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PODCAST

Shirtloads of Science

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki

Dr Karl"s a curious optimist. Join him as he explores the latest developments in science with leading researchers and communicators. And remember, it"s never too late for a happy childhood. Series Producer: Isabelle Benton Technical Producer: Maya Cook Contact: shirtloadspodcast@gmail.com

science physics

All Episodes

30:55

The Brain’s Energy Bill: From Childhood to Old Age...

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/10/18

In this episode, we’re joined by Associate Professor Sharna Jamadar, a cognitive neuroscientist at Monash University, to explore how the brain uses energy, and how that changes across the lifespan. Did you know that a 10-year-old’s brain uses over 50% of the body’s total energy, compared to just 20% in adults? We dive into why younger brains work harder, the role of synaptic pruning and proliferation, and how the brain’s organisation impacts cognitive efficiency. We also touch on the importance of

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29:15

Onionlike Layers of Exploding Stars with Prof....

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/10/11

My go-to guy for all cosmic things Prof. Geraint Lewis, astrophysicist at the University of Sydney, returns to unpack a fascinating New York Times article on a newly observed “onionlike” space explosion that may reveal a new type of supernova. We dive into what actually happens when a star dies, the onion-layer buildup of elements through nuclear fusion, and how these cataclysmic blasts forge the building blocks of life on Earth. Plus, we explore what this might mean for the ultimate fate of our own

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27:19

The Aftermath of Cosmic Collisions with Prof. Geriant...

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/10/04

In this episode, friend of the show Geriant Lewis, Professor of Astrophysics at the Sydney Institute for Astronomy within the University of Sydney, joins us to unpack a fascinating New Scientist article theorising on how a strange line of dwarf galaxies may have formed. We explore how high-speed collisions between dwarf galaxies can scatter gas and stars across space, sometimes giving rise to entirely new tidal galaxies. Geraint explains the latest thinking on where these dwarf galaxies come from,

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25:53

The Human Side of Misinformation Part 2 with Assoc....

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/09/27

In part two, Associate Professor Marian-Andrei Rizoiu from the University of Technology Sydney explains how misinformation and toxic online cultures spread. We dive into the “manosphere pipeline” targeting boys as young as 10, its real-world impacts on schools and families, and how it can escalate into radicalisation. Rizoiu outlines his team’s six-stage pipeline - from passive curiosity to active involvement - and why simply giving people facts doesn’t solve the problem. Instead, this is a human

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31:23

The Human Side of Misinformation Part 1 with Assoc....

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/09/20

In this episode, I sit down with Marian-Andrei Rizoiu, Associate Professor and head of the Behavioral Data Science Lab at the University of Technology Sydney. Drawing on a three-year research project into the misinformation ecosystem, he reveals that online conspiracies aren’t just about false facts. Instead, they meet deep human needs for belonging and identity. We explore the idea that misinformation is less a content problem and more a human problem, fueled by the attention economy. Rizoiu also

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32:46

Science Under Siege with Prof. Michael Mann & Prof....

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/09/13

In this episode, we sit down with two of today’s most prominent defenders of science: Professor Michael Mann, world-renowned climate scientist, and Professor Peter Hotez, vaccine researcher and advocate for global health equity. Together, they’ve co-authored Science Under Siege, a powerful new book exposing the forces behind the global anti-science movement. We explore the surprising parallels between climate denial and vaccine misinformation, and how both Mann and Hotez have faced personal attacks

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24:54

From DNA to Policy: Protecting Threatened Species...

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/09/06

In part two of our conversation with Professor Carolyn Hogg, Research Manager of the Australasian Wildlife Genomics Group at the University of Sydney, we dive deeper into the science and strategy behind threatened species management. Carolyn shares how her team is developing crucial genetic data to guide conservation, including breed-and-release programs with species like the Tasmanian devil. We discuss the vital role of biodiversity in sustaining planetary health, and the ambitious Earth Biogenome

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27:29

Whales, Wildlife, and Conserving Threatened Species...

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/08/30

From collecting urine samples in Antarctica to sampling whale snot to study reproduction, Dr. Carolyn Hogg’s career is anything but ordinary. In this episode, she shares how her passion for protecting threatened species led her down some unexpected paths, including earning the nickname ‘Dr. Snot’. We chat about her PhD on whale behaviour, wild whale facts, and the creative ways scientists gather data in the field. There was so much to cover, we had to split it into two! Part 2 dives into her

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29:53

Lightning, Fertiliser, and the Future of Green...

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/08/23

In this episode, Professor PJ Cullen, Chemical Engineering expert from the University of Sydney, breaks down the global nitrogen challenge. We explore why nitrogen is essential for life, the history of fertiliser - from the Guano Wars to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process - and how today's nitrogen production is harming the planet. Cullen introduces Plasma Leap, his startup using non-thermal plasma to mimic lightning and fix nitrogen sustainably. We also dive into the risks of nitrogen

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27:01

Staying Safe Online Part 2 with Troy Hunt (440)

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/08/16

In part two with Online Safety Consultant Troy Hunt (Have I Been Pwned), we unpack the risks of online age verification in light of Australia’s social media ban, including the personal data (often times photos or government documents) sites may demand, and how these security practices can be questionable. Troy explains why we should be thinking more about data minimisation and the dangers of unnecessary data retention. We go through the safest multi-factor authentication methods, from SMS to

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26:49

Have I been Pwned? With Troy Hunt (438)

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/08/10

In this episode, we’re joined by Troy Hunt, Australian online security consultant, creator of Have I Been Pwned, and one of the world’s leading voices on data breaches. He breaks down the key differences between encryption and hashing, and what they mean for keeping your data safe. We dive into infamous data breaches, including the Ashley Madison case, and explore the often hidden, long-term impacts these leaks can have on people’s lives. With online scams and breaches costing Australians over $3

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26:38

Climate After Net Zero with Prof. Sarah...

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/08/02

In this episode, we sit down with Australian climate scientist Professor Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick to explore the story of climate science, how we first discovered the planet was warming, and what we now know about the forces driving it. Sarah breaks down the role of carbon dioxide in trapping heat like a planetary blanket and shares insights from her cutting-edge research on long-term climate modelling. What would happen if we stopped emitting CO₂ today? The answers are sobering, yet they also

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26:11

A Conversation with Nobel Laureate Dr. Donna...

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/07/26

I had the honor of sitting down with Dr. Donna Strickland, Nobel Prize-winning physicist and only the third woman in history to receive the prestigious award in physics. In our conversation, we discuss her groundbreaking work in laser physics and the journey that led her there. From her early academic interests to the moment she received the life-changing call from the Royal Swedish Academcy at 5AM (?!), Donna shares insights into her discovery of chirped pulse amplification (CPA), a revolutionary

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24:54

Part 2 with Prof. Carolyn Hogg (442)

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/07/08

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25:44

Wikipedia Part Two with Dr. Heather Ford

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/07/05

In part two of our chat with Dr. Heather Ford, we delve deeper into the hidden dynamics of Wikipedia — the world’s largest encyclopedia and 8th most visited website, run largely by volunteers. We explore how pages are updated in real time, yet controversial topics like Indigenous place names often face delays and heated edit wars. Dr. Ford explains how this can lead editors to walk away, raising concerns about who gets to shape history. We also unpack the platform's lack of diversity and the growing

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18:45

Wikipedia: The Power and the Pitfalls Part One with...

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/06/28

I'm joined by Dr. Heather Ford, ARC Future Fellow and Professor in the School of Communications at UTS, to explore the fascinating world of Wikipedia. Inspired by her article “We analysed 35,000 Wikipedia entries about Australian places. Some of them sanitise history” in The Conversation, we dive deep into the strengths and shortcomings of one of the internet’s most beloved resources. We unpack how Wikipedia works behind the scenes: who edits it, how “edit wars” break out, and why it remains such a

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15:28

Hypersonics Part Two with Dr. Graham Wild (433)

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/06/21

In part two of my conversation with Dr. Graham Wild, we dive deeper into the fascinating world of hypersonic machines. We explore how sound waves behave at extreme speeds, the significance of the boundary layer, and what materials are best suited for these ultra-fast aircraft. Connect with Dr. Graham Wild on LinkedIn Twitter/X: @AerospaceDoctor

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18:06

Hypersonics Part One with Dr. Graham Wild (432)

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/06/14

Aviation expert Dr. Graham Wild returns to take us beyond the basics of flight and into the high-speed world of subsonic vs. hypersonic aircraft. We break down the engine mechanics behind these incredible machines, and I squeeze in a humblebrag about sitting in an SR-71 (yes, okay, it was grounded). It’s a theory-packed episode, so we’ve split it into two parts. Catch Part 2 next week. Connect with Dr. Graham Wild on Linkedin Twitter/ X - @aerospacedoctor

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34:07

How Planes Fly (A Brief Introduction) with Dr. Graham...

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/06/07

In 2020, Scientific American made waves with the provocative headline: "No One Can Explain Why Planes Stay in the Air." But is that really true? Dr. Graham Wild, senior lecturer in aviation science and technology at the University of New South Wales in Canberra, joins us to set the record straight. In this episode, we dip our toes into the complex world of flight. We scratch at the very surface of the topic in an episode that could easily take over 20 hours. Connect with Dr. Graham Wild on Linkedin

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21:44

Rethinking Laundry for the Planet With Dr Holly Kaye...

Shirtloads of Science ·

2025/05/31

Most of us throw our clothes in the wash without a second thought, but what if that habit is doing more harm than good? In this episode, Dr. Holly Kaye-Smith, social change expert and communications specialist, challenges the way we think about cleanliness, climate action, and everyday laundry. From surprising stats (over 90% of washed clothes aren’t even dirty!) to the hidden environmental cost of every wash cycle, we dive into the myths, microplastics, and mindsets that shape our laundering

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