The Science Briefing

Australia is decarbonising its energy systems at a faster rate than we anticipated. 

And that's thanks to more and more renewable energy projects being thought up and signed off to start construction. 

So what are some of the biggest projects coming out this year? And how will they reshape we power Australia?

Cosmos Magazine journalist Ellen Phiddian joins Dr Sophie Calabretto to discuss what's making waves in energy in 2023 and the fast-track to a decarbonised Australia.

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An artificial intelligence program recently won a prestigious art prize and people were not happy. 

AI are typically thought of as virtual assistants, like Siri and Alexa, or for doing basic admin jobs and feeding your social media algorithms.  

But some are programming AI to get creative and churn out artworks – some of the results rival human art, others not so much.  

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Evrim Yazgin about whether a machine can be an artist and the shortfalls of promising a Picasso from a program.

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While chances you’ll be hit by falling space junk were thought to be astronomically low - new estimates say the risks are much higher and they’re only getting worse.  

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Matthew Agius about the odds you, or someone you know, will be hit by falling space junk and who is responsible for the damage caused.

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At least for Cosmos Magazine!

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Ellen Phiddian about their most clicked on science stories for the year and what's so special about this science that it attracted the most eyeballs.

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What made waves in scientific research this year?

What grand discoveries were made?

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Evrim Yazgin about the biggest stories in science for 2022 (at least according to him!).

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Why does alcohol get you drunk?

What's actually in alcohol?

And why does it give you a god awful hangover?

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine science journalist Ellen Phiddian about the science of alcohol and if there's any basis to the claims a glass of wine each night with dinner is actually good for you.

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Are zoos and aquariums good or bad?

The answer isn't so black and white but people are often very passionate when it comes to why they're for or against keeping animals in enclosures. 

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Imma Perfetto about the government guidelines that try to enforce best practice but also how some exhibits could be doing much more to improve the quality of life of their animals.

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Artemis 1 - the first stage of NASA's mission to put humans back on the moon - was a success.

The Orion crew module tumbled through the Earth's atmosphere at speeds of over 40,000 km/h on Sunday before landing safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico. 

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Matthew Agius about what the Artemis 1 spacecraft did while it was up there, what we've learnt so far and what comes next for NASA's boldest lunar mission to date.

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A typical interaction you might have with artificial intelligence would be an algorithm feeding you a social media post or suggesting a pair of shoes to buy online. 

But perhaps the most promising – and potentially life-changing – field AI is set to expand in is the world of medicine.

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Evrim Yazgin about some of the incredible AI innovations in the clinical environment, how they work and the concerns around its growing role in medicine.

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As more states across Australia roll out e-scooter schemes, unsurprisingly, more people are getting into accidents.

Australian media reports have linked 7 deaths to e-scooters, including the recent death of a 15-year-old boy in Queensland.

But some experts say the reporting on e-scooter injuries and accident rates don’t give the full picture.

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Petra Stock about what’s really happening on roads with e-scooters and how ditching the car and hopping on an electric two-wheeler can help the environment.

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