Boiling Point

The role of memory in terrestrial ecosystems

December 01, 2023 05:39 - 29 minutes - 42 MB

Did you know that plants and ecosystems have memory? Not the same memory as you or I, but a type of memory nonetheless. Join us in this episode as we chat to Postdoctoral researcher Jon Page, who uses observations to explore the carbon, water, and energy cycles of terrestrial ecosystems, and importantly, the memory of [...] Read More... from The role of memory in terrestrial ecosystems

Zombification and Museum Collections: the Sci and Fi

November 08, 2023 22:48 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MB

Sci fi movies make blockbuster hits. But how much are they Sci and how much are they fi? Find out in this episode. [...] Read More... from Zombification and Museum Collections: the Sci and Fi

Spying on Kangaroos

October 31, 2023 22:44 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MB

Kangaroos are iconic Australian animals that have interesting behavioural characteristics. They live in communities, and their environment plays a factor in their interactions. We are going to take a closer look at the environments kangaroos live in and how certain factors in their environment affect their behaviours. Daphne Willemsen will tell us about their research [...] Read More... from Spying on Kangaroos

What’s in a song? How urban environments change animal behaviour

September 20, 2023 01:18 - 29 minutes - 1 Byte

Humans are affecting animals in multiple different ways. Our infrastructure is bleeding into forests and our way of life is changing how animals adapt to their environments. But are we aware of how we are impacting animals? In this episode of Boiling Point Anastasia is joined by Dr. Dominique Potvin, a Behavioural Ecologist, Evolutionary Biologist, [...] Read More... from What’s in a song? How urban environments change animal behaviour

By tooth and nail: Uncovering the ancient history of marsupials

September 05, 2023 23:34 - 35 minutes - 48 KB

Join our host, Inna as she chats with Antonia Parker who explores the ancient history of Australian marsupials... By looking at their teeth!! [...] Read More... from By tooth and nail: Uncovering the ancient history of marsupials

Fungi Unearthed: Digging into the Myco-Mysteries of mushrooms!

August 26, 2023 06:39 - 33 minutes - 1 Byte

What is it about fungi that make them an exciting conversation piece in today’s media, movies, and video games? In this episode Anastasia chats Vanessa McPherson all about the natural history of fungi. Vanessa McPherson is a Research Assistant in the Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Analysis Laboratory in the School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University. [...] Read More... from Fungi Unearthed: Digging into the Myco-Mysteries of mushrooms!

What’s blind, buoyant, and brainless? Bluebottles!

August 16, 2023 03:27 - 30 minutes - 1 Byte

They’re small, they’re blue, and they’re stingy, but they’re not a jelly fish! What are they? They’re bluebottles of course. They’re a prominent feature of summers spent by the beach, but what brings them to Australian beaches remains a bit of a mystery. Join us in this episode as we chat to two ECRs, Kim [...] Read More... from What’s blind, buoyant, and brainless? Bluebottles!

What the hail is going on!?

August 11, 2023 01:38 - 34 minutes - 1 Byte

Hailstorms are some of the costliest natural disasters that occur in Australia. One of the most infamous examples is the Sydney hailstorm of 1999 which dumped hailstones over 11cm in diameter and caused $1.7 billion in insurance damages. It’s quite surprising therefore, that we don’t have great observations or understanding of hailstorm probability. In this [...] Read More... from What the hail is going on!?

The History of Machine Learning in Automation

August 02, 2023 02:22 - 30 minutes - 28 KB

Some words we hear these days are “machine learning” and “automation”, but what do they actually mean, and where do they come from? In this episode, we take a closer look at the history of machine learning in automation. The origins of automation date back to the industrial revolution, and machine learning has played an [...] Read More... from The History of Machine Learning in Automation

Conserving Mars

July 26, 2023 01:53 - 29 minutes - 32 MB

Dreams of visiting Mars have been part of human imagination for centuries. But now that these dreams are closer to realization than ever before, so are the concerns of how we will treat the planets we will visit. Join us, as we chat to Clare Fletcher. Clare studies the exciting and new field of the [...] Read More... from Conserving Mars

Ecosystems at risk

July 19, 2023 23:56 - 30 minutes - 1 Byte

Ecosystems are under threat of collapse from human stresses and climate change. Is your favourite ecosystem at risk? In this episode of Boiling Point, Sammy and Liz speak with Dr. Aniko Toth, a research fellow at UNSW Sydney who works in ecosystem conservation. Aniko uses modeling to combine satellite data with local species data to [...] Read More... from Ecosystems at risk

Understanding the secret language of plants

July 12, 2023 01:09 - 34 minutes - 47 MB

Plants are signaling and communicating with their environment in unique and remarkable ways, we just don’t always know how to interpret their signals. But observing flowers and pollination is the easiest way to tap into their secret language. In this episode Inna and Hannah chat to Ruby E. Stephens about the weird and wonderful world [...] Read More... from Understanding the secret language of plants

Head in the skies: exploring the psychology of pilots

July 04, 2023 02:00 - 32 minutes - 47.1 KB

A risk-taking pilot sounds like the last thing anyone would want on their flight. However, if we ever want the plane to take off, some risk taking is necessary and even crucial. In this episode of Boiling Point, Griff and Inna chat to Yassmin Ebrahim. Yassmin studies the risk behavior of pilots and how it [...] Read More... from Head in the skies: exploring the psychology of pilots

Fire – Friend and Foe?

June 29, 2023 02:26 - 30 minutes - 1 Byte

It’s getting hot in here, but how do plants continue to thrive? In this episode of Boiling Point, Sammy and Inna chat with fire ecologist Sarah McInnes! Sarah is a researcher at UNSW Sydney who studies the impacts of fire regimes on plant re-establishment and how these may change with climate change. Catch up [...] Read More... from Fire – Friend and Foe?

Beneath the Waves: Unmasking the Coral Disease Maze

June 22, 2023 09:18 - 29 minutes - 1 Byte

Getting sick is no joke. Your noise gets stuffy, perhaps you get a sore throat, maybe you feel so bad you have to stay in bed for days! But what happens when coral get sick? Escalating temperatures and climate change are terms that are a part of a scientists daily vocabulary, but what does it [...] Read More... from Beneath the Waves: Unmasking the Coral Disease Maze

Unlocking the Secrets of Intelligence

June 14, 2023 09:43 - 28 minutes - 1 Byte

There’s an argument among some evolutionary biologists that the reason why modern humans succeeded over other species of humans was because we are such social creatures. But were not the only social animals out there, so how do other animals compare? Do more social animals show higher intelligence? Find out on this episode of Boiling [...] Read More... from Unlocking the Secrets of Intelligence

Talking Australia’s reefs with Dr John Turnbull

June 06, 2023 23:27 - 48 minutes - 1 Byte

Australia is universally renowned for its breathtaking underwater environments that are abundant with a diverse array of iconic marine species, such as the Great Barrier Reef. But as ocean temperatures continue to rise and population numbers continue to decline, the greater the need for thorough monitoring strategies to guide our efforts to conserve Australia’s unique [...] Read More... from Talking Australia’s reefs with Dr John Turnbull

Detecting lung diseases by breath analysis

May 29, 2023 07:24 - 30 minutes - 45 KB

What if detecting lung diseases such as cancer would be as easy as taking a breath? Although this sounds like science fiction, a diseases breathalyser is already under development! Join Griff and Inna as they chat to Merryn Baker who develops methods of detecting diseases with just one breath. Follow Merryn on Twitter: @merryn_baker [...] Read More... from Detecting lung diseases by breath analysis

The Science behind diet and exercise

May 24, 2023 22:43 - 34 minutes - 1 Byte

Pilates, yoga, lifting weights. What is the right exercise for me? Find out on this episode of Boiling Point! In this episode, Sammy Burke and Anastasia Shavrova chat with exercise physiologist Karen Mackay from the Queensland University of Technology to talk about her work looking into human diet and movement. [...] Read More... from The Science behind diet and exercise

Marine heatwaves explained

May 16, 2023 07:44 - 30 minutes - 1 Byte

You’ve probably heard of heatwaves over land before – maybe you’ve even experienced the effects of one firsthand – but did you know that heatwaves also occur in the ocean? Marine heatwaves, a term first coined as recently as 2011, can have devastating impacts on marine ecosystems and societies, yet they remain a relatively new [...] Read More... from Marine heatwaves explained

A Freezing Dive: Hannah and the Antarctic Ocean Currents

May 08, 2023 12:03 - 34 minutes - 49 KB

What do you think of when you hear about Antarctica? Maybe it’s the vast snow planes or the cute pinguins and seals. But one of the most important things about Antarctica, are the ocean currents around it. They transport everything from heat, to debris, to live organisms and affect our whole planet! In this episode [...] Read More... from A Freezing Dive: Hannah and the Antarctic Ocean Currents

Tash and the Sea Cucumbers!

May 02, 2023 01:44 - 31 minutes - 41.3 MB

They look like short fat worms that lie motionless on the ocean floor. But sea cucumbers are so much more. They are a high-priced delicacy in many countries, can throw up their guts for self-defense, and sometimes have a parasitizing fish living in their bum. In this episode of Boiling Point Inna, Hannah and Cat [...] Read More... from Tash and the Sea Cucumbers!

Gentle Giants of the Ocean: Manta Rays

April 25, 2023 09:12 - 30 minutes - 1 Byte

Glorious gentle giants of the sea. These 700 pound creatures are highly intelligent as they collaborate together to gather food. Yet, these creatures are a threatened species. In this episode we chat about manta rays. In this episode, Anastasia, Sammy, and Inna chat to Hannah Moloney. Hannah is a marine scientist and researcher at [...] Read More... from Gentle Giants of the Ocean: Manta Rays

Sam, Vow, and the Future of Cell-Cultured Meat!

April 19, 2023 00:52 - 45 minutes - 1 Byte

What would you say if I told you that the answer to sustainable meat production may lie in the consumption of products made from exotic animals like alpacas, peacocks and even the extinct woolly mammoth? And that this meat would be made without harming any animals? You may say that this seems very far-fetched, but [...] Read More... from Sam, Vow, and the Future of Cell-Cultured Meat!

What poop can tell us about whales

April 12, 2023 11:54 - 30 minutes - 1 Byte

You are what you eat. And what you eat we can study. In this episode of Boiling Point, Anastasia, Hannah, and Sammy, chat with Aashi Parikh, a PhD Candidate from Macquarie University. Aashi looks at whale poop to find out how they live. Follow Aashi on twitter Dont forget to follow Boiling Point on: Twitter [...] Read More... from What poop can tell us about whales

Evading predators with colour

April 05, 2023 02:15 - 30 minutes - 1 Byte

How do you signal “STAY AWAY”. Do you make a noise? Maybe show your teeth? Perhaps, yell? Have you every thought about wearing something bright? There is a rainbow of warning colours that animals present to fend of predators. On this episode of Boiling Point, Anastasia and new Boiling Point recruit Hannah, chat with Marilia [...] Read More... from Evading predators with colour

What does a maritime archeologist do?

March 23, 2023 10:10 - 42 minutes - 52.9 MB

Australia’s coastal waters harbour more than 8,000 ship wrecks. But only a quarter of those have been found. Our guest is a maritime archaeologist and will take us on a dive into her watery world. How is maritime archaeology different from the land-based version? How do you preserve a shipwreck and how do you handle [...] Read More... from What does a maritime archeologist do?

How plants respond to climate change

March 12, 2023 10:10 - 22 minutes - 29.8 MB

Climate change has already caused some animal species to migrate and to seek new and more suitable habitat. But how do plants deal with climate change? They can’t just walk away and find a new place to live, can they? It turned out they can! Our guest is telling us all about migrations of plants [...] Read More... from How plants respond to climate change

Nora and the kangaroos

March 07, 2023 06:04 - 25 minutes - 34.2 MB

One of the most iconic animals in Australia is the kangaroo. It’s on the Australian coat of arms and is one of the first animals most people think of when they think of Australia. Today we are going to take a closer look at one of the less-studied aspects of the kangaroos. Surprisingly, social aspects [...] Read More... from Nora and the kangaroos

Liz and the blennies

March 06, 2023 11:47 - 21 minutes - 27.1 MB

Most people would have heard of Darwin finches, the birds that gave Darwin the idea for the theory of evolution. In this episode, we are taking a closer look at a group of species, that may look less spectacular. But they are evolution in the making. Blennies are fish that have started making their way [...] Read More... from Liz and the blennies

Griff and the importance of seagrass

February 28, 2023 06:30 - 21 minutes - 32.9 MB

It’s green and it seems to be highly abundant. But this impression is treacherous. Sea grass is in decline worldwide. Not a big deal you might think but the truth is, it’s a huge problem, as seagrasses are essential ecosystem builders that numerous marine creatures depend on. Cat chats with UNSW Honours student Griff Brindley [...] Read More... from Griff and the importance of seagrass

The sixth major extinction event and illegal wildlife trafficking

January 25, 2023 04:43 - 27 minutes - 19.6 MB

Boiling Point host Cat chats with Charlotte Read. Charlotte has a degree in conservation and currently teaches children about wildlife and conservation at a zoo in Melbourne. Her interests in conservation are the human wildlife conflict, and in particular illegal wildlife trade. Since she is based in Melbourne, Cat talks to her to her via [...] Read More... from The sixth major extinction event and illegal wildlife trafficking

Sarah and the sea stars

January 19, 2023 06:32 - 19 minutes - 20.1 MB

Did you know that sea stars can get sick, too? Dr Sarah Wahltinez researches the impacts of climate change on sea stars. Cat chats to her for the 2nd episode of the new podcast ‘Wildlife Health Talks’. Sarah is a PhD candidate at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida but is [...] Read More... from Sarah and the sea stars

Rick and the Sydney rock oysters

January 05, 2023 10:09 - 22 minutes - 16.4 MB

They are small, slimy and most people find them delicious. I am talking about oysters. Once the Sydney rock oyster inhabited large areas of Sydney Harbour. Those days are long gone which is pretty tragic. Rock oysters provide the habitat for a large number of other marine species. Our guest studies them all and will [...] Read More... from Rick and the Sydney rock oysters

Hannah the jungle vet

December 15, 2022 11:23 - 14 minutes - 9 MB

Have you ever been to a tropical rainforest with its endless greenery and wildlife everywhere? Our guest has and she never really left. A part of her stayed and upon her return home to Germany she decided she needed to do something to protect these unique habitats and its biodiversity. So, she founded an NGO [...] Read More... from Hannah the jungle vet

The adventure of becoming a doctor

December 10, 2022 07:12 - 27 minutes - 27.8 MB

Australia has many export hits including iron ore, coal and gold. Another important one that’s easily overlooked is high-quality education. Over 500,000 students from all over the world currently study in Australia. Medical science is particularly popular. What is it like to train as a doctor in a new country and a different culture without [...] Read More... from The adventure of becoming a doctor

A career in science communication

November 25, 2022 01:09 - 30 minutes - 1 Byte

How does one get into a career in science communication? Dr. Quill Darby is our making science fun expert today. Quill co-produces events like the Sydney Science Trail and Science Tent at Splendour in the Grass and also runs Junkyard Rascals, a tiny business based on discovery through play. Listen to the episode to find [...] Read More... from A career in science communication

Stressed?!

November 23, 2022 00:48 - 32 minutes - 1 Byte

During development all animals are vulnerable. So how does the experience one encounters while developing actually impact the adult life and can these effects be passed down to their grand-children? Can overstressing due to environmental change be detrimental to the survival of animal populations? Anastasia chats to post-doctoral research fellow Dr. Ondi Crino. Ondi studies [...] Read More... from Stressed?!

Having “the talk” with your doctor

November 14, 2022 04:53 - 1 Byte

In this episode of Boiling Point Anastasia, your host, has “the talk” with General practitioner and lecturer Dr. Melissa Kang. Dr. Melissa Kang is a practicing doctor, associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney, and was Dolly Doctor for over 20 years! Connect with Melissa: Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Melissa the Author Melissa the [...] Read More... from Having “the talk” with your doctor

Is social media bad for our kids?

November 08, 2022 20:35 - 1 Byte

Technology is moving so fast that parents have a hard time keeping up. So what will social media do to our children? What are kids looking at on their phones when the parents aren’t watching? And most importantly, should you have “the talk” with your kids, about Santa? Find out here Dr Rachael Sharman joins [...] Read More... from Is social media bad for our kids?

