Best Forgotten Inventors Podcasts (2025)

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Paint additive boosts plant growth in greenhouses 53:06

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7h ago53:06

53:06

An additive in paint converts ultraviolet light into red light allowing plants to grow more producing higher yields, a boon for greenhouse agriculture.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: The extinct ape-like human relative that made tools 13:59

5d ago13:59

13:59

Around 1.5 million years ago, in what's now Kenya, a human-like figure walked across the savannah. He was probably quite short by our standards, no taller than Danny DeVito. But unlike Danny DeVito, this ancient figure was not human. He was a long-extinct relative of ours called Paranthropus boisei. And now his fossilised hand bones are giving us n…

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Teenagers encounter their challenges 54:25

8d ago54:25

54:25

Jonathan Porritt’ recent book, Love, Anger and Betrayal charts the lives of young British climate campaigners. Meanwhile in Australia under-16s are about to be banned from using social media.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: How solar eclipses trick birds into singing 15:16

12d ago15:16

15:16

Few astronomical wonders are as spectacular as a total solar eclipse, when the Moon fully covers the Sun, plunging us into daytime darkness. If we're lucky, we can see this epic phenomenon as it happens — through special glasses, of course. But our preoccupation with looking at the sky means we may not notice what's happening to the animals around …

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2025 Nobel Prizes plus more from the British Science Festival 54:27

15d ago54:27

54:27

Richard Robson from the University of Melbourne has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, the nation’s first Chemistry Nobel in 50 years.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: How humpback whales bounced back 14:14

19d ago14:14

14:14

This has been a bumper year for whale-watching on Australia's east coast, with thousands of humpbacks spotted cruising along their annual migration route. This population was almost wiped out by whalers last century but has bounced back — and then some. A new estimate suggests there are now more of these humpbacks than in pre-whaling times. So why …

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Reports from The British Science Festival in Liverpool England 53:53

22d ago53:53

53:53

The BA, as it was known, established in 1831, was set up to advance science in the interest of the people, old and young, professional and lay. So, how well is it doing now amid international turmoil.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: Why CO2 peaks at this time of year 13:38

26d ago13:38

13:38

For decades, climate scientists have been tracking a curious phenomenon. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are steadily increasing overall but they also rise and fall in an annual rhythm — like the planet is breathing. Each spring, in the southern hemisphere, carbon dioxide levels start to plateau or maybe even drop slightly before shooting u…

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Climate change and pollution effects seen on Palau 54:35

29d ago54:35

54:35

Iconic jellyfish in saltwater lakes are disappearing.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: These high-tech mouthguards predict concussions 12:51

1M ago12:51

12:51

If you've been watching the Women's Rugby World Cup, you may have noticed players have been wearing special mouthguards that light up when they've suffered a significant knock to the head. It's the first time these concussion-predicting mouthguards have been trialled at a major competition. So in the wake of recent concussion concerns, from profess…

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Uncovering the mystery of Palau’s ancient terraces 54:34

1M ago54:34

54:34

Sophie Ly takes us to Palau to meet scientists and traditional knowledge custodians who are working together to uncover the secrets of Palau’s ancient terraces.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: After the SPF scandal — how is sunscreen tested? 13:31

1M ago13:31

13:31

Australia’s known for having some of the world’s toughest sunscreen standards, but in June, that reputation was rocked. Independent testing of 20 sunscreens found 16 did not meet their advertised SPF50 rating, including three children's sunscreens and three sold by the Cancer Council. So how are sunscreens tested, and what can we learn from these r…

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Quantum biology, two botanic gardens, and the importance of archaeology 54:19

1M ago54:19

54:19

Just as quantum physics is poised to launch computing into a new era of capability, researchers are seeing the first signs of quantum effects in biology.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: Move over, NASA — Australia's heading back into space 14:04

2M ago14:04

14:04

When you think of leaders in the space sector, big hitters like NASA and private companies like SpaceX spring to mind. But since the very beginning of the Space Age, Australia has played a role in the space flight industry. And this year, an Australian company tried to launch a rocket from Australian soil. So why is Australia building and launching…

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Bird navigation, reducing food waste and a tribute to John Clarke 54:25

2M ago54:25

54:25

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.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: Why your hay fever will get worse with climate change 13:01

2M ago13:01

13:01

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

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The Science Show celebrates 50 years 54:35

2M ago54:35

54:35

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?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: Why do whales beach themselves? 13:51

2M ago13:51

13:51

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.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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The Crockpot: Irving Naxon’s Slow-Cooked Revolution 42:24

