Where Are We At With...?
A podcast that brings you up to date with the promises of the future, made in the past.
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Where Are We At With Urban Microclimates?
The global climate is changing faster than ever due to the actions of humans. But your local climate is too. Simple decisions like the colour of your roof, the location of a tree on a footpath or the material used in a children's playground can all have cascading effects on small-scale weather patterns. Perhaps it just raises the temperature a few degrees, or maybe it creates a hail storm where there wouldn't have been one, or flash-flooding that should never have happened. Dr Negi…
Where Are We At With Sweat?
Humans are one of the few species of animals that use sweat to cool down. What's in the sweat, how it's made and how we replace what's lost have long been the focus of scientists, athletes, and companies trying to sell you recovery drinks. Join Professor Hugh Dunstan as he explains why products like Gatorade are only part of the answer, why sugar is legally required in an electrolyte drink, and how our bodies actually change the composition of the fluid depending on why we are…
Where Are We At With Rabbits?
Rabbit populations are once again reaching plague proportions in parts of Australia, despite the release of two incredibly successful diseases over the past century. Myxomatosis and then Calicivirus killed up to 99% of Australia's rabbits when they were introduced, but the rabbits have developed resistance, and we haven't yet found a new disease. Heidi Kleinert is our guest, she's the National Rabbit Management Coordinator at the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions.
*EDIT…
Where Are We At With Democracy?
Democracy is in danger. Around the world, the number people living in a democratic system is shrinking, and some of the biggest and most powerful democracies are showing dramatic signs of falling apart. If our vote doesn't guarantee our voice is heard, what can we do? Saffron Zomer is the CEO and founder of the Australian Democracy Network, an advocacy group intended to fight for a system Winston Churchill famously said was the worst form of government, except for all the other ones. Wh…
Where Are We At With Crown of Thorns?
Coral reefs are under immense pressure around the world. Climate change, oil spills, pollution, plastics and tourists are all contributing. But for more than 60 years, we've been aware of another threat that is part of the reef ecosystem itself. The Crown of Thorns Starfish is voracious, venomous and very, very hard to stop. Professor Morgan Pratchett from James Cook University has spent three decades studying the creature in an effort to fight back.
Where Are We At With Sneakers?
The first casual running shoes were invented in the 1970s, and within 50 years, some of them are so good that they're banned for competitions. But our feet didn't evolve to wear shoes. Millenia of improvements left humans with unique, brilliantly adapted structures for movement. A big brain and fast feet took us to the top of the ancient food chain. Now, we wear shoes every day, and for myriad activities. People like Professor Glen Lichtwark from QUT are trying to discover how we m…
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About the Host
Podcast host
David Curnow is an award-winning journalist, newsreader, and television and radio host with more than 20 years’ experience. His endless curiosity, and delight in speaking to smart people about the incredible work they do works hand in hand with the desire to find out what’s going on with all those stories of the next big thing or world-changing technology.
Let’s be honest, journalists and podcasters are all just gossips wanting to be the ones to tell you something. It’s just in this case it’s well worth knowing.