Fuzzy Logic Science Show

The End of Growth

Can the world continue growing forever? Not according to Richard Heinberg, who says we have reached the limits of cheap oil and other commodities. Then there's debt which has become a proxy for genuine productivity. We are, in effect, printing money to maintain the pretence. Pile climate change on top of that, and we face a nasty brew that means we business as usual cannot continue. Richard Heinberg is Author of ten books, including The Party’s Over, Peak Everything, and The End of Growth. Stay tuned; we'll be broadcasting for our interview with Richard in the next few weeks. Recorded at the ANU, 21 Sept. Fuzzy on Facebook. If you found this interview interesting, you might like to also visit Doing It Ourselves where you'll find an excellent video. Stay tuned for an interview we'll be doing with Theodore Kitchener from this group.

A Big Australia?

What sort of population can Australia - and the world - afford? Do we need more people - or should we limit population? We interview federal MP Kelvin Thompson, outspoken commentator on population growth. And in a change of pace, we ask Kelvin to tell his story, of how he got into politics, and what it's like being in Federal parliament today. How does it feel to be monstered by the media and political oponents. Interview by Rod

Fuzzy Fools Day

This episode originally aired on April 1 and it became Fuzzy Fools Day. Your challenge is to work out what's real science and what is just a prank. Stuart, Rachel and Broderick fool around through a very entertaining episode. WARNING: Contains throat singing and bad Irish accents.

Moments of Mathematics

This week Fuzzy explores the lesser talked about and slightly confusing uncle in the science family: mathematics.  Dennis, Jamos and Broderick laugh their way through online auctions, error detection and some really amazing maths for detecting sarcasm. (I wonder if it picked that up?)

The Unknown Ocean

We've mapped the entire surface of the Moon and Mars, but we've only explored 1% of the Earth's oceans.  This week Fuzzy explores the depths of the ocean.  Broderick is joined by Jillian from the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre and Dr Chris Fulton from the Australian National University.  They're talking about marine parks, genetics in the ocean and biodiversity in the high seas.

Fuzzy on Fossils

This week Broderick & Alice talk to Gavin Young & Tim Senden, researchers from the Australian National University, about their exhibition "Old Bones, New Insights".  The exhibition includes fossils from Gogo, WA and Burrinjuck, NSW.  You can visit the exhibition at Canberra Museum & Gallery until February 26, 2012. Other topics covered this week include native species, cloning mammoths and belly button bacteria.

Not just a hearing aid

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

Fuzzy Speech

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

When Good Cells Turn Bad

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.

Fuzzy Meets the PK Dick Android

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.