Brains Matter

Big Blog Theory Competition

brainsmatter — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:33:05 +0000

The Big Blog Theory is an effort put together by the National Science Week crew to find Australia’s best blogger and microblogger. (Unfortunately they didn’t have a podcasting category).

For the blogging category, Marc West from the Mr Science Show has been nominated – regular listeners will remember him from several episodes over the past couple of years, from fictional scientists to the science and psychology of cricket and then of course, the much loved episode on science songs. He’s up against some very tough competition, including Kylie Sturgess, Natasha Mitchell of the ABC, and several other well known blogs.

For the microblogging category, it came as a surprise to find that Brains Matter was one of the 5 finalists.

If you look at the list, it includes Natasha Mitchell of ABC’s “All in the Mind” show, and other well known science communicators. I could be wrong, but I believe that Brains Matter is the only one in the list that works off volunteer effort, and as such, probably have about as much chance of winning as I do in a raffle. So this is where you, the reader and/or listener, come in. If you could take a moment of your time to go to the voting site and vote for Brains Matter, I would be much obliged. (I have been told that the voting layout is a little confusing, so be careful with your selection!)

Thanks!

118 – Prof Patricia Vickers-Rich – Palaeontology 101

brainsmatter — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 03:32:24 +0000

I speak to Professor Patricia Vickers-Rich, the Director of the Monash Science Centre and Personal Chair of Palaeontology at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, about palaeontology. Topics we covered included:

- What is palaeontology?
- What areas of science does palaeontology cover?
- If you’re interested in palaeontology, what should you consider learning?
- Prof Rich talks a little about the origin of birds in Australia
- How big were these birds?
- How closely related are animals of different continents, and why?
- Some of the unusual structures of animals from the past – and their relation to microbial life
- What jobs can palaeontologists get?
- Some examples of different places in the world palaeontology has taken Prof Vickers-Rich, and some of the cultures she experienced
- The value of learning different cultures and how this relates to research

Today’s listener of the episode is Sharon Ryan from Australia.

Download MP3 of Ep 118

Details of the National Science Week Show are here – please come along, or listen to it online!

Please vote for this podcast this month at

You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes

Live Show details

brainsmatter — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:24:29 +0000

Here are some details for the Brains Matter / Monash Science Centre National Science Week Live Show!

(Click on the picture to see it in full size)

For those unable to be there in person, the show will also be simulcast live on the internet!

For those on facebook, you can RSVP at the Facebook Event

Movie Competition

brainsmatter — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:41:04 +0000

The first 10 people to send me an email will win a double pass to the movie “Farewell” screening in Melbourne on the weekend of the 26th! (This weekend)

You must be in Melbourne, and able to see the movie.

Second Place Vesta

brainsmatter — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:19:09 +0000

Brains Matter has once again contributed to the 365 Days of Astronomy podcast.

Who remembers second place? It’s a problem that plagues anyone who isn’t the biggest or fastest or shiniest. In today’s episode of 365 Days of Astronomy, we look at the second largest object in the Asteroid Belt – Vesta

Download the show here

Link to 365 Days of Astronomy website

117 – Dr Michael Brown – Galaxy Evolution and Active Galactic Nuclei

brainsmatter — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 05:29:29 +0000

I speak to Dr Michael Brown, from the School of Physics at Monash University. Michael talked to me about the formation of galaxies, and specifically, research into Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN)

- What is the definition of a galaxy?
- What makes up a galaxy?
- What are some examples of galaxies we can see with binoculars and telescopes?
- What is the difference between a galaxy, a cloud of gas and a globular cluster?
- What are the structures of galaxies?
- What do we know about how these different types of galaxies form?
- How do galaxies grow over time?
- Do we know where the central black holes in galaxies come from?
- What is an Active Galactic Nucleus?
- Are there different types of AGNs?
- How are quasars formed?
- Why do some galaxies have AGNs and some do not?
- Are AGN’s the mechanism that causes the formation of stars in galaxies?

Today’s listener of the episode is Robin Ford from Sydney, Australia.

Download MP3 of Ep 117

Please vote for this podcast this month at

You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes

25/5/2010 365 Days of Astronomy Appearance – Hypervelocity stars

brainsmatter — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:11:44 +0000

The Ordinary Guy from the Brains Matter Podcast has contributed to another episode of 365 Days of Astronomy:

Hypervelocity Stars

116 – Prof Patricia Vickers-Rich – The Monash Science Centre

brainsmatter — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:58:52 +0000

In this episode I talk to Professor Patricia Vickers-Rich and we talk about the Monash Science Centre.

- What is Professor Rich’s background?
- What inspired her to start up a Science Centre in Australia?
- What are the main aims of the MSC?
- When did the MSC open?
- What were some of the difficulties experienced in trying to start up the MSC?
- Some of the features of the MSC building
- The environmental concerns of the MSC
- What is planned for the Monash Science Centre and the MSC precinct?
- The outreach goals of the MSC
- Some of the exhibitions that the MSC has had in the past
- Teachers at the Science Centre
- Programmes offered by the Science Centre
- The future of the Monash Science Centre

Listener of the episode is Frank Connolly from Australia

Download MP3 of Ep 116

You can view the Monash Science Centre website at this link

Please vote for this podcast this month at

You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes

New iPhone Application

brainsmatter — Thu, 13 May 2010 05:53:23 +0000

Hi all,

For those of you who have an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, you can now purchase and download an application specifically for Brains Matter at the iTunes Store.

(Click on the above image to go to the iTMS)

The first 4 people to email the show and tell me why you recommend the show to others (with an example) in 50 words will win the app for free.

115 – Dr Robyn Pickering – The Discovery of Australopithecus Sediba

brainsmatter — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:21:25 +0000

What is Australopithecus Sediba? It’s a newly discovered species of hominid that was discovered recently. I talked to Dr Robyn Pickering at the University of Melbourne, who was involved in this discovery to talk about Sediba.

- Why was it called Sediba?
- What kind of dating technique was used to work out how old these fossils were?
- Why can’t carbon dating be used?
- How old were the Sediba bones?
- Where were the remains discovered?
- How is Australopithecus Sediba related to Australopithecus Africanus?
- What kinds of skeletons were discovered?
- What were the ages of the skeletons found?
- Why is the term “missing link” incorrect?
- What was the European Synchrotron used for with this discovery?
- How common are fossils?
- What upcoming research can we expect from this find?

Today’s listener of the episode is Belinda Nicholson from Australia

Download MP3 of Ep 115

Please vote for this podcast this month at

You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes