The Science Show - Separate stories podcast

We have a mysterious visitor to our little patch of the cosmos this week: A comet called 3I/ATLAS. This icy, rocky ball is only the third interstellar object we've discovered zooming past our Sun. There are scientists who think the comet may be alien technology sent from another solar system to invade Earth, but space agencies poured cold water on this idea. So how will we know if we truly find evidence of extraterrestrial life? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.auFeaturing:Laura Driessen, radio astronomer at the University of Sydney Astronomers discover 3I/ATLAS — third interstellar object to visit our Solar SystemThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

Robots are ideal in chemistry labs undertaking repetitive and dangerous tasks. 

Outgoing president of the Royal Society says the UK public accepts the importance of science and those in power must be reminded of the importance of maintained funding.

The Earth writes its own history, and it can be seen in the physical, chemical and biological components of rocks.

Some meteorites come with signs of chemical reactions found in life on Earth. 

New materials applied to agricultural greenhouses as a paint coating boosts red light for plant growth increased yields.

Around 1.5 million years ago, in what's now Kenya, a human-like figure walked across the savannah. He was probably quite short by our standards, no taller than Danny DeVito. But unlike Danny DeVito, this ancient figure was not human. He was a long-extinct relative of ours called Paranthropus boisei. And now his fossilised hand bones are giving us never-before-seen insights into how he and his species lived. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.auFeaturing: Carrie Mongle, palaeoanthropologist at Stony Brook University and the Turkana Basin Institute More information: New fossils reveal the hand of Paranthropus boiseiFossil hand bones hint that ancient human relative Paranthropus made tools 1.5 million years agoThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

A recent study has shown the loss of 62% of managed bee hives across the United States.

A recent study has shown the loss of 62% of managed bee hives across the United States.

On the shores of the ocean, Laura and Daphne fantasise that they are mother and daughter. They both have problems in their past, which they need to resolve.

Robyn Williams is joined by hotel manager Paul Gallop for a tour of Adelaide's Marriott hotel and it's displays commemorating the work of Charles Todd.

David Spiegelhalter offers a data-driven guide to how we should best live with risk and uncertainty.

Evidence of harm of social media on young people is limited, but the effects are obvious.

Love, Anger and Betrayal follows 26 young British citizens as protest against the ongoing use of fossil fuels.

Few astronomical wonders are as spectacular as a total solar eclipse, when the Moon fully covers the Sun, plunging us into daytime darkness. If we're lucky, we can see this epic phenomenon as it happens — through special glasses, of course. But our preoccupation with looking at the sky means we may not notice what's happening to the animals around us. When it comes to birds, many of which rely on the Sun to tell them when to sing a dawn chorus, how does a solar eclipse change how they behave? And what are the wider implications in this artificially lit world?  You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.auFeaturing:Liz Aguilar, PhD student in bird reproductive behaviour at Indiana University BloomingtonMore information:Total solar eclipse triggers dawn behavior in birds: Insights from acoustic recordings and community scienceThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

David Ellis is investigating how technology might be redesigned to reduce or eliminate the loneliness which can arise for some users.

Phages are viruses which attack specific bacteria. 

Biofilms are produced by microorganisms coming together and forming a community usually on a surface. The biofilm provides protection for the microorganism.

The idea is to see if technology can be used to support animals which live in isolation in zoos or sanctuaries.

A display at the British Science Festival featured sounds from animals we usually think of as being silent such as some fish, and sea horses.

Andre Geim was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010 for his work on graphene. Graphene is one atom thick, a lattice of carbon atoms and is a two-dimensional material. 

Nobel Prize winner Takaaki Kajita laments poor support for research in Japan.

David Fisher reports on the 2025 Nobel Prizes for Medicine, Physics and Chemistry.

This has been a bumper year for whale-watching on Australia's east coast, with thousands of humpbacks spotted cruising along their annual migration route.  This population was almost wiped out by whalers last century but has bounced back — and then some. A new estimate suggests there are now more of these humpbacks than in pre-whaling times. So why are the eastern Australian humpbacks going gangbusters while other populations aren't doing nearly as well? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.auFeaturing:Wally Franklin, marine scientist at Southern Cross University and the Oceania Project More information:Eastern Australian humpback whale population now well above pre-whaling levels, report findsBoom to bust? Implications for the continued rapid growth of the eastern Australian humpback whale population despite recoveryThe Oceania ProjectIf you want to hear about how other Australian whales are going, check out The plight of the southern right whales. This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

Despite the cloud, the UK has a telescope. It is cleverly located in the Canary Islands and specialises in short duration cosmic events such as supernovae and merging stars. 

Madeline Robinson describes some of the nation's most important archaeological sites, what they reveal, and she touches on why they are not widely known, despite their importance.

Flint Dibble says our civilisation is at risk if we don't recognise facts, acknowledge threats and change the way we live.

Professor Kit Yates explores the science behind the predictions we make every hour of every day.

Keith George is using real time monitoring of elite sportspeople in the hope of identifying athletes at risk of cardiac problems.

Holly Ellis is The Scouse Scientist, a clinical scientist specialising in genetics. Holly launched ‘The Scouse Scientist' on social media in 2019.

For decades, climate scientists have been tracking a curious phenomenon. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are steadily increasing overall but they also rise and fall in an annual rhythm — like the planet is breathing.Each spring, in the southern hemisphere, carbon dioxide levels start to plateau or maybe even drop slightly before shooting up again after summer.So what's driving these seasonal changes?You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.auFeaturing:Nick Deutscher, atmospheric chemist at the University of WollongongThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

There is concern that the impacts of climate change and water pollution may be impacting iconic local jellyfish.

Madeline Robinson argues human history is under threat of distortion from social media.

If you've been watching the Women's Rugby World Cup, you may have noticed players have been wearing special mouthguards that light up when they've suffered a significant knock to the head.It's the first time these concussion-predicting mouthguards have been trialled at a major competition.So in the wake of recent concussion concerns, from professional AFL and rugby league to community competitions, is this the future of sport?You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.auFeaturing:Kate O'Halloran, digital journalist with ABC Sport More information: Women's Rugby World Cup players trialling flashing mouthguards to help predict concussionsThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

Tom Lehrer wrote 37 satirical songs. As well as performing in live shows, he taught mathematics at Harvard, and the University of California and later taught a course in musical theatre.

Sophie Ly takes us to Palau to meet scientists and traditional knowledge custodians who are working together to uncover the secrets of Palau's ancient terraces.

Archaeologist Madeline Robinson looks at how humans like to mark their presence.

Australia's known for having some of the world's toughest sunscreen standards, but in June, that reputation was rocked. Independent testing of 20 sunscreens found 16 did not meet their advertised SPF50 rating, including three children's sunscreens and three sold by the Cancer Council. So how are sunscreens tested, and what can we learn from these recent SPF revelations?You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.auFeaturing:John Staton, scientific director at SciPharm More information:Choice report finds popular Australian sunscreens fail to meet SPF claims on labelThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

Archaeologist and PhD student Madeline Robinson challenges us to see the past as a story which continues today and involves us all.

Robyn Williams visits the Subantarctic Plant House, the Seed Conservation Centre and marvels at some extremely old trees.

Peter Bernhardt reviews the approach of the Missouri Botanical Garden's new president Lúcia G. Lohmann.

Researchers are investigating whether quantum particles impact biological processes such as photosynthesis or as wounds heal.