Diffusion Science radio
1,024 episodes - English - Latest episode: 15 days ago - ★★★★★ - 24 ratingsIf you like a good, broad mix of Science - new science, hard science, pop science, historical science and very silly science, listen to Diffusion.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Freeze, wait, reanimate!
February 20, 2012 07:30 - 35.1 MBIn this Cryonics special edition Ian Woolf speaks with immortalist Matt Fisher about freezing people after death for future resuscitation, and the state of Cryonics in Australia. "Our Cryonic World" written and sung by Charlie Kam. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
E-Cat, bionic bugs and 3 parents
February 13, 2012 07:30 - 35.1 MBLarissa Savvas reports on the prospect of having 3 parents, Therese Chen reports on the suggestion of introducing megafauna to Australia, Julie-Anne Popple reports on Cybernetics in the service of insect spies and augmenting people, Ian Woolf interviews Ian Bryce about his Skeptical inquiries into Rossi's E-Cat power generator. Produced and presented by Ian Woolf
Boycotts, Tricorders and Everything
February 06, 2012 07:30 - 35.1 MBLarrissa Savas reports on Rett's Sydnrome, Ian Woolf reports on the Tricorder X Prize, Victoria Bond and Marc West discuss the History of Nearly Everything, and the scientific boycott of Elsevier publications. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Pigs in Cyberspace!
January 30, 2012 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf and Therese Chen discuss: Pigs and humans collaborating in the virtual world, Birds eaving illusions, Robot farmers, Google memory disorders, Chocolate nuteceuticals, Solar storms blow a good wind, Pills to give you the benefits of strict diets. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Exercise, censorship and mobiles
January 23, 2012 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf , Julie-Anne Popple and Therese Chen diuscuss: Hormones that give the weight-loss benefits of exercise, the internet blackout protest, what is the youngest age for owning a mobile phone? Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Polarity, chilli and weirdness
January 16, 2012 07:30 - 35.1 MBFrom the dusty vaults of 2003: Christine Baker interviews Kip Williams from Macquarie University about courtroom psychology, Keir Smith looks at retinal displays, and finds his Uncle John's sense of direction, Adam Mark explains why pain can be a good thing, Chris Stewart explores the weirdness of Physicists. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Brain magnets, junk DNA and nyphomania
January 09, 2012 07:30 - 35.1 MBTim Baynes speaks to Eva Ferados about using brain magnets to switch off HIS brain functions, during the interview, Amanda Hamilton interviews Dr Malcom Simons about patenting junk DNA, Adam Mark investigates what happens when people become addicted to sex, Chris Stewart explains the psychology of MP3s. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Grave chemistry, anti-gravity, armpits
January 02, 2012 07:30 - 35.1 MBMemory pill research from 2011 by Ian Woolf Unearthed from 2003 are: Tim Baynes reporting on the strange tale of Anti-gravity and the disappearing researchers, an interview by Tim Baynes with Dr Boyd Dent about his 2003 PhD into the geochemistry of cemeteries, An investigation from Marian Curruthers on the role of the male armpit in human sexual attraction, Keir Smith explores the mystery of how sap reaches the tops of trees. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
The 2005 science trivia special fresh from Alaska
December 26, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBThe ghost of Diffusions Xmas past! Listen to a classic from the vaults: the 2005 Christmas special! It was an eventful time - we were served a "Cease and Desist order" from using the name "Discovery", and we discovered we had an audience in an Alaskan community radio station. Quiz-master Chris Stewart plays the Schroedinger Cats against the Pavlov's dogs, with everything to win in a game of science trivia. Playing are: Ian Woolf, Noel Hannah, Natalie Staib, Matt Clarke, Phil Dooley, Jacqu...
