Brains Matter ©

2009 is the International Year of Astronomy, for those who aren’t already aware of it. The International Astronomical Union is planning on holding many events to celebrate IYA across the world, so keep your eyes and ears peeled for things you can get involved in – from listening to podcasts (this one included!) which will […]

In astronomical news recently – it was announced that the Milky Way has two less arms than originally thought. How? Why? And what’s a galaxy to start with? To answer these questions, I talk to Dr Pamela Gay, an astronomer from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, who tells us all why this is so. Also featured […]

Dr Seth Shostak is a senior astronomer at the SETI Institute – we discuss the SETI program and about the possibility of intelligent life out there; the Drake Equation and how soon it might be before we find extra terrestrial life of some form. Also featured on today’s show are the Brain Teaser, Pin of […]

Dr Pilar Gil Pons is a postdoctoral researcher in the area of super asymptotic giant branch stars who has just received a grant by the Spanish government to work on SAGB stars at Monash University in Australia. She also happens to be an expert on binary stars, which is what I talked to her about […]

In this episode, I continue my talk with Dr Sarah Maddison from the Swinburne University of Technology on how planets form. If you missed part 1 of the interview, please listen to the previous show. This is part 2 of a 2 part interview. Download MP3 of Ep 63 Please vote for this podcast this […]

In this episode, I talk to Dr Sarah Maddison from the Swinburne University of Technology on how planets form – both in our solar system, and other systems around the universe. We discuss the standard solar system as we know it – and “Hot Jupiters” that have been discovered around distant stars – and how […]

In this episode I interview Dr Pamela Gay from the University of Illinois, Edwardsville, on the Big Bang and the origin of the universe. Download MP3 of Ep49 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes digg this

Scientists have discovered a hole in the universe. A discussion on what they found, plus pin of the episode, listener feedback, and a brain teaser. Today’s promo is of Promotime Download MP3 of Ep37 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing […]

Sun in the clear over global warming A solar radiation study is evidence that global warming over the past two decades cannot be blamed on the Sun, a theory espoused by climate-change sceptics. Maths proves the silliness of silly walks Scientists have explained mathematically why the famous “silly walks” of Monty Python’s John Cleese have […]

Saturn moon looks like a sponge (ABC Australia science news) Scientists make landmark DNA discoveries (ABC Australia science news) Vatican reveals Roman necropolis (news.com.au) Mercury probe swings by Venus (Discovery channel) Future universe will ‘stop expanding’ (National Geographic) Lava microbes lived on early earth (Discovery channel) Meditator’s brains seem alert (ABC Australia science news) Earth […]