🌌 Today we’ll be talking about the biggest things you’ll never see – black holes. 

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

👨‍🔬 Evrim Yazgin is a Cosmos journalist with a Masters in Physics from the University of Melbourne. His love of science fiction has spurred an interest in all things flux capacitor to quantum-time-antimatter-inverters.

🕳 Ever wanted the ground to just swallow you up? No, didn't think so. Join Cosmos science journalist, Ellen Phiddian, as she dives deep into the science and mysteries of sinkholes.

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

👩‍🔬 Ellen Phiddian is a science journalist at Cosmos. She has a BSc (Honours) in chemistry and science communication, and an MSc in science communication, both from the Australian National University.

The Spooky Science and Spectacle of Sinkholes

🐍 From their strange way of slithering about, deadly venomous fangs, complete absence from Ireland, and the discovery of the elusive snake clitoris – let’s squeeze every bit of the science of snakes.

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

👩‍🔬 Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos Magazine and has a Bachelor of science and honours in Science Communication. 

Finding the Clitoris (in snakes)

What Would Happen if You Fell into a Black Hole?

🎈Helium is the only truly non-renewable resource, and it's essential for things like MRI machines and nuclear reactors, but should we be worried? And, we turn air into food, so why can’t we get carbon to leave the atmosphere – or helium to stay? In this episode, Cosmos Science Journalist Ellen Phiddian dives into the gassy soup that surrounds Earth.

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

Should We Care About the Finite Supply of Helium?

🤖 Are you ready to Roomba? Since its launch, more than 40 million autonomous vacuums have made their way into people’s homes, and often – as the research reveals – into people’s hearts.

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

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People are Seriously becoming Friends with their Robotic Vacuums

🦒 Cosmos science journalist, Evrim Yazgin, is here to settle the question on every toddler’s lips: what’s the biggest animal? The answer will definitely surprise you!  

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

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Forget Elephants and Giraffes: The True King of Bigness Will Shock You!

🧟 The zombie fungus from the Last of Us is real, but it's not even the only example of zombification in nature! All kind of both weird and terrifying parasites exist in spiders, wasps and even your pet cat!

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

👩‍🔬 Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos Magazine and has a Bachelor of science and honours in Science Communication.

Could a Zombie Apocalypse like 'The Last of Us' Happen in Real Life?

☀️ On April 20, Australia will experience its first total solar eclipse in years! But, what even is an eclipse, why is this one so special, and how can you see it safely?

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

Everything you need to know about Australia's rare total solar eclipse!

🔋 We've all heard of solar and wind as power alternatives, but what about the weirder ones like sand, trains and even wee? Cosmos Science Journalist, Petra Stock, is here to explore the many and much weirder powers we could be tapping into!

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

Your Urine Could be our Next Renewable Power Source

💊 Have you heard of microdosing? Sure it might be the hip new thing amongst wellness mums and Silicon Valley tech bros, but what’s the science? Also why has Australia made MDMA and psilocybin a medicine? Jacinta Bowler, a science journalist at Cosmos, is here to guide you through your trip – the trip to find out the science of microdosing!

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

Microdosing: Gettin' High at your 9-5

🧠 The great study debate: is it better to cram or space it out? Cosmos Science Journalist, Mathew Agius, unpacks the best ways to study. 

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

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The Science of Study: How Your Brain Learns Best

⛈ As you may know, La Nina is over! It might not all be good news though, with news that it's hotter, drier cousin El Nino may be hitting Australia soon. But what does that all mean? And how do meteorologists predict weather so far in the future?

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

The Science Behind La Niña and El Niño Explained!

👃 Discover the science of pheromones and unravel the mystery behind their effectiveness. Cosmos Science Journalist, Imma Perfetto, sheds light on what pheromones are, how they work, and whether they truly exist in humans. 

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

👩‍🔬 Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos Magazine and has a Bachelor of science and honours in Science Communication.

The Smelly Truth behind Pheromones

👣 On April 1, Cosmos Science Journalist, Evrim Yazgin, brings you a world exclusive on evidence which may prove the existence of Bigfoot, otherwise known as Sasquatch. Proceed with caution. 

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

BREAKING NEWS: Existence of Bigfoot Discovered at US/Canada Border

🥛 Milk isn’t just low fat, no fat, skim, or extra dollop anymore. There’s a whole new world of plant milks (or plant beverages if you’re in Europe). But is soy changing your hormones? Why does oat milk use a saliva enzyme? And is actually better for you or the planet than good ol’ cow’s milk? Jacinta Bowler, a science journalist at Cosmos, is the ‘mylk’ maverick, finding out all the science behind about plant-based milks.

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

Plant Milk 101: Does soy milk really mess with your hormones? And just how sustainable are plant milks?

🏋️ Protein powders: do we really need them? Join Cosmos science journalist Matthew Agius as he sifts through the hype and answers whether protein supplements are really worth it.

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

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Is your Protein Powder doing more Harm than Good?

💊 Pill testing: in one form or another, people have been checking their illicit drugs for more than 50 years. But in Australia, it’s still pretty unusual. The first and only fixed-site pill testing clinic started operating in Canberra in July 2022. Queensland has just announced it plans to become the second place in the country to roll out pill testing at both fixed and mobile locations. But does it actually work, or is it just an expensive festival side show?

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

The 100% Pure Facts on Pill Testing

💍 It's the 'social experiment' you either love or hate - but does the matchmaking science used by the Married at First Sight 'Experts' add up? Cosmos Science Journalist and MAFS Tragic, Petra Stock, weighs in!

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

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Married at First Sight: Examining the 'Science'

Food for gettin' in the mood. Today we’ll be making science sexy or maybe sex sciencey? We're examining if and why certain foods and drinks seem to rev up our sex drives.

Evrim Yazgin is a Cosmos journalist with a Masters in Physics from the University of Melbourne. His love of palaeontology has burned since he was three and, fun fact: his name means “evolution” in Turkish! The joys of being a biologist’s son.

Everything you do (and don't) want to know about Aphrodisiacs 🍆🍑💦

🤳 These days beauty filters are commonplace on social media apps, but TikTok’s new “bold glamour” filter is so realistic it’s a bit terrifying. So, how do beauty filters work in the first place? And what makes this one so different? And by using them are we changing the way we perceive ourselves? 

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

👩‍🔬 Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos Magazine and has a Bachelor of science and honours in Science Communication.

Deepfakes and AI: Inside TikTok’s Viral “Bold Glamour” Filter

🥩 Are fake meats healthier than regular meat? What about better for the environment? And are we going to be able to buy lab-made meat in Australia any time soon?

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

Is Fake Meat Actually Better for You?

Fitness trackers. Whether it’s the phone in your pocket, or the watch on your wrist, tallying steps, measuring your heart rate, diarising your period. It seems like a fun way to engage with exercise and health. But have you ever considered your fitness data might help someone steal your bike or even give away secret military information?

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

Your Fitness Tracker is Lying to You (and giving away top secret military secrets)

🥤 The world’s most popular soft drink: what’s in it, why does it clean coins and explode when combined with mentos?

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

No, Diet Coke isn't actually that much better for you

🛸 If recent news has caused you to glance at the sky in fear or trepidation, or possibly alien-seeking excitement, this is the podcast for you. Petra Stock has a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Journalism, both from the University of Melbourne. 

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

Chinese Spy Balloon or Alien UFO? Why do we keep shooting things out of the sky?

🍯 Why does food spoil? And how do we keep it from going bad? Other than sticking it in the fridge or freezer that is? From the science of dehydration, fermentation, to pasteurisation, let’s get into the science of preserving food. Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos Magazine and has a Bachelor of science and honours in Science Communication.

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

The Science of Preserving Food

🪐 We all remember when Pluto was infamously demoted from being considered a 'planet'. But, what even is a planet? And if the definition keeps changing, will there be more planets in the future? 

