Diffusion Science radio artwork

Diffusion Science radio

1,024 episodes - English - Latest episode: 15 days ago - ★★★★★ - 24 ratings

If you like a good, broad mix of Science - new science, hard science, pop science, historical science and very silly science, listen to Diffusion.

Natural Sciences Science Education science australia diffusion technology societ
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

Earth hour and Carnivorous plants

April 06, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Marc West interviews Dr Ben McNeil about Climate Change science and policy, Ian Woolf feeds his Carnivorous plants, News by Ian Woolf - Solar cycle could get noisy - Strangers make better mates - Genes diversify in hard times Presented and produced by Ian Woolf

Mad cows, stem cells and Dark aliens

March 30, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Muhsin Karim explains the big issues of tiny stem cells, Ian Woolf looks for Dark aliens, News by Ian Woolf - Twin paradox in DNA profiling - Mad cows come unstuck - Diabetic sugar Presented and produced by Ian Woolf

LOLcat censorship and Future Journeys

March 23, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Futurist Janine Cahill explains to Ian Woolf how to listen to gentle whispers, Google Guru Jim Stewart discusses the ACMA black-list of material censored in Australia, Protesters puzzled by banning of funny cat pictures and witch-hunting, Colin Jacobs from Electronic Frontiers Australia explains why Internet censorship is a political problem, not a technical problem. News by Kalvin Ng - underwater eruption - self-healing cars - Tiger ID - teenage space balloon Presented by Charles ...

Bats and sharks and CFS, correlated?

March 16, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Nick Evershed interviews Dr. Lindy Lumsden about Pipistrelle bats near extinction on Christmas Island, Ian Woolf gives his view of the New Scientist interview assertion that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is "almost all in the mind", Marc West examines correlation and causation, News by Jacqui Hayes - Older parents statistically have less intelligent children - Stem cell policy change - DNA confirms Tsar's children died with the Tsar Presented by Marc West, Produced by Ian Woolf

Gender, Curie, Franklin, and Carson

March 09, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

International Women's Day 2009 with Victoria Bond and Ian Woolf, Gender bending stories: - phthalates feminise boys - half boy half girl bird brain - sixth sense switches mice gender - gender gene identified - Gender and sex identity development - gender development disorders - Turner sydnrome - Kleinfelter syndrome - hermaphroditism and gender assignment - testosterone receptor insensitivity Women in Science: Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin, Rachel Carson Presented...

Space, babies and pregnant fish

March 02, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Marc West talks to Bianca Nogrady from New Scientist Magazine about the last 3 unknown facts of our solar system. Lachlan Whatmore pays a tribute to a special lady called Ruby and explains why babies are so warm. Patrick Rubie will change the way you think about fish…forever News by Patrick Rubie - Migrating Planets - Mutated HIV - Bilirubin in plants Presented by Lachlan Whatmore, Produced by Patrick Rubie

Brains, Space and medical tattoos

February 23, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Patrick Rubie sees a green comet, meningitis in disguise, and beta blocks memories. Ian Woolf looks at medical tattoos, with commentary from Drew Shobbrook. Marc West interviews Bianca Nogrady about the mysteries of our solar system. Presented by Patrick Rubie and produced by Ian Woolf

Cassowary are you?

February 16, 2009 07:30 - 42.1 MB

Tilly Boleyn, Chris Stewart and Jacqui Hayes have the latest news about fetal alcohol syndrome, the FAST telescope in China, spray-on solar panels and they ask, "Cassowary are you?" Produced by Jacqui Hayes, panelled by Tilly Boleyn.

Walking tree, smart mobile, bad chick

February 09, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Drew Shobbrook explains how to be smart about being electronically mobile, Patrick Rubie sights land whales, Walking trees cross Ian Woolf's path, while unhealthy chickens get peckish, Presented and Produced by Ian Woolf

Green contraception, Fifth grade science

February 02, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Sarah Wood investigates which contraception is better for the environment - the pill or condoms? Caitlin Howlett has a brain-busting quiz. News by Jacqui Hayes -where happy Australians are living -why we yawn Presented by Sarah Wood Produced by Jacqui Hayes

Cancer, Dust and Super-tasters

January 26, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

John August explains the causes of cancer, Amy Bullen explores dust, Jaqui Hayes, Monica Sharma, Derek Muller and Ian Woolf discuss super-tasters. News by Ian Woolf - generate power from water flowing in buildings - the cloak of invisibility is now tunable Presented and produced by Ian Woolf

Science in Namibia, Magnificent Maths

January 19, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Patrick Rubie interviews Scott Daniel, a member of Australian Volunteers International and former National Science and Technology Centre (QUESTACON) worker, about teaching Science in Namibia. Marc West talks about the 5 biggest Mathematics stories of 2008. News by Kalvin Ng - New climate change advisers for Obama - Energy sources ranked - Oestradiol causes affairs Presented by Jacquie Hayes Produced by Patrick Rubie

Unhealthy Santa, and Roo for You

January 12, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Marc West consults Bianca Nogrady about Santa's gut, Patrick Rubie tucks into kangaroo for science, News by Patrick Rubie - Consumer electronics show - adolescent baldness - tasmanian devil sailing Presented by Derek Muller and produced by Ian Woolf

Reading brains, Dave sings science

January 05, 2009 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Ian Woolf looks inside the minds eye with a scanner, commentary by Charles Willock, Patrick Rubie zaps cheap wine into the good stuff, Kalvin Ng shows the world was warmer than you thought, Dave the Happy Singer reviews the news in impromptu song, Dave Sings Monty Python's Universe song, Presented by Marc West Produced by Ian Woolf

2008 Kisses, tantrums and infections

December 29, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

For the last show of 2008, plenty of love, tears and infection spreading! Patrick Rubie looks at the nice and the nasty side of mistletoe. Victoria Bond and Jaime Leclerc quiz you on infectious diseases. Ian Woolf tells a tale of eight-tentacled fury at the Sea Star Aquarium in Coburg, Germany. And in our last news of 2008 Marc West reveals secrets of Santa! Presented by Darren Osborne Produced by Patrick Rubie Panelled by Ian Woolf The mistletoe: naughty or nice\? by Patric...

Christmas 2008 special

December 22, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Marc West interviews Hayley Birch organiser of the Geek Pop Festival, Marc West and Darren Osborne reflect on the science that made the news in 2008, news on Santa dealing with global warming and the global financial crisis, Reindeer science Produced and Presented by Marc West

Internet censorship protest special

December 15, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Ian Woolf speaks with Sam, organiser of the protest, Fiona Patten convenor of the Australian Sex Party, and finally Dave the Happy Singer and Percy from the Digital Liberty Coalition, News by Kalvin Ng - dying coral reefs, - relating to artificial people, - ancient cannabis in China. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf

Maths, hot leaves, and body swapping

December 08, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Marc West talks with Jamos McAlister and Marcus Findlay about teaching kids that "calculations are the spelling of maths, not the story", Ian Woolf talks to Dr Andrea Leigh at the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Technology, Sydney about the science of hot leaves, News by Kalvin Ng and Monica Sharma, - body swapping - software to make you statistically beautiful, - heart attacks prevent heart attacks, Ian Woolf rallies the Internet censorship protest a...

Parasite Wisdom, warming, space sugar

December 01, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

News by Marc West - global warming and the next ice age, - wine's bubbles can track the carbon dioxide from fossil fuels, - dating glaciers by atomic bomb residue, - wind farms may create weather, - celestial smiley face Ian Woolf talks parasite wisdom with Professor John Dalton, director of the Institute for the Biotechnology of Infectious Diseases, UTS, who researches how to exploit parasite's knowledge of our immune system to cure diseases. Caitlin Howlett tell...

Cells, Cycling, and fake holograms

November 24, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

PhD student Phoebe Peters talks with Ian Woolf about how life itself really works and how cells reproduce. Cyling scientist Chris Lauf describes his 7 month science education adventure around Queensland to Caitlin Howlett. Cart washes with Kalvin Ng, Spiders and butterflys in space by Monica Sharma, Global warming prevents an Ice Age by Patrick Rubie, and CNN and Telstra "holograms" with Ian Woolf, Presented by Caitlin Howlett, and produced by Ian Woolf.

Censorship, broken and fixed hearts

November 17, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Ian Woolf interviews Crikey tech writer Stilgherrian about the Australian Government's plan to censor the internet. Patrick Rubie tells about heart-powered pacemakers, and why looks matter more at speed dating sessions, Caitlin Howlett pleads the case of the whales versus the US Navy, Presented by Monica Sharma and produced by Ian Woolf.

Isotopic water, PhD dances, bird flu

November 10, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Associate Professor Kendal McGuffie from the Physics department at UTS, tells Ian Woolf about tracking the movement of water by weight to find out how forests use water and effect the climate. Marc West phones Dr Christopher Pettigrew from Cork University in Ireland to find out how to apply for the American Association for the Advancement of Science PhD interprative dance competition. Kalvin Ng bring us the latest news about bird flu. Presented by Kalvin Ng and produced by Ian Woo...

Vampire moths, ghosts, and vasty deeps

November 03, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Ghost-hunting by Android Amy Bullen, the Living Dead bacteria by Lyncanthropic Ian Woolf, Greg Skilbeck explains how sediment from the sea bed tells the tale of climates past, News by Murderous Marc West, - Vampire Moths Presented by Murderous Marc West, Produced by Lyncanthrope Ian Woolf

Nanotech, doctoral dancing and pubs

October 27, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Ian Woolf interviews UTS Head of Physics Michael Ford about how to make matter do whatever you wish by controlling the size and shape of nano-particles, Marc West goes on a pub crawl of science-related pubs in London. News by Marc West and Ian Woolf - a competition for interprative dances based on PhD theses, - factors to make your brain grow Presented by Nick Evershed, Produced by Ian Woolf

Radio rewards pickup lines

October 20, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Pick-up lines by Victoria Bond and Patrick Rubie, 118118 challenge by Marc West, The brain's reward by Amy Bullen, News by Victoria Bond and Patrick Rubie, - obesity and pleasure - internet surfing keeps your brain young Presented by Marc West, Produced by Ian Woolf

Quantum teleportation, and a sexy hello

October 13, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Ian Woolf interviews Samuel Braunstein about quantum teleportation, how to get yourself faxed from A to B, without travelling in the space in-between, Patrick Rubie explains part 1 of his Science and History of Radio, News by Ian Woolf, - Medical Chocolate from Mars, - Fertile greetings from females Music: Pi Man by Unicron's Revenge (Sydney band) Presented and Produced by Ian Woolf

Proteomics and close relatives

October 06, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Our closest relatives are all of us, You can learn to change the way genes are expressed in your body, Ben Herbert explains proteomics, Melinda Hall King explains childhood deception, Produced and presented by Ian Woolf

Bleaching coral and androids

September 29, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Ian Woolf speaks with Peter Ralph about global warming modelling, from coral bleaching to Antarctic algae, Patrick Rubie examines the issue, are robots better than androids? R2D2 or CP30? News by Victoria Bond, read by Dean Procter: - Personal genetic screening - Mothballs and life - LHC melts down - blindness cured by gene therapy - human clones in Sydney Presented and produced by Ian Woolf with technical support from Victoria Bond

Blood and Space Volcanoes

September 22, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Victoria Bond tells us all about blood and the history of blood transfusions, Ian Woolf interviews Graziella Caprarelli, Space Scientist for the Department of Environmental Sciences at University of Technology Sydney about volcanoes in space, the latest scientific news, from Cubans in space to health-conscious computer geeks reviewed by Ian Woolf, Patrick Rubie and Sam Conyngham Presented and produced by Patrick Rubie

Conspiracy and LHC

September 15, 2008 07:30 - 1 Byte

The Large Hadron Collider switch-on discussed by Victoria Bond, Patrick Rubie, and Ian Woolf, Jason Heimaster brings a critical eye to Conspiracy Theories, News by Victoria Bond - familiarity breeds contempt - gentler needles from mosquitoes, - listener auto-complete sentences Presented and produced by Ian Woolf, with technical support from Patrick Rubie.

Hypnosis and scepticism

September 08, 2008 07:30 - 1 Byte

John August sends a Postcard from Britain in the 1870's. Ian Woolf speaks with Melinda Hall King about hynotherapy, Melinda and Ian talk about the Science festival, Scepticism and the Placebo effect. Presented and Produced by Ian Woolf.

Bionic soldiers and unlimited power

September 01, 2008 07:30 - 1 Byte

Muhsin Karim explores the bionic soldier and Brain Computer Interfaces, Ian Woolf has the last word with Brian Lennon from the Live Futures 2020 festival about the opportunities offered by large amounts of cheap, clean alternative power. Jacqui Hayes brings the week in review: - Landmine tobacco - Tree-man - Cow compasses - cognitive magic Presented and produced by Ian Woolf.

Future Fab Lab and Fish and Chip powered cars

August 25, 2008 07:30 - 1 Byte

In this special edition from the Live Futures 2020 Festival, Brian Lennon speaks to Ian Woolf about the Fab Lab that could make anything with 3D printers, and cars that run on used vegetable oil left over from fish and chip shops. Jacqui Hayes reviews elephants who count, and how to read men's faces. Presented and produced by Ian Woolf.

Steam work and giant wallabies

August 18, 2008 07:30 - 27.8 MB

Lachlan Whatmore puts steam to work, Jacqui Hayes and Caitlin Howlett review the week in science - happiness science, - giant wallabies in Tasmania - confirmation that contraceptive pills reverse attraction - vaccination against alcoholic pleasure Amy Bullen examines the ultimate cheating drug - the placebo, News by Ian Woolf - synthetic telepathy - anti-aging drugs keep your cells clean - chilli heat not just an illusion - cannabis and opium to prevent addiction Presented and pr...

Smashing atoms and nanotechnology

August 11, 2008 07:30 - 1 Byte

Victoria Bond finds out if the Large Hadron Collider will destroy the world, Ian Woolf talks to Professor Mike Cortie about zapping gold nanoparticles in your body with lasers to cure mind-control parasites, News by Patrick Rubie - King Tut's foetuses - solar power at night - smart bricks - dandelion rubber Produced and Presented by Ian Woolf

Invisible illness and exploding spacecraft

August 04, 2008 07:30 - 1 Byte

Ian Woolf reports the latest in the war on aging, the Live Futures Festival to be held simultaneously in Newtown and Second Life on August 17th, and The doomed attempt of the commercial SpaceX Falcon 1 spacecraft to launch over the weekend. Dr Stephen Graves talks to Ian about the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Conference in Cambridge. What is Chronic fatigue Syndrome? What are the causes and what is it like to be struck down by the illness? Why is it still the invisible illness so many years...

Vaccination and Autism?

July 27, 2008 22:00 - 1 Byte

Martin Faccini investigates the controversy over whether the Mumps Measles and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination causes austism in children, Panel discussion of vaccination as a civil liberty issue by Martin Faccini and Ian Woolf, News by Ian Woolf, - Viagra for depressed women - lasers for youth - urine on your mind Produced and Presented by Ian Woolf

Clones, Steam Hero, Mind Control

July 21, 2008 07:30 - 1 Byte

Cloning by Michelle Kovacevic, Steam engines and Hero of Alexandria by Lachlan Whatmore, Emotiv Mind Control interview with Tan Le by Daz Chandler, News by Ian Woolf - Wooden nuclear power plant accident in Vermont, - Moon race goes underground at NASA Presented and Produced by Ian Woolf

BioUtopia and draft Garnaut

July 14, 2008 07:30 - 1 Byte

Heading towards a BioUtopia by Richard Hindmarsh, reviewed by Muhsin Karim, Panel discussion of Ross Garnaut's draft report on climate change for the Australian government by Lachlan Whatmore, Patrick Rubie, Vicky Saunders, Adrian Saunders, and Ian Woolf, News by Ian Woolf - Chimps play to their audience, - Real snail mail, - plastic conductors, - magic half-time oranges, Presented by Lachlan Whatmore, Produced by Ian Woolf

Chiptunes, see-thru batteries and syphilis

July 07, 2008 07:30 - 36.4 MB

Syphilis in Australia by John August, Interview with Professor Christopher Fairley by John August, News by Ian Woolf, - Migraine zapping, - see-through, bendy batteries, - World's oldest computer music Presented and Produced by Ian Woolf

