Science Friction

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]:Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta BowlerSenior Producer: Shelby TraynorExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.

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]:Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta BowlerSenior Producer: Shelby TraynorExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.

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]:Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta BowlerSenior Producer: Shelby TraynorExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.

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]:Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta BowlerSenior Producer: Shelby TraynorExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.

After the high of the lunar flyby, the four Artemis II astronauts are now on the return leg of their mission while scientists pore over the thousands of images sent back to Earth so far. Belinda and Jacinta delve into some surprising observations from the flyby, and answer more listener questions about everything from space navigation to the need for belts in weightlessness.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]:Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta BowlerSenior Producer: Shelby TraynorExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.

It’s been a big day for the Artemis II astronauts. They broke a 56-year record for the furthest distance humans have travelled from Earth, successfully looped around the Moon, and capped off the flyby with a solar eclipse. Belinda and Jacinta break down what the crew saw as they gazed upon the Moon’s far side and why they lost contact with mission control for 40 minutes. 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]:Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta BowlerSenior Producer: Shelby TraynorExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.

We’re at the pointy end of the Artemis II mission now: It’s the eve of the lunar flyby. With the four astronauts now looped into the Moon’s gravitational clutches, they’ll have an intense few hours observing the lunar surface, taking photos, and breaking Apollo 13’s record for humans furthest from Earth. Artemis Explained is a daily podcast from ABC Radio National.  From lift-off to splashdown, we'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.If you have a question about the Artemis mission you'd like Belinda and Jacinta to answer in a future episode, email [email protected] 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]:Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta BowlerSenior Producer: Shelby TraynorExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.

Alongside taking snaps of Earth, chatting with mission control and fixing the toilet, the Artemis II astronauts are also taking part in all kinds of scientific research. So what experiments are running on the Orion capsule, and what do Australian lasers have to do with anything? Artemis Explained is a daily podcast from ABC Radio National.  From lift-off to splashdown, we'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.If you have a question about the Artemis mission you'd like Belinda and Jacinta to answer in a future episode, email [email protected] 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]:Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta BowlerSenior Producer: Shelby TraynorExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.

The Artemis II astronauts have passed the halfway point between Earth and the Moon, and still have around another day's travel time before they approach their lunar flyby. So what do they get up to while they’re hurtling through space? And how do astronauts go about their daily routine in a cramped Orion capsule?Artemis Explained is a daily podcast from ABC Radio National.  From lift-off to splashdown, we'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.If you have a question about the Artemis mission you'd like Belinda and Jacinta to answer in a future episode, email [email protected] 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]:Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta BowlerSenior Producer: Shelby TraynorExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.

Just over a day after blasting off, four astronauts encased in an Orion capsule have veered away from Earth and are now on course to fly around the Moon.Bel and Jacinta unpack what the "trans-lunar injection" manoeuvre involved, and take a look at some of the highly relatable challenges faced by the astronauts during their first day in space. Because when you're flying towards the Moon, email problems should be the last thing on your mind.Artemis Explained is a daily podcast from ABC Radio National.  From lift-off to splashdown, we'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.If you have a question about the Artemis mission you'd like Belinda and Jacinta to answer in a future episode, email [email protected] 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]:Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta BowlerSenior Producer: Shelby TraynorExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.

And we have lift off!Four astronauts successfully blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center and have started their journey to the Moon.But it wouldn't be a Moon launch without a couple of hiccups. We walk through what went down (and up!).Artemis Explained is a daily podcast from ABC Radio National.From lift-off to splashdown, we'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.If you have a question about the Artemis mission you'd like Belinda and Jacinta to answer in a future episode, email [email protected] new moonshotIn pictures: Artemis II NASA’s first mission to the Moon in decadesTo 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]:Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta BowlerSenior Producer: Shelby TraynorExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.

For the first time in 50 years, humanity is on the cusp of returning to the Moon, with the Artemis II lunar flyby mission set to launch in the coming days.But if we've already been to the Moon, why bother going back now? And who will be on board when the spacecraft blasts off?Welcome to the first episode of Artemis Explained. From lift-off to splashdown, we'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.If you have a question about the Artemis mission you'd like Belinda and Jacinta to answer in a future episode, email [email protected] 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.Credits:Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta BowlerSenior Producer: Shelby TraynorExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveThis episode was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. 

