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

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

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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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Tell us your favourite episode of 2009 and win a Google Wave invite

It’s coming to the end of the year, and what a year of science, curiosities, and general knowledge it has been!

Let me know what your favourite episode of 2009 has been and why (in less than 50 words) – post it on this entry at the Brains Matter website, and at the end of the year two entries will be chosen based on their responses and will win a Google Wave invite. If you already have Google Wave, use the invite to pass on to a friend or loved one!

So start thinking!

100 – The Century – Dr Andrew Prentice and Dr Simon Singh

The 100th episode of Brains Matter coincides with National Science Week – and to celebrate both the 100th show and National Science week, in this episode, we cover a range of topics. There are two great new interviews, as well as highlights from previous shows. You can go to the original interviews by clicking on the links associated with that episode.

Interviews:
Dr Andrew Prentice — the first use of the telescope for astronomical purposes

Dr Djoymi Baker– The relationship between sci fi and mythology
Prof John Lattanzio – Element formation in stars
Dr Zachary Moore – Fundamentalism and evolution
Dr Adrian Gentle – Special relativity
Dr Roger Rassool – Physics and music
Prof Peter Doherty – Jokes and the Nobel Prize
Dr Mark Boland – Measurements in the synchrotron
Dr Pamela Gay – Naming the big bang
Dr David Karoly – The evidence for global warming
Adam Parker – Origins of robotics
Dr Orly Lacham-Kaplan – What are stem cells?
Prof Roger Short – Evolutionary evidence of the origin of elephants
Marc West – Cricket, maths and statistics
Dr Seth Shostak – Science and the movies

Dr Simon Singh – The wonder of maths and science, the decline of maths and science study in schools, and a discussion on pseudo science

I hope everyone enjoys National Science Week in Australia – and for those not in Australia – go out and enjoy some science today!!

I would like to thank everyone who have made contributions to this episode, including: Dr Andrew Prentice, Dr Simon Singh, Dr Allie Ford, Christian Wilson, Christopher Short, Dr Daniel Price, Dr Phil Plait, Dr Duncan Galloway, Erk, Daniel Viles, Jason Hameister, Dr Rosemary Mardling, Marc West, Kylie Sturgess, Derek Colanduno, Darryl Carlton, and Nigel Hedges

Thanks also to the following people for their feedback for the episode:

Julia Meaden, Catherine Ld, Christopher Able, Paulo Ricardo Savino, Gerardo Blanco, Jerome

Download MP3 of Ep 100

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Redirect – The Century

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098 – Dr Seth Shostak – Science and the movies

I talk to Dr Seth Shostak, from the SETI Institute, on the topic of science and the movies. We cover:
– The portrayal and accuracy of science in entertainment
– Seth’s role as science adviser in the movie remake of “The Day the Earth Stood Still”
– What does a science adviser in a movie do?
– Why is Hollywood using science advisers more of late?
– How important is it to get the science right in movies?
– Society and its view of science versus other pursuits – the difference in attitudes between the west and the east
– Seth’s new book, “Confessions of an Alien Hunter”

Seth’s book:

Download MP3 of Ep 98

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087 – Science Songs

Chemistry, biology, physics, climate change – the list of science topics are too numerous for me to mention them all here. And each subject has someone singing about it in some fashion. That’s right – the episode that a lot of you have been waiting for – the show on science songs. Marc West, from the Mr Science Show joins me as we discuss songs related to science, and the many suggestions provided by listeners. We talk about science topics and songs that relate to them – from maths to health, from astronomy to climate change – there’s even a song about hybrid cars!

The Quadrant hoax mentioned in the episode can be found here:
http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20090106-How-Quadrant-swallowed-a-giant-hoax-.html

The songs featured in this episode:

Ben lee – “I love pop music”

Barenaked Ladies – “The Big Bang”
David Bowie – “Life on mars”
David Bowie – “Starman”
Muse – “Supermassive black hole”
Liquido – “Mercury”
Shocking Blue – “Venus”
Jackson Mendoza – “Venus or Mars”
Duran Duran – “Planet Earth”
Liquido – “Way to Mars”
Thomas Dolby – “The Flat Earth”
The Beatles – “Across the Universe”
Kraftwerk – “Spacelab”

Tom Lehrer – “That’s Mathematics”
Smashing Pumpkins – “Zero”
Tom Lehrer – “New Math”
Johnny Cash – “One”

