The Science Show

If you've been watching the Women's Rugby World Cup, you may have noticed players have been wearing special mouthguards that light up when they've suffered a significant knock to the head.

It's the first time these concussion-predicting mouthguards have been trialled at a major competition.

So in the wake of recent concussion concerns, from professional AFL and rugby league to community competitions, is this the future of sport?

You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.

Get in touch with us: [email protected]

Featuring:

• Kate O’Halloran, digital journalist with ABC Sport 

More information: 

Women's Rugby World Cup players trialling flashing mouthguards to help predict concussions

This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

Sophie Ly takes us to Palau to meet scientists and traditional knowledge custodians who are working together to uncover the secrets of Palau’s ancient terraces.

Australia’s known for having some of the world’s toughest sunscreen standards, but in June, that reputation was rocked. 

Independent testing of 20 sunscreens found 16 did not meet their advertised SPF50 rating, including three children's sunscreens and three sold by the Cancer Council. 

So how are sunscreens tested, and what can we learn from these recent SPF revelations?

You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.

Get in touch with us: [email protected]

Featuring:

• John Staton, scientific director at SciPharm 

More information:

Choice report finds popular Australian sunscreens fail to meet SPF claims on label

This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

Just as quantum physics is poised to launch computing into a new era of capability, researchers are seeing the first signs of quantum effects in biology.

When you think of leaders in the space sector, big hitters like NASA and private companies like SpaceX spring to mind.

But since the very beginning of the Space Age, Australia has played a role in the space flight industry.

And this year, an Australian company tried to launch a rocket from Australian soil.

So why is Australia building and launching rockets at all, especially when so many nations are already miles ahead?

You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.

As The Science Show concludes its celebration of 50 years, we remember John Clarke’s contributions to early Science Shows and point to a film just released looking at John’s life, produced by his daughter Lorin.

One in four Australians get hay fever, and as the planet warms, our seasonal sneezes and sniffles are tipped to get much, much worse. 

Join us for highlights from fifty years of The Science Show including Fred Dagg, who helps us with the big questions: what is it all about and why are we here?

Every now and again, dozens or even hundreds of perfectly healthy looking whales strand themselves on a beach. Scientists have a few theories on why they do this. 

Samples from asteroids have helped build a theory of the origin of complex molecules and how they made it to Earth.