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.
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Episodes
Nuclear medicine and the Singularity
February 28, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBSingularitarian by Charlie Cam, The technological Singularity by Ian Woolf, I'm Atoms by Derek Muller, Reactor-free nuclear medicine by Ian Woolf Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Unfair reporting and DNA Poetry
February 21, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBFree internet for everyone by Ian Woolf Electronic glasses by Ian Woolf DNA poetry by Ian Woolf, How not to be fair and balanced, and why never to debate, by Peter Bowditch Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Fire and Transhumanism
February 14, 2011 07:30 - 25.5 MBInvisibility - all done with mirrors by Ian Woolf, Kate Grimwood talks with Ian Woolf about her science of Fire Investigation PhD, An introduction to Transhumanism by Ian Woolf, Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Death by Chocolate!
February 07, 2011 07:30 - 25.5 MBWhat is the lethal dose of chocolate? Prayer and the neurology of scepticism, Seduction while you sleep, Caffeine makes you suggestible, DNA altered by the mind, Elderly made young by accident, Does a duck's quack echo? Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
The Science of Romance
January 31, 2011 07:30 - 25.5 MBMatthew Hall and Melinda Hall King discuss the psychology of human courtship, Ian Woolf reports how women can unconsciously read an attractive man's face, Matthew and Melinda discuss the psychology of the first kiss and compliments. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Attention and Woolf-Pulfrich effect
January 24, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf reports on whistling caterpillars, carnivorous domestic entertainment robots, fluoridated water can hurt children's teeth, Profiling everybody at Gotham partners, Peer Review by the Peer Review Players, Paying attention can lose you weight and make you happy, The Woolf-Pulfrich effect - 3D and antidepressant! Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Skin hunger and mouse Draculas
January 17, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBMatthew Hall and Melinda Hall King explain to Ian Woolf why men in our culture suffer from skin hunger, Ian Woolf explores research rejuvenating old mice with the blood of young glowing mice, Professor Joe Silk talks to Ian Woolf about the search for Dark matter, and why invisible things are important. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Mating dance, Vitamin C and Coal
January 10, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBMatthew Hall and Melinda Hall-King share their wisdom on the human mating dance, Ian Woolf revisits the link between vitamins and sexual behaviour, and revisits how the coal industry could be saved by solar power. Produced and presented by Ian Woolf
Lifelogging and fake meat
January 03, 2011 07:30 - 35.1 MBRecord your life with life-logging. Do you care about privacy on the internet? Would you eat fake meat? Discussion by Ollie Barrand, Catherine Beahag, Marc West and Aaron Cook. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Sperm Wars and Santa science
December 27, 2010 07:30 - 35.1 MBMarc West and Bianca Nogrady revisit the Science of Santa from 2009, Ian Woolf discusses Robin Baker's Sperm Wars with Aaron Cooke and Daniel Keogh Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Tsunami warning and Greentech awards
December 20, 2010 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf interviews Marianne Menictas about her tsunami warning modelling to save the most people for the least cost. Matt Clarke in 2006 talks about semen allergies with out-takes, Marc West in 2006 explains cricket psychology, Ian Woolf reports from the Consensus Greentech Awards Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Younger mice and spider invasions
December 13, 2010 07:30 - 35.1 MBMarc West speaks to Dr Cor Vink about the invasion of foreign spiders to New Zealand Ian Woolf reports on the reversal of aging in Harvard lab mice, News from MX read by Ian Woolf: - private company reaches orbit - Japanese spacecraft misses Venus, but will try again - stem cells repair spinal injury in small monkey - One flu jab for life - facebook page leads to brain surgery Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Neutron bombs, GM apples and Zanzibar
December 06, 2010 07:30 - 35.1 MBLachlan What more looks back over the history of neutron bombs, Victoria Bond reports on apples genetically modified to hide spoilage, discussion from Marc West, Peta Waller-Bryant, Ian Woolf, Phillipe Perez, Victoria Bond and Lachlan Whatmore. News by Phillipe Perez - more stars means less dark matter - US builds flying transformer trucks Presented by Marc West Produced by Ian Woolf, buttons pressed by Victoria Bond
Real Doctors eat Breakfast
November 29, 2010 07:30 - 35.1 MBVictoria Bond checks in with some new evidence of a Universe before the Big Bang. Marc West interviews Kylie Smith on a recently published study which outlines possible long term risks involved in skipping your daily breakfast. Lachlan Whatmore spoke to Dr. Cassandra Meirs, and Dr. William Halford, on the trials and tribulations of obtaining a PhD.
Ethics of addict detention and enhanced children
November 22, 2010 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf summarises Robert Sparrow's talk "The Not-so-New Eugenics: The Harsh Logic of human enhancement", about the ethics of child enhancing technology, from the Singularity Summit, Australia, Victoria Bond interviews Dr Fisher from Nepean hospital about the ethics of psychiatrically detaining drug addicts, News by Victoria Bond and Ian Woolf - LHC makes antimatter - Bacterial glue heals buildings Presented by Phillipe Perez Produced by Ian Woolf, with technical support from Vict...
Healthy Old Age
November 15, 2010 07:30 - 35.1 MBIan Woolf reports from the Singularity Summit on Gregory Benford's Genescient research into preventing the diseases of old age using genomics and artifical intelligence to produce nutraceuticals that may allow a healthy old age, with discussion from Marc West and Charles Willock. News by Marc West, Ian Woolf, and Charles Willock - Gummi bear finger-print hack - weeds out-evolve Monsanto - Chatbot argues with climate deniers on twitter Presented by Marc West, Produced by Ian Woolf
Herpes, Dengue fever and Marijuana
November 08, 2010 07:30 - 35.1 MBLachlan Whatmore interviews Bill Halford of Southern Illinois University about his cutting edge research on the upcoming Herpes vaccine. In a similar vein, Victoria Bond tracks Robert Booy down to discuss the ongoing development on the Dengue Fever vaccine, and the impact of this disease worldwide. Finally, Victoria Bond speaks to Maree Teesson of the National Drug and Alcohol Centre about the relationship between cannabis and schizophrenia. Hosted by Lachlan Whatmore. Paneled and produ...
Amniotic eggs and SETI doomed by AI
November 01, 2010 07:30 - 35.1 MBOn this edition of Diffusion, Ian Woolf brings back grim tidings from the Singularity Summit in Melbourne, Australia. Newly uncle'd Lachlan Whatmore delves into the evolutionary marvel that are amniotic eggs. Hosted, paneled, and produced by Victoria Bond, with support from Patrick Rubie.
Of madness, love, and melted space ships
October 25, 2010 07:30 - 25.5 MBVictoria Bond covers this week's news. Victoria Bond interviews Professor Anthony Harris on attachment theory and the development of healthy relationships. Marc West keeps slugging through Science Week questions, namely: how close does a space ship have to be to the sun to melt? Hosted and paneled by Marc West, produced by Victoria Bond.
Oxytocin, love and sex
October 18, 2010 07:30 - 25.5 MB2010 Subscriber drive! Victoria Bond discusses oxytocin with Dr. Champion. Marc West trolls bars for opinions on love and sex. Ian Woolf voices in on antidepressant chemicals found in semen. Presented by Marc West. Panelled by Ian Woolf. Produced by Victoria Bond.
Ig Nobels 2010 and Artilects 3
October 11, 2010 07:30 - 25.5 MBThis is the pre-recorded version of Diffusion that was broadcast on the Community Radio Network. There is a second live 2SER subscriber drive edition for this date. Ian Woolf and Marc West discuss the Ig Nobels awarded by the Annals of Improbable Research, Ian Woolf concludes his interview with Hugo De Garis about his vision of the impending war between those who would build massively intelligent machines and those who would stop them at all costs, at the Singularity Summit Australia, in M...
Plankton and the Artilect War
October 04, 2010 04:00 - 25.5 MBIan Woolf speaks to Hugo De Garis about the implications of being able to build god-like massively super-intelligent machines at the Singularity Summit Australia in Melbourne. Lachlan Whatmore explains the phytoplankton crisis. Presented and Produced by Ian Woolf
Gene modified salmon and Sexy dancing
September 27, 2010 04:00 - 25.5 MBVictoria Bond reports on the legalisation of genetically modified salmon and its Frankenfish implications, leading a panel discussion with Marc West, Phillipe Perez and Ian Woolf. Ian Woolf describes the male dance moves that sexually attract women, and discusses the science with Melinda Hall King and Matthew Hall. Presented by Phillipe Perez, and produced by Ian Woolf.
BSD Sex and Beady-Eyed Agents
September 20, 2010 04:00 - 25.5 MBLachlan Whatmore reports on the chocolate genome Marc West and Darren Osborne discuss the science of sex in the pub, Ian Woolf interviews Dr Michael Georgeff about Rational agents, Presented by Bonnie Yiu, Produced by Ian Woolf
Sports at altitude and Jacob Bronowski
September 13, 2010 04:00 - 35.1 MBVictoria Bond presents this week's news. Marc West interviews Chris Gore about why athletes train at high altitude. Lachlan Whatmore commemorates the late, great Jacob Bronowski. Hosted by Marc West, produced by Victoria Bond
Wave energy and the Coming Famine
September 06, 2010 04:00 - 35.1 MBVictoria Bond coverâs this week's news: helium shortages, revolutionary tuberculosis testing and a suggestion to take a walk and leave the ipod at home. Joel Werner investigates the newest contender for green energy: wave power! Victoria Bond spoke to Julian Cribb about his newest book, the Coming Famine, and he explains why we are heading for major food crises within the next 50 years. Hosted and produced by Victoria Bond, paneled by Jesus Tarbay.
DIY EMP, Putin and Sunlight
August 30, 2010 04:00 - 25.5 MBIan Woolf speaks to Leigh Russell at Dorkbot. Leigh explodes a hydrogen filled condom to cause an Electromagnetic pulse that reboots a computer. He moves beads with sound and brings non-Newtonian fluids to life. Listener question: Is sunlight behind glass just as good as outside? answered by Ian Woolf News - President Putin's views on the science of whaling and climate change by Lachlan Whatmore - How Grapefruit could make you pregnant by Ian Woolf Presented by Lachlan Whatmore, Pro...
Photic sneezing and a naked scientist
August 23, 2010 04:00 - 33.2 MBVictoria Bond and Ian Woolf cover this week's news. Marc West spoke to Dr. Louis Ptacek for even more about photic sneezing. Lachlan Whatmore gets down to the bottom of what a breed is, exactly. Bonnie Yu interviews Chris "The Naked Scientist" Smith about climate change and its impact on Australia. Hosted, paneled and produced by Victoria Bond.
2010 Science Festival special
August 16, 2010 04:00 - 33.2 MBThe Diffusion Science Week special, coming to you from the Ultimo Science Festival. We tackle the questions you have asked us over the last few weeks. Why do I sneeze at the Sun? What would something look like if it was travelling at the speed of light? Why do sportsmen train at altitude? Why do previously overweight people have trouble keeping the weight off? We ask the experts to get the real answers to these questions and more! Questions answered by Victoria Bond and Ian Woolf...
Brown science, Solar cells, horse tale
August 09, 2010 04:00 - 33.2 MBAaron Cook presents this week's juicy news. Lachlan Whatmore finishes off his trilogy tribute to horse evolution. Marc West grills Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Green Party, about his party's stand on science in the upcoming election, Brigid Mullane interviews Rod Seares about the cost effectiveness of solar pannels in Australia. Panneled, presented and produced by Victoria Bond
Power tool orchestra, self-attraction?
August 02, 2010 04:00 - 33.2 MBIan Woolf speaks to Fred Rodrigues with his power tools orchestra at Dorkbot Sydney, Lachlan Whatmore brings us part 2 of the evolution of the horse, News by Victoria Bond - Dogs can't help imitating people - Social networks help you live longer - are people most attracted to those that look like themselves? Presented by Lachlan Whatmore, Produced by Ian Woolf with technical support from Victoria Bond
Rare Earth, Horses, Nano-wires
July 26, 2010 04:00 - 61.8 MBBrigid Mullane interviews Dr Matthew James about rare earth minerals from mines to mobiles, Lachlan Whatmore begins part 1 of the evolution of the horse, Ian Woolf interviews Professor Matthew Phillips about nano-wires and LEDs Presented and panelled by Marc West, Produced by Ian Woolf
Female physicists and belly button dynamics
July 19, 2010 07:30 - 61.8 MBVictoria Bond spoke to Aileen Woo about gender equity at the University of NSW's physics department, Lachlan Whatmore explores the underwater Hudson Canyon, Victoria Bond spoke to Robert Booy about the importance of vaccine compliance, and the downfall of the AVN. News by Ian Woolf, Marc West, and Victoria Bond Produced, panelled and presented by Victoria Bond
Beauty and the Geek, and Homeopathy
July 12, 2010 07:30 - 61.8 MBVictoria Bond and Lachlan Whatmore speak to the Australian Beauty and the Geek reality TV show, Victoria Bond and Ian Woolf discuss the UK de-funding of Homeopathic hospitals, News By Victoria Bond - bird brains are like ours - cold, cold antimatter - addictive romantic rejection Presented by Ian Woolf Produced by Lachlan Whatmore and Ian Woolf Panelled by Marc West
Sexual selection and the bionic eye
July 05, 2010 07:30 - 34.1 MBMarc West continues his interview with Professor Rob Brook about sexual selection in evolution. The latest Bionic Eye development is explained to Ian Woolf by Nanjian Liu and Paulette Lieby of NICTA Presented and panelled by Ian Woolf, Produced by Marc West
Sex Evolution and Technological Art
June 28, 2010 07:30 - 62.7 MBMarc West interviews Professor Rob Brook about sexual selection in evolution. Ian Woolf participates in a technological art workshop to build an interactive sculpture with artist Ian Burns, and talks with participants Neil McGann, Bharti Patel, Liz O'Reilly and Julie Ashcroft. Cognitive Bias song by Brad Wray Presented and panelled by Marc West, Produced by Ian Woolf
Cognitive Load and Vision Revolution
June 21, 2010 07:30 - 24.6 MBIan Woolf speaks with Dr Bo Yin about how your voice can betray to software how hard you are concentrating, The Vision Revolution by Mark Changizi reviewed by Ian Woolf with commentary by Aaron Cooke and Daniel Keogh, News by Marc West - Obesity ruins your sexual health - Whales are carbon negative Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Solar racing and toxoplasma
June 14, 2010 07:30 - 24.6 MBAlexandra Bulgakov talks with Ian Woolf about the UNSW Solar powered racing car, Victoria Bond talk about Toxoplasmosis Gondii, News by Victoria Bond, Presented by Marc West, Produced by Victoria Bond
Trigeneration and Sports networks
June 07, 2010 07:30 - 24.6 MBAaron Cooke reports on Sydney Council's plan for 85% efficient gas trigeneration power plants for Sydney, Ian Woolf speaks with Lief Hamlin about sports networks from NICTA, News by Marc West - Pacific Islands unihabitable but above water in 100 years - Caffeine alertness is an illusion of addiction - soil bacteria makes you temporarily smarter - ultrasound blast to the testicles for contraception Presented and Produced by Ian Woolf
R.I.P. Martin Gardner and Rover Phoenix
May 31, 2010 07:30 - 34.1 MBDiffusion remembers the wondrous Martin Gardner and his contribution to science education. Aaron Cook commemorates Rover Phoenix after a long slog on Mars. News by Aaron Cook, Marc West, and Victoria Bond. Presented by Sarah Bartlett, produced by Victoria Bond.
Sexy Greys and super-planes
May 24, 2010 07:30 - 24.6 MBIan Woolf, Dan Keogh and Aaron Cook discuss: - 3G planes that take advantage of physics to save 50% fuel by Aaron Cook, - Male Topy antelopes decieve females into staying by faking predator warnings by Aaron Cook, - the $100 tablet PC and its consequences by Ian Woolf, - choosing sexually attractive human body shapes for science at the UNSW online bodylab by Ian Woolf, Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Trigeneration and Sports networks
May 17, 2010 07:30Ian Woolf interviews Melissa Neighbor about Project Survival Pacific and disappearing landmass in the Pacific islands Aaron Cook talks about the link between singing and cricket balls Jon Bale breathes new life in the science of sighs Victoria Bond discusses the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and peak oil Presented and produced by Victoria Bond
Electric spaceships and domesticating dogs
May 10, 2010 07:30 - 63.7 MBMarc West interviews Alan Wilton about the history of dog domestification Aaron Cooke reports - how dementia caring puts carers at risk of dementia, - how some countries will be uninhabitable by humans in 2100 Jon Bale tells us about - NASA's electric spaceships, - how HIV immunity works, - killer whales are actually three different species Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Pill's 50th twitter box office hits
May 03, 2010 07:30 - 63.7 MBJon Bale covers the news with water-recycling cacti Marc West interviews Sitaram Asur about predicting box office hits on Twitter Victoria Bond celebrates the Pill's very special 50th birthday Produced and presented by Victoria Bond
Quolls,laser planes, anosmic flies
April 26, 2010 07:30 - 63.7 MBPluto demoted again? It's been some fall from grace for Pluto. This week sees a possible new definition of dwarf-planet, and it seems Pluto is hardly special at all. Charles Lineweaver explains to Marc West Ian Woolf tackles grey hair and baldness, and rats solving the long-standing mathematical conundrum, the prisoners' dilemma. Produced and presented by Victoria Bond
Dwarf planets and cooperating rats
April 19, 2010 07:30 - 63.7 MBPluto demoted again? It's been some fall from grace for Pluto. This week sees a possible new definition of dwarf-planet, and it seems Pluto is hardly special at all. Charles Lineweaver explains to Marc West Ian Woolf tackles grey hair and baldness, and rats solving the long-standing mathematical conundrum, the prisoners' dilemma. Produced and presented by Victoria Bond
Doc Oc, Element 117, and Nikola Tesla
April 12, 2010 07:30 - 63.7 MBAaron Cook reports on Element 117-- Ununseptium Marc West speaks with "Doctor Boob" about super-villain Doc Oc Victoria Bond and Ian Woolf discuss the life and legend of Nikola Tesla Presented by Ian Woolf, Produced by Victoria Bond, with technical support by Ian Woolf
Australian Pirate Party, and LHC restarted
April 05, 2010 07:30 - 40.8 MBThe Australian Pirate Party's Simon Frew explains how the party is for online civil liberties to Ian Woolf. Victoria Bond reports that the Large Hadron Collider didn't destroy the world, the brain has a moral centre that can be switched off with giant magnets, and the courts rule that human genes can't be patented. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf
Glowing sperm and syphilis handshakes
March 29, 2010 07:30 - 40.8 MBAaron Cook talks glow in the dark sperm with Scott Pitnick Marc West and Victoria Bond demonstrate how to check for syphilis Iam Woolf discusses Man Flu Presented and produced by Victoria Bond, with technical help from Ian Woolf
Beneath your feet, pharmacegemnomics
March 22, 2010 07:30 - 58.9 MBAaron Cooke asks Geophysicist Hrvoje Tkalcic whats happening inside the Earth, Ollie Barrand, Marc West and Ian Woolf discuss Pharmacogenomics and Gattaca, Ian Woolf and Aaron Cooke discuss forbidden words and the healing powers of marmite. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf