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PODCAST

What The Duck?!

The show with a mission to explore the mysteries of nature - especially the ones that make you go What the Duck?!

science natural sciences

All Episodes

25:16

The Swearing Duck

What The Duck?! ·

2024/07/12

Ripper the musk duck had many bad habits – chief among them was attacking the keepers and then swearing under his breath.But was Ripper really angry, or was his potty mouth a symptom of something much more sinister?FEATURING:Peter Fullagar, wildlife sound recordist and retired CSIRO Scientist.Nick Hayward, Film maker, The Message of the Lyrebird.Daryl Snowdon, Duck Shooter.Lisa Sperber, Ballarat Bird World parrot whisperer. Victoria Austin, University of Western Sydney.. Carel Ten

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08:29

Fisticuffs, ego, and the great tomato virus discovery...

What The Duck?! ·

2024/07/05

It's the early 20th century, a government scientist position was determined by a boxing match, and a tomato virus threatened to stop the development of Australian-style tomato sauce in its tracks. Luckily, apart from their prowess as fighters, Australian plant scientists were leaders in identifying and controlling plant illnesses. They wouldn't do it without some drama though, and in this very special podcast extra, Ann Jones traces some of the turbulent history of tomato virus

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25:16

Can plants get cancer?

What The Duck?! ·

2024/06/28

Plants are fully sick right now - and not just because indoor plants are in fashion. They have an immune system, they get infections, and can catch viruses... they just can't move away from their sick neighbours.While we depend on white blood cells to fight off and remember pathogens, plants rely on inherited knowledge of past threats in their DNA, plus the effective altruism of individual cells to sacrifice themselves rather than damage the whole. Featuring:Associate Professor

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25:16

Electric Eel- an attitude problem and access to its...

What The Duck?! ·

2024/06/21

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

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25:16

Flaco the escapee owl flew free in New York City ......

What The Duck?! ·

2024/06/14

A superhero origin story would absolutely be 12 years in a cage and then set free by secretive criminals. That’s the story of Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle Owl, released from his vandalised cage in Central Park Zoo, New York City. He turned up in the middle of an intersection nearby, looking dazed and people in the know thought, ‘This is going to end badly,’ because animals released from captivity have an extremely low survival rate. But Flaco – ‘skinny’ in Spanish – flew in the face

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25:16

When animals put other animals in jail

What The Duck?! ·

2024/06/07

Usually, it's humans putting animals in cages, but sometimes the animals do it to themselves.Female platypus lock themselves in burrows to breed, great hornbill males lock females up in the hollow of a tree (they seal it up with fruit and poop) and potter wasps paralyse caterpillars for their babies to eat.Today on What The Duck?!, Dr Ann Jones investigates the wild and hostile world of animal jails.Are the animals just psycho killers or do they have their reasons?Featuring:Geoff

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25:16

Why snakes remain deadly even after they're dead

What The Duck?! ·

2024/05/31

At first, you might think it is a plot from a zombie movie: that undead animals are coming for you.But it turns out that Australia's animals aren't just dangerous when they're alive — they can be deadly even when they're dead.Ann Jones is joined by science reporter Belinda Smith to examine why snakes can still bite up to 45 minutes after death and are potentially dangerous for years.Think we're lying? Belinda found a guy whose great aunt (and her dog) were killed by a decapitated

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25:16

Do animals dream?

What The Duck?! ·

2024/05/24

Cassie and Claire have watched their parrot talk in its sleep... so is it dreaming?And, if animals DO dream... will we ever know what they’re dreaming about? Ann Jones tries to find out.Featuring:Cassie, Claire and Pidgey the Parrot. Associate Professor Nicole Lovato, Flinders University. Associate Professor John Lesku, La Trobe University. Professor David Pena Guzman, author of ‘Animal Dreaming’ and San Francisco State University. Professor Sidarta Ribeiro, neuroscientist at

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25:16

Do worms sleep?

What The Duck?! ·

2024/05/17

Birds can fly while half their brain is sleeping and some spiders sleep dangling on a silk thread, but what about worms.Do worms sleep?Featuring:Associate Professor John Lesku, La Trobe University. Dr Shauni Omond, @shauniomond.sleepsci on Instagram, La Trobe University. Professor Niels Rattenborg, Research leader on Avian Sleep, Max Planck Institute. Dr Daniela Roessler, University of Konstanz. Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional

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25:16

The Sage-grouse dance

What The Duck?! ·

2024/05/10

Female sage-grouse birds have decided that they want to see a weird sexy dance when deciding on a mate.Ann Jones explores the creativity of female choice in the animal world in this episode of What the Duck?!Featuring:Lucy Cooke, Zoologist and author of Bitch A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Animal.Professor Gail L Patricelli, University of California, Davis. Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: John

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25:16

Hyenas and lab mice - does sex matter?