Saving corals for a living – Prof David to the rescue

November 01, 2022 02:21 - 24 minutes - 15.3 MB

The world’s coral reefs are dying. That’s probably not new to you. Let’s start on a slightly more positive note. My guest has committed his career to providing hope and saving our reefs. He has worked on corals all over the world and will tell us what the situation is really like and what he [...] Read More... from Saving corals for a living – Prof David to the rescue

The infectious disease detective or how to keep infectious diseases at bay

October 30, 2022 07:39 - 29 minutes - 29.5 MB

Having been so occupied with Covid, it’s easy to forget that there are many other infectious diseases lurking out there. A lot of countries still have to deal with cholera, typhoid fever and many others. How do you make sure such diseases don’t become an epidemic and kill thousands of people? This episode’s guest is [...] Read More... from The infectious disease detective or how to keep infectious diseases at bay

Fleur’s journey or how everything in nature is connected

October 20, 2022 07:28 - 25 minutes - 18 Bytes

How do you get a career in wildlife research? Is it magic? Most likely it’s rather strong determination, passion for the subject and a touch of idealism to make this world a better place. My guest is an early career researcher in veterinary science and toxicology. Her passion for wildlife research took her to some [...] Read More... from Fleur’s journey or how everything in nature is connected

Can psychedelics be used to treat mental illness?

October 18, 2022 09:35 - 1 Byte

Drugs are bad… but are all drugs bad? What is it that categorizes some drugs as bad or ok to use occasionally? Why do some drugs have a stigma against them, while others are commonly portrayed on the big screen as the cool thing to do? And can some drugs, in controlled and monitored doses, [...] Read More... from Can psychedelics be used to treat mental illness?

Answering our burning questions with Dr. Karl

September 28, 2022 04:53 - 1 Byte

You know him as the scientist you asks all of your burning questions on Triple J Radio. But today we will know the man behind the answers. We welcome the National Treasure Dr. Karl. Anastasia asks Dr. Karl the burning questions like: how did he get into science communication? How does he live sustainabilly? [...] Read More... from Answering our burning questions with Dr. Karl

Science and industry working together

September 21, 2022 06:03 - 1 Byte

Climate change is getting harder to ignore. Do you feel lost in what you can do to be sustainable? Are you looking for opportunities to get involved with Sustainability and climate change? Not all industries are doomed to kill the environment, some are working with science! In this episode of Boiling Point Anastasia is chatting [...] Read More... from Science and industry working together

What is One Health and why does it matter?

September 17, 2022 15:20 - 22 minutes - 14.5 MB

In the pandemic we learned many lessons, one of the most important was that the health of humans and animals are inseparably connected. After all, the corona virus jumped from wildlife to humans. But this is only part of the story that the term One Health teaches us. My guest is an expert on One [...] Read More... from What is One Health and why does it matter?

Diving with the mother of sharks

September 09, 2022 04:00 - 32 minutes - 12.3 MB

Do you need a holiday? You are in luck! We are taking you on a trip to the Bahamas. White sands, turquoise water and … lots of sharks. The Bahamas are a shark haven and they have a strong advocate here. Our guest has dived with sharks for more than 20 years and understands them [...] Read More... from Diving with the mother of sharks

Viral DNA, it’s in our genes

August 31, 2022 03:04 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MB

Why do we keep getting more viruses? How do they keep up with our evolution? Are we actually providing the perfect breeding ground for viruses? How have viruses changed over time? In this weeks show, your host Anastasia is sitting down with paleovirologist Emma Harding. Did you know that viral DNA is in our genes? [...] Read More... from Viral DNA, it’s in our genes

The Psychology behind Vision

August 24, 2022 00:01 - 29 minutes - 37 Bytes

How do the things we see make us feel? Do we prefer busy, stimulating visuals like city lights or more calming visuals like the ocean? Will some visuals make us feel relaxed or tense, engaged or bored, refreshed or fatigued? In this week’s episode Anastasia is joined by UNSW PhD student Chelle Roberts. Chelle is [...] Read More... from The Psychology behind Vision

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