2M ago42:24

42:24

Before the Crockpot became a kitchen icon, it started as the dream of an inventive mind who wanted families to come home to a hot meal. In this episode of What Were They Thinking?, we dive into the story of Irving Naxon, the man behind the humble slow cooker, and how his childhood memories of his grandmother’s stew inspired one of the most enduring…

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Complex molecules in space – how they formed and how they got here 54:24

2M ago54:24

54:24

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

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Lab Notes: The fall of the food pyramid 14:18

2M ago14:18

14:18

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

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Gene editing brings promise for genetic blood disorders 53:55

2M ago53:55

53:55

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.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: The native ants that take down cane toads 11:28

3M ago11:28

11:28

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. But it turns out they're not just aggressive, flesh-tearing fighters. They're also farmers, architects, and — best of all — cane toad exterminators.…

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Back to the dark ages for American research? 54:25

3M ago54:25

54:25

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.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: How do I avoid eating and breathing microplastics? 13:26

3M ago13:26

13:26

It's impossible to escape microplastics. They're in our food and water, and the air around us is teeming with them. So considering they're all around us, how can we minimise our exposure to tiny plastic fragments without resorting to living in a cave?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Climatic changes everywhere as the world’s oceans become hotter 53:11

3M ago53:11

53:11

A 100-yr flood is now a more regular occurrence in the German town of Passau, bringing widespread destruction, another local impact of a planet getting hotter.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: What's quantum mechanics ever done for me? 14:00

3M ago14:00

14:00

It feels like you can't go a week without hearing about some new quantum technology which promises to change our lives for the better. But quantum mechanics is already well and truly present in our daily life — and you don't even have to be a physicist to be using it.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Tracing the 100-year history of quantum mechanics 53:54

3M ago53:54

53:54

There was a famous debate. And truly weird ideas about how the universe works at a subatomic level. Shelby Traynor traces the history of quantum mechanics.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: Why some mums have all boys or all girls 14:20

3M ago14:20

14:20

If you've given birth to three daughters, what are the odds that your next child will also be a girl? One in two, right? Well … maybe not. The odds of having a fourth girl could be a fair bit higher than 50 per cent, according to a new study into families with single-sex sets of siblings.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Australia's forgotten inventor brothers 41:56

3M ago41:56

41:56

Discover the story of a pair of brothers who invented an early electric scooter, humidicrib, fax machine, Olympic scoreboard — and much more! — in their South Australian workshop from the 1930s to the 60s. We also learn about a trial that's generated energy from the waves, and unearth two rare photographs of a long-lost bandicoot species.…

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Lab Notes: Can bottom trawling be a sustainable way to fish? 14:02

3M ago14:02

14:02

A huge net, weighed down by heavy chains, swiftly sweeps across the ocean floor, scooping up everything in its path. This type of fishing, called bottom trawling, was illuminated in a new documentary, Ocean with David Attenborough. Bottom trawling is known for indiscriminately gathering all sorts of marine species, as well as damaging the sea floor…

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The trees that harness lightning to kill their rivals 42:07

4M ago42:07

42:07

In an electrifying episode of the Science Show, find out how getting struck by a bolt from the heavens can help at least one species of tall tree not only survive, but thrive. Then step back in time to solve a tool-making mystery in Samoa and discover hidden treasures in centuries-old books — including a bubonic plague flea.…

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Lab Notes: The telescope redefining the Universe 12:50

4M ago12:50

12:50

In the three years since the James Webb Space Telescope sent back its first images, it's pulled back the veil on a whole bunch of mind-blowing cosmic phenomena. So how has this $13 billion bit of kit shaped what we know about the Universe — and what is yet to come?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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What does it take to bring back an extinct animal? 40:47

4M ago40:47

40:47

We hear from scientists who push the boundaries of creation, whether that's building wild and wacky snack flavours (successfully) or cloning extinct tropical frogs (unsuccessfully … so far). And since President Donald Trump retook office, the state of health and science research in the US has been precarious for many who work in those areas. But th…

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Lab Notes: What we can learn from the world’s cleanest air 13:51

4M ago13:51

13:51

We often hear about places where the air quality is bad, even dangerous, but what about where the air is the cleanest on Earth? That air can be found blowing onto the north-west tip of Tasmania at Kennaook/Cape Grim, where an air pollution station has quietly been keeping track of how humans have changed the makeup of our atmosphere for 50 years. S…

