Side of Science

With Ant prepping more science lessons and binging Chernobyl, Stacey is exposed to a full dose of the science behind radiation. From our microwaves and phones, to medical applications and nuclear catastrophe, Ant covers the good, the bad, and the downright dangerous types of radiation. It’s a full high school science recap with the team discussing atomic structure, ionising and non-ionising radiation, half life, radioactive bananas and the role of anti-oxidants in protecting our body from daily radiation. And what happens to our bodies when things go really wrong like in the case of nuclear fallout?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s going on when Ant gets that burning sensation eating a spicy curry? And why are his mates so insistent on pushing through the burning pain? From chilli eating contests to tattoos and heartache, Stace serves up the science behind everyday pain. The role of nociceptor triggers, the adrenaline response, the nocebo effect, and the curious role the male platypus might play in helping science better understand our pain response.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stacey isn't interested in signing up for a trip to Mars, and Ant does a pretty bad job of selling it. Boiling eyeballs, a diet of lettuce, and sweeping up after mega dust storms, not to mention the ice lasers and giant iron wedding ring in the sky. Ant and Stace ponder the chances of kickstarting Mars' nutrient cycles and dig into the science and sci-fi behind the possible paths to terraforming our red neighbour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A snowstorm, a slashed tent, some clothes and then, the discovery of gruesome human remains. Conspiracies abound, including a Yeti attack or failed military exercise. Stacey takes us back to 1959 to the Ural Mountains in Russia, to dig into the science that might explain what tragically happened to 9 frozen hikers. Hypothermia, slab avalanches, the freezing point of water, cellular structure and the Disney film Frozen all help thaw the ice on this 60-year old mystery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In prepping a Year 9 Science lesson on conservation of energy, Ant comes across a booklet on heat and bush fires. The science behind the burning of wood naturally has him busting to know whether humans can spontaneously combust. What's involved in pyrolysis, combustion, and the wick effect? And can these scientific phenomena explain why images alleging to show the aftermath of spontaneous human combustion depict one lonely limb remaining? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stacey wonders why the thumbnails in her Netflix account look so different to her partner's - even for the same film, Good Will Hunting. This sets Ant on his own hunting for an answer, and has him pulling back the curtain on Netflix's not-so-secret sauce: data. Dig into the psychology behind why certain images make you click, the science and maths of the algorithms driving your next binge, and the sometimes eerie feeling that Netflix knows you better than you do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At some point, every teacher will find themselves teaching a subject they're not qualified in. Even if it's just one-off to cover a colleague, teaching out-of-field can be daunting. Bez and Chloe share their experiences and strategies for what to do when you don't know the subject you're teaching, the importance of mentors and networks, and the all important 'fake it till you make it'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The end of the first term is just about here, and in this episode Bez and Chloe share their strategies for making the most of the break. How to balance lesson prep and marking with rest and recovery, things to do to feel human again, and hacks to avoid getting rundown. There’s also the do’s and don’ts for end of term staff social events, how much should you plan for next term, and what’s that about a marking party?
Theme Music composed by Martin Landström / Healthy ThroatSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Bez and Chloe step out of the classroom and head to school camp. They unpack what to pack and what to expect at school camp, and share tips for managing student behavior, including the all important task of getting students quiet at night. They talk through pre and post camp planning, managing your energy, creature comforts, giant swings and flying foxes. Theme Music composed by Martin Landström / Healthy ThroatSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bez and Chloe talk feedback: feeding up, feeding forward, the TAG protocol and WAGOLLs. Plus the often missed student wellbeing side of giving feedback, effective communication strategies, and those special teacher gestures that say it all. Theme Music composed by Martin Landström / Healthy ThroatSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.