People puppets and molecular synthesis
December 19, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf asks Dr Andrew McDonagh about making molecules, Ian Woolf reports on the latest presentation of people doing strange things with electricity, Therese Chen describes abusive boobies, Ian Woolf reports on hacking your brain with light. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Cricket balls and Climate Fix Flicks
December 12, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBJulie-Anne Popple speaks with Dr James Gilbert about cricket testicles, Ian Woolf speaks with Professor Ann Henderson-Sellers about the Climate Fix Flicks competition, News by Larissa Savvas and Julie-Anne Popple: - Solar paint - Wasp to know Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Corpse power and blood pressure genes
December 05, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBBrigid Mullane interviews Professor Brian Morris about the genes for Hypertension, Larissa Savvas explores human corpses as renewable energy, Julie-Anne Popple talks timed turtles, Ian Woolf reports on printed bones and wireless sperm. Produced and presented by Ian Woolf
Cockroaches, crabs and kindness
November 28, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBLarissa Savvas reports on how we detect people with the kindness gene, and how crabs sense danger despite being only able to see blobs, Patrick Rubie reports on how promiscuous sparrows have less fit chicks, Julie-Anne Popple reports on Orb weaver pest control. Wendy Zukcer tells a story about cockroaches at home. Presented by Victoria Bond, Produced by Ian Woolf
Meat, and 200 million year old art
November 21, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBVictoria Bond, Ian Woolf and Therese Chen discuss: How much meat can an Eco-citizen eat? The LHC may explain why there is more matter than ant-matter, 200 hundred million year old art may be from a 30 metre squid, The human genome may be smaller than we thought, The Fukushima nuclear disaster not as bad as feared. Presented by Victoria Bond, Produced by Ian Woolf
Sexy Smells and parasite overlords
November 14, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBMartin Faccini reports on the dopamine brain control mechanisms of our parasite overlords, Patrick Rubie reports on the science of sexy perfumes, News by Ian Woolf: - test tube artificial brain passes quiz - Airdrop brings water from thin air - aging in cells of children suffering Progeria is reversed Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Sunstones, chocolate and rain-making
November 07, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBPatrick Rubie reports on the ancient crystal navigation technology of the Vikings, Ian Woolf reports on anti-cancer and chocolate therapies for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Mic Cavazzini interviews Scott Peak from Australian Rain Technologies. Discussion from Therese Chen. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Disgusting politics and drought resistance
October 31, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf explains the neuropolitics of left and right wing brains, Mic Cavazzini interviews Professor Jim Hasselof about the consequences of genetically engineering drought resistant crops, News by Ian Woolf: - red plumage vanishing from Chernobyl - Global Handwashing Day - Backup crows - mushrooms opening minds - nice patients hurt less - Tasmanian tigers didn't eat sheep - Immigration delay disorder - OCD romance - Roller coaster therapy - Muzak kills the cold - Dog fleas jum...
Photosynthesis and the Malaria vaccine
October 24, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBDr Victoria Bond reports on the new Malaria vaccine, Dr Julie-Anne Popple speaks with Dr Min Chen about photosynthesis, News by Dr Patrick Rubie and Ian Woolf - parrot's names - IQ changes in adolescence - Your brain doesn't tell you everything it knows - temperature targets in trouble - fork size matters when you eat out - Denmark taxes rich food - snails travel by being eaten Presented by Marc West, Produced by Dr Victoria Bond, with technical support from Ian Woolf.
Protein, penicillin and parasites
October 17, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBThe Ignobel prizes reported by Ian Woolf, discussion from Therese Chen and Julie-Anne Popple. Victoria Bond talks Penicillin shortages with Professor Robert Bhoy, Julie-Anne Popple interviews Professor Steve Simpson and Dr Alsion Gosby about the protein hypothesis for obesity. Jams Bourne introduces mind altering parasites, and Ian Woolf explains the brain pathways they use to manipulate their hosts.
Labile languages and remembering Steve Jobs
October 10, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBPatrick Rubie discusses an immunological breakthrough in organ transplant technology. Victoria Bond commemorates Steve Jobs. Patrick Rubie and Victoria Bond speak to John Olstad, of the University of Newcastle, about his work in the fields of linguistics and cognitive anthropology in Papua New Guinea, and the mathematical models used to better understand them. Hosted, paneled, and produced by Victoria Bond
Stelarc and Artificial Brains
October 03, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBTherese Chen reports on Faster Than Light Neutrinos, and cats that shine in nightclubs. From the Singularity Summit Australia, Ian Woolf speaks to Artifical Brain builder Colin Hales, and the amazing transhuman performance artist Stelarc. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Axis of Eating, Secrets of Chocolate
September 26, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBLindsey Gray reports on the Axis of Internal Well-being, Julie-Anne Popple reports on being locked up with plants, Ian Woolf interviews Galit Segev about the Secrets of Chocolate, Victoria Bond interviews Dorothee Bond about managing Heath care in the Republic of Congo Presented by Julie-Anne Popple, Produced by Ian Woolf with technical support by Therese Chen