What's the point of space exploration? Would you fly on a space shuttle? How did they fix the joints after the Challenger disaster? For this special bonus episode of The Challenger Legacy, hosts Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Fiona Pepper answer your questions.To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki about the legacy the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster left on culture, space exploration and high-risk decision making, search ‘Science Friction: The Challenger Legacy podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.Get in touch with us: [email protected]:Peter KingCorrespondent for CBS News RadioWendy Whitman CobbSpace policy expert at the School of Advanced Air and Space StudiesTony AntonelliRetired NASA astronautCredits:Presenters: Fiona Pepper and Karl KruszelnickiReporter: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSeries Producer: Jonathan WebbExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveSound Engineer: Emrys CroninThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.

NASA is gearing up for the Artemis II mission — where it will send astronauts around the moon for the first time in 50 years. While space exploration is never without risk, a retired astronaut is warning that NASA is "playing Russian roulette" with the lives of the crew. So have lessons been learnt from the Challenger and Columbia disasters?To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki about the legacy the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster left on culture, space exploration and high-risk decision making, search ‘Science Friction: The Challenger Legacy podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.Get in touch with us: [email protected]:Peter KingCorrespondent for CBS News RadioWendy Whitman CobbSpace policy expert at the School of Advanced Air and Space StudiesCharlie CamardaRetired NASA research engineer and astronautHoward BerkesFormer investigative reporter, NPRLeslie EbelingDaughter, Bob EbelingBrian RussellFormer engineer, Morton ThiokolCredits:Presenters: Fiona Pepper and Karl KruszelnickiReporter: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSeries Producer: Jonathan WebbExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveSound Engineer: Simon BranthwaiteArchives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael OsmondThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.

In the wake of twin disasters two decades apart, how do we make sense of why they happened?In episode four, we find out what happened on the very first flight after Columbia — and ask whether NASA changed at all.To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki about the legacy the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster left on culture, space exploration and high-risk decision making, search ‘Science Friction: The Challenger Legacy podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.Guests:Mike CiannilliFormer Columbia integration systems engineer, NASAMiles O'BrienAerospace correspondent, CNNAdam HigginbothamAuthor, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of SpaceMark MaierDistinguished professor of leadership, Chapman University, CaliforniaEileen CollinsFormer astronaut; commander, STS-114Credits:Presenters: Fiona Pepper and Karl KruszelnickiReporter: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSeries Producer: Jonathan WebbExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveSound Engineer: Tim JenkinsArchives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael OsmondThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.

In 2003, close to two decades after the Challenger disaster, seven astronauts were killed in another space shuttle accident. History has repeated itself and NASA faces another reckoning — the parallels between the two disasters are undeniable. To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki about the legacy the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster left on culture, space exploration and high-risk decision making, search ‘Science Friction: The Challenger Legacy podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.Guests:Miles O'BrienAerospace correspondent, CNNJon ClarkFormer NASA physician and husband of Laurel ClarkMike CiannilliFormer Columbia integration systems engineer, NASAJulie PayetteFormer astronaut, NASACredits:Presenters: Fiona Pepper and Karl KruszelnickiReporter: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSeries Producer: Jonathan WebbExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveSound Engineer: Tim JenkinsArchives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael OsmondSpecial thanks to the Clark family for sharing their family archives.This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.

In a conference room in Utah, space shuttle Challenger engineers watch in horror as it explodes live on TV.These engineers are more than 3,000 kilometres from the launch site - but they're about to become the centre of this story.Because they had tried to stop the launch from happening in the first place.To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki about the legacy the 1986 space shuttle Challenger disaster left on culture, space exploration and high-risk decision making, search ‘Science Friction: The Challenger Legacy podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.Guests:Leslie EbelingDaughter, Bob EbelingBrian RussellFormer engineer, Morton ThiokolAdam HigginbothamAuthor, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of SpaceHoward BerkesFormer investigative reporter, NPRCredits:Presenters: Fiona Pepper and Karl KruszelnickiReporter: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSeries Producer: Jonathan WebbExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveSound Engineer: Tim JenkinsArchives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael OsmondArchive Credits: The Footage Company/Nine Network Australia, National Public Radio (NPR).This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.

It's the morning of January 28th, 1986. On board the space shuttle Challenger are seven astronauts, including teacher Christa McAuliffe.She is set to be the first ever teacher in space. But Christa never makes it to orbit.In the wake of an unprecedented disaster, questions start to be asked.Should this mission have been launched in the first place?To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki about the legacy the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster left on culture, space exploration and high-risk decision making, search ‘Science Friction: The Challenger Legacy podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.Guests:John TribeRetired shuttle engineerSteve NesbittFormer NASA public affairs officerJune Scobee RodgersWidow of Challenger commander Dick ScobeeAdam HigginbothamAuthor, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of SpaceCredits:Presenters: Fiona Pepper and Karl KruszelnickiReporter: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSeries Producer: Jonathan WebbExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveSound Engineer: Tim JenkinsArchives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael OsmondThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.

Forty years ago this January, the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated on its way into orbit. All seven astronauts on board were killed.In the days after the tragedy, the world wanted answers. What really caused the shuttle to explode? And should the launch have been stopped altogether?For season five of Science Friction, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Fiona Pepper investigate how the Challenger disaster unfolded – and what that has meant for space exploration from 1986 to now.The Challenger Legacy is a five-part series from Science Friction. Episode 1 is out Wednesday 21st January.

In 2018, a Chinese scientist made an announcement that shocked the world — and landed him years in prison.In a special episode of Artificial Evolution, Health Report reporter Shelby Traynor traces the story of He Jiankui, the researcher who helped to produce genetically edited babies.His actions invited condemnation from scientists worldwide and opened new fronts of scientific and ethical debate.Thank you to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for supplying the baby KJ audio, and Genepool Productions for supplying the citizen's jury audio used in this episode.You can hear more episodes of Science Friction with journalist Peter de Kruijff about DNA, cloning, genetic modification and gene editing on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Reporter: Shelby Traynor Presenter: Peter de KruijffProducers: Shelby Traynor, Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Roi HubermanThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Whadjuk Noongar and Menang Noongar peoples.

Timothy Andrews has lived with a pig kidney in his body for eight months.That makes him a record breaker — living longer with a gene-edited pig kidney than anyone else in the world so far.In the final episode of Artificial Evolution, he tells us about his journey, his hopes for making it a year with the transplant, and the challenges he's faced along the way.With expanded clinical trials into this 'xenotransplantation' around the corner, researchers and advocacy groups argue a future in which animal organs are used in life-saving transplantation procedures for humans is not far off.So what is the science and history of xenotransplantation? What are the ethical concerns? And what's happening in Australia?You can hear more episodes of Science Friction with journalist Peter de Kruijff about DNA, cloning, genetic modification and gene editing on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Guests:Timothy AndrewsNew Hampshire, United StatesProfessor Wayne HawthorneProfessor of Transplantation, Westmead HospitalProfessor Dominique MartinProfessor of Health Ethics and Professionalism, Deakin UniversityProfessor Syd JohnsonProfessor of Bioethics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New YorkCredits:Presenter: Peter de KruijffProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Tim SymondsArchives Researcher: Lisa ChidlowThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Whadjuk Noongar and Menang Noongar peoples.

Gene-edited fish are on the market in Japan, and similar foods could soon be on Australian shelves. But will we want to eat them, how affordable will they be, and what do they even taste like?On this episode of Artificial Evolution, Pete looks at the future of gene editing for consumption, what's on the menu, and whether it’s a sustainable way to feed the world.You can hear more episodes of Science Friction with journalist Peter de Kruijff about DNA, cloning, genetic modification and gene editing on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Credits:Presenter: Peter de KruijffProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Richard Girvan/Angie GrantArchives Researcher: Lisa ChidlowThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Whadjuk Noongar and Menang Noongar peoples.