What The Duck?! ·

2024/05/03

Female lab mice have been bred to be passive and breed with ease.But, in the wild they're feisty and even pugnacious.How much of our biological understanding of the world is based on misogyny?Featuring:Lucy Cooke, Zoologist and author of Bitch A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Animal.Professor Arthur Georges, University of Canberra.Professor Catherine Dulac, Harvard University.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional

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25:16

Shells with stories to tell

What The Duck?! ·

2024/04/26

There's a whole world of mystery, and quite a bit of maths, inside the humble sea shell.Forget ancestry searches online, shells can tell you the history of the world!Featuring:Amy Prendergast, University of Melbourne.Jann Vendetti, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Dr Paul Butler, Researcher at the University of Exeter. This episode was originally broadcast in March 2023. Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Carey

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25:14

The merits of menopause. End of. Period.

What The Duck?! ·

2024/04/19

There's only a handful of animals on earth that go through menopause, where females get to hang up the ovaries and enjoy a change of life.So, why have we (humans, chimps and some toothed whales) established a sexual retirement of sorts? What is everyone else missing out on?Featuring:Associate Professor Kevin Langergraber, Primatologist, Arizona State University.Charli Grimes, PhD student, University of Exeter.Production:Belinda Smith, Reporter/Producer. Ann Jones,

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25:16

Extreme traps in nature

What The Duck?! ·

2024/04/12

We will all go to trouble to get a good meal, but some animals take it to the extreme.Some build architectural masterpieces to entrap their prey, or use body parts as lures.But what is your cat doing when it makes the 'ek ek ek ek?' Is it trying to bewitch the birds? Featuring:Professor Kris Helgen, Australian Museum.Julia Henning, PhD candidate, University of Adelaide.Associate Professor Inon Scharf, Tel Aviv University.Dr David Merritt, Entomologist.Associate Professor Ajay

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25:17

Phantasmic Mr Fox

What The Duck?! ·

2024/04/05

Despite spending years and millions of dollars, the Tasmanian Fox Eradication team never, not once, not ever, spotted a live fox on the Apple Isle.While their efforts yielded zero foxes, it spawned a tale of lies, alleged corruption, and more scats than you could poke a stick at. Featuring:Ian Townsend, former ABC Radio National Journalist.David Kelly, Manager of the Threatened Species Unit, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.Jonah Yick, Program leader (Carp Management) Inland

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25:16

What the [sheeping] flock?

What The Duck?! ·

2024/03/29

You have a lot to thank sheep for. Yes, sheep.More than just wool and meat - sheep have played a part in the development of contraception AND reproduction of humans.It's not as dodgy as it sounds, but it is absolutely surprising and listening to this show will have you thanking every sheep you see from here on out.Featuring:Tara Farms, YouTuber, and Sheep farmer.Sally Coulthard, Historian, Smallholder, and Author of “A short history of the World according to Sheep”Dr Charles

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25:16

What the [sheeping] flock?

What The Duck?! ·

2024/03/29

You have a lot to thank sheep for. Yes, sheep.More than just wool and meat — sheep have played a part in the development of contraception and reproduction in humans.It's not as dodgy as it sounds, but it is absolutely surprising. Listening to this show will have you thanking every sheep you see from here on out.Featuring:Tara Farms, YouTuber, and sheep farmer.Sally Coulthard, historian, smallholder, and author of A Short History of the World according to Sheep.Dr Charles Roselli,

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25:18

Purely for pleasure

What The Duck?! ·

2024/03/22

For years we've barely even talked about the human clitoris let alone the fact that snakes have TWO. This program has adult themes.Featuring:Belinda Smith, ABC Science Online Reporter. Lucy Cooke, Author and Film maker.Megan Folwell, University of Adelaide.Dr Jenna Crowe-Riddell, La Trobe University.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Angie GrantThis program was first broadcast in 2023.This episode of What the Duck?! was

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25:19

Face your fear of snakes

What The Duck?! ·

2024/03/15

Would you meet a stranger in a park with a pile of snakes? Comedian Craig Quartermaine took the risk in an attempt to overcome his fears.Featuring:Craig Quartermaine, comedian. Sandy Dickinson, Urban Reptiles.Jonathan Wright, announcer's voice. Production:Ann Jones, presenter/producer.Petria Ladgrove, producer.Joel Werner, script editor.Field recording: Dylan Prins.Additional mastering: Angie Grant.This episode was originally broadcast in 2023.This episode of What the Duck?! was

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25:16

Animals with extreme minimalist mindsets

What The Duck?! ·

2024/03/08

Could a legless lizard be 'minimalist of the year' for famous podcaster T. K. Coleman?Ann Jones leads an unlikely gang of animal experts on a tidy dance through the philosophy of minimalism. There are moths without mouths, flies without wings, and a worm-lizard that will even declutter its own tail. Move over Marie Kondo, Minimalist Mother Nature is in town. Featuring:T. K. Coleman, Co-host of the Minimalists Podcast.Dr. Bryan Lessard, aka Bry the Fly Guy, entomologist and author

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181 results

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