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A portrait of philosopher Karl Popper 54:07

4M ago54:07

54:07

Karl Popper (1902-1994) is regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of science of the twentieth century. Alan Saunders presented this portrait of Karl Popper for The Science Show in January 2001.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: How Ozempic stops food cravings 11:52

4M ago11:52

11:52

A weekly injection that stops that hankering for hot chips and donuts? Many people on Ozempic and similar medications report this phenomenon, saying they no longer have incessant thoughts about sweets and fried food. So how do these drugs, known as GLP-1 agonists, work in the brain to dial down "food noise" and help people lose weight?…

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Celebrating Charles Todd and the overland telegraph 54:07

4M ago54:07

54:07

The overland telegraph connecting Australia to the world was completed just over 150 years ago. It was built due to the dedication of a public servant, Charles Todd.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: The tiny beetle ravaging Perth's trees 14:49

4M ago14:49

14:49

It's the size of a sesame seed, but it could cause unfathomable destruction to Australia's forests and urban canopy. A beetle called the polyphagous shot-hole borer (Euwallacea fornicatus) is silently spreading through Perth and its surrounds, forcing councils to chop and chip hundreds of trees — even century-old Moreton Bay figs. So how does the t…

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Professor Roger Short, reproductive biologist 54:07

4M ago54:07

54:07

Roger Short (1930-2021) discusses influences in his early life, and some of his research achievements including melatonin as a controller of circadian rhythms, and aspects of reproductive biology across the animal world.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: What makes Sydney's cockies so clever? 14:35

5M ago14:35

14:35

First they learnt how to flip open wheelie bin lids. Now they're using water fountains. Masters of the urban landscape, sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) are more than capable of some quirky (and sometimes messy) antics. So what do these entertaining exploits tell us about cockie innovation — or even cockie culture?…

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Hang on – we’re about to enter a wormhole! 53:57

5M ago53:57

53:57

Get ready for gravitons, dark photons and transition states. Kathryn Zurek takes us on a tour of the bewildering world of quantum physics.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: How microscopic algae can devastate ocean life 13:34

5M ago13:34

13:34

A couple of months ago, a killer started mobilising off the South Australian shore — one that would wipe out marine life, make surfers feel sick, and smother picturesque beaches in thick foam. The culprit? A bloom of tiny organisms called microalgae. We can't see them with the naked eye, but in big enough numbers, they can devastate ecosystems. So …

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Black white and green 54:36

5M ago54:36

54:36

People have been in the Australian wilderness for generations. But can people be considered part of the natural landscape or will they always have an impact?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: AI that outperforms humans is coming 14:41

5M ago14:41

14:41

If you were impressed by generative AI such as ChatGPT, then artificial general intelligence or AGI promises to really knock your socks off. Over the past couple of decades, tech companies have been racing to build AGI systems that can match or surpass human capabilities across a whole bunch of tasks. So will AGI save the world — or will it spell t…

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Teletext People - David Rayers and Charles Hope Panel Special 1:04:17

5M ago1:04:17

1:04:17

In This Episode, Chris Bell of Super Page 58 dot com needs our help. The main feature today is a real treat and is a recording of a panel from teletext 50 form September 2024 at the centre for computing history in Cambridge. The two Gentlemen you are going to hear from were guests and kindly agreed to provide us with an impromptu panel on the Sunda…

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Mary Somerville - Brilliant polymath, scientific genius triumphed against the odds 54:51

5M ago54:51

54:51

She could only read and write from age 10. She reared children and had a first unsupportive husband. But Mary Somerville was able to correct the work of Isaac Newton, help discover Neptune, and write a science book which became a university text.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: Why a metre is a metre long 13:03

5M ago13:03

13:03

The next time you pick up a bag of spuds from the supermarket or fill up the car with petrol, you can thank the Treaty of the Metre for the metric system that underpins daily life. The treaty was signed exactly 150 years ago, when delegates from 17 countries gathered on a Parisian spring day to establish a new and standardised way of measuring the …

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Evidence of oldest reptiles found in Victoria 53:03

5M ago53:03

53:03

Amateur fossil hunters make a major discovery. And Marilyn Renfree describes the sophisticated reproduction of marsupials.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Lab Notes: The plight of the southern right whales 13:46

6M ago13:46

13:46

Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) were named by whalers because their high oil content made them the "right" ones to kill. In the decades since whaling was banned, southern right numbers increased — but a new study shows that population growth stalled, and might've dropped a bit, despite current numbers still far below what they were in p…