Earlier this year, a US biotech company claimed it had brought back a long-extinct species - the dire wolf, which roamed ancient America thousands of years ago.And the same editing technology that remade dire wolves could also be used to stop Australian species from going extinct.In episode two of Artificial Evolution, Pete heads to the labs that are safeguarding the genetic material of unique Australian species and working to bring back the thylacine.And visits the researchers working on quolls to make them immune to cane toad toxins and experimenting with putting alpaca genes into endangered frogs to protect them from a deadly fungal disease.As this new field of science opens up opportunities to edit endangered species … can and should we act? And do we have our priorities wrong in tackling species loss and climate change?Artificial Evolution is a four-part series from Science Friction about how gene technologies are changing the world around us.You can hear more episodes of Science Friction with journalist Peter de Kruijff about DNA, cloning, genetic modification and gene editing on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Credits:Presenter: Peter de KruijffProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Angie GrantArchives Researcher: Lisa ChidlowThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Whadjuk Noongar and Menang Noongar peoples.

Last year, 81-year-old rancher Arthur 'Jack' Schubarth was sentenced to six months in prison.His crime? An elaborate, multi-country conspiracy to smuggle in the tissue of a rare big horn sheep — clone it — and sell the offspring to hunters.But how did we get to the point where such a scheme could be run out of an elderly rancher's backyard?In episode one of Artificial Evolution, we trace the story of cloning from Dolly the sheep right through to the present day.We discover the technology being used to clone horses right here in Australia — and find out whether Barbra Streisand's clones of her pet dog are anything like the original.Artificial Evolution is a new four part series from Science Friction about how gene technologies are changing the world around us.You can hear more episodes of Science Friction with journalist Peter de Kruijff about DNA, cloning, genetic modification and gene editing on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Guests:Matt BrownReporter, Associated PressProfessor Russell BondurianskyEvolutionary Ecologist, UNSW SydneyJohn Farren-PriceDirector, Catalina EquineKarlene HennigHorse Manager, Catalina EquineDr Kim FungPrincipal Research Scientist, CSIROCredits:Presenter: Peter de KruijffProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Angie GrantArchives Researcher: Lisa ChidlowThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Whadjuk Noongar and Menang Noongar peoples.

In 1996, Dolly the Sheep became the first ever cloned animal. Nearly 30 years later, genetic technology has reshaped the world around us. What exactly has happened, where are we headed, and are we OK about it?In Artificial Evolution, our latest series of Science Friction, ABC environment reporter Peter de Kruijff follows the story of gene technologies all the way from Dolly right through to the present day.From the bizarre criminal conspiracy to clone the world's largest sheep, to the lab trying to bring back long-extinct species, and new trials transplanting animal organs into humans — each episode covers how these technologies are reshaping the world around us.Episode 1 is out Wednesday, September 3.You can hear more episodes of Science Friction with journalist Peter de Kruijff about DNA, cloning, genetic modification and gene editing on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

We’ve all dreamt of lobbing our smartphone into the ocean and going off grid. So what happens when you follow through with it?For our final episode of Brain Rot, we speak to the people who decided they’d had enough. From a French village, to Gen Z ‘luddites’ in New York City and a group of parents in regional Victoria, there are clubs, campaigns and even laws dedicated to a smartphone-free life.But in 2025, how do you pull it off? And is it actually worth it?Guests:Stan AwtreySportswriter, The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionVincent Paul-PetitMayor, Seine-Port, FranceLisa GivenProfessor of Information Sciences, RMIT UniversitySteph ChallisFounder, The Phone PledgeJameson ButlerCo-Founder, The Luddite ClubCredits:Presenter: Ange LavoipierreProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Ross RichardsonThanks to Sam Goerling for the assistance with French translation.This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.

Plenty of people will say they are addicted to the internet. But how well-recognised, scientifically, is an addiction ... to your screen?In episode four of Brain Rot, we dig into how behavioural addictions work.And we hear from self-described internet addicts about the treatment programs that help them stay “internet sober”.Brain Rot is a new five part series from the ABC’s Science Friction about how tech is changing our brains, hosted by Ange Lavoipierre.Guests:Jillian and KateInternet and Technology Addiction Anonymous membersHilarie Cash Psychologist and Co-Founder, reSTARTAnna Lembke Professor of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Stanford University School of MedicineAnastasia Hronis Clinical Psychologist; Author, The Dopamine BrainDar MeshiAssociate Professor, Michigan State UniversityCredits:Presenter: Ange LavoipierreProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Tim SymondsThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.