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

👨‍🔬 Evrim Yazgin is a Cosmos journalist with a Masters in Physics from the University of Melbourne. His love of science fiction has spurred an interest in all things flux capacitor to quantum-time-antimatter-inverters.

What even is a Planet?

🩸 Microplastics have found their way to literally every crevice of the earth, from remote Antarctic ice, all the way to our bloodstreams. But is this actually a bad thing? Cosmos Science Journalist, Ellen Phiddian, investigates.

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

You Probably have Plastic in your Blood

🩸Blood types - we’ve all got them, and yet do you really know what they are? Why do they protect us from stomach flu? Do they make us tasty to mosquitos? And most importantly, why are they like doughnuts?

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

🧑‍🔬 Jacinta Bowler is a science journalist at Cosmos. They have an undergraduate degree in genetics and journalism from the University of Queensland and have been published in the Best Australian Science Writing 2022.

Why do we Have Different Blood Types?

🍓 What is a fruit? And why are bananas, pumpkins, and lemons classified as berries? Let’s take a bite out of the science behind why some fruits are considered berries and why others, despite their misleading names (I’m looking at you strawberry), are not.

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

👩🏻‍🔬 Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos Magazine and has a Bachelor of science and honours in Science Communication. 👩🏻‍🔬

The Surprising Science Behind why a Zucchini is a Berry but a Strawberry Isn't!?

🤯 Emojis. Love them or hate them, they’re now an essential part of our text-based vocabulary. But where do they come from, how do they work, and did you know there's a secretive board of 16 people who control them all?? 

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

👩‍🔬 Petra Stock has a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Journalism, both from the University of Melbourne. While she loves writing about new technologies (robots, digital platforms), Petra is nostalgic for the retro kind (letters, cassette tapes).

The Emoji Squad: The Mysterious Group Behind the Little Icons We Love 🤝

🤖 Today we’ll be talking about ChatGPT and artificial intelligence language processors which have been making waves online.

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

👨‍🔬 Evrim Yazgin is a Cosmos journalist with a Masters in Physics from the University of Melbourne. His love of science fiction has spurred an interest in all things flux capacitor to quantum-time-antimatter-inverters.

What is ChatGPT and How Will AI Influence the Future of Writing?

🍄 Fungi aren’t so different from us, at least compared to plants, but what is it about fungi that makes them special, and how do they help their plant and animal cousins in the real world?

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

👨‍🔬 Matthew Agius is a science writer for Cosmos Magazine.

Uncovering the Unusual and Intriguing World of Fungi

🩲 Is cotton really better for the environment than synthetic fabric? And what does 'organic' really mean? 

🧬 New episodes of Huh? Science Explained drop every Monday and Friday. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

🔬 Follow us on TikTok @aussiesciencepodcasts. 

👩‍🔬 Ellen Phiddian is a science journalist at Cosmos. She has a BSc (Honours) in chemistry and science communication, and an MSc in science communication, both from the Australian National University.

SCAM OR NAH ⁉️: What are your undies made of?

0️⃣ Null. Nil. Zip. Nada. Zero. Call it what you like, it’s still nothing. But what is nothing? And is “zero” just a theoretical concept, or can it really be considered a number? At times, philosophy and mathematics meet in the middle to give us truly weird thought experiments. So, grab your graph paper, calculator and tweed coat, because we’re going to go on a journey down the number line to find out what “zero” really means.

👨‍🔬 Evrim Yazgin is a Cosmos journalist with a Masters in Physics from the University of Melbourne. His love of science fiction has spurred an interest in all things flux capacitor to quantum-time-antimatter-inverters.

Wait what? Zero isn't a number!??

Can cats see illusions? And is a cat parasite changing our brains? Cats may not be man’s best friend, but they are science’s best kept secret.

Jacinta Bowler, a science journalist at Cosmos, is here to help explain all the science on our sometimes grumpy, but always cute, feline friends.  