Artificial Intelligence and windy assassins
September 19, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBDr Julie-Anne Popple reports on the assassin bug's windy tricks, Ian Woolf discusses a 13 year old boy's solar invention with Victoria Bond, and the release of genetically modified mosquitoes with Dr Julie-Anne Popple Ian Woolf interviews Dr Ben Goertzal at the Singularity Summit Australia about his research into Artificial Intelligence and the Singularity, Presented and produced by Ian Woolf, with technical support by Therese Chen
Synthetic biology and cloud-busting
September 12, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf and Victoria Bond discuss this week's news: infectious disease and IQ variations, laser cloud busting, and electronic temporary tattoos. Dr. Mic Cavazzini is back, and he asks Prof. Haslehof of Cambridge University about designing synthetic organisms. Paneled by Therese Chen, hosted and produced by Victoria Bond
Seagrass, Art, and Maggots
September 05, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBNo manned space craft for the International Space station rescue by Victoria Bond Art meets Science at the Powerhouse Museum by Ian Woolf, Professor Pinas talks about maggot therapy with Victoria Bond, Eureka prize nominee Dr Peter Macreadie explains the importance of seagrasses, Presented by Dr Julie-Anne Popple, Produced by Ian Woolf
Hormoned beef and fracked farming
August 29, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBPatrick Rubie reports: bacteria as a solution to dengue fever, and harnessing kinetic energy to power up your mobile phone. Victoria Bond and Martin Facini discuss the potential and hazards in coal seam gas mining. Finally, Brigid Mullane interviews Ian Lean about hormones in beef: why do we use them? Hosted, paneled, and produced by Victoria Bond
A Social Experiment
August 22, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBMic Cavazzini chats with Professor Simon Gaechter from the University of Nottingham about why we humans just can't co-operate with one another- before putting our panelists through Gaechter's Public Goods Game to see just how selfish we all are. Dr Julie-Anne Popple brings you the latest on morphing moths. Produced by James Bourne
Bones, Tassie Devils and Mind Control
August 15, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf talks to Professor Bruce Milthorpe about tissue engineering using coral. Mic Cavazzini chats with Professor Jenny Graves about immunity in Tasmanian devils. James Bourne takes a look at the latest news on the mind controlling parastie, Toxoplasma gondii. Presented by Dr Julie-Anne Popple, produced by James Bourne.
Lizard babies and exploding stars
August 08, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBDr Julie-Anne Popple interviews Brigid Murphy about her discovery that lizards live births illuminate the evolution of cancer, Ian Woolf speaks to Dr Martin van Kerwijk about his research in new types of supernovas and neutron stars, News by Therese Chen, Victoria Bond, Mic Cavazzini and Ian Woolf Glassing research for better forsensics, Gasland film showing in Sydney, Synthetic Biology lecture in Sydney, Live Futures Festival in Sydney, Robot Wars in Sydney Presented by Mic Cavazzin...
Enquiry based learning and Hendra
August 01, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBAssociate Professor Les Kirkup spoke to Ian Woolf about how to make lab classes more interesting, James Bourne, Mic Cavazzini and Ian Woolf discuss the Hendra virus news. Presented by James Bourne, Produced by Ian Woolf
I love that word, Meltdown
July 25, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf tells us about the latest and greatest in stem cell organ transplant. Victoria Bond, Ian Woolf, and Martin Faccini speak to to Matt Dawson, the amateur astronomer who named the recently discovered planetoid "255073: victoriabond". Martin Faccini gives us an update on the Fukushima meltdown. Hosted, paneled, and produced by Victoria Bond.
Lactating insects and handy fish
July 18, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBDr Julie-Anne Popple interviews Dr James Gilbert about insects that look after their young, News by Therese Chen - tool use by fish - magpies kill other magpies chicks - warm blooded dinosaurs Presented by Victoria Bond, Produced by Ian Woolf
Expanding Universe, Zombie ladybugs
July 11, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBProfessor Robert Kirshner speaks to Ian Woolf about supernovas and the accelerating expanding universe, News by Dr Popple and Therese Chan: - Greenhouse wallabies - giant wombats - horny bugs are loud - zombie ladybugs Presented by Therese Chan, Produced by Ian Woolf
Anatomical anomalies and Cane toads
July 04, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf speaks with Dr Robert Quinby about his discovery of a third type of supernova, Victoria Bond speaks with Dr Adam Freeman about Anatomical variations, Julie-Anne Popple speaks with Professor Rick Shine about cane toad research, News by Victoria Bond and Julie-Anne Popple: - Ocean acidification report released - Surge in QLD turtle deaths - Tau day - Pig Poo Pond Power Presented by Victoria Bond Produced by Ian Woolf
The birds and the bees and mint
June 27, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBJulie-Anne Popple, Victoria Bond and Ian Woolf speak with Botanist Dr Trevor Wilson about pollenation and mint, Julie-Anne Popple reports the news: - Cervical cancer vaccination - Greenhouse data shared by CSIRO online - new CSIRO solar hot air power station opened - sensory hairs help bats fly more precisely Presented by Victoria Bond, Produced by Ian Woolf
Let's talk about X... and exits
