Fuzzy Logic Science Show

In the scheme of things 230 years is a mere blink, but that's all it's taken for Europeans to utterly transform Australia. In another 230 years, what will we say? Whatever the answer, the word sustainability is important. Dr Kate Auty is ACT Sustainability Commissioner. We talk about what that means for the ACT, and how we meet the forces that oppose it. Dr Auty shares some life stories from the Kimberleys, and what happened when she held her ground as the Victorian Environment Commissioner. Interview by Rod  

Still waiting for the energy revolution? While the federal government wants to burn coal, the community voice grows. We visited the Hepburn wind farm, and the Community Energy Congress in Melbourne. The Town Hall was a-buzz with excitement. At Hepburn, James took a few moments away from his icecream. We talk smart energy systems with Hillary Platt, co-operatives with Anthony Taylor. Then we hear community energy groups from Seymour and Euroa plans for pumped hydro storage.   Rod talks pumped hydro with Prof Andrew Blakers on Radio National.   Visit c4c2  Twitter     Website   Facebook    

February 12 is Darwin Day, celebrating the anniversary of the birth of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin. This show, originally broadcast on Darwin Day, sees Dr Emma Sherratt join Broderick to discuss the life and science of Charles Darwin. Emma is a postdoctoral researcher from the Research School of Biology at the Australian National Unviersity, Canberra

We are of course, talking about food! The immense pleasure of tucking into a good meal. It's the taste, the texture, the shared social experience, and nutrition. This a topic as rich as a fine meal. Today's conversation is with Dr Nenad Naumovski, Assistant Professor from the University of Canberra, and psychologist Jacqeline Naumovski. Interview by Rod.   You can read Dr Nemovski's Ask Fuzzy columns on tea and pectin. @FuzzyLogicSci

Hepatitis is a tenacious disease, but with basic knowhow, it can be prevented.  And with new drugs it can be treated, but the cost is far higher. Given the people at risk, it's as much a social issue as it is a health issue. It's one of the reasons that Hepatitis ACT Executive Director John Didlick has thrown his energy into the cause. Interview by Rod at the Multicultural Festival in Canberra. For more information, go to hepatitisact.com.au

At a time when we're facing so many dire threats, it's easy to give up and think we're powerless. In the face of such large forces, how can one person do anything? It turns out there are lots of ways. Our guest today describes a few. Simon Sheikh was driving force behind the Getup movement, and in 2013 was the Greens candidate in the ACT federal election. Now, he's founder and manager of Future Super. Interview by Rod

Last week, millions of people worldwide participated in Women's Marches to raise awareness, celebrate diversity, and demand equality. Eleanor and Mitchell decided to show their support by discussing their favourite women in science. Tune in to learn about the women who pioneered X-ray crystallography, mapped the ocean floor, and literally wrote the book on bone microstructures.  These are stories of scientists who not only performed world-changing research, but did so when everything was stacked against them.  Note: Eleanor incorrectly states that Sally Ride was the first woman in space. She was the first woman astronaut (1983), but cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova went into space (piloting the Vostok 6) 20 years earlier. My apologies for the mix-up.    

Welcome to 2017! In this week's episode of Fuzzy Logic, Eleanor and Mitchell talk about cycles. Whether it's the 365 day cycle around the sun, complex cycles of precession and tilt that alter Earth's climate, or the Sun's natural cycle through high and low activity periods, these kinds of patterns are all around us. Tune in to hear Mitchell's "New Years Resolution" and Eleanor try to explain that the Gregorian Calendar was *not* invented by a guy called Gregor.    

It's our thoroughly non-Christmassy Christmas episode, and the last Fuzzy for 2016, so we're talking about colour in nature. Why are animals colourful? How did yellow patterns come to mean "please don't eat me, I'm poisonous, I promise" and how did tricksters come to mimic those patterns for their own ends? Eleanor is joined in the studio by Thomas, (a biochemistry PhD student with an encyclopedic knowledge of the natural world and a penchant for awful puns), and Mitchell, who was probably a dinosaur in a previous life. Enjoy, and Happy New Year from Fuzzy!  

Today we take a short break from science to bring you a christmas wish. Whatever your creed, this is for you. A personal story recorded by Rod for the ABC in 2006. May peace be with us all in 2017.    

We caught up with Australia's former Chief Scientist, Professor Penny Sackett, and asked her about how we're dealing with looming climate change. Is there hope? Interview by Rod at the recent BZE electric vehicle launch.

What's it like to lose your hearing? Our two guests today share their experiences as they struggle with hearing loss. Sue Daw is from Better Hearing Canberra, and today Rod is on the other side of the microphone. Interview by Christine Daniel from radio 1RPH

It's easy to love a panda, a monkey, or an beautifully coloured bird, but spare a thought for the humble fly.  These tireless workers aren't just the ones  that buzz around your bbq sausage. There's a huge range of species that eat aphids and pollinate flowers. And now Canberra startup Goterra is turning Black Soldier Fly larvae into stock feed. Turn garbage into food, build an industry in Canberra, and slow the dumping of waste into land fille. Dr Bryan (the Fly Guy) Lessard's mission is to celebrate the true worth of the fly. Read his story in Fuzzy Logic's Fairfax column. Olympia Yarger from Goterra joins Bryan and Rod for today's celebration of flies.

Why do we like stories about scary beasts, and why did the US just vote for a man who promotes fear and anti-science? The Trump story we quote is here. Read our Ask Fuzzy on cats.   Brought to you by Rod with Phil Hore from the National Dinosaur Museum.  

At the Living Green Festival in Canberra, our eye was caught by a curvaceous white object. It was a Tesla Powerwall, on display by the Power Saving Centre Canberra.  Energy consultant Ben Luton tells us how you might use solar technology to save money, and do something good for the environment. Interview by Rod

Australian wildlife has been hit from all directions. Loss of habitat, fire, pests, and cats. The Australian Wildlife Conservancy is one organisation trying to save our native animals. Senior ecologist for the North West, Dr James Smith tells about how the AWC is helping to fight extinction. Interview by Rod

Humans can go deaf, but what about dogs? Like any other animal, their hearing can go. Especially when we meddle with their breeding. And did you know dogs lipread? Or perhaps that should be faceread. Recorded at the Living Green Festival, Canberra with Michelle from AustralianDeafDogRescue. Find them on FBook. Interview by Rod.

The Pokémon Go craze is sweeping the world, but its success relies on some serious physics and chemistry.  Why do you owe your Eevee to Einstein and his theory of relativity? How did Volta and Galvani pioneer battery-powered devices like smart phones and Pokédexes? Can Pokémon Go players help real life Professor Willows monitor animal populations? We've got the answers for you!  Brought to you by Siân (Team Valor), Jason (Team Mystic), and Eleanor (Team Instinct). This episode also features interviews with Dr Dimitri Tolleter about his National Science Week event, Duality: A Life Outside The Lab, and with Vance Lawrence and Kate Lehane who are involved in organising SciScouts. Keep an ear out for Bridget and Adrian talking about what they're looking forward to at SciScouts too! 

The list may seem strange, but it applies to our two featured women. Dorothy Hill was a pioneering Australian scientist who's field was coral paleantology. She also drove rally cars and had a pilot's license.  Hedy Lamarr was a renowned Hollywood beauty. She invented secure frequency hopping radio transmission. Something like it is in your mobile phone. We look at a surprisingly simple way to make renewable energy reliable on the grid. And in today's Ask Fuzzy we learn about arthritis. Brought to you by Rebecca Kaye from National Science Week, with Rod.

Two guests spontaneously appeared today. Luckly they were intelligently designed. Lots of people talk about evolution, but lots of people don't really know about evolution. There are many misconceptions. Then there are those who prefer mythical explanations. What does that mean, and why does it matter? Dr Nick Matzke is an evolutionary biologist who's been mapping the large scale history of life (the phylogenetic tree). Phil Hore is from the National Dinosaur Museum. Created by Rod.  @FuzzyLogicSci Lots of good things on the way at National Science Week. #natsciwk