Is your brain infected with a cat parasite?

The Sun is running out of gas. But when is it going to blow up? In this episode of Huh? Science Explained, we look at how the Sun works, and what happens when its fuel tank runs dry.

When is the Sun going to blow up? ☀️💥

🫖 We've got the tea on tea! What's the difference between black and green tea, is it really good for you, and could it make us live longer?

Can drinking tea make you live longer? ☕️

Today we’ll be climbing back through our family tree to find out about ancient humans and what happened to Neanderthals.

Evrim Yazgin is a Cosmos journalist with a Masters in Physics from the University of Melbourne. His love of palaeontology has burned since he was three and, fun fact: his name means “evolution” in Turkish! The joys of being a biologist’s son.

What happened to our closest human cousins, the Neanderthals?

What colour is the sky? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you’d think. Today, we’re going to help you answer the question that’s puzzled children throughout history… or at least science journalist Matthew Agius - why is the sky blue?

Why is the sky blue? Hint: It isn’t

How exactly do you get all those dazzling lights in the sky at New Years, and are they bad for the environment? Let’s look at the science of fireworks.

🧨 Fireworks! How do they work, and should we keep using them?

Why do we get brain freezes? And why is some ice cream all hot air?

The chemistry of ice cream is surprisingly complicated but Jacinta Bowler, a science journalist at Cosmos, is here to help explain the coolest facts about ice cream and why this summer treat tastes so good!

No, 'frozen dessert' and ice cream aren't the same thing: The cool chemistry of ice cream 🍦

As the festive season gets underway, Cosmos science journalist Petra Stock investigates the science behind five sensory experiences.

Petra Stock has a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Journalism, both from the University of Melbourne. While she loves writing about new technologies (robots, digital platforms), Petra is nostalgic for the retro kind (letters, cassette tapes).

🎄 Huh? Christmas Explained: The science of the sight, sound, smell, taste and touch of Christmas!

🐙 From their origins over 500 million years ago to their brainy arms, we’re suckers for the science of cephalopods. Let’s dive into the science behind what makes octopuses one of the most iconic ocean dwelling organisms to exist! 

👩‍🔬 Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos Magazine and has a Bachelor of science and honours in Science Communication.

Are Octopuses Smarter Than Us?

Today we’ll be stretching our imaginations to the farthest reaches of space to learn more about how our Universe is evolving. 

Evrim Yazgin is a Cosmos journalist with a Masters in Physics from the University of Melbourne. His love of science fiction has spurred an interest in all things flux capacitor to quantum-time-antimatter-inverters.

Is the universe expanding? 🤯

Why do we need to turn our phones onto flight mode on an airplane? And are phones listening to us to sell better ads? Considering we have a device with almost all the answers at our fingertips, we sure do have a lot of questions about the space age computer we use to make calls.

Jacinta Bowler, a science journalist at Cosmos, is looking into our favourite pieces of tech to hate – the smartphone. 

Is your phone really listening to you? Plus every other phone question you ever wanted to know 🤳

Name another species more universally beloved than the domestic dog 🐶

Let’s dig into the science behind what makes man’s best friend the incredible animals they are today.

Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos Magazine and has a Bachelor of science and honours in Science Communication.

🐶 The science behind man’s best friend: The domestic dog

As the silly season approaches, Cosmos journalist Ellen Phiddian spills the science on how to enjoy the perfect glass of bubbly, from the ideal glassware, exact temperature and achieving the perfect pop.

How to perfectly enjoy a glass of champagne, according to science 🥂

Unless you’re being actively stung by one, it’s not hard to love bees. They pollenate our food, do little waggle dances and give us honey. But they’re also incredibly helpful for science. 

Jacinta Bowler, a science journalist at Cosmos, is looking into the weird (and cute) ways bees have ended up as scientist’s lab rats.

