Fuzzy Logic Science Show

Why would a musician need a physiotherapist, and how do cicadas clean their wings are two fascinating question we discover on today's Fuzzy Logic. Simon Kravis interviews Bronwyn Ackermann http://www.aspah.org.au/public/

Then imagine you were given Moon rock samples from The Apollo missions. Your job is to analyse them. Don't worry that the entire planet knows about them, that astronauts risked their lives, and the budget outlay was ginormous. Go sample this lot.  That was the mission given to Prof Ross Taylor, who we interviewed for Fuzzy, courtesy of the Mars Society.

And, in a great win for international relations, we interview the US Ambassador, Jeffrey Bleich when we caught up with him at Tidbinbilla Deep Space Complex for the 40th anniversary of the 70 metre dish.

Brought to you by Alice, Becca, Tom, and Rod.

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This week Fuzzy regular Broderick is joined by Jill from the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre to talk about marine science in Australia.  They interview scientists who are talking at the Who Cares? Marine Science Forum which is happening on May 4 & 5.  For more details check out www.sapphirecoastdiscovery.com.au

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There's something about exploring that fires the imagination.  And nothing quite so humbling and inspiring as the thought of delicate little spacecraft way out there in the blackness of space.

Robert Brand has a finger in every imaginable pie in space communications, 'extreme' communications in mine tunnels, ham radio, missions to Mars and the Moon.  Even amateur high altitude balloon flights. Robert and his son Jason take us on an enthusiastic ride.

Web sites mentioned during this show are pluscomms.com,  echoesofapollo.com, wotzup.com

Interview by Rod

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Civilisation is the system that feeds us, houses us, and keeps us safe. It seems to work well, but embedded in it is a deadly flaw.

There is no known system in nature that can expand indefinitely. Many economists live with the fantasy notion of curves on graphs that climb forever, while overlooking the drops on the other side. Somehow we've come to believe the bizarre assumption that resources are limitless. It's hard to know what we're going to do as cheap oil runs dry, because there's no obvious alternative.  Cheap oil is the foundation of just about everything.

Our guest today is Nicole Foss, who describes herself as a systems analyst. Of all human systems, there are none bigger than this. What are we to do?  Is it Big Green Stuff, or something more fundamental?

Along the way, we talk about nuclear power, permaculture, peak finance, and even chickens.

Nicole Foss is co-editor of The Automatic Earth

You might want to lookup Ponzi schemes which Nicole mentions a few times.

Interview by Rod

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Fuzzy Logic is home to four Homo sapiens this week: Elise, Amy, Siân and Broderick.  Together they discuss a wide variety of different species including Aphredoderus sayanus, Rheobatrachus silus and Homo neanderthalensis.  What are all these strange species?  Listen and find out!

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Can rats share thoughts from brain to brain?  Can we train robot brains?  Expand your brain with a bit of science on Fuzzy Logic.  This episode is presented by Jess, Phoebe, Dan and Broderick

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Diabetes is a serious lifelong illness that affects many Australians. Imagine having to cosntantly monitor your blood sugar and inject insulin every day for the rest of your life. That's on top of possible side effects such as kidney damage, damaged eye sight, heart problems, and the risk of losing limbs through infection.

While there are reasaonbly good ways of managing diabetes, it's obviously better avoided in the first place.

Our guest today is Dr Charmaine Simeonovic from the John Curtin Medical School of Medical Research (see http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/researchers-in-diabetes-breakthrough-20120904-25czg.html#ixzz2Pm8Ah7yv)

Inteview by Rod

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This week on Fuzzy Logic Dan, Martha, Siân and Broderick think about how it would feel to live on chemical smoothies rather than food- is it healthy?  We also talk about movement in the moshpit and EPO doping.

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What does it take to make a computer see? Something we humans do. Dogs and cats, and even flies do it. But it's not a trivial job.

Guest today is Dr Stephen Gould, AI researcher ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science.  And we're delighted to welcome back David Dufty, who wrote the amazing story of the Philip K Dick Android.

Interview by Rod

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With bush fires raging around the country, Fuzzy Logic takes a look at the science behind fires.  Join Alice & Broderick as they discuss the past, present and future of fire science.

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