Fuzzy Logic Science Show

With ANZAC day celebrated on Friday, we thought we'd celebrate ANZAC science- that's science performed by Aussies and Kiwis.  Listen to Jess and Broderick talk about new advances with the Aussie cochlear impant, a Kiwi version of the Mars rover to use on farms and even more Aussie & Kiwi inventions.

Chocolate, rabbits and more! Fuzzy talks about the science that affects Easter.  Tune in to hear Alice and Broderick talk about why American chocolate tastes different and discuss some of the scientific tests chocolate companies use to make sure their eggs are of eggs-cellent quality!

This year is the international year of crystallography and to celebrate Fuzzy Logic presenter Broderick has brought crystallography expert Dr Darren Goosens into the studio.  Dr Goosens shares his knowledge of some of todays applications for crystals, discusses what makes a crystal and also talks about some of the interesting history surrounding this science.

Imagine what it'd be like to lose your site or hearing, to live with chronic pain, Parkinson's Disease, or epilepsy. Any of these can make life miserable for those who have them. What then, of cures? They are complicated, and the result are mixed, but there are treatments available now, or on the horizon. Each involves tapping into the body's nervous system in some way. This is the mission of Australia's Bionics Institute. Our guest today is a passionate advocate of programs such as the cochlear implant, and the bionic eye.  These technologies tap into the great depth of talent in Australia. They offer relief to people who otherwise would have none, and they can earn real export dollars for our economy. Professor Rob Shepherd is Director of the Bionics Institute, and Professor at the University of Melbourne. Interview by Rod.

Dementia is a difficult disease, especially those affected by it. It's also difficult for researchers trying to find treatments.  Our conversation today ranges over dementia, Huntington's Disease, and the nature of the brain, and consciousness. Dr Jeff Looi is Associate Professor, and Fiona Wilkes is PhD candidate at the Medical School, ANU. Interview by Rod.

We dropped in to the BHP Billiton Science and Engineering Awards, which are Australia's most prestigious prizes to school students for innovative research in scientific and  engineering. On show was some great talent for projects including three high school finalists. Angela Liao's on Something to chew on: Effects of gum’s flavour on salivary flow rate and pH levels,    Ian Arachi on his project Ultraviolet protection and clothing, and Sanjog Chintalaphani on Performance of commercial photovoltaics in North Canberra. Jake Coppinger showed off his Swirlesque glove - a new form of human-computer interaction. It recognises natural hand gestures and performs actions, communicating through smartphone apps. We also caught up with Director of the CSIRO Discovery Centre Chris Kennedy to talk about Science and Engineering Awards, young people doing science, and why it matters. Interviews by Rod

Of all human skills, our ability to communicate is one of the most important. Stuttering is a difficult condition for those who suffer from it, but there are ways to treat it.  It's especially important if it can be tackled early, before it becomes esatablished in the adult. Still, there's much that can be done to help adults, as you'll hear. Our first guest is Professor Mark Onslow, foundation director of the Australian Stuttering Research Centre. Then we hear from Dr Mark Irwin, who takes us on his personal journey through stuttering. He is actively involved with the stuttering commnuity, and holds positions with a number of ogranisations, including The Australian Speakeasy Association. Finally, we hear from King George VI, the character famously depicted in the King's Speech.  This audio was extracted from a YouTube video. It's worth watching this to see how he copes. Professor Onslow has written for our Ask Fuzzy column in Fairfax media. Scan of his other columns are available by emailing AskFuzzy [at

Why are many economists world addicted to watching GDP?  It's a simple measure, but a hopelessly flawed indicator of the health of a nation. It tracks a limited number of economic indicator while ignoring important things such as pollution. You wouldn't go to a doctor who only tested your pulse, so why do we believe in GDP? Australia and other nations, the entire world are a complex brew of environment, economy, and society. Dr Robert Costanza and colleagues have been researching better ways to understand humanity and the planet as an interacting system. Dr Costanza is from the at Crawford School of Public Policy. Recorded in Canberra, 22 Feb 2014.

This episode features Broderick discussing all the latest research including brain-changing emoticons, shivering to lose weight, flying snakes and social lizards.

This week on Fuzzy Logic the heat causes Broderick's mind to stop working, while Alice & Jarrod try to calm him down with stories about water and ice. Originally aired on 19 January 2014.

This week Fuzzy Logic looks at stressed snails, echidna spurs, cold mice and tail-wagging dogs.  It's a menagerie of animal science this week with Siân, Phoebe, Nina, Dan and Broderick in the studio.

This week Broderick and Alice talk mathematics with Lashi Bandara and Alex Amenta from the ANU.  Find out what a mathematician actually does and whether maths can actually be useful!

It seems the first priority of every government is to light the fire under economic growth. This means extracting as much as we can from what we always imagined as being an infinite planet. But where is this leading us? We bring you interviews from the 2013 Fenner Conference held at the Shine Dome in Canberra. Dr Jane O'Sullivan's research has challenged beliefs about the 'demographic transition', the impact of ageing on workforce and the '3Ps' of population, participation and productivity. She is most widely recognised for quantifying the infrastructure cost of population growth rate. Dr Haydn Washington  is the author of Climate Change Denial: Heads in the Sand (2011) and Human Dependence on Nature (2013). He is keenly interested in why societies deny environmental problems. Dr Simon Michaux is a consultant in the mining industry, with a strong interest in industrial sustainability. Dr Michael Lardelli  has been active in spreading awareness of peak oil since 2004 and worked with Prof. Kjell

There's something appealing about the idea of Music of the Spheres, that the universe follows harmonic principles. It may not apply everywhere, but one place it has been found is in the arrangement of the Solar System in Titius-Bode's law. Our guest today Tim Bovaird has been looking for this pattern among the range of extra-solar planets discovered in recent years. Guiding us along on this journey, Dr Charley Lineweaver makes a welcome return to Fuzzy Logic, and we look at his new book Complexity and the Arrow of Time, (with Paul C.W. Davis, and Michael Ruse). Interview by Rod    Twitter @SciRod

In today's Fuzzy Logic, we go in search of a high altitude balloon launched from Albury a couple of weeks ago during Science Week. You can track the balloon's flight here. We talk to the pilot(?) Robert Brand who also has interests in space flight with TeamStellar. Photos of the recovery are here.   Did you watch the movie The Dish? We have an interview with John Sarkissian who is based at the Parkes Observatory, and was script technical consultant for the movie. And we talk to Nick Barnes about progress building the bionic eye, seen here on ABC Catalyst. Is the universe fine tuned for us? Speaking of Catalyst - what this fascinating recent episode featuring John Sarkissian.  Also Charley Lineweaver, who will be returning to Fuzzy Logic soon.  

How far would you go to modify your body with technology? Maybe it hasn't occurred to you, but you already have. You're wearing cloths, right? Maybe you can pick a point along the continuum from shoes, to bionic eyes, all the way to full brain transplant. In this special  Fuzzy Logic, we explore what happens to us as we merge with wires, with chips, and artificial intelligence. Join our A-list panel members, and a packed audience and John Curtin School Medical Research. Joav Niran, cochlear implant recipient, Cochlear Ambassador Dr Bruce McCabe, author of the techno-thriller Skinjob Professor Bob Williamson   Research Leader, Machine Learning Group at NICTA Hosted by Rod Taylor. For more details see our event page. Special thanks to our event supporters from, National Science Week, ACT Government, NICTA, The Bionics Institue, and John Curtin School Medical Research. Anh Nguyen, Kylie Walker, Dorothy Kennedy, and Madeleine Nicole, Jamie Freestone, Jarrord Green, Broderick Matthews. [note audio quality

Our oceans seem so vast, it's hard to imagine them ever running out. We say there's always another fish in the sea, and when we dump our waste, the solution to pollution is dilution. But can we really afford to treat them as infinite? With world population growing with year on year compound interest we'd better think again. And... did you know you're wearing a space suit? Professor Richard Kenchington is from the National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security. Interview by Tom & Rod

Your body is an attactive store of energy. It's packed with nutrients and is a good place to live for alien invaders if they can evade surveillance.  Somehow our immune systems are able to beat out the bad bugs, and leave alone the helpful ones. They are welcome as long as they behave. And what of those claims that immunisation causes autism? Today's guest is Associate Professor Matthew Cook researcher from John Curtin School of Medical Research, and clinical immunologist at Canberra Hospital. This research brings real benefit to people in need.  Anneloes De Graef   tells us how she connects these people with researchers, and helps fund their work. Learn more, and become involved through the JCSMR Foundation. Interview by Alice and Rod.

Most of us never notice the incredible work it takes to serve our daily needs. Flick the switch, and we have light. Go to the supermaket, and the shelves are lined with every imaginable good. In a disaster, we expect emergency services to take care of us. All these come through the system we call civilisation. It works, but it can always be improved to make it more efficient, and more robust. How? By computer modelling. This is the mission of today's guest, Pascal Van Hentenryck, leader of the Optimisation group at NICTA. Phone interview by Alice and Rod Featured music provided courtesy Nelson Walkom.

Getting people on to busses is important, right?  But what can you do when the bus doesn't go near your front door? In a spread-out city like Canberra, this is a big issue.  Today on Fuzzy we interview Dr Phil Kilby from NICTA with some innovative ideas. We also learn some interesting things about caviar, the great sturgeon fish, and the element vanadium. Plus, we get a special guest visit from the legendary Robyn Wiliams when Rod recorded an Ockham's Razor recently. This had been scheduled for today (14 July), but was bumped for a retiring MP. New date TBA. Brought to you by Becca, Tom, and Rod.