Home Podcasts Shirtloads of Science
Shirtloads of Science

Shirtloads of Science

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki 464 Episodes Jun 13, 2026

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, a curious optimist and science lover, hosts this podcast where he and his guests explore weird facts and engage in amazing conversations. The show aims to remind listeners that it's never too late for a happy childhood. Series Producer is Isabelle Benton and Technical Producer is Maya Cook.

Episodes

The (Not So) Boring Billion with Prof. Dietmar Müller (478) Jun 13, 2026 28:14 In this episode, we speak with Dietmar Müller about the "Boring Billion", a seemingly quiet period in Earth's deep history that may have been crucial for the evolution of complex life. Drawing on his latest research, Müller explains how plate tectonics, passive continental margins, and volcanic outgassing shaped Earth's slow carbon cycle and gradually oxygenated the oceans during the mid-Proterozo
Solving a Cosmic Radio Signal Mystery with Kovi Rose (477) Jun 6, 2026 29:52 Astronomer and soon-to-be Dr. Kovi Rose joins us to discuss his newly published Nature Astronomy paper on one of the universe's newest mysteries: strange repeating flashes of radio waves and X-rays coming form deep within our galaxy! His team's discovery of ASKAP J174 has helped identify the source as a pair of stars orbiting each other, with a white dwarf pulling or accreting material from its c
Coffee & Blood Pressure Explained with Prof. Clare Collins (476) May 30, 2026 17:51 Professor Clare Collins returns to the pod to answer a common question: does coffee raise your blood pressure? We also discuss how genetics influence whether you're a fast or slow caffeine metaboliser, the beneficial phytonutrients found in coffee, why decaf still has health benefits, and when people with high blood pressure may need to be more cautious with their intake. nomoneynotime.com.au
The Hidden Health Benefits of Honey with Prof. Clare Collins (475) May 23, 2026 30:44 Friend of the pod Professor Clare Collins returns to dive down into the sticky depths of the surprisingly powerful world of honey - far beyond being "just a sugary liquid". From the hallucinogenic "mad honey" of the Rhododendrons to the science behind medical-grade honey dressings that can heal wounds days faster than conventional treatments, Dr. Clare explains why this ancient food deserves a sec
The Hunt for Dark Matter with Dr. Theresa Fruth (474) May 16, 2026 28:12 What is the universe actually made of? Particle physicist Theresa Fruth join us at Shirtloads to explore one of science's greatest unsolved mysteries - dark matter! Making up roughly 85% of the universe, yet appearing in none of our known particles, dark matter is invisible, elusive and almost certainly the reason the universe (and us!) exist at all. Theresa and her team are hunting for it anyway.
The Human Cost of One Degree with Prof. Ollie Jay (473) May 9, 2026 32:40 Professor Ollie Jay, a leading expert in heat and health, returns to Shirtloads to discuss the growing toll of climate change on human wellbeing and global economics. Insights drawn from the latest Lancet Countdown report show that over half a million people die from heat-related causes each year, and a million more from fossil fuel pollution - deaths that are largely preventable.  Rising temperat
Incidental Exercise with Prof. Emmanuel Stamatakis (472) May 3, 2026 31:04 In this episode, we speak with Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis about Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA) - short bursts of high-intensity movement built into everyday life, like walking briskly or carrying groceries. With only a quarter of adults exercising regularly, his research highlights how incidental activity, when done with enough intensity, can offer meaningful health b
Dumb Stuff In Space with Assoc. Prof. Michael Brown (471) Apr 25, 2026 33:08 We're living through the great Space Boom and with great innovation comes a lot of whacky ideas... Astronomer and Associate Professor Michael Brown from Monash University joins me to discuss stupid things in space.  The conversation dives into some of the more bizarre and ambitious ideas circulating the space industry, from firing villains and radioactive waste in to the sun to deploying giant or
Using Soundwaves To Measure The Sun with Prof. Conny Aerts (470) Apr 18, 2026 31:07 In this episode I sit down with Professor Conny Aerts, a pioneering mathematician and founding figure of astroseismology, who reveals how scientists are "listenting" to stars to understand what's happening deep inside them. From oscillating stars to solar sunquakes, she explains how sound waves can measure the sun's size, age and activity.  Beyond the science, she shares her remarkable journey fro
How To Die in the 21st Century with Dr. Hannah Gould (469) Apr 11, 2026 30:34 We're scared to say the D word! But why is talking about death such a taboo? Dr. Hannah Gould, a cultural anthropologist at the University of Melbourne, joins me to discuss the topic in the wake of the release of her new book 'How To Die in the 21st Century'. The discussion dives in to the modern experience of dying, from the pressures of having a 'good death' to the reality of overly medicalised
How Two Students Fixed the Focus of James Webb from Earth with Prof. Peter Tuthil, Dr. Louis Desdoigts & Max Charles (468) Apr 4, 2026 28:59 When a problem with the James Webb Space Telescope left its images frustratingly out of focus, the solution wasn't fixed in space... it was fixed from Earth. At the University of Sydney, PhD students Dr. Louis Desdoigts and Max Charles spent two years rewriting and refining code to recalibrate a critical instrument designed by Professor Peter Tuthill: the Aperture Masking Interferometer. Their bre
Forensic Science: Fact, Fiction, and Failure with Dr Linzi Wilson-Wilde and Hannah Jarman (467) Mar 28, 2026 26:34 This episode features Dr. Linzi Wilson-Wilde and Hannah Jarman discussing the realities of forensic science beyond shows like CSI. Through cases such as the Phantom of Heilbronn case and Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, they explore how flawed evidence and forensic myths have contributed to wrongful convictions. They also examine common misconceptions around techniques like bite mark analysis, fire in

Recommended