The Science Show

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  Lab Notes: What's in store for wildlife this summer? 21.10.2026 10Min.

  Over the past few years, our environment seems to have experienced multiple extreme events in quick succession. With a summer fuelled by what may be the strongest and wettest El Niño ever, can our wildlife withstand more extremes? Jonathan Webb speaks with Professor Euan Ritchie about what we're currently seeing with flying foxes, what could happen to other species over the summer, and what we can do to help our native creatures. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb 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: Professor Euan Ritchie, Deakin University Further information: WIRES wildlife rescue assistance on 1300 094 737 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Burramattagal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.
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  72 per cent of UK trees threatened by changing climate, plus the simple spud’s complex genetics 17.10.2026 54Min.

  And palm oil producers in South-East Asia have changed their ways, considering the environment more than they did. Brendan May is turning his attention now to nickel mines in tropical countries.
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  Lab Notes: When astronomers make mistakes 14.10.2026 10Min.

  In March 2018, a South African astronomer looking into the distant universe "discovered" a bright red spot in the sky that hadn't been there previously; it felt like an exciting potential discovery. A message was sent to other astronomers, asking them to look at this new dot and study it further. After forty minutes and a few more calculations, he realised this "star" was much closer to home and nothing new at all: it was the planet Mars. According to Dr Kat Ross, making this kind of mistake is something of a rite of passage for astronomers. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb 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: Dr Kat Ross, Curtin University This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.
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  Nobel Prizes, kitchen fumes and a biography of Francis Crick 10.10.2026 54Min.

  * 2026 Nobel prizes in science * Air fryer vs deep fryer: Which produces more indoor air pollution? * First major biography of Francis Crick
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  Lab Notes: When is it time to throw in the towel? 07.10.2026 10Min.

  If you reach for the old tea towel in the cupboard, this episode is for you.  It's time to talk textiles: why older towels seem to be better at drying, and when it may be time to throw out your more well-worn towels. Jonathan follows the thread with Ellen Phiddian to find out what we can do with our linen.  You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb 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] Or get yourself a Radio National tea towel commemorating Science Week 2026! Featuring: Ellen Phiddian, Science Reporter ABC     This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.
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  Paul Nurse and assessing the health of Australian trees 03.10.2026 54Min.

  And genetics reveals further details of a great friendship story – humans and dogs.
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  Lab Notes: Why you shouldn't leave your phone charging 30.09.2026 10Min.

  Your phone battery doesn't like being fully charged or discharged. This is why it's sometimes advised that to extend its life, you shouldn't charge your phone beyond 80 per cent, or let it drop below 20 per cent. But what's actually happening inside a lithium-ion battery to cause this effect, and what does it mean for battery engineering — and the life of the battery in your phone, or your electric car? Jonathan Webb powers through the chemistry of batteries with Professor Neeraj Sharma. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb 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: Professor Neeraj Sharma, University of New South Wales This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.
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  Deep sea nodules, ideas in ecology, and three brilliant scientists not always on the money 26.09.2026 55Min.

  Millions, perhaps billions of sharks teeth lie on the ocean floor. Valuable mineral deposits collect on their fossilised remains. Now they are viewed as a resource and if exploited devastation will come to an little known ecosystem.
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  Lab Notes: Have we found dark matter? 23.09.2026 10Min.

  Deep in an old gold mine in South Dakota, scientists witnessed a flash of energy in a giant pool of xenon. Some in the astronomical community are pretty excited, saying this is our best hint yet at what dark matter is. How do we know, why does it matter — and what happens next? Jonathan Webb shines a light on dark matter with Dr Theresa Fruth, who was involved in the potential discovery. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb 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: Dr Theresa Fruth, University of Sydney Further information: 'Exciting hint' of dark matter spotted by LUX-ZEPLIN detector, physicists report     Search for dark matter particle interactions in an extended nuclear recoil energy window with the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment       This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.
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  The big cats that stalked early humans and why ancient concrete outlasts the modern stuff 19.09.2026 54Min.

  Plus the tree bark which hosts a whole world of methane-absorbing microbes.
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  Lab Notes: The AI maths wars 15.09.2026 12Min.

