What The Duck?!

Flies are probably better at picking up than you are 17.07.2026 26min

Flies have rhythm and choreography, could their moves make the next TikTok dance fad? Dune flies groove to their own beat in dance-circles and hoverflies use rhythmic movements in mating. Researchers found the dancing dune fly’s repertoire has specific moves for impressing a female and others for rival dance battles. Pretty fly for a dune fly. In Costa Rica the male red hoverfly rhythmically squeezes and strokes his mate during copulation. They also have a pattern of coupling and uncoupling as many as 17 times during the act! Featuring: Dr Keith Bayless, research scientist, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO Professor William Eberhard, emeritus scientist, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; emeritus professor, Universidad de Costa Rica Further reading: Genital behaviour in Menidon falcatus (Diptera, Syrphidae) and the possible significance of repeated, rhythmic movements Courtship choreography is stabilized among genetically isolated populations Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Tegan Nicholls, Sound Engineer This episode of What the Duck?!  was recorded on Ngunnawal Country and produced on the lands of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Duck, marry, avoid, friendzone 10.07.2026 25min

Live from the World Science Festival Brisbane What the Duck?! is playing a game and you get to decide: duck, marry, avoid, or friendzone. You'll hear about the natural world's romance, reproduction, and relationships Once you've listened you can email whattheduck@abc.net.au to vote for how you would categorise snakes, birds, insects and mammals. Featuring: Dr Chstina Zdanek, Australian Reptile Academy Dr Cesar Puechmarin, wildlife veterinarian and podcaster Dr Bryan Lessard, entomologist Jacinta Bowler, ABC Science journalist Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer Recorded by Steve Fieldhouse and Daniel Shapland With thanks to the World Science Festival Brisbane This episode of What the Duck?! was recorded on the land of the Turrbal and Jagera people and produced on the lands of the Kulin Nation. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

What's with the electric eel's shocking attitude? 03.07.2026 25min

It seems absolutely bonkers that an animal can muster ELECTRICITY, especially enough to send out a zap like a taser. But that's exactly what electric eels can do, and the world record holder more than doubles the voltage of the Australian electricity supply. More than that, electric eels inspired the design of Volta's first batteries, but (hold onto your socks so they don't get blown off) they're not the only ones who've got electricity pumping through their bodies. Featuring: Professor Will Crampton, University of Central Florida. Professor Ken Catania, Vanderbilt University. Professor Kate Trinajstic, Curtin University. Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer. Petria Ladgrove, Producer. Additional mastering: Emrys Cronin This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Gay animals: same-sex science 26.06.2026 25min

For around 700 years scientists observed same-sex pairings in as many as 1500 different species, but didn't record or publish their findings due to public perceptions. Now research is catching up and many papers on queer behaviour in nature have been published in the past two decades. This discussion was recorded live at Mardi Gras 2026 and presented by the Royal Zoological Society of NSW for Wildlife at the Watering Hole. Featuring : Daphne Willemsen, behavioural ecologist, PhD candidate at the University of NSW Lucien Alperstein, microbial ecologist, PhD candidate at the University of NSW Dr Caitlin Creak, behavioural ecologist and arachnologist, University of NSW Cody Williams, marine biologist, PhD candidate at the University of NSW With research by Neve Kelly, geneticist, PhD candidate at the University of NSW Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer Recording by Harvey O'Sullivan This episode of What the Duck?! was recorded and produced on the lands of the Eora and Kulin Nations. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Sex is Weird 7: Do we need sex? 19.06.2026 25min

Sex comes at a cost, there's energy, time, risks of predators, and diseases… so do we even need it? Asexual organisms don't seem to miss the dating scene, and yet here we are putting a whole lot of energy into sex, even when it doesn't lead to babies when same sexes attract. Of course, sex is a chance to genetically repair faults and outrun threats, but is the pay-off really enough? Sex is Weird is a series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom. Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended. Featuring: Associate Professor Kevin Teather, Author, The Evolution of Sex Assistant Professor Amanda Gibson, University of Virginia Professor Joseph Heitman, Duke University Professor Jenny Graves, La Trobe University Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Petria Ladgrove, Producer Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Sex is Weird 6: Virgin birth 12.06.2026 25min