Peter Weatherall – “DNA Song”
Girls Aloud – “Biology”
Mental As Anything – “Brain Brain”
Bloodhound Gang – “The Bad Touch”
Weird Al Yankovic – “I think I’m a clone now”

Mondo Rock – “Chemistry”
Tom Lehrer – “The Elements”
Luke Koteras – “Glycerine”
Evanescance – “Lithium”
The Cat Empire – “Protons Neutrons Electrons”

The Futureheads – “Robot”
Kraftwerk – “Die Roboter”

Snow Patrol – “Warmer Climate”
Tom Lehrer – “Pollution”
The Socknockers – “Hybrid Car”
Crowded House – “Four Seasons in One Day”

Thompson Twins – “Doctor! Doctor!”
Ben Lee – “Cigarettes will kill you”
The Avalanches – “Frontier Psychiatry”
Madness – “Cardiac Arrest”
Ladyhawke – “My Delirium”

Orchestral Manoevres in the Dark – “Electricity”
Joy Division – “Transmission”
Neil Finn – “Faster than Light”
Cut Copy – “Time Stands Still”
Daniel Caine – “Quantum Leap Theme”
Rebecca’s Empire – “Atomic Electric”

Thomas Dolby – “She Blinded Me With Science”
Oingo Boingo – “Weird Science”
Aimee Mann – “The Scientist”
Counting Crows – “Einstein on the Beach”
Liquido – “Game Boy”
The Socknockers – “Five Minutes Into the Future”

Apoptygma Berzerk – “Apollo”

If you’re a big fan of science type songs, check out the kings in this area – the folks at Geek Pop

Download MP3 of Ep 87

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—
The following are the full list of songs that we came up with – including suggestions by listeners
—

Category	Song	Artist	Suggested By
Astronomy	Third Planet	Modest Mouse
Astronomy	A Spaceman Came Travelling	Chris de Burgh
Astronomy	Across the Universe	The Beatles
Astronomy	Astro	Neil Finn
Astronomy	Astronomy Domine	Pink Floyd
Astronomy	Aurora	Foo Fighters
Astronomy	Big Bang Theory	Barenaked Ladies
Astronomy	Black Hole Sun	Soundgarden	Anna
Astronomy	Blue Moon	Cowboy Junkies
Astronomy	Champagne Supernova	Oasis
Astronomy	Climbing to the moon	The Eels
Astronomy	Dark side of the moon	Ernesto v Bastian
Astronomy	Distant Sun	Crowded House
Astronomy	Distant Sun	Brooke Fraser
Astronomy	Distant Sun	Lacuna Coil
Astronomy	Eclipse	Apoptygma Berzerk
Astronomy	Eclipse	Pink Floyd
Astronomy	Galaxy	Pulsedriver
Astronomy	Galaxy Song	Monty Python	Alan
Astronomy	Gravity Rides Everything	Modest Mouse
Astronomy	I Feel the Earth Move	Carole King
Astronomy	Into the Galaxy	Midnight Juggernauts
Astronomy	Lonely Moon	The Cat Empire
Astronomy	Mercury	Liquido
Astronomy	Mercury	Ayria
Astronomy	Planet Earth	Duran Duran
Astronomy	Planet Song	Animaniacs	Lionel L
Astronomy	Private Universe	Crowded House
Astronomy	Rocket Boy	Liz Phair
Astronomy	Rocket Man	Elton John
Astronomy	Rocket Man	Kate Bush
Astronomy	Satellite	The Hooters
Astronomy	Satellite of Love	Lou Reed
Astronomy	Saturn 5	Kubik
Astronomy	Solar System	Beach Boys	Ken
Astronomy	Space Oddity	David Bowie	Roger
Astronomy	Spacelab	Kraftwerk
Astronomy	Spaceman	Babylon Zoo
Astronomy	Star Trekkin’	The Firm	Anna
Astronomy	Starman	David Bowie	Roger
Astronomy	Stars	The Cranberries
Astronomy	The Flat Earth	Thomas Dolby
Astronomy	The Sun	The Cat Empire
Astronomy	The sun is a mass of incandescent gas	TMBG	Alan
Astronomy	The Universe is Collapsing	The Socknockers
Astronomy	The Universe is You	Sophie Ellis-Bexter
Astronomy	Twinkle Twinkle Little Star	Nursery Rhyme	Roger
Astronomy	Under the Milky Way	The Church	Paisley
Astronomy	Under the Yellow Sun	Sara Noxx
Astronomy	Uranus	Scared Weird Little Guys	Ian N
Astronomy	Venus	Air
Astronomy	Venus	Bananarama
Astronomy	Venus	Shocking Blue
Astronomy	Venus or Mars	Jackson Mendoza
Astronomy	Way to Mars	Liquido
Biology	Biological	Air
Biology	Brain Brain	Mental As Anything
Biology	Brains Body Both	George Hrab	Derek Colanduno
Biology	Clones	Ash
Biology	Dr Worm	TMBG
Biology	Electrolite	REM
Biology	Evolution	Ayu Trance
Biology	Evolution	John Steele Singers	Christopher
Biology	Heartbeat	Africanism
Biology	I think I’m a clone now	Weird Al Yankovic
Biology	Mammal	TMBG	Alan
Biology	More Serotonin Please	Apoptygma Berzerk
Biology	Muscle Museum	Muse
Biology	The Bad Touch	Bloodhound Gang	Adam W
Chemistry	Atomised	The Hampdens
Chemistry	Chemical	New Order
Chemistry	Chemical Beats	Chemical Brothers
Chemistry	Chemical Calisthenics	Blackalicious	David Bernstein
Chemistry	Chemical Dreams	George
Chemistry	Chemical Smile	Everclear
Chemistry	Chemistry	Mondo Rock	Paisley
Chemistry	Glycerine	Bush
Chemistry	Glycerine	Luke Koteras
Chemistry	Helium	Bypass Unit
Chemistry	Lithium	Evanescence
Che mistry	Lithium	Nirvana
Chemistry	Protons, Neutrons, Electrons	The Cat Empire
Chemistry	The elements	Tom Lehrer	Dave Sharpe, Alia801
Climate	Electrical Storm	U2
Climate	Four Seasons In One Day	Crowded House
Climate	Hybrid Car	The Socknockers
Climate	Pollution	Tom Lehrer
Climate	Warmer Climate	Snow Patrol
Health	Cardiac Arrest	Madness
Health	Cigarettes Will Kill You	Ben Lee
Health	Doctor Jeep	The Sisters of Mercy
Health	Doctor! Doctor!	The Thompson Twins
Health	Don’t Mess With Doctor Dream	The Thompson Twins
Health	Frontier Psychiatry	The Avalanches	Hunter, Anna
Health	Spontaneous Human Combustion	The Bobs	Ken
Maths	Arithmetic	Brooke Fraser
Maths	New Math	Tom Lehrer
Maths	One	U2
Maths	One	Johnny Cash
Maths	One is the Loneliest Number	Johnny Farnham
Maths	Pi R Squared	Clint Mansell	Fab
Maths	Schwatzield Radius		Spectrum
Maths	Secrets from the future (cryptography)	MC Frontalot	Karaksindru
Maths	That’s Mathematics	Tom Lehrer
Maths	Zero	Smashing Pumpkins
Physics	Atomic Electric	Rebecca’s Empire
Physics	Chain Reaction	Diana Ross
Physics	Dynamite	Jamiroquai
Physics	Electric	Lisa Scott Lee
Physics	Electricity	Apoptygma Berzerk
Physics	Electricity	OMD
Physics	Faster than Light	Neil Finn
Physics	First and Second Law	Flanders & Swann	Paisley
Physics	Gravity Rides	Modest Mouse
Physics	Here’s to the Atomic Bomb	Smashing Pumpkins
Physics	Hydoelectric	MDFMK
Physics	Ohm Sweet Ohm	Apoptygma Berzerk
Physics	Radio	The Corrs
Physics	Radiology	Lovedrug
Physics	Tesla Girls	OMD
Physics	The Speed of Sound	Coldplay
Physics	Time Stands Still	Cut/Copy
Physics	Transmission	Joy Division
Physics	UV Ray	Jesus & Mary Chain
Physics	What is the light?	The Flaming Lips
Robotics	Android	Icon of Coil
Robotics	Die Roboter	Kraftwerk
Robotics	My Bionic Eyes	Liz Phair
Robotics	Paranoid Android	Radiohead
Robotics	Robot	The Futureheads
Robotics	We Are The Robots	Kraftwerk
Robotics	Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots	The Flaming Lips
Other	Computer Games	Mi-Sex	Roger
Other	Einstein on the Beach	Counting Crows
Other	Electric Deams	Giorio Moroder / Phil Oakey	Roger
Other	Five Minutes Into the Future	The Socknockers
Other	Game Boy	Liquido
Other	I am a Scientