Brains Matter

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The Podcast on Science, Curiosities, and General Knowledge. Brains Really Do Matter!

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    • Aug 22, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 53 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Brains Matter

    BM200 – Jamali Kigotho – Rooftop Wind Turbines

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2021


    In this episode, I speak to engineering student Jamali Kigotho, who talks about his work on designing rooftop wind turbines for residential areas, how it would work and the possibilities around this. Download MP3 of Ep 200

    199 – Luke Steller – Does Venus have conditions for life?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021


    In this episode, PhD student Luke Steller returns to talk to us about Venus and the asteroid Bennu. We discuss: * What does the discovery of Phosphene on Venus mean? * What creates Phosphene? * Could life exist on Venus, and how could life arrive on Venus? * Could life evolve on Venus itself? * […]

    198 – Luke Steller – What are the ingredients of life?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2020


    In this episode, I talk to Luke Steller, who is a PhD candidate at the Australian Centre for Astrobiology at the University of New South Wales. I spoke to Luke about: – Luke’s background – How he became interested in astrobiology – Ancient life on Earth – How understanding ancient life on Earth influences the […]

    197 – Dr Onisha Patel – Structural Biology & Superstars of STEM

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2020


    In this episode, I talk to Dr Onisha Patel, who is a structural biologist at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne, Australia I speak to her about: – How she got into science from her interest in art – What inspired her growing up – Structural Biology and what […]

    196 – Monash Solar Decathlon Team

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2020


    In this episode, I talk to Bec Lin, Shiyen Perera and Cyndy Li from Monash University who are all part of the Monash Solar Decathlon Team, and took part in the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Design Challenge. I speak to them about: – Their backgrounds – The Monash Solar Decathlon Team itself – […]

    195 – Dr Dyani Lewis – Studying Chlamydia

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2020


    In this episode, I speak to Dr Dyani Lewis on the research work she is undertaking as part of a larger team in studying chlamydia Download MP3 of Ep 195 Become a Patreon

    194 – David Lee – Coding Skills at School

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2020


    In today’s episode I talk to Davie Lee, a technology professional who has started up a programme to work with schools to help teach coding skills. The things we talk about include: David’s background What David’s aim was with GI Jamie The skills that coding can help you learn The great things David has seen […]

    193 – Troy Love – Humour in Lockdown

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2020


    In today’s episode I talk to Troy Love, from Great Talk and Humour Australia about the importance of humour and happiness The things we talk about include: How Troy got into his current line of work Dealing with the corporate environment when it comes to humour The value of humour to people How to use […]

    192 – Dr Karen Lewis – Discovering Moons Around Extra Solar Planets

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2020


    In today’s episode, I speak to Dr Karen Lewis about her research into looking for moons around extra solar planets. Download MP3 of Ep 192

    191 – Jamali Kigotho – Sustainability in Kenya

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2020


    In today’s episode, I speak to award winning Science & Engineering Monash University student, Jamali Kigotho on his keen interest in sustainability in Africa, along with a few other things! We discuss: – His background – His interest in science and engineering – The work he has done in Kenya in looking at sustainable solutions […]

    190 – Nick Robinson – The Wild Top End

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2019


    In today’s episode, I speak to Nick Robinson about his new IMAX documentary, “The Wild Top End 3D” We discuss: – How he got into documentary making – The process of making a documentary and an IMAX documentary – The background of making The Wild Top End – Some amazing facts from the documentary and […]

    189 – Dyani Lewis – Journey to Becoming a Science Journalist

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2019


    In today’s episode I speak to Dyani Lewis about her path from a science researcher to the path of a science journalist. Download MP3 of Ep 189

    188 – Michael Dalton-Smith – Volcanoes 3D

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2019


    In today’s episode I speak to Michael Dalton-Smith, who is a Canadian adventurer with over ten years of experience filming in some of the most remote and challenging places in the world. He spoke to me about the release of his latest documentary on IMAX, “Volcanoes 3D” We spoke about: – Michael’s background – What […]

    187 – Dr Dyani Lewis – Plant Genetics

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2019


    In today’s episode, I speak to Dr Dyani Lewis on the topic of plant genetics. Download MP3 of Ep 187

    186 – Dr Jake Owens – Giant Panda Conservation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2018


    With the release of IMAX’s “Pandas 3D” recently, I talk to Dr Jake Owens, an American conservational biologist based at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan, China, and the project work he has been doing in terms of Panda re-introduction to the wild and conservation work that the documentary is based […]

    185 – Kirsten Banks – Archaeoastronomy and Aboriginal Astronmy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2018


    In today’s episode, I talk to Kirsten Banks, a young female physics and astronomy student at the University of New South Wales. Topics we cover include: – How Kirsten got into physics and astronomy – Her interest in archeaoastronomy – Australian Aboriginal astronomy – Research interests – Females in science and physics Download MP3 of […]

    184 – Dr Zara Dennis – SciFly STEM Outreach

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2017


    In today’s episode I speak to Dr Zara Dennis, who has appeared on the podcast previously. We catch up on what she’s been up to since we last spoke, and I talked to her after she Topics we cover include: – Mixing Zara’s interest in flying with education – What sparked her interest in flying […]

    183 – Anant Tanna – Outreach and Science Fun

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2017


    In today’s episode, I talk to Anant Tanna once again. This time we talk about his interest in science outreach, why it’s important, and the fun of learning science. Topics we cover include: – Why is outreach important? – Why is science outreach, in particular, important? – How should outreach be approached? – Why does […]

    182 – Joanna Corby – Galactic Large Organic Molecules

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2017


    In today’s episode, I speak to Joanna Corby, who was visiting the University of New South Wales from the University of Virginia, while doing research into Large Organic Molecules in High Mass Star Forming Regions in our galaxy. We spoke about – What region of our galaxy is being looked at? – What are the […]

    181 – Anant Tanna – Searching for Invisible Galaxies

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2017


    In today’s episode I speak to Anant Tanna from the University of New South Wales School of Physics, about his research on looking for invisible galaxies. During our conversation, we cover: – What are invisible galaxies? – How do we find distant galaxies that we can’t see via their own light? – What are redshift […]

    180 – Ten Years of Brains Matter

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2016


    This Episode of Brains Matter celebrates the 10 year anniversary of the show. Yes, Brains Matter has hit the double figure mark. Starting out on the 16th of October 2006, the show has covered a wide range of topics and amazing guests. In today’s show, I speak to Clive Weeks, who has been involved with […]

    179 – Dr Michael Childress – Supernovae

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2016


    In today’s episode I speak to Dr Michael Childress from the Australian National University. He talks to me about his research into supernovae. During our conversations, we cover: – His research into the progenitors of supernovae – The techniques used to determine what type of stars they were before going supernovae – The difference between […]

    178 – Dr Roland Crocker – Fermi Bubbles

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2016


    In this episode I speak to Dr Roland Crocker from the Australian National University on the topic of Fermi Bubbles – what are they and how do they form? Listen in to find out! Download MP3 of Ep 178

    177 – Angus Wright – ICRAR and GAMA

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2016


    I speak to Angus Wright from ICRAR who speaks to us about the GAMA project and radio astronomy, and the work he is doing as part of his PhD in the GAMA collaboration. Download MP3 of Ep 177 This episode is supported by the Monash Centre for Astrophysics .

    176 – Dr Anushi Rajapaksa – Spray Vaccines

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2016


    Do you or someone you know dislike getting the needle? Well in today’s episode, I speak to Dr Anushi Rajapaksa from the Murdoch Children’s Institute on her research into delivering vaccinations via a spray. We also talk about DNA vaccines and personalised medicine. Sounds intriguing! To find out more, listen into the episode! Download MP3 […]

    175 – Dr Charley Lineweaver – Is Our Solar System Special?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2016


    Listen to today’s episode as I talk to Assoc Prof Charley Lineweaver from the Australian National University on his thoughts about whether the Solar System is unique or special! Download MP3 of Ep 175

    174 – Dr Zara Dennis – From Sports Science and Geophysics to Teaching

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2015


    Listen in as Dr Zara Dennis talks to us about her journey from sports science to teaching high school physics. In particular, Zara talks to us about: – Her interest in geophysics and outer space – Working with lasers – What led to doing her PhD – PhD that looked at electromagnetic to find gold […]

    173 – Assoc Prof Brad Carter – Space Weather

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2014


    In today’s episode, I speak to Associate Professor Brad Carter from the University of Southern Queensland about Space Weather. What is it? How do we measure it? And what does it mean for the formation of life? Download MP3 of Ep 173 This episode is supported by the Monash Centre for Astrophysics .