Holistic medicine and ancient engines

June 29, 2008 22:00 - 35.5 MB

Lachlan Whatmore looks at waterwheels and other ancient machines, Patrick Rubie talks to the president of the Sydney University Holistic Society, News by Ian Woolf, - solar powered solar power - neurology of cinema - erasable printing paper produced by Lachlan Whatmore

Bad weather, appropedia, white Mars

June 25, 2008 22:00 - 35.5 MB

Lachlan Whatmore talks to Dr Helen Reed from the Metereology Bureau about La Nina, Ian talks to Chris Watkins about appropriate technology and Appropedia, News by Victoria Bond - coffee good for you - cone of silence invented - white stuff on Mars Presented by Ian Woolf, Produced by Lachlan Whatmore.

Fanny Macleay and talking dolphins

June 18, 2008 22:00 - 35.5 MB

News by Patrick Rubie - electric flying saucers - personal networks sewn into clothes - fake urine used by miners Nineteenth Century naturalist Fanny Macleay by Lachlan Whatmore, Discussion of the news, staying young by staying with the young, and the portable hug with Ian Woolf and Patrick Rubie, Can Dolphins Talk? by Ian Woolf, Produced and Presented by Ian Woolf.

Growing fat and shrinking brains

June 11, 2008 22:00 - 35.5 MB

Cannabis: shrinking brains or fighting fear? by Patrick Rubie Epigenetics by Tilly Boleyn and Jacqui Hayes (taken from 2SERs Friday Daily 06/06/08) Less money, more fat by Patrick Rubie News prepared by Ian Woolf and read by Patrick Rubie - Fruits for power - Old inside, young outside Presented and Produced by Patrick Rubie

Grassroots OLPC and Martian red skies

June 04, 2008 22:00 - 35.5 MB

Martin Facini explores Mars with the Phoenix lander, Ian Woolf talks with Professor Barry Vercoe about the One Laptop Per Child Foundation in Australia, Is space exploration worth it? Discussion by Patrick Rubie, Martin Facini and Ian Woolf, Presented by Patrick Rubie, Produced by Ian Woolf.

Brain cells and water wells

May 28, 2008 22:00 - 35.5 MB

Inside your brain with Muhsin Karim, Watching the Water: Interview by Amy Bullen with Clunies Ross Award winner Iven Mareels, News by Jacqui Hayes, - Panda's survive the Chinese Earthquake, - Interplanetary locust robots, - Bubonic plague's secret weakness Presented and Produced by Ian Woolf Music: "The Best Imitation of Myself by Ben Fold"

'Popular and polarising science'

May 21, 2008 22:00 - 35.5 MB

'Rock radar and solar cells' (The ATSE Clunies Ross Awards: part 1) - Amy Bullen interviews two award-winning scientists, David Noon and Stuart Wenham on their inventions 'A tribute to David Attenborough' by Victoria Bond and Martin Facini Discussion forum on Richard Dawkins''Enemy of Reason' News by Ian Woolf - Safe sex science - Design your own phone Presented and Produced by Patrick Rubie Sample of 'It's a scientific fact' by Tom Glazer and Dottie Evans in outro

Flores Hobbits and Stinging Jellyfish

May 14, 2008 22:00 - 41.8 MB

Amy Bullen and Chris Rehberg interview Professor Mike Morwood about the Hobbits of Flores, Lachlan Whatmore talks about the stinging Irukandji jellyfish of Australia, News by Ian Woolf, It takes two people to trick the masses, Solar electric cars for cities Presented and Produced by Ian Woolf Music: Upside Down by Jack Johnson from the Curious George soundtrack CD

Global cool space engineers chocolate

May 07, 2008 22:00 - 24.9 MB

Ian Woolf looks at chocolate physiology, John August continues his battle with syphilis and the world, and Lachlan talks to space engineer George Graves. News by Patrick Rubie, Presented and produced by Lachlan Whatmore.

Quolls and Quokka dreaming

April 30, 2008 22:00 - 37.3 MB

Almost extinct animals with Chris Rehberg, Lucid Dreamer Amy Bullen, News by Ian Woolf - peering phones - Chicken X prize - pig plastic Presented by Amy Bullen, Produced by Ian Woolf. This Ponderous by 2NU2