115 – Dr Robyn Pickering – The Discovery of Australopithecus Sediba

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

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112 – Prof Roger Short and Evan Bittner – Taronga Zoo Baby Elephant Birth

In today’s episode, I talk to both Professor Roger Short and Evan Bittner from the University of Melbourne on several topics related to the Asian Elephant, including the recent “miracle birth” of the baby elephant at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.

Topics we cover include:

– Some of the latest news with Prof Short and Evan Bittner’s work
– Some of the plans for working with Elephants Asia in Laos
– What the news about the Himalayan Glaciers means to the work required in saving the Asian Elephant
– The birth of the baby elephant at Taronga Zoo – what were the issues, and how were these overcome?
– The reaction of other elephants at Taronga Zoo to the newborn
– Some of the reaction by certain community groups about elephants in captivity and Prof Short and Evan’s responses to these reactions
– Matriarchal behaviour of elephant groups
– How much use is a bull (adult male) to an elephant group?
– The commonality between elephants and humans
– Comments on moving Asian Elephants from Melbourne Zoo to Open Plains Zoos and the wisdom of such decisions
– What the difference in ear size between Asian Elephants and African Elephants means in a practical sense
– And update on the “Never Forget Elephants” charity

Download MP3 of Ep 112

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111 – Evan Bittner – Asian Elephant Conservation Part 2

In this episode, I continue my talk with Evan Bittner from the University of Melbourne in Brains Matter’s continuing series on Asian Elephants. If you missed Episode 110, please go back and listen to that episode first. In this interview, Evan discusses:

– What can we do to reduce the impact on the ability to conserve the elephant?
– Making a difference
– What work is being done in artificial insemination techniques for elephants?
– What are the advantages of using artificial insemination for elephant populations?
– What are the transportation costs of an elephant?
– The differences in spending the same amount of money in different geographic locations – and how this impacts conservation efforts.
– How do the experts ensure the success of artificial insemination?
– Why does it seem to be more difficult to get elephants to mate in captivity compared to the wild?
– Can captive elephants be successfully re-introduced to the wild?
– Understanding herds in captivity and how they differ to herds in the wild
– Future research

We also demonstrate some of the various elephant vocalisations that have been discussed over the past two shows.

Download MP3 of Ep 111

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110 – Evan Bittner – Asian Elephant Conservation Part 1

In this episode, I talk to Evan Bittner from the University of Melbourne in Brains Matter’s continuing series on Asian Elephants. Evan discusses:

– Elephants and infrasound communications
– Determining how to measure elephant reactions to elephant vocalisations
– What are the meanings of some of the elephant behaviours we observe?
– The follow up experiment to Roger Short’s observation on Asian elephant vocalisations being played to African elephants – this time, African elephant vocalisations played to Asian elephants
– What further research can be done in this area?
– Do elephants really have a good memory?
– How do elephants recognise each other through sound?
– How far can elephants typically communicate?
– What is being done in elephant conservation work?
– What are some of the reasons causing the drop in elephant numbers? Why are they becoming endangered?
– Some of the work Evan has done in Laos
– The new elephant conservation charity, “Never Forget Elephants” that has been set up, and what it aims to do
– Some techniques to ensure that rainforests are conserved

Also in this episode are the Listener of the Episode, listener questions (Mark Wilson), and some listener feedback.

Download MP3 of Ep 110

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109 – The Science of Attraction – Live Show

This episode is the audio of the first Brains Matter live show. The topic for this show is The Science of Attraction
– what is attraction?
– what attracts us to each other?
– how does this compare to the animal kingdom?
– how do physical features, and chemical signals play a role?
– what influences our view of attractiveness?
– what kinds of jealousy do we feel?
– what is Valentines Day? What are some of the stories behind it?

and some random facts. Thank you to everyone who came along to the live recording, it was a lot of fun!

Download MP3 of Ep 109

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108 – Is Intelligent Life Common in the Universe?

A question that everyone asks at some point is – are we alone? We’ve all heard about the Drake Equation, and have had chats about our place in the universe with friends.

In this episode, Dr Allie Ford hosts a debate between Professor John Lattanzio and Ms Marion Anderson from Monash University on the topic “Intelligent Life is Common in the Universe”. Ms Anderson argues for the positive, and Professor Lattanzio argues for the negative.

They both argue the topic using the latest information and theories about astronomy and the possibility of life existing in the Universe. In recent years we have found hundreds of planets outside the solar system. Surely intelligent life must exist somewhere. But why have radio searches revealed nothing yet?

Download MP3 of Ep 108

The presentations used during this debate:

Marion’s presentation for the positive argument
Prof Lattanzio’s presentation for the negative argument

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Drinking with Aliens..

The Brains Matter interview with Dr Allie Ford from Monash Uni (highlights version for 365 DoA) was featured on Diffusion Science Radio this week.

104 – Dr Kristen Panfilio – Hox Genes and Evolutionary Developmental Genetics

In todays episode, I talk to Dr Kristen Panfilio is a Developmental Geneticist from the University of Cologne, in Germany. We talk about Evolutionary Developmental Genetics, or Evo Devo as it is sometimes known. Topics we cover include:

– What is evolutionary developmental genetics?
– Why is it useful?
– How do genes help us understand evolution?
– What is a Hox gene?
– What are the different types of Hox genes?
– What do they do?
– What has been observed with Hox genes in research on insects?
– The Zen gene
– How the RNA interference technique is used
– An example of the technique can plants and animals use to get rid of viruses
– How do these genes affect the development of embryos?
– Where is the foundation or blueprint of the body made?
– What are some of the causes of embryos not developing properly?

… and a whole lot more! Listen in to find out.

Also featured in episode 104 are listener feedback, and a listener question answered by Monash University postdoc Dr Richard Stancliffe. The listeners of the episode are Ed from Melbourne and Sarah from the US.

Promo: ‘The Rise of Atheism – Global Atheist Convention’, Melbourne 2010

Download MP3 of Ep 104

Some further links:

Hox Genes: Descent with modification
Oncopeltus fasciatus zen is essential for serosal tissue function in katatrepsis
Extraembryonic development in insects and the acrobatics of blastokinesis

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Brains Matter listeners making a difference…

I just received this email from Professor Roger Short, who appeared on Brains Matter in episodes 73, 74, 77 and 78 on the topic of Asian Elephants and their plight:

Thanks exclusively to Brains Matter, I was contacted by an Accountant,
Glen Antonovich, who lives in Melbourne and is devoted to elephants! He
has offered his services free to register a Charity, which we have
decided to call “Never Forget Elephants”, to promote the conservation of
the Asian elephant. It would be great to involve you in the next
chapter of this ongoing story

Wonderful news from Professor Short – and many thanks to Glen for engaging in this effort. I hope that many listeners get behind this charity as well.

OG

2009 Stem Cell Awareness Day

Monash University is hosting the 2009 Stem Cell Awareness Day on the 23rd of September.

For more details, please go to www.stemcellawarenessday.com

* What are stem cells?
* What can and can’t they do?
* What are the ethical issues?
* What are the latest clinical advances?
* Can I bank my own stem cells and those of my children?

For information about stem cells, please go to the interview with Dr Orly Lacham-Kaplan on stem cells at:

Episode 072 – Stem Cells and Infertility