Skip to main content

The Science Show - ABC RN

Program: The Science Show

Source:ABC Radio National

Brought to you by

ABC Radio National

ABC Radio National

Presented by

The Science Show gives Australians unique insights into the latest scientific research and debate, from the physics of cricket to prime ministerial biorhythms.

Airs Saturday 12pm, Monday 4am and 12pm

Episodes

Sorted by latest

Bird navigation, reducing food waste and a tribute to John Clarke

As The Science Show concludes its celebration of 50 years, we remember John Clarke’s contributions to early Science Shows and point to a film just released looking at John’s life, produced by his daughter Lorin.

Published: SatSat 6 Sep 2025 at 2:00amwith Robyn Williams

The Science Show - ABC RN

Duration: 54 minutes 25 seconds

Why Are We Like This?

Book cover - Why are we like this?

Duration: 14 minutes 6 seconds

Clues emerge revealing how birds navigate

Duration: 9 minutes 38 seconds

Reducing food waste in hospitals and aged care facilities

A large plate of chicken potatoes and vegetables

Duration: 8 minutes

John Clarke – Lorin Clarke’s film tribute to her father

Duration: 20 minutes 24 seconds

Lab Notes: Why your hay fever will get worse with climate change

One in four Australians get hay fever, and as the planet warms, our seasonal sneezes and sniffles are tipped to get much, much worse.

Published: TueTue 2 Sep 2025 at 2:00amwith Belinda Smith

Illustration of yellow paper, stained with spills and water marks, with words 'Lab Notes' on white paper stuck on top.

Duration: 13 minutes 1 second

The Science Show celebrates 50 years

Join us for highlights from fifty years of The Science Show including Fred Dagg, who helps us with the big questions: what is it all about and why are we here?

Published: 28 Aug 2025Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:01pmwith Robyn Williams

Robyn Williams with team members Sharon Carleton, Pauline Newman, David Fisher and Jonica Newby

Duration: 54 minutes 35 seconds

Lab Notes: Why do whales beach themselves?

Every now and again, dozens or even hundreds of perfectly healthy looking whales strand themselves on a beach. Scientists have a few theories on why they do this.

Published: 26 Aug 2025Tue 26 Aug 2025 at 1:30amwith Belinda Smith

Illustration of yellow paper, stained with spills and water marks, with words 'Lab Notes' on white paper stuck on top.

Duration: 13 minutes 51 seconds

Complex molecules in space – how they formed and how they got here

Samples from asteroids have helped build a theory of the origin of complex molecules and how they made it to Earth.

Published: 23 Aug 2025Sat 23 Aug 2025 at 2:00amwith Robyn Williams

The Science Show - ABC RN

Duration: 54 minutes 24 seconds

Lab Notes: The fall of the food pyramid

Fresh Australian dietary guidelines are due next year, and they’ll likely focus on the health of the planet as well as people.

Published: 19 Aug 2025Tue 19 Aug 2025 at 2:30amwith Belinda Smith

Illustration of yellow paper, stained with spills and water marks, with words 'Lab Notes' on white paper stuck on top.

Duration: 14 minutes 18 seconds

Gene editing brings promise for genetic blood disorders

Small chemical groups inserted or removed from around DNA may affect gene expression and so be a way to control genetic blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia and beta thalassemia.

Published: 16 Aug 2025Sat 16 Aug 2025 at 2:00amwith Robyn Williams

The Science Show - ABC RN

Duration: 53 minutes 55 seconds

Lab Notes: The native ants that take down cane toads

Meat ants don't sound like the most endearing Australian animals. These purple-red insects are super territorial, swarming and biting anything that threatens their nest.

Published: 12 Aug 2025Tue 12 Aug 2025 at 1:30amwith Belinda Smith

Illustration of yellow paper, stained with spills and water marks, with words 'Lab Notes' on white paper stuck on top.

Duration: 11 minutes 28 seconds

Back to the dark ages for American research?

Is the US shooting itself in the foot, or shooting itself in the head? As Donald Trump removes funding for medical research, climate research and more, Matthew England reflects on how science will help us cope with a changing world.

Published: 9 Aug 2025Sat 9 Aug 2025 at 2:00amwith Robyn Williams

The Science Show - ABC RN

Duration: 54 minutes 25 seconds

Lab Notes: How do I avoid eating and breathing microplastics?

It's impossible to escape microplastics. They're in our food and water, and the air around us is teeming with them.

Published: 5 Aug 2025Tue 5 Aug 2025 at 1:45amwith Belinda Smith

Illustration of yellow paper, stained with spills and water marks, with words 'Lab Notes' on white paper stuck on top.

Duration: 13 minutes 26 seconds

Strange Frontiers

Strange Frontiers 01 | From a German peak, powerful lasers are fired into the night sky

Strange Frontiers is a ten-part series taking you to remarkable, hard-to-reach, and off-limits places where scientists work.

Hannes Vogelmann stands amongst the German alps

Duration: 21 minutes 22 seconds

Published: 22 Nov 2024Fri 22 Nov 2024 at 7:43amby Carl Smith

Strange Frontiers 02 | The factory where one of the most expensive and elusive materials is made

Come see how scientists are making antimatter on this episode of Strange Frontiers.

Duration: 23 minutes 47 seconds

Published: 22 Nov 2024Fri 22 Nov 2024 at 7:48amby Carl Smith

Strange Frontiers 03 | How a scientist fell in love with a fossil

The tale of a distant human cousin, Homo heidelbergensis, and the woman charged with keeping one jaw bone safe.

Kristina Eck looks lovingly at the jawbone of Homo heidelbergensis

Duration: 28 minutes 15 seconds

Published: 22 Nov 2024Fri 22 Nov 2024 at 7:50amby Carl Smith

Strange Frontiers 04 | Autonomous minibus ready for passengers

Engineers hope the driverless minibuses will soon be zooming around the snowy capital of Estonia.

Mari-Ly Klaats stands in front of an autonomous minibus

Duration: 21 minutes 18 seconds

Published: 22 Nov 2024Fri 22 Nov 2024 at 7:51amby Carl Smith

The physics of music

The physics of music - part 1

The Science Show presents the first of a three-part series on how physics and music were closely linked in their early development. The series was first heard in 1994 and is presented by physicist from Sydney University the late Ian Johnston.

Duration: 53 minutes 52 seconds

Published: 24 Oct 2022Mon 24 Oct 2022 at 6:39am

The physics of music - part 2

New thinking in the Renaissance led to a new understanding of physics and with it, a new musical scale and new instruments. Physics and music bloomed.

Duration: 53 minutes 21 seconds

Published: 6 Mar 2023Mon 6 Mar 2023 at 8:58pm

The physics of music - part 3

We continue Ian Johnston’s story of the parallel developments of physics and music. Some combinations of notes we find pleasing. Others less so. How is this explained by physics?

Duration: 52 minutes 52 seconds

Published: 6 Mar 2023Mon 6 Mar 2023 at 8:58pm

The physics of music - part 4

We continue our series of programs about the connections between physics and music presented by the late Ian Johnston from The University of Sydney.

Duration: 54 minutes 5 seconds

Published: 24 Oct 2022Mon 24 Oct 2022 at 6:26am

Discover more podcasts

Download the ABC listen app to hear more of your favourite podcasts

Footer