Bees can tell the time and do maths (Yes, you read that right) 🐝

Today we’ll be diving into Earth’s deep past to find out how and when the first animals left the primordial oceans to walk on land 🌏

Evrim Yazgin is a Cosmos journalist with a Masters in Physics from the University of Melbourne. His love of palaeontology has burned since he was three and, fun fact: his name means “evolution” in Turkish! The joys of being a biologist’s son.

When did the first animals walk on Earth?

A primer on why sunscreen is a medicine, what’s in it, and why it’s sticky, by ex-chemist and current solvent-enthusiast Ellen Phiddian.

Ellen Phiddian is a science journalist at Cosmos. She has a BSc (Honours) in chemistry and science communication, and an MSc in science communication, both from the Australian National University.

The science of sunscreen ☀️🧴

Bananas are a beloved by a bunch of us the world over, but will they go extinct on us? Will eating too many kill you? And are banana peels really that slippery? 

Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos Magazine and has an honours degree in Science Communication.

Peeling back the science on bananas 🍌

This episode is looking into the surprisingly complex world of coffee cups. Are they recyclable? Is it better to just chuck them in the bin? Are bioplastics actually better for the planet?

Jacinta Bowler, a science journalist at Cosmos, is your guide to the many questions surrounding those convenient little coffee carriers. 

Which bin should I put my coffee cup in?

Hay fever sufferers have been warned to brace themselves for a severe allergy season as the weather warms up.

Join Cosmos Science journalist Matthew Agius to find out all you need to know about hay fever and what happens during an allergic response.

Hay fever bad right now? It's actually your body trying to help you 🤧

Lunar lunacy, celestial water, but not enough cheese! Our Moon is a magnet for stories – Join Matt Agius as he looks at the science behind the superstitions.

School of (orbiting) Rock: The science of the moon

Today we're focussing on lightning – what exactly is that flash, where does it happen, what are the odds of it hitting me and can we untangle the shocking myths from the dazzling truths?

Clare Kenyon has her fingers in so many science pies, she’s running out of flavours. With a background in astrophysics and dabblings in maths, geology, music and criminology – just to name a few – she’s constantly distracted by the next new shiny thing – especially when it’s space-bound. An ex-high school teacher and Superstar of STEM, she’s particularly passionate about plain-speaking science and women in STEM.

⚡️Lightning – more than just a flashy science

Today we will be wrapping our heads around the physics of temperature to work out why things get hot, and just how cold they can get. 

Evrim Yazgin is a Cosmos journalist with a Masters in Physics from the University of Melbourne. His love of science fiction has spurred an interest in all things flux capacitor to quantum-time-antimatter-inverters.

Hot stuff and cool things: The physics of temperature

Halloween is all about leaning into our fears and getting carried away with our superstitions. But is it possible to take things too far?

Cosmos science journalist Petra Stock investigates the fallout from Halloween fun.

Petra Stock has a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Journalism, both from the University of Melbourne. While she loves writing about new technologies (robots, digital platforms), Petra is nostalgic for the retro kind (letters, cassette tapes).

Halloween: Black cats, sadism and the holiday's strange connection to Michelle Obama

With Halloween just around the corner, we're talking all things glow sticks! What makes glow sticks glow, and what does it have to do with ocean bacteria? Let's take a look at the science of chemiluminescence.

Ellen Phiddian is a science journalist at Cosmos. She has a BSc (Honours) in chemistry and science communication, and an MSc in science communication, both from the Australian National University.

How do glow sticks work? The science of chemiluminescence

Birds make an incredible cacophony of sound early morning, but why do they do it? 

Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos Magazine and has an honours degree in Science Communication.

Wake up! Why do birds call in the morning?

Hiccups are bizarre. Why do we get them? And do any of the cures actually work?

Ellen Phiddian worked in science outreach before deciding to become, in her grandmother's words, "one of those whizz-bang science journalists". With a background in chemistry, she's particularly interested in renewable energy, catalysts, and deciphering the ingredients on food packages. Her favourite podcasts are Wardrobe Crisis, Friends at the Table, and just about any audiodrama.

