Fuzzy Logic Science Show

Do you find it difficult to follow conversations in pubs? People not speaking clearly?

It may be that your ears don't work as well as the used to. There's a growing number of people across the planet who need help with hearing.

It may be more than just a social inconvenience. Looking blankly at your boss is not good for your career. And did you know that if you let it go, you may permanently lose the ability to process some sounds.

Today's guest on Fuzzy in an inspirational researcher and advocate for those who need help with hearing. Dr Elaine Saunders has a history with the pioneering cochlear implant project, and is now part of Blamey & Saunders.

You may think of a hearing aid as just a small amplifier stuck on top of your ear, but for good hearing you need a lot than that. In this interview Dr Saunders describes new Australian technology  that strives to improve hearing for an affordable price.

Interview by Rod

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How do you sound to others? Your voice is one of your most important social assets. With it, you convey meaning, impressions, emotions, and the image you project. Our judgement of each other is heavily coloured by the sounds of our voice.

Our guest on Fuzzy today is voice therapist, coach, researcher, Dr Cate Madill from the University of Sydney. Also joining us is fantasy writer KJ Taylor, with her own take on voices.

Hosted by Rod

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It's hard to imagine just how much computing power you can fit in your pocket. It's not long since smart phones were the stuff of science fiction, but now they're commonplace. Combine their computing grunt with a GPS, and remarkable things become possible.

NICTA's Unleash Your App competition taps into the new possibilities, and the frontier market that has emerged. We sent fantasy author and University of Canberra Alumni KJ Taylor along to the award ceremony at Parliament House to interview the contestants, with prizes awarded by Senator Stephen Conroy.

Meet the creative contestants Zakaria Bouguettaya, Zac Altman, and Matthew Browne.

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How can a pair of physicists / cosmologists have something new to say about cancer? Never mind that they are two luminaries in their field. Professors Paul Davies and Charley Lineweaver are exploring ideas that upend traditional views of why cancer occurs. Is it really just a case of rogue cells in a sort of internal Darwinism, or is it something else?

And why did Rod drop a water bottle to illustrate a feature of fundamental significance to the universe? Does that sound like just a quirky stunt? No. To find out why not, check out this podcast.

Prof Charley Lineweaver interviewed by Rod

Correction:  Henrietta Lacks had cervical cancer.

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Have you seen the classic movie Blade Runner?

Philip K Dick was the quirky writer of sci-fi novels, and the author of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Imagine what it would be like to encounter the robotic-artificial intelligence reincarnation of PK Dick.

This was the product of a collaboration between robotocists and AI researchers in 2005 when they built the animated replica. Unfortunately it was left in  the luggage locker on a US domestic flight, and has not been seen since.

Today on Fuzzy we interview David Dufty, author of Lost in Transit, The strange story of the Philip K Dick android.

Recommended as an excellent read from another great guest on Fuzzy Logic. Hosted by Rod.

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This episode Emily and Broderick have a lot of fun dicussing the Ignobel Prizes.  They also talk about saving heat from engines, printable solar cells, swooping magpies and the big science competition.  Have a listen & laugh!

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What's the difference between taste and flavour? Just one of the hot topics we bring you in today's packed show.

Tune in for book reviews In Flight Science, Don't be Such a Scientist, and the TV series Big, Bigger, Biggest.

We preview the remarkable story of the Philip K Dick Android as told in the book Lost in Transit. The author David Dufty will soon be guest on Fuzzy.

Plus an update on efforts to wipe out rabbits, rats, and mice on McQuarie Island. Will they be able to save the fabulous bird and plant life?  And what would you have to teach a dog in this quest.

Brought to you by Tom, Jen, Kirri, and Rod.

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How do you understand the universe?

And what part do science, religion, reason and faith play? Today we look at some serious, some deep, and some personal reflections. Also some not so-serious stories of dubious origins.

Interviews from the USA with Prof Graeme Smith UC Santa Cruz, and Bryant Grigsby of Lick Observatory with some world leading tricks in adaptive optical astronomy. Looking far into the stars, wondering about the amazing place that is our cosmos.

Brought to you by Kirri, Emma, and Rod.

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How can we help prevent falls?  What are the real hidden dangers of home renovation?  Could we be eating algae meat anytime soon?  Emma, Jen and Broderick answer these questions and more.  Includes a special demonstration of Auto-Tune software turning Emma's speech into song!

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We have a packed show today including special interview with Prof Tevor Ireland from the ANU who's in the news this week with results from the Hayabusa mission to collect dust from the Itakawa asteroid.  And what a story it is! The little spacecraft went on an extraordinary journey with lots of trials a tribulations along the way.

Plus fresh from our visit to the USA we interview Prof Jean Brodie, UC Santa Cruz. We talk about dark matter, and the origin of galaxies.

And we have tales from the USA, anecdotes and observations from the SW USA. Why does Vinnie suck his forearm? Also some bleak thoughts on how development is done in this part of the world.

Brought to you by Michael and Rod

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