June 20, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBVictoria Bond speaks to Dr. Jacqui McPhee about her experiences in ICU and palliative care, and end of life care. Ian Woolf and Julianne Popple discuss Terry Pratchet's endorsement of euthanasia. After an interlude from Monty Python, Mic Cavazzini speaks to Professor Jenny Graves of the Australian National University about marsupials, and what they can tell us about our own genome. Hosted by Ian Woolf, paneled and produced by Victoria Bond
Terminal Decline and Zero Emissions
June 13, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBVictoria Bond spoke to Prof. Mohammed Khadra about his latest book, Terminal Decline. They also spoke about end of life care, and the strained Australian health budget. Ian Woolf and Julianne Popple discuss their thoughts on end of life care and euthanasia. Marc West interviews Beyond Zero Emissions Australia, about climate change, science, and policy. Pesented and produced by Victoria Bond
Phone cancer and giant cuttlefish
June 06, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf, Julianne Popple, and Victoria Bond discuss mobile phones' ugrade in carcinogenecity category by the WHO. Ian Woolf and Patrick Rubie talk about all the threats to giant cuttlefish. Paneled, hosted, and produced by Victoria Bond
Fear pathways and vampire allergies
May 23, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBMic Cavazzini interviews Dr Tim Bredy from the Queensland Brain Institute about post traumatic stress disorder, Patrick Rubie reports: - Peanuts eaten by donors can hurt blood transfusion recipients, - Planets without stars observed by gravitational micro-lensing, - Coal seam gas drilling for residential Sydney, Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
HIV vaccine, Sponge music, casual sex
May 16, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBVictoria Bond reports on the latest HIV Vaccines, Ian Woolf interviews Martin Marier about his musical sponge instrument at Dorkbot Sydney, Ian Woolf and Patrick Rubie discuss research into casual sex, Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Circadian rhythms and sperm teasing
May 09, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBVictoria Bond interviews Professor Ian Hickie about circadian rhythms and depression, Patrick Rubie reports on: - Sperm teasing - big tobacco cures starvation - asteroid dust and the origins of life Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Bionic Eyes and Synthetic Biology
May 02, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBAssociate Professor Gregg Suaning shares his Bionic Vision with Ian Woolf, Ian Woolf explores Synthetic Biology, and would he would do with access to a wet printer. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Driver Fatigue and Ury's Night
April 25, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBVictoria Bond celebrates 50 years of human space travel, Ian Woolf interviews Dr Sara Lal and Diarmuid Kavanagh about stopping tiredness killing people, News by Patrick Rubie: - safe injecting cuts overdoses - premature pregnancy evolves - NASA finds medicines stored in space become inactive Presented by Victoria Bond, produced by Victoria Bond and Ian Woolf
Protect Research Rally and 3 blind mice
April 18, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf visits the protest rally against proposed medical research budget cuts, and interviews: Bettina Arndt, Bill Ferris, Judy Black, and Andrea MacFarland. Patrick Rubie with the latest medical research news: Blindness, Schizophrenia and Depression. Produced and presented by Ian Woolf
Fukushima special!
April 11, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBVictoria Bond asks Ian Woolf to explain what radiation is, anyway. Martin Faccini cuts through the spook to get down to the bottom of health risks surrounding the meltdown. Finally, a Diffusion panel discussion about levels of exposure and radiation hormesis. Paneled by Ian Woolf, produced by Victoria Bond.
Handwashing, meltdown and nanocooling
April 04, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBVictoria Bond gets the scoop from Ian Woolf on the nuclear reactor situation in Japan and asks, what is a meltdown, exactly? Victoria Bond speaks to Adam Freeman about why surgeons get so passionate about hand hygiene. Ian Woolf speaks to Geoff Smith about nanophotonics, and cooling. Presented and produced by Victoria Bond, with technical support by Ian Woolf
Smart windows and Morton's Demon'
March 28, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MB"Confirmation bias, denialism and Morton's Demon" by Peter Bowditch, Professor Geoff Smith spoke to Ian Woolf about how nano-photonics can be used for smart clothes and smart windows Presented by Ian Woolf, Produced by Victoria Bond
TB Day and CSIRO vacations
March 21, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBKate Barnard speaks to students in the CSIRO Vacation Scholarship Program, Victoria Bond talks about World Tuberculosis Day, Ian Woolf interviews Professor Geoff Smith about the importance of Nanophotonics to environmental energy flows, Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
First computers and Radio mashups
March 14, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBPeter Bowditch describes Australia's first computer science, Smooth by Derek Muller, Ian Woolf talks with Balint Seeber about radio-frequency mashups, Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Smart Bras and cheesey pickup lines
March 07, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBPhillipe Perez interviews Dr Timothy C. Nielsen about the Smart Bra News by Ian Woolf -BBC saved by Bit Torrent, -Electro-shock body armour, -Mulchable PC cases, -Solar roads, -Singularity Summit Australia 2011, -Jurassic Lounge, -Cheesey pickup lines have a purpose Gravity by Derek Muller, Presented and produced by Ian Woolf