We’re trusting tech with more tasks than ever — including the ones our brains once did.We’re Googling things we used to know, taking screenshots of things we’ll instantly forget, and hoarding all kinds of data we’ll never check again.On this episode of Brain Rot: is tech giving your brain a holiday, or putting it out of a job?You’ll also meet a guy who’s turned the tables, by using AI to help recover his lost memories.Brain Rot is a five part series from the ABC’s Science Friction about how tech is changing our brains, hosted by Ange Lavoipierre.Guests:Dr Julia SoaresAssistant Professor, Mississipi State UniversityMorris VillaroelAcademic, Spain; LifeloggerMaxCredits:Presenter: Ange LavoipierreProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Angie GrantThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.

Whether it’s social media, the omnipresent smartphone or AI companions, in recent decades the way we relate to each other has been completely up-ended. In episode two of Brain Rot, we explore the potential implications that tech poses to human relationships. Worldwide estimates suggest there are around one billion users of AI companion — people using software or applications designed to simulate human-like interactions through text and voice. So if the uptake of these AI companions is as rapid as is being reported, what are the ramifications? And could AI companions be both a cause and cure for loneliness? Brain Rot is a new five part series from the ABC’s Science Friction about how tech is changing our brains, hosted by Ange Lavoipierre. Guests:KellyIn a relationship with an AI companion, ChristianBethanie Drake-MaplesDoctoral Candidate, Research Fellow, Stanford Institute for Human-Centred Artificial IntelligenceNicholas EpleyProfessor of Behavioural Science, University of Chicago Booth School of BusinessNicholas CarrAuthor and journalistCredits:Presenter: Ange LavoipierreProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Tim SymondsThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.

Everyone seems to have a hunch that their phone is destroying their attention span, but is there any science to back it up?In episode one of Brain Rot, we’re doing our best to focus on the topic of attention for a full 25 minutes — and find out what's actually happening in your brain every time your phone buzzes or dings.Is brain rot a real thing? Or just another moral panic?And how do you know when your own screen use has gone too far?Brain Rot is a new five-part series from the ABC’s Science Friction about how tech is changing our brains, hosted by Ange Lavoipierre. Guests:Anna SeirianCEO, Internet PeopleDr Mark WilliamsProfessor, Macquarie University; Cognitive neuroscientistMichoel MoshelClinical Neuropsychologist Registrar; Phd Candidate, Macquarie UniversityProfessor Marion ThainProfessor of Culture and Technology, University of Edinburgh; Director, Edinburgh Futures InstituteCredits:Presenter: Ange LavoipierreProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Brendan O'NeillThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.More information:Neuropsychological Deficits in Disordered Screen Use Behaviours: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis - Neuropsychology Review, 2024.Do we have your attention? How people focus and live in the modern information environment - King's College London, 2022.Internet addiction-induced brain structure and function alterations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry and resting-state functional connectivity studies - Brain Imaging and Behavior, 2023.

For Science Friction, it's Brain Rot — a new series about the science of being chronically online and what it’s doing to our brains.What's really going on with our attention spans? Is data-dumping your entire life into ChatGPT helpful? And what's it like to be in love ... with an AI?National technology reporter Ange Lavoipierre tackles the wildest ways people are using tech and the big questions about our own use. Episode 1 is out Wednesday 4 June.