  AI is getting so good at maths that it is now tackling, and apparently solving, some of the hardest mathematical problems that exist. But as huge companies like OpenAI and Anthropic race to outdo each other, human mathematicians are getting caught in the crossfire... and their field is changing forever.  Jonathan Webb speaks to ABC AI Technology Reporter Cam Wilson about the furore over the Navier-Stokes equations and the million-dollar Millennium Prize.   Featuring: Cam Wilson, AI Reporter at ABC. Professor Tristan Buckmaster, Mathematician at New York University. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb 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] This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and Kaurna people.
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  AI boost for people with dyslexia and how algorithms shape what we read 12.09.2026 54Min.

  And botanists intervene to save a plant that may have become sterile
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  Lab Notes: Where could bird flu go next? 09.09.2026 10Min.

  It's been three months since the first case of bird flu was found on the Australian continent. Many cases have been found in birds since then, along with other mammals. So where has it spread? And what can we expect to see as spring and summer arrive? Jonathan Webb speaks with Peter de Kruijff, who's been following bird flu since the very beginning. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb 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: Peter de Kruijff, environment reporter This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.
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  As fire ravages the Northern Hemisphere, is Australia ready for a record-breaking El Niño? And why optimists live longer than pessimists 05.09.2026 54Min.

  The Science Show gives Australians unique insights into the latest scientific research and debate.
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  Lab Notes: Why are we ticklish? 02.09.2026 10Min.

  Most people know the feeling of ticklishness, whether it's the tickle attacks that bring about uncontrollable laughter or the feather-like touch from something brushing against your skin. But why do we feel ticklish? Can we stop it? And why did we — and all our ape cousins — evolve this sensation? Jonathan Webb speaks to Dr Anina Rich to explore the science of this everyday experience. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb 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: Dr Anina Rich, Macquarie University Further information: Human ticklishness is a widespread, culturally shared and bodily organized sensory experience This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.
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  A moon beyond our Solar System, dust storms on Mars and questioning of reality 29.08.2026 54Min.

  Dust storms on Mars make the biggest on Earth seem like a gentle breeze. Chelsea Huang describes the Martian conditions which produce humungous dust storms that cover the entire planet. 
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  Lab Notes: The redback sex-death somersault 26.08.2026 10Min.

  These little spiders that live in the dark corner of your garage have a pretty crazy sex life. Researchers have known for a while that male redback spiders get eaten during sex — but not only that, they somersault themselves right onto the fangs of the female. Considering the ultimate aim of this process is to create more spiders , this seems pretty counterintuitive. So it begs the question: why do they do it? Jonathan Webb and Ellen Phiddian get caught up in the science of this act, discussing what researchers have uncovered in the genes of the redback spider and its relatives. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb 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: Ellen Phiddian, science reporter Further information: Male redback spider's dramatic death somersault during sex coded in its DNA Crossing experiments suggest a simple genetic basis of complex male self-sacrifice phenotypes in widow spiders This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.
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  The debate over who should be in the genus Homo, and the trailblazing botanical illustrators, Harriet and Helena Scott 22.08.2026 54Min.

  Plus hope for corals, and the story of a museum thief who liked butterflies.
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  Lab Notes: The 'Hail Mary' effort to rescue a telescope 19.08.2026 10Min.

  Right now, a high-stakes mission is underway to save NASA's Swift telescope before it falls back to Earth. There's just one problem… the rescue satellite has run into some issues. So who rescues the rescuer? Jonathan Webb and Dr Sara Webb launch into this issue to see what scientists are doing to get this satellite back on track, and whether it can save Swift in time. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more. Editor's note: the day after this episode was published, Australian time, NASA announced that its plan to boost the Swift Observatory was being abandoned because of ongoing issues controlling the pointing of the LINK spacecraft. It will still test out "rendesvous and proximity operations" which might provide useful results for similar missions in the future, but will not attempt to grab and lift the telescope as planned. Get in touch with us: [email protected] Featuring: Dr Sara Webb, Swinburne University of Technology This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.
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  How nematodes love smelly feet, plants that trap insects, Australians at CERN and vale Peter Raven 15.08.2026 54Min.

  * The attraction of smelly feet  * Plants that trap insects * Pollen grains reveal Australia's first flowering plants * Vale botanist Peter Raven * Australians smashing it at CERN