What’s the deal with hiccups?

She’s the disco dolly that’s more than 60 years old, stands shorter than a ruler and who’s had more than 200 different careers. But this tiny doll has been troubling adults and researchers for decades.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the controversies and concerns about Barbie’s body shape, gender stereotyping, and ...spying on children?

Petra Stock has a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Journalism, both from the University of Melbourne. Like Barbie, she’s worked as a Renewable Energy Engineer, an Environmental Advocate and a Journalist. While she loves writing about new technologies (robots, digital platforms), Petra is nostalgic for the retro kind (letters, cassette tapes).

Think Pink: The Science of Barbie

The Sun shines, your calculator works, your Tesla charges, and your house’s battery starts to fill up on stored energy. Meanwhile, up in space, the James Webb Space Telescope collects enough solar light to give it the power it needs to peer into space…  

Today, Clare Kenyon talks all things solar panels - how do they work and exactly what shiny new things are coming sometime to a rooftop near you?

Freaky fairgrounds and sunflower science: how do solar panels actually work?

Caffeine is the fuel that gets us through our day, but what is it, how does it really work and is it possibly not a good thing?

Today, Matt buzzes about the drug that many of us can’t get through a day without.

Modern miracle or dangerous dependence? Stirring the science of caffeine

There’s a chance that you or someone you know has considered cosmetic injectables to change some aspect their appearance. But what are they and how do they work? Let’s cut into the science behind botox, fillers, and lipolytic injections.

Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos Magazine and has an honours degree in Science Communication.

Keeping up with Kardashians: the science of cosmetic injectables

Today we will be traveling back to the time of the dinosaurs to get a picture of how these magnificent beasts evolved and what eventually happened to them.

Evrim Yazgin is a Cosmos journalist with a Masters in Physics from the University of Melbourne. His love of palaeontology has burned since he was three and, fun fact: his name means “evolution” in Turkish! The joys of being a biologist’s son.

Are dinosaurs REALLY birds? A story written by evolution

The little stickers on pieces of fruit are everywhere and are one of modern life's irritations or delights depending on your perspective. Here’s some cherry-picked info about fruit stickers.

Petra Stock has a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering and a Masters in Journalism, both from the University of Melbourne. Before becoming a journalist, she planned wind farms, researched climate solutions, and assessed environmental and heritage impacts. While she loves writing about new technologies (robots, digital platforms) she’s also nostalgic for the retro kind (letters, cassette tapes, floppy disks).

Why do fruit stickers exist - and are they actually edible?

This week we’re diving into the deliciously gross world of cheese. How old is the oldest cheese? Why does it smell so bad? And why are most of your favourite cheeses probably actually your favourite moulds?

Jacinta is an enthusiastic tourist in all things science, as well as a lactose-intolerant cheese fiend with a background in microbiology.

Why is cheese so stinky? The cheese questions you never wanted to know, answered

What do we know about our clothes – and what do we think we know?

Ellen Phiddian worked in science outreach before deciding to become, in her grandmother's words, "one of those whizz-bang science journalists". With a background in chemistry, she's particularly interested in renewable energy, catalysts, and deciphering the ingredients on food packages. Her favourite podcasts are Wardrobe Crisis, Friends at the Table, and just about any audiodrama.

Six myths about fast fashion: What do we know about our clothes, and what do we THINK we know?

What is all the stuff in the universe made of? And, for that matter, (pardon the pun) what keeps everything moving, burning, sticking together, blowing apart? The answer is to be found in the hodgepodge assortment known as the Standard Model of Particle Physics.

Evrim Yazgin is a Cosmos journalist with a Masters in Physics from the University of Melbourne. His love of science fiction has spurred an interest in all things flux capacitor to quantum-time-antimatter-inverters. 

