Brains Matter

In this episode I talk to Adam Parker, who is currently doing a PhD in robotics. We talk about robots, and their portrayal in current society. Some of the topics mentioned in the interview: Karel Capek Rossum’s Universal Robots Metropolis IMDB site Metropolis wikipedia site Kino Metropolis site Kismet, the social robot Al-Jazari and his […]

In this episode I talk to Lynne Kelly, author and educator, about critical thinking and how it is taught and applied in education. How are people taught today compared to the past? How should they be taught? This is part one of a two part interview. Lynne’s website is http://www.lynnekelly.com.au Download MP3 of Ep 56 […]

In this episode I talk to Lynne Kelly, author and educator, about her book “The Skeptics Guide to the Paranormal”, and some of the anecdotes she had about the reality behind some so-called paranormal events. Download MP3 of Ep 54 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the […]

In this episode, the last for the year, and also the 50th episode of the show, I go through some of the major achievements and discoveries in science and technology over the past 50 years. The show also features a brain teaser and listener feedback. Download MP3 of Ep50 Please vote for this podcast this […]

I interview Nobel Laureate and Australian of the Year, Professor Peter Doherty, and we talk about the work that led to his Nobel Prize, his books, his views on modern science, and I also get a joke out of the Nobel Prize winner. The show also features some news, pin of the episode, and reader […]

In this episode, I talk to Dr Roger Rassool about why physics is useful – in more ways than people assume! The physics of music, and how elephants communicate using infrasound. Please listen to episode 39 (part 1) and episode 40 (part 2) of the interview series with Dr Rassool. http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/photo/people/roger/home.html ANZAAS home page: http://www.anzaas.org.au/ […]

In this episode, I talk to Dr Roger Rassool about particle physics, and his research into a land mine detector using nitrogen, a Positron Emission Tomography Scanner – which uses anti-matter to work, and the Single Photon Detector, which is used in synchrotrons. These are all research projects in the the Physics Solutions for Industry […]

Dr Roger Rassool is a particle physicist from the University of Melbourne. He runs the physics MUPPETS outreach program, aimed at students, and those who are interested in science. I talked to him about the program. Download MP3 of Ep39 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the […]

The Missing Day (click here)

Short show today including a brief introduction to thermodynamics and the movie Blade Runner. Pin of the episode, and a promo of the CaffiNation podcast. Download MP3 of Ep31 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes or manually with […]