outbreaks is a four-part series from Science Friction on ABC Radio National. Episode 1 is out Wednesday October 14th.
3 min
July 2804 | Dead and Alive: Hype train
When it comes to the often incomprehensible world of quantum, it can be hard to distinguish hype from reality.
We might be on the verge of a breakthrough ... or tech start-ups might be trying to drum up momentum for the benefit of their stakeholders.
Hype is important in science, but can it go too far? And has AI knocked the wind out of the sails of quantum computing?
Got feedback? Email us [email protected]
Guests:
Dr Tara RobersonScience communicator
Stela TodorovicMedia Director for PsiQuantum Australia
Gideon LichfieldJournalist, former editor-in-chief of WIRED and MIT Technology Review
Professor Warwick BowenDirector of the Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology and leader of the Quantum Optics Laboratory, University of Queensland
Presenter: Jacinta Bowler
Script producers: Fiona Pepper, James Bullen
Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond
26 min
July 2103 | Dead and Alive: Plucky country
You might not know it, but Australia is an unexpected frontrunner in the race to build a quantum computer.
Despite our isolation, leading quantum experts have called Australia home for decades, chipping away at this massive challenge.
What have we learnt, from our first digital computer CSIRAC, to now? And will it all culminate in the world's first million-qubit computer?
Got feedback? Email us [email protected]
Guests:
Dr Peter ThorneFormer weekend service operator for CSIRAC
Professor Michelle SimmonsCEO of Silicon Quantum Computing and director of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, UNSW
Professor Robert ClarkFounding director of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Technology, UNSW
Professor Geoff PrydeChief Technical Director, PsiQuantum Australia
Presenter: Jacinta Bowler
Script producers: Fiona Pepper, James Bullen
Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond
26 min
July 1402 | Dead and Alive: Quantum attack
It's 1994, and a mathematical algorithm puts a spotlight on quantum computing for the first time.
Defence departments, spy agencies and cybersecurity experts are on edge over the explosive Shor's algorithm.
They spend decades and billions of dollars searching for a solution before something called "Q-day" arrives.
Got feedback? Email us [email protected]
Guests:
Dr Henry EverittSenior technologist for optical sciences, US Army
Emeritus Professor Charles ClarkPhysicist, formerly National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Dr Sushmita RujAssociate professor, University of New South Wales' Institute for Cybersecurity
Special thanks to Nick Adams for reading Peter Shor's limerick.
Presenter: Jacinta Bowler
Producer: Fiona Pepper
Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond
Additional audio courtesy of CSIRO Publishing
26 min
July 0701 | Dead and Alive: Battle for quantum supremacy
Google announces it has achieved something game changing — quantum supremacy. But not everybody agrees.
The company claims its quantum computer called Sycamore has solved a problem that no classical computer could manage in hundreds of thousands of years.
IBM wants this stricken from history.
A war of words breaks out as two tech giants race to build a useful quantum computer that could change how the world works.
Got feedback? Email us [email protected]
Guests:
Scott YoungCropping and livestock farmer in Ballan, Victoria
Gideon LichfieldJournalist, former editor-in-chief of WIRED and MIT Technology Review
Professor John Martinis2025 Nobel laureate in Physics
Credits:
Presenter: Jacinta Bowler
Producer: Fiona Pepper
Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond
This story was made on the lands of the Wurundjeri, Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.
More information
Quantum supremacy using a programmable superconducting processorOn “quantum supremacy” - IBM
26 min
June 30 INTRODUCING — Dead and Alive
Quantum computers could be the next giant leap in technology — transforming how we heal people, how we grow food, how we get around our cities.
So how close are we to the quantum future we've been promised?
For Science Friction on ABC Radio National, Jacinta Bowler unpacks how the weird world of quantum physics could change everything.
Hear about the surprising twists, the quantum cat-fights and the plucky heroes that have defined humanity's effort to build nature's most unpredictable machine.
Dead and Alive is a four-part series from Science Friction on ABC Radio National. Episode 1 is out Wednesday July 8th.
5 min
April 1512 | Artemis Explained: What a ride
The Integrity astronauts are back on Earth recovering from their journey, while NASA prepares for Artemis III.
Belinda and Jacinta answer some of your questions in the wake of a successful moon orbit mission.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
17 min
April 1111 | Artemis Explained: Mission accomplished
There wasn't a dry eye in mission control as the Artemis II astronauts safely returned in what NASA called a "perfect" splashdown.
Belinda and Jacinta relive the historic re-entry, and dig into the wild physics associated with blasting through Earth's atmosphere and plopping into the ocean.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
17 min
April 1010 | Artemis Explained: Countdown to splashdown
Nine days down … only one to go.
The Artemis II mission is currently hurtling through space back to Earth, and is expected to land in the Pacific Ocean off the Californian coast tomorrow morning, Australia time.
Belinda and Jacinta find out what the four astronauts on board have been doing as they make their approach, including being sent on an impromptu scavenger hunt, and what they can expect to feel as they re-enter Earth's atmosphere.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
17 min
April 0909 | Artemis Explained: Next stop, Earth
With under two days to go, the Artemis II astronauts are making the most of their remaining time in space.
Belinda and Jacinta take a look at what they've been up to in the lead up to re-entry, and what they can expect to feel as they return to Earth.
And if you've ever wondered what urine looks like as it's sprayed into space, well, we have you covered.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
15 min

About Science Friction

From the publisher's feed

From mystery illnesses to flesh-eating bacteria and the looming threat of bird flu — outbreaks can push scientists, communities and health systems to their limits.

For Science Friction on ABC Radio National, Belinda Smith looks back on some of the disease outbreaks that shaped Australia.

Hear about the scientists racing to find answers, the unusual diseases they're hunting, and the everyday people caught in the middle.

Outbreaks is a four-part series from Science Friction on ABC Radio National. Episode 1 is out Wednesday October 14th.

Dead and Alive (Season 7)

Quantum computers could be the next giant leap in technology — transforming how we heal people, how we grow food, how we get around our cities. So how close are we to the quantum future we've been promised? Science reporter Jacinta Bowler unpacks how the weird world of quantum physics could change everything.

Artemis Explained (Season 6)

In humanity's next giant leap, astronauts are heading back to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. We track the Artemis II mission in real time, from lift-off to splashdown, and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.

The Challenger Legacy (Season 5)

In January 1986, the Challenger space shuttle disintegrated 73 seconds after lift-off. Science reporter Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki bring you the story of how the tragedy unfolded, the engineers who tried to stop it — and the enduring consequences for humanity's exploration of space.

Artificial Evolution (Season 4)

Three decades ago, Dolly the Sheep became the first ever cloned mammal. Nearly 30 years later, genetic technology has reshaped the world around us. Environment reporter Peter de Kruijff explores what's changed, where we are headed, and whether we're okay with it.

Brain Rot (Season 3)

How does being chronically online affect our brains? Technology reporter Ange Lavoipierre explores the wildest ways people are using tech — from falling in love with AI companions to data-dumping a life into a language model — and the big questions about our own screen use.

Cooked (Season 2)

Why do some studies show ice cream is good for you? Why do some people say they feel good going carnivore, and do we really need as many electrolytes as the internet tells us? Food and nutrition scientist Dr Emma Beckett cuts through these confusing findings to explain how nutrition science works.

AI Overlords (Season 1)

AI didn't come from nowhere, and its development hasn't been a smooth, straight line — it's been rife with drama, conflict and disagreement. Technology reporter James Purtill looks at where AI came from, who controls it and where it's heading.