    172 – Dr Lisa Harvey-Smith – The SKA

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2014


    In today’s episode, I speak to Dr Lisa Harvey-Smith from the CSIRO, about the Square Kilometre Array project. – What is the the Square Kilometre Array Project? – The results of the decision on where to host the project – What are the different parts of he SKA project – The Murchison Widefield Array Download […]

    171 – Sarah Bruzzese – Astronomical Society of Australia Poster Sessions

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2013


    During the Astronomical Society of Australia conference, I went and visited the Poster Sessions where students showcased their research. In today’s episode, I speak to Sarah Bruzzese, one of the poster session presenters. Download MP3 of Ep 171 This episode is supported by the Monash Centre for Astrophysics .

    170 – Sarah Sweet – Astronomical Society of Australia Poster Sessions

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2013


    During the Astronomical Society of Australia conference, I went and visited the Poster Sessions where students showcased their research. In today’s episode, I speak to Sarah Sweet, one of the poster session presenters. Download MP3 of Ep 170 This episode is supported by the Monash Centre for Astrophysics .

    169 – Dr Charley Lineweaver – The Birth, Life, and Death of our Planet… and the Universe

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2013


    The following recording is of the 2013 Astronomical Society of Australia’s Harley Wood Lecture, hosted by the Monash Centre for Astrophysics. People, planets, stars, and even universes are born, they live for a while, and then die. Associate Professor Charles Lineweaver reviews what we now about the origin of the Earth and the origin of […]

    168 – Matt Witkowski – Leukaemia and the Ikaros Gene

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2013


    In today’s episode, I talk to Matthew Witkowski, a PhD student at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, on his research into the relationship between the Ikaros Gene and Leukemia. We discuss: – Matt’s background – A definition of leukaemia – Matt’s work in his PhD – What is the Ikaros gene? – […]

    166 – Robert Lloyd – 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who – Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2013


    Something a bit different for this episode – this year marks the 50th anniversary of the classic science fiction show, Doctor Who. I spoke to actor and comedian (and honourary 10th Time Lord) Rob Lloyd, also known as the Number 1 Doctor Who fan in the world, about the show. This is the first of […]

    165 – Dr Michael Brown – The Peer Review Process

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2013


    In today’s episode, I talk to Dr Michael Brown from Monash University about the peer review process in science. We talk about: – What the Peer Review Process is – How the Peer Review Process helps – The issues with Peer Review – What is the issue with positive and negative scientific results? – The […]

    164 – Sir Paul Nurse – Making Science Work Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2013


    This episode is part 2 of 2, of a talk given by Sir Paul Nurse, who is President of The Royal Society in the UK, and the Nobel Laureate in Medicine or Physiology for 2001, on the wonder of science and how it enhances our culture and civilisation. He also discusses how science can not […]

    163 – Sir Paul Nurse – Making Science Work Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2013


    This episode is part 1 of 2, of a talk given by Sir Paul Nurse, who is President of The Royal Society in the UK, and the Nobel Laureate in Medicine or Physiology for 2001, on the wonder of science and how it enhances our culture and civilisation. He also discusses how science can not […]

    162 – Dr Michael Brown – Lies, Damned Lies, and NRA Statistics

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2013


    In today’s episode, I talk to Dr Michael Brown from Monash University about the mis-use of statistics in the public sphere, and specifically, about the American National Rifle Associations misrepresentations of data. We talk about: – The Australian context – Australian gun control laws – The subsequent experience after the implementation of these laws – […]

    161 – Sir Harry Kroto – The State of Science

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2013


    In today’s episode, I talk to Sir Harold Kroto, who shared the 1996 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the co-discovery of carbon-60, or Buckminsterfullerine. We continue the discussion from episode 160, and talk about – Stereotypes of scientists – Science and natural philosophy – What are non-science people interested in? – Kids as scientists – […]

    160 – Sir Harry Kroto – Buckminsterfullerine

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2013


    In today’s episode, I talk to Sir Harold Kroto, who shared the 1996 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the co-discovery of carbon-60, or Buckminsterfullerine. He talked to me about the discover of carbon-60, as well as the state of science in the UK and worldwide. This is part 1 of a 2 part interview. Today’s […]

    159 – Where is my flying car? – Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2012


    Today’s episode is part 3 of a 3 part series called “Where is my flying car?” organised and hosted by the University of Melbourne’s Physics Students Society. This final episode in this series primarily includes audience questions – some of the audio is difficult to hear from some parts of the audience, so apologies for […]

    158 – Where is my flying car? – Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2012


    Today’s episode is part 2 of a 3 part series called “Where is my flying car?” organised and hosted by the University of Melbourne’s Physics Students Society. Hosted by Dr Roger Rassool, panel members included: Dr Andi Horvath, Museum Victoria, Dr Erica Sloan, Monash Institute on Pharmaceutical Science, Tim Thwaites, Science writer, and myself. The […]

    157 – Where is my flying car? – Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2012


    Today’s episode is part 1 of a 3 part series called “Where is my flying car?” organised and hosted by the University of Melbourne’s Physics Students Society. Hosted by Dr Roger Rassool, panel members included: Dr Andi Horvath, Museum Victoria, Dr Erica Sloan, Monash Institute on Pharmaceutical Science, Tim Thwaites, Science writer, and myself. The […]

    156 – Professor Chris Tinney – The Search for Extrasolar Planets

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2012


    There can be few questions more fundamental for a scientist’s research to address than “Is our home here on Earth unique? Or ubiquitous?” Astronomers involved in the search for – and the study of – extra-solar planets are fortunate enough to have this sort of question driving their daily activities. This episode is sponsored by […]

    155 – Professor Brian Schmidt – The Accelerating Universe – Public Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2012


    In 1998, two teams traced back the expansion of the universe over billions of years and discovered that it was accelerating, a startling discovery that suggests that more than 70% of the cosmos is contained in a previously unknown form of matter, called Dark Energy. The 2011 Nobel Laureate for Physics, Brian Schmidt, leader of […]

    154 – Alom Shaha – The Young Atheists Handbook

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2012


    In today’s episode, I speak to Alom Shaha, a science teacher and communicator from the UK. Alom has worked on television shows researching science, and is well known in science communication circles. He recently published a book called The Young Atheists Handbook, and spoke to me about his views on science, religion, freedom from religion, […]

    153 – Dr Duncan Galloway – Neutron Star Binaries

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2012


    In today’s episode, I talk to Dr Duncan Galloway, ARC Future Fellow at Monash University. His interest is in Neutron Star Binaries and I talked to him about this: – Duncan’s background – What is a neutron star? – How big is a neutron star? – How does a neutron star stay together? – The […]

    152 – Dr Corin Storkey – Sugar to Mend a Broken Heart

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2011


    In today’s episode, I talk to Brains Matter regular, Dr Corin Storkey, from the Heart Research Centre in Sydney. He talks to us about new research into a type of sugar that could prevent heart disease! We talk about: – the patent that has been filed on a new sugar based compound – how the […]

    10/12/2011 365 Days of Astronomy Appearance

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2011


    The Ordinary Guy has contributed to another 365 Days of Astronomy podcast Aryabhata

    151 – Dr Robyn Pickering – Australopithecus Sedeba Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2011


    In today’s episode, I talk to Dr Robyn Pickering from the University of Melbourne, with an update on the status of research regarding the discovery of Australopithecus Sedeba. Topics discussed include: – the age of the Australopithecus Sedeba has been confirmed – how the more accurate dates were determined – how does this relate to […]

    150 – One Hundred and Fifty Shows!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2011


    In today’s short episode, OG comments on his experiences with the show for the past 150 episodes. Download Encore MP3 of Ep 150

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