For episode six of Cooked, we turn the lens on … science communication itself.We’re looking at how information travels from a scientific study to the world and what can go wrong along the way.This is the final episode in our Cooked series. We'll be back in May for another series of Science Friction on a different topic — digital devices and how they're driving us to delight ... and to despair.Statement from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in response to Science Friction.Guests:Isabelle OderbergFounder, Early Pregnancy Loss CoalitionProfessor Claire RobertsLead, Pregnancy Health and Beyond Laboratory, Flinders UniversityDr Georgia DempsterResearch Fellow, University of MelbourneDr Nazmul KarimSenior Lecturer, Monash UniversityCredits:Presenter: Dr Emma BeckettProducer: Carl SmithSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Tim JenkinsThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Wurundjeri, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.More information:NAD Deficiency, Congenital Malformations, and Niacin Supplementation - New England Journal of Medicine, 2017.Scientific research in news media: a case study of misrepresentation, sensationalism and harmful recommendations - Journal of Science Communication, 2022.Vitamin profile of 563 gravidas during trimesters of pregnancy - Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2002.Effect of maternal dietary niacin intake on congenital anomalies: a systematic review and meta-analysis - European Journal of Nutrition, 2021.Pregnancy Double Discovery - Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, 2017.Statement regarding pregnancy discovery - Victor Change Cardiac Research Institute, 2017.Vitamin B3 supplementation in pregnancy - NSW Health, 2017.The 'vegemite cure' - the Sydney finding that could help women everywhere - ABC Sydney Drive, 2017.Could vegemite prevent miscarriage? - Women's Health Melbourne.Pregnant women shouldn’t start taking vitamin B3 just yet: reports it prevents miscarriage and birth defects are overblown - The Conversation, 2017.Can a simple vitamin prevent miscarriages and birth defects? - The Australian, 2017.The common vitamin that could be the key to preventing some cases of heart birth defects and miscarriages - Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, 2023.

Over the past few years, you might have heard advertisements in your podcast feed or on social media for electrolyte supplements.If you haven’t seen them, they’re basically these little sachets or tubs that get mixed in with water as a drink.News media reports demand for such products is exploding – with the market for electrolyte supplements set to grow to 112 billion dollars by 2030, more than doubling in size in less than a decade.They go by a bunch of different names … and their marketing often suggests we could all use more electrolytes in our life.But what’s the science on this swing towards salty beverages? Who actually needs them? And what does our obsession with optimised hydration … say about us?Guests:Dr Alan McCubbinSenior Teaching Fellow, Department of Nutrition Dietetics and Food, Monash University; Accredited Sports DietitianDr Colleen DerkatchProfessor of Rhetoric, English Department, Toronto Metropolitan University; Author, Why Wellness SellsJay ClarkAthlete and fitness coachDan NewtonAthlete and fitness coachCredits:Presenter: Dr Emma BeckettProducer: Carl SmithSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Tim JenkinsThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Wurundjeri, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.More information:Modelling sodium requirements of athletes across a variety of exercise scenarios – Identifying when to test and target, or season to taste - European Journal of Sport Science, 2022.The Impact of Dietary Sodium Intake on Sweat Sodium Concentration in Response to Endurance Exercise: A Systematic Review - International Journal of Sports Science, 2018.Impact of Sodium Ingestion During Exercise on Endurance Performance: A Systematic Review - International Journal of Sports Science, 2018.Sodium Intake Beliefs, Information Sources, and Intended Practices of Endurance Athletes Before and During Exercise - International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2018.Sports Dietitians Australia Position Statement: Nutrition for Exercise in Hot Environments.Why Wellness Sells - Hopkins Press, 2022.Exercise - the low down on hydration - Better Health.The electrolytes boom: a wonder supplement – or an unnecessary expense? The Guardian, 2024.No, you don't need daily electrolyte supplements - Axios, 2023.

Why did a group of anonymous strangers on the internet try to eat almost nothing but potatoes for a month? On Cooked this week, an unusual experiment and the possibilities and perils of a mono-diet.Guests:Andrew TaylorMelbourne, AustraliaSlime Mold Time MoldScientist collectiveDr Jess DanaherAssociate Dean, RMIT University; Nutrition Scientist and DietitianCredits:Reporter: Alistair KitchenPresenter: Dr Emma BeckettProducer: Carl SmithSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Angie GrantThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Wurundjeri, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.More information:Weight Loss and Fad Diets - Better Health ChannelThe Potato People - Kitchen CounterSMTM Potato Diet Community TrialSMTM Potato Diet Community Trial: 6 Month Followup

