Fuzzy Logic Science Show

Most of us like to watch police shows, especially where the clever scientist helps unveil the crime. Here is an intriguing story, both scientific an personal. Dr Lynne Milne played a key role in bringing a murder case to justice using the evidence provided by pollen. This pollen tells the tale of a journey of a crime from house to bushland. Dr Milne reveals not just the scientific savvy needed to unravel such a case, but also close personal contact with a side of humanity most of us never see. Dr Milne is author of A Grain of Truth (Reed New Holland 2005). Also with us in this show is (almost Dr) Suzette Searle, wattle expertise and her empathy for this story make her an ideal companion. Hosted by Rod. 44 min MP3, 21MB

In the course of this podcast the Moon will move nearly half a millimeter* away from the Earth.  Does this mean it was once crazily close to us? For this show we were over the moon because our guest from a few weeks ago returned for another episode of Fuzzy.  Dr Phil Nicholson is a fabulous speaker and among other things, he tells us about work he's been doing with Dr Charley Lineweaver (Fuzzy guest not long ago) looking at tides over geological timespans.  This is one of those wonderful subjects that bring together several of the major arms of science including astronomy, paleantology and geology. Along the way we bring you a follow-up on the Plastiki story from last week with plans to harvest plastic to form an artifical island. And....the bizzare things people did with nuclear material.  Thumb-and-screwdriver controlled fission reactions?  You bet! * Note that the Moon will move regardless of whether you pause or fast-forward the show. Join Prof Phil Nicholson Cornell University, Rod, and Eamon. Chec

What happens to the air as it circulates around ground level? To find out you could build wind tunnels and mathematical models. Dr Margi Bohm, senior lecturer University of Canberra does exactly that. Also today we discuss using the online game Second Life to study mining techniques. What?? That's right, find out here. And we look at plastic and the Plastiki voyage in a boat built of reused drink bottles. And ways to engage young people in science. Lots in this show with Nyssa Skilton and Rod. 56min 24MB MP3.

Water, water everywhere, but is it fit to drink?  This week Fuzzy takes a look at how we can make our water drinkable and talks to Sunny Forsyth from Abundant Water about the amazing work that is being done in Laos to give communities fresh drinking water. Brought to you by Eamon, Pallavi and Broderick MP3, 47:52, 22MB

The science of ecstacy. From the archives, here's a re-pod this fascinating interview where ex-Fuzzy Tim interviews Amanda George. 6MB 6min MP3 We're on Facebook

What colour is the number 2?  Why does "Fuzzy Logic" have taste like fried tomatoes? Okay, maybe not, but perhaps you've heard of the strange phenomenon called synaesthesia. This is where some people associate things - such as numbers - with other things such as taste or colour.  So what does 2 have to do with red? Nothing really, but this is the sort of thing people with synaesthesia experience. Weird, eh. Also, what do we know about dyslexia?  And what does it mean when we pay attention to something -such as that man in a gorilla suit wondering around the basket ball court.  What's going on in the brain? Join Fuzzy for this interview Dr Kristen Pammer, Associate Professor at the ANU School of Psychology (my apologies - not senior lecturer as I say during this recording).  And Nyssa Skilton, science writer with The Canberra Times.  Hosted by Rod Taylor. 60min MP3 27MB

Our guest today has been researching one of big questions: what are we made of? There seems to be a progression from older, simpler forms of life up to more complex forms such as ourselves. As we move 'up' the tree of life, we use more and more of the available types of matter. Older life forms use fewer elements than newer forms. You could say, they accessorise themselves with a greater number of elements. Aditya Chopra, is a PhD student at the Planetary Science Institute at the ANU, and a student of past Fuzzy guest, Charley Lineweaver. Read about Aditya in today's Canberra Times. Also, today we bring you some of the science behind goings on at the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, on the Deepwater oil rig. We talk about the risks, and the extreme efforts we now have to go through to secure our oil supplies. PS we play a sneak preview of our new Charley Lineweaver Fuzzy promo....but....our silly presenter did not play the version promised as created by Tom McCoy.  Next time... MP3 57 min, 26MB Now avai

It seems no part of world is safe from development. I remember a time when the Kimberley region of West Australia was considered so remote that for many people, visiting it was a major exercise. These days it's a popular destination, and now it seems set for large scale resource development. In the light of oil disasters there and in the Gulf of Mexico, this interview is a timely reminder of what's at stake. Josh Coates is a marine scientist with the Wilderness Society, and here is interviewed by Rod about proposed development there. From the archives, November 2008.  8MB MP3, 16 min.