It turns out not everyone was listening when it was written 'it takes two to tango' and some species can go it alone in their quest to reproduce. And then there's the plants that decided THREE or ONE was for them, never an even number. Why is sex so… suspiciously complicated? Sex is Weird is a series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the natural world. Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended. Featuring: Dr Meredith Lake, Presenter, Soul Search ABC Radio National Dr Michael Whitehead, Evolutionary Ecologist Libby Eyre, Biologist, Macquarie University Associate Professor Andrew Durso, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Professor Michael Kearney, University of Melbourne Dr Christine Dudgeon, University of Queensland Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Petria Ladgrove, Producer Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Sex is Weird 5: Why does it feel good, anyway? 05.06.2026 25min

What is the role of pleasure in successful reproduction? Evolution says it's mightily important: every female vertebrate has a clitoris. Snakes have two! Female pleasure has been selected for. Making sex fun and pleasurable is a biologically sensible thing to do, more sex means more potential babies. Some studies of pigs and dairy cows have found an increase of up to 6% in successful conception when the females are stimulated during artificial insemination. Sex is Weird is a series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom. Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended. Featuring: Dr Bruno Buzatto, Flinders University, South Australia Lynette Greenwood, Dairy farmer, Victoria Associate Professor Andrew Durso, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Lucy Cooke, Author and Film maker Associate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US Emeritus Professor Susan Suarez, Cornell University, New York Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Petria Ladgrove, Producer Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Sex is Weird 4: How to be hot according to nature 29.05.2026 25min

Do animals fall in love at first sight? Every species has different traits that are 'attractive' — they're showing off their DIY skills making a bower, vibrating sexy fruit fly songs, puffing up a wattle, or just having really massive moose… antlers. Is this innate attraction like falling in love or is it more like meeting a (really hot) investment advisor? Because these attractive traits are also messages about genes — who will make a good investment to partner with for the next generation. Of course, one species beauty is another's turn off, and some species have a very low bar (looking at you guppies), so Hot or Not could end up being a very individual thing. Sex is Weird is a series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom. Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended. Featuring: Dr Bruno Buzatto, Flinders University, South Australia Nathan Finger, Bird of the Week podcast host Jason Graham, Pacific black duck conservation group, Tasmania Dr Victoria Austin, Western Sydney University Professor Rob Brooks, University of New South Wales Dr Judy Wang, Queensland Brain Institute Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Petria Ladgrove, Producer Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Sex is Weird 3: Sexy females fight back 22.05.2026 25min

The energy required to grow, birth and raise young is intense, so it's only fair that the female body has some tricks to make sure reproducing is worth it. From cryptic choice to immune system sperm blockers, the female reproductive system can be a literal maze for those seeking to gain access to her eggs. In the battle of the sexes, this is females fight back. Sex is Weird is a series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom. Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended. Featuring: Professor Sarah Robertson, University of Adelaide  Dr Diane Kelly, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Associate Professor Patricia Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US Emeritus Professor Susan Suarez, Cornell University, New York Professor Mariana Wolfner, Cornell University, New York Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Petria Ladgrove, Producer Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Sex is Weird 2: Why do penises exist? 15.05.2026 25min

When it comes to sexual organs, the penis is really 'out there.' Name another organ that can change its form AND function in a matter of seconds! There's a lot of variety in the animal kingdom; from spikes and nails to coils and collagen — so, this appendage is worth investigating… close up. Sex is Weird is a series of What the Duck?! With Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom. Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended. Featuring: Dr Emily Willingham, biologist, journalist and author Dr Diane Kelly, Senior Research Fellow, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Associate Professor Andrew Durso, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Associate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US Dr Bruno Buzatto, Flinders University, South Australia Philippa Holm, HFR Performance Horses, Victoria Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Petria Ladgrove, Producer Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Sex is Weird 1: The world's first d*ck pic 08.05.2026 25min

When you really think about it, sex to make babies is WEIRD! You take an outie that has to get stuck inside an innie that links into a production line of eggs to assemble a perfect tiny being. It's so damn complicated! So why does it work like that? Join us at What the Duck for the first episode of a series where we figure out how living things went from splitting ourselves in half to double the population, to periodically feeling compelled to copulate in such a vigorous, sometimes highly embarrassing, manner. Earth — this is your sexual history! Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended. Featuring: Emeritus Professor David Siveter, University of Leicester, UK Assistant Professor Emily Mitchell, University of Cambridge, UK and curator of non-insect invertebrates, University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, UK Dr Marissa Betts, geologist and palaeontologist at the University of New England, Armidale, Australia Dr Emily Willingham, biologist, journalist and author Associate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Petria Ladgrove, Producer Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano and Russell Stapleton Thanks also to Will Ockenden, Belinda Smith, Corey Hague and Joel Werner. This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Nature's Most Wanted: Can my dog inherit my house 01.05.2026 25min

In 2002 Gigoo became the world's wealthiest chicken when her owner left her £10 million in his will. How does a chook even open a bank account? Within legal limitations there are ways to provide your pets the lifestyle they're used to after you die. But what about divorce? Can you have visitation rights to see your goldfish? And when a dog's day in court climbs though the tiers of the Australian legal system, it might surprise you how little the pet is mentioned. Featuring: Professor Katy Barnett, Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne, and co-author of Guilty Pigs Professor Prue Vines, Faculty of Law and Justice, the University of New South Wales Ian Charman, family law specialist, consultant solicitor, Adelta Legal Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Isabella Tropiano, Sound Engineer This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Nature's Most Wanted: Wild, but not free 24.04.2026 25min

A lost monkey in an Ikea carpark is an illegally traded pet, so does he have a legal owner? When it comes to animal ownership, courts turn to Roman-era laws to try and figure out if an animal is tame or wild. It may work sometimes, but leaves out the modern idea of the animal's best interests. And it doesn't explain how an elephant can have a criminal rap sheet. Content warning: This program contains stories where animals are punished as if they are criminals. Some listeners may find this confronting. Featuring: Professor Katy Barnett, Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne, and co-author of Guilty Pigs Dr Michelle Granden, psychologist Mary Roach, author of Animal, Vegetable, Criminal Professor Sindhu Radhakrishna, National Institute of Advanced studies in Bengaluru, India With thanks to Dr Michelle Granden whose research inspired the title of this episode And extra sounds from bird enthusiasts: Mike Dooher, XC402422. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/402422 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0) Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Nature's Most Wanted: Trunk and disorderly 17.04.2026 25min

How much booze does it take to intoxicate an elephant? The answer isn't as much as you might expect, because not all guts are created equal when it comes to metabolising alcohol. This explains why an elephant might be considered a lightweight and your donkey got into a fight last weekend. But alcohol isn't the only cause of misbehaviour — so what motivated the legless serial doorbell pranksters? Featuring: Dr Mareike Janiak, postdoctoral associate at the University of Calgary Dr Christine Sutton, particle physicist and past editor of CERN Courier Kate Connolly, Berlin correspondent for the Guardian Newspaper Dr Imogen Cavadino, freelance malacologist With news audio thanks to NPR And extra sounds from bird enthusiasts: Mike Dooher, XC355140. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/355140 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0) Lonnie Bregman, XC373738. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/373738 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0) Mike Dooher, XC402422. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/402422 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0) Frank Lambert, XC1031363. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1031363 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0) Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Nature's Most Wanted: Fowl play with real-life angry birds 10.04.2026 25min

Forget feathered friends — these are our feathered foes. They can wield knives, get involved in the world of organised crime and drug dealing, and even shut down the Large Hadron Collider. But the most pressing question is, why did the duck cross the road at speeds so high local law enforcement was on the case? Featuring: Dr Christine Sutton, particle physicist and past editor of CERN Courier Mary Roach, author of Animal, Vegetable, Criminal Dr Laura Adams, psychology instructor at Langara College Professor Dina Siegel, criminology at Utrecht University Dr Amber Lee, avian & exotic animal veterinarian at The Unusual Pet Vets Sven Montgomery, Police Inspectorate, municipality of Köniz With extra sounds from bird enthusiasts: David m, XC116357. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/116357 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0) David m, XC164431. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/164431 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0) Romuald Mikusek, XC912877. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/912877 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0) Daniel Parker, XC949456. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/949456 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0) Ray Cooke, XC1058578. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1058578 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0) Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Harvey O'Sullivan, Sound Engineer This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Nature's Most Wanted: Murder (but not crows) 02.04.2026 25min

