The Science Briefing

Poliovirus has turned up in wastewater in the United States, the UK and Israel. 

Authorities are concerned as the incredibly debilitating disease was thought to be fully eradicated in these countries. 

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Matthew Agius about the re-emergence of polio, how it’s back and if we’re in store for an Australian outbreak.

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If the Nobel Prize is the grandparent prestigious prizes in science, the Ig Nobel prize is the funny uncle. 

Every year the Ig Nobel’s recognise the whacky and wonderful science you might not hear of anywhere else.

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Jacinta Bowler about the kooky Ig Nobel award ceremony and which scientists came out on top in 2022.

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PFAS – often called the ‘forever chemicals’ - refers to a range of incredibly durable and long-lasting chemicals. 

They’re found in a bunch of everyday products including tupperware, cookware and fabrics.  

Concern is growing over how widespread they’ve become and the impact they could have on the environment and human health.  

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Ellen Phiddian about the far reach of PFAS and methods to potentially break down these ‘forever chemicals’. 

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NASA is about to crash a spacecraft into an asteroid at a speed of 24,000 kilometres per hour – and yes, they’re doing it on purpose. 

They’re attempting to nudge an asteroid called Dimorphos out of its orbit. 

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Matthew Agius about how they’re planning to do this and whether Dimorphos poses any threat to planet Earth and humankind.

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Planet Earth could be 2.7 degrees warmer by the end of the century according to some estimates.

This is leagues above the globally agreed Paris target of well below 2 degrees Celsius or preferably 1.5.

Many big emitters are saying we can reach this target through something called renewable energy certificates, but recent research has found these certificates have low integrity across the board.

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Ellen Phiddian how renewable energy certificates work and why in some cases they aren’t reducing emissions at all.

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Frogs are wacky and wonderful creatures, and sadly, they’re in serious crisis.  

A killer disease is decimating frog populations across the globe with scientists racing to find ways to save them.  

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Imma Perfetto about the amphibian apocalypse and some of the efforts underway to stop it.

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Small arms, big head and even sharper teeth: the trifecta of what made the t-rex one of the most iconic dinosaurs to roam planet Earth.  

Scientists continue to uncover more about why the t-rex was such a force of nature and what made its bite so powerful.  

Dr Sophie Calabretto gushes over her love for dinosaurs with Cosmos Magazine journalist Evrim Yazgin talking the science behind the t-rex bite and what other dinosaur discoveries are still on the horizon. 

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Australia has some of the most critically endangered species on the planet, many vulnerable to a blink extinction. 

The latest State of the Environment Report says Australian biodiversity is decreasing while threatened species are on the rise. 

Ahead of Threatened Species Day, Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Matthew Agius about how animals and plants make it onto the threatened species list and why, in some cases, they receive little protection once they’re listed.

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With flu cases through the roof, unprecedented flooding, and no end to Covid in sight; 2022 saw blood donations take a nasty nosedive.  

In response - Lifeblood – the branch of the Australian Red Cross – has continued to call for more donors, but also requested a decades old ban limiting a specific group of people from donating blood be lifted. 

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine science journalist Jacinta Bowler about the origins of the mad cow disease and the blood ban that stopped those exposed to the virus from donating blood in Australia for 22 years. 

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A robot at a chess tournament in Russia broke a young boy’s finger earlier this year.

The incident has triggered online debate with swarms of commenters humanising the robot, some saying it had motive and was out to get the boy for cheating.

It also reignited a conversation about the lengths to which we, as humans, breathe life into machines.

Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Petra Stock about how we perceive robots and the double-edged sword of making them more human.

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