Professor Robert Street, AO is one of the pioneers of nuclear engergy, and worked on one of the first reactors ever constructed in Harwell, Great Britain. He is an advocate of the peaceful use of nuclear energy as a way to combat greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. Robert was a dear friend of my late father, and were part of group of eminent people calling themselves E4E - Energy For the Environment, promoting nuclear energy. Not long after Dad died, I recorded this interview at his home in Perth. He is a wonderful, humble man, who represents a seminal moment in science. In this interview you'll hear him describe their approach to the reactor pile, and his attitude to the bomb. After this recording, we dined at a local club with his wife Jean. I made a special point of asking her about her experiences during the war. I'm very glad I did, because it turns out she was stationed and the famous Bletchley Park. If you don't know that story, have a look because it is an amazing episode, crucial to the Al

Most of us only ever see our food delivered in plastic wrapping on the supermarket shelf. But where does it really come from? Who grew it, and how? How does fertilizer, salt, and water fit in all this. And what is going to happen as the world supply of oil and gas can no longer meet demand. You've heard of Peak Oil, but what of Peak Phosphorus? Also a look at what it means to get your science book published. Richard Stirzaker, author of Out of the Scientist's Garden joins Nyssa Skilton and Rod for this show. Find us on FaceBook. 53 Min 24MB MP3

What do oceanographers know about global warming? Hear evidence from one who knows it first hand. Dr Brad Opdyke, paleo climatologist is our guest today. Interviewed by Pallavi from the BBC, and Rod from Fuzzy Logic. Find us on Facebook. 58min 27MB

Why did we evolve that large bony box on top of our shoulders? Presumably to house something important. That would be our brain. We talk about the basic organisation of the brain, types cortex, left and right hemispheres. Brendan describes the groundbreaking research on the bionic eye now going on in Australia. Fascinating stuff. Rod interviews Brendan O'Brien from the ANU School of Psychology, and Mic Cavazzini from the John Curtin School of Medical Research. Brains were stretched, but none were harmed during the course of this interview. Fuzzy Logic is now on Facebook. 24MB 53min.

Of all issues facing the nation right now, the future of the Murray Darling river system is near the top.  How is our most important river system going to feed a growing population? The Murray Darling Basin Authority is soon to release its landmark plan for how we manage the system. Fraser McLeod is executive director of the basin plan for the MDBA. Interview by Rod 12.9MB MP3 28min.

Do, re, mi, fuzzy!  This week we talk about the science of music and show some music about science.  Sally, Priyanka and Broderick sing their way through the episode. Unfortunately, the podcast only caught the last fifteen minutes of the show, but you can still listen to some fantastic fuzzy-ness including Sally's original songs about genetics.  Listen to learn and laugh! Broadcast live on February 28th, 2010

Get your thinking caps on for this interview with Charley Lineweaver, ranging over deep topics. No subject out of bounds as we discuss entropy in the universe, multiverses, religion. What is life, and would we recognise it anyway? How about a dust devil? Does tidying your room decrease entropy? Find out here. Interview by Nyssa Skilton and Rod Taylor. 1Hr, 27MB

Where did laughter come from? Are imaginary friends useful? Flies aid hearing research. Jo and Rod present a fun assortment of science stories. Oh, and I should confess - at one point you'll hear me saying "motor" neurons. Astute listeners will know that I really mean "mirror" neurons.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_neuron. 24MB 53min

Robert Rapier from the Oil Drum and the R-Squared Energy Blog talks about the future of oil. A fascinating look at a momentous topic. Robert's blog. The OilDrum Interview by Rod.