The fear of being eaten by an animal is so visceral that a mass psychosis, featuring a monkey man, once swept across Delhi. But in the event of an actual attack, investigators look for specific forensic clues to identify which predator was responsible. Was the perpetrator human or animal? Or in one infamous case in the US, was it human … or owl? Featuring: Phoebe Judge, host of the podcast Criminal Euan Ritchie, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Deakin University Mary Roach, author of Animal Vegetable Criminal Professor Sindhu Radhakrishna, National Institute of Advanced studies in Bengaluru, India Professor Satish Kr. Verma, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Amrita University in Faridabad, India With extra sounds from bird enthusiasts: Barry Edmonston, XC1001471. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1001471 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0) Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Nature's Most Wanted: Cat burglars and robber duckies  27.03.2026 25min

Leonardo da Pinchy is a literal cat burglar with more than 350 pieces of evidence against him — evidence that's easy to confirm because when he steals his neighbour's underwear, he brings it home with a satisfied look of great pride. Steven Seagull is banned from the local corner store after a six-year beef-flavoured-chip-thieving spree. Then there are the monkeys holding phones hostage for fruit juice. These aren't the only creatures with a criminal record — far from it So when animals steal, what is driving their behaviour? Featuring: Dr Neeltje Boogert, associate professor in animal behaviour at the University of Exeter Helen North and Leonardo da Pinchy Julia Henning, PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide Professor Sindhu Radhakrishna, National Institute of Advanced studies in Bengaluru, India With extra sounds from bird enthusiasts: Romuald Mikusek, XC912877. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/912877 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0) Мітла Андрій Володимирович, XC915767. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/915767 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0) Eetu Paljakka, XC1087274. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1087274 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0) And thanks to Dr Neeltje Boogert for sounds used in the study: Herring gulls respond to the acoustic properties of men's voices Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Nature’s Most Wanted: Odour in the court 20.03.2026 25min

Pigs tried for murder, weevils expelled from heaven and how a bloke dressed as an executed French monkey became mayor of an English town. Topsy the elephant travelled the US performing for cheering circus-goers, but when her drunken trainer rode her into town wreaking havoc, was that her poor decision-making … or his? Content warning: This program contains stories where animals are punished as if they are criminals. Some listeners may find this confronting. Featuring: Professor Katy Barnett, Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne, and co-author of Guilty Pigs Dr Michelle Granden, psychologist Stuart Drummond, former Mayor of Hartlepool UK Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

INTRODUCING: Nature's Most Wanted 16.03.2026 2min

Dr Ann Jones is bringing true crime and natural history together with Nature's Most Wanted, a new series from What the Duck!? investigating when animals get on the wrong side of the law. From cats stealing underwear to roosters accused of witchcraft; human-eaters to parrots with opioid addiction; this series promises to get to the bottom of why animals turn to crime. Dr Ann Jones examines the history of animals on trial in human courts, the responsibilities humans take when an animal goes rogue, and ultimately how we think of animals and ourselves. Hear the evidence of episode one on Friday, March 20. What the Duck?! is recorded and produced on the lands of the Kulin Nation. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Invasive species: a science comedy debate 13.03.2026 25min

Join What the Duck?! at a science comedy debate called Sci Fight. Sci Fight brings scientists and comedians together to examine serious topics in a silly way. The topic up for debate is that nature doesn't care where an animal is from. Featuring: Alanta Colley, science communicator, host and founder of Sci Fight Affirmative: Aaron Agostini, biologist and researcher at the University of Melbourne Rose Bishop, stand-up comedian and writer Lukian Adams, aquatic ecologist and PhD student at the University of Melbourne Negative: Trish Koh, fish ecologist at the University of Melbourne Rowan Thambar, stand-up comedian and writer Adam McKenzie, actor, writer, and comedian Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer With thanks to Richard Girvan and Luke Woollett This episode of What the Duck?! was recorded and produced on the land of the Kulin Nation. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.