What is all the stuff in the universe made of? The hitchhiker's guide to the Standard Model

If you’re living in southern Australia, you’re probably in no doubt that winter is coming. Temperatures are dropping, the days are getting shorter, and our minds are increasingly occupied with thoughts of hot chocolates, wood fires and blankets. Or maybe that’s just us.

We’re heading towards the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year – on the 21st of June 2022. The summer solstice in December is feeling pretty far away. But have you ever wondered exactly what a solstice is and why it happens?

Matilda is a science writer at the Royal Institution of Australia’s Cosmos Magazine with a background in bioethics and microbiology.

Shortest day or longest night? Explaining exactly WHY we're about to experience the shortest day of the year

In today's episode, we look at the recently launched telescope, and its pioneering gaze back into the birth of our universe.

Amalyah Hart is a science journalist at the Royal Institution’s Cosmos Magazine. She has a degree in archaeology and anthropology and a masters in journalism.  

What is the James Webb Space Telescope, and what’s it looking for?

Antibiotic resistance could have us heading for a post-antibiotic era where common infections and minor injuries become terrifying enemies. How did we get here, and what’s at stake?

Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos magazine and has an honours degree in science communication.

Antibiotic resistance: When minor injuries become terrifying enemies

This episode looks at the science of hair – what is it made of, why does it come in different shapes, and why does it go grey when we get older?

Matilda is a science writer at the Royal Institution of Australia’s Cosmos Magazine with a background in bioethics and microbiology.

Special thanks to Kay Fitzgerald from Sinclair Dermatology for their help with this episode.

Hair goes frizzy as soon as it's humid outside? There's a reason for that

Today we are turning up the heat on the humble sausage sizzle: what’s in the sausage, what goes around it, and why we cook them.

Ellen Phiddian worked in science outreach before deciding to become, in her grandmother's words, "one of those whizz-bang science journalists". With a background in chemistry, she's particularly interested in renewable energy, catalysts, and deciphering the ingredients on food packages. Her favourite podcasts are Wardrobe Crisis,Friends at the Table, and just about any audiodrama.

Does pricking the sausage ACTUALLY make it healthier? The science of the sausage sizzle

Today we're finding out about cryogenics: whether you can actually freeze a human body and then bring that person back to life. 

Amalyah Hart is a science journalist at the Royal Institution’s Cosmos Magazine. She has a degree in archaeology and anthropology and a masters in journalism.  

Can human bodies be cryogenically frozen?

We’ve all heard about coral bleaching, but do you know what’s actually happening to coral when it turns white? Let’s dive a little deeper into the science behind coral bleaching. Imma Perfetto is a journalist at Cosmos magazine and has an honours degree in science communication.

What's happening when corals bleach?

This episode looks at the science of not smelling – from deodorant to the skin microbiome. Matilda is a science writer at the Royal Institution of Australia’s Cosmos Magazine with a background in bioethics and microbiology. 

Forget deodorant: Why scientists reckon we’ll soon be getting ARMPIT transplants to help with BO

Soil carbon sequestration has been hailed as a solution to the climate crisis. Can it really live up to the hype?

Ellen Phiddian worked in science outreach before deciding to become, in her grandmother's words, "one of those whizz-bang science journalists". With a background in chemistry, she's particularly interested in renewable energy, catalysts, and deciphering the ingredients on food packages. Her favourite podcasts are Wardrobe Crisis,Friends at the Table, and just about any audiodrama.

How can soil carbon fight climate change?

We're travelling back in time to understand how old our small blue dot is - and how scientists worked it out.

Amalyah Hart is a science journalist at the Royal Institution’s Cosmos Magazine. She has a degree in archaeology and anthropology and a masters in journalism.  

How do scientists know how old the Earth is?

Yes, the rumours are true. From LiSTNR and Cosmos comes a brand new weekly podcast that’s going to answer all those weird and wacky questions you never thought you’d know the answer to. Or that you just couldn’t be bothered looking up online. We don’t judge here.

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What Would Happen if You Fell into a Black Hole?

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