It was one of the world's biggest nutrition trials. A study of thousands of people which found that following a Mediterranean diet could meaningfully reduce someone's risk of heart disease and stroke.But as data detectives began to comb through the results of the trial, something wasn't quite adding up.On Cooked this week, we're taking a look at what can go wrong when implementing a nutrition science trial at scale ... and what it means for one of the world's most popular diets.Guests:Dr John CarlisleAnaesthetist, NHS, United KingdomDr Gideon Meyerowitz-KatzEpidemiologist, University of WollongongDr Evangeline MantziorisProgram Director, Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of South AustraliaCredits:Presenter: Dr Emma BeckettProducer: Carl SmithSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Angie GrantThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Wurundjeri, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.More information:The analysis of 168 randomised controlled trials to test data integrity - Anaesthesia, 2012.Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet - New England Journal of Medicine, 2013.Data fabrication and other reasons for non-random sampling in 5087 randomised, controlled trials in anaesthetic and general medical journals - Anaesthesia, 2017.Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet Supplemented with Extra-Virgin Olive Oil or Nuts - New England Journal of Medicine, 2018.Mediterranean‐style diet for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease - Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019.Translation of a Mediterranean-Style Diet into the Australian Dietary Guidelines: A Nutritional, Ecological and Environmental Perspective - Nutrients, 2019.Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet is associated with physical and cognitive health: a cross-sectional analysis of community-dwelling older Australians - Frontiers in Public Health, 2022.In conversation with John Carlisle: the silent hero shaping medical publication integrity - ENT and Audiology News, 2024.That Huge Mediterranean Diet Study Was Flawed. But Was It Wrong? - NYT, 2018.Errors Trigger Retraction Of Study On Mediterranean Diet's Heart Benefits - NPR, 2018.How the Biggest Fabricator in Science Got Caught - Nautilus, 2015.Statistical vigilantes: the war on scientific fraud - The Guardian, Science Weekly Podcast, 2017.

Diets like carnivore have been popping up all over the place. People who go carnivore aim to eat nothing but a select few animal products, like meat and eggs.So why are some people turning to an all-meat diet? And why do they say they feel good doing so?On this episode of Cooked, we sift through some of the counterintuitive findings around carnivore — the scientific pitfalls you need to be aware of when reading the research — and the health effects in the short and long term.Guests:Mick and JennyNew South Wales, AustraliaDr Jacob MeyAssistant Professor and Registered Dietitian, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, LouisianaDr Richie KirwanLecturer, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Liverpool John Moores UniversityDr Janet ChrzanNutritional anthropologist, University of PennsylvaniaAuthor, Anxious Eaters: Why We Fall For Fad DietsCredits:Presenter: Dr Emma BeckettProducer: Carl SmithSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Angie GrantThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Wurundjeri, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.More information:Behavioral Characteristics and Self-Reported Health Status Among 2029 Adults Consuming a "Carnivore Diet" - Current Developments in Nutrition, 2021.Limitations of Self-Reported Health Status and Metabolic Markers Among Adults Consuming a “Carnivore Diet” - Current Developments in Nutrition, 2022.Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mortality: Results from Two Prospective Cohort Studies of US Men and Women and a Meta-Analysis of 26 Cohort Studies - Circulation, 2021.Long-Term Consumption of 10 Food Groups and Cardiovascular Mortality: A Systematic Review and Dose Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies - Advances in Nutrition, 2022.Association of changes in red meat consumption with total and cause specific mortality among US women and men: two prospective cohort studies - BMJ, 2019.Anxious Eaters: Why We Fall For Fad Diets - Columbia University Press, 2022.What is the carnivore diet? - Harvard Health Publishing, 2024.

Two decades ago, nutritional epidemiologists made a startling finding – that people eating more ice cream were less likely to develop diabetes.In the years since, various groups have tried to account for this peculiar scientific signal — with limited success.In multiple studies the link between ice cream and a reduced risk of diabetes persists. Yet nutrition experts globally still aren’t convinced.But if it’s not true, what’s causing the signal?Grab a spoon and dig into culture, causation and confounders — and the joy of a tub of ice cream.Credits:Presenter: Dr Emma BeckettProducer: Carl SmithSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Nathan TurnbullThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.More information:Nutrition Science's Most Preposterous Result - The Atlantic.Here's the scoop on the new thinking about ice cream, yogurt, cheese and health - WBUR.Dairy and your heart health - Heart Foundation.

For Science Friction, a new series — Cooked!On Cooked, we dig into the nuance of nutrition. Why are studies showing that ice cream could be good for you? Do we really need as many electrolytes as the internet says? And why are people feeling good on the carnivore diet?Nutrition and food scientist Dr Emma Beckett helps comb through the evidence on food groups and ingredients like meat, dairy and salt — to unpick why nutrition studies can be so conflicted and confusing.

Behind the rise of AI there's big questions about where this technology is going.Is it going to be super intelligent — and if that happens — is it going to kill us all?In our final episode, we're diving into the future and unpacking the full spectrum of expert predictions, from the idea that we're on the brink of creating human-level AI, to fears that AI will make humanity extinct.Come meet our future AI overlords.

2023 was the year powerful new AI technology went mainstream, with image generators and tools like ChatGPT.And people quickly started wondering where these advances were taking them.This is the story of 2023 in three chapters: the first contact, the backlash that followed, and the new reality.It's the story of actors fighting back against plans to replace them with digital clones, writers suing AI companies for stealing their words, and students figuring out how to use their new magical writing tool.

AI is often portrayed as being all about technology. But it is also about money and control. Because those who control AI, may control the world.In the AI world, there are two names that keep coming up: OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, and its CEO, Sam Altman.Who is Sam Altman? How did his tiny company leapfrog the tech giants and win the scramble for control of AI? And what are Altman's plans for the future?

When you think about a driverless car future, perhaps your mind goes to being driven around, watching movies from the backseat and drinking martinis.For over a decade, perfect driverless cars have seemed only a few years away. But in reality, they were nowhere close.Now, driverless cars are finally being rolled out in some cities.But (like humans) they're crashing and causing chaos.So are driverless cars finally here? Or is teaching a car to drive simply too difficult?

As ChatGPT shows us, AI can do some amazing stuff. But it does some creepy stuff as well. And it's already been responsible for locking up innocent people.The story of how AI scanned millions of drivers licences and accused Michigan man Robert Wiliams of a crime he didn't commit.When human biases lead to neural networks going rogue.

The world is experiencing a boom in artificial intelligence (AI). It's everywhere. In just a few years, computers have learned to paint a picture, write a novel, translate languages and consume the entire internet.But how we got here goes back decades to two men who couldn't agree on the best way to teach a thinking machine.The AI world was divided. Then a new kind of machine beat a human at Go, a game it was never supposed to be able to win.

2023 has been the breakout year of artificial intelligence. After decades of investment and improvement, the technology suddenly went mainstream.  For many, it was as though a miraculous machine was plonked in our midst.But AI didn't come from nowhere. And it hasn't been a smooth and simple process. It's been a story rife with drama, conflict, and disagreement.So where did it come from? Who made it? Who controls it?Welcome to our new Science Friction series Hello AI Overlords!Across six fascinating episodes, we'll tell you the human stories that shaped the emergence of today's AI technology over more than half a century and where we might be heading.First episode out Wednesday 25th October

Two groups of boys on a camp in the wilds of America are pitted against each other. But the camp leaders have only one thing on their minds. Science. The mind-blowing story of a psychological experiment that crossed a line. Big time.

What family secrets lie deep inside your cells? A story of survival against the odds, hope after the Holocaust, and the eye-opening new science of epigenetics… Can biology help you transcend the traumas of your ancestors, or forever burden you with their legacy?

At the heart of this moving and extraordinary medical mystery is Robbie, a man in a genetic lottery. Two rare mutations made his life uniquely interesting. Then came a third, random event...a chance encounter, a global detective quest and science at the cutting edge.

Tai Poole is a self-described scientist and the teenage star of multi-award-winning podcast Tai Asks Why. Love, climate change, death, dreaming…there is nothing Tai's tenaciously, voraciously hungry mind won't take on. He joins Natasha Mitchell to talk life, the universe, and everything.

When pioneering Australian RNA biologist Archa Fox was a  child, her parents were drawn into the orbit of the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Her family packed up their life to join the Orange People communes in India and Oregon as disciples. Archa shares her candid, confronting story of what happened when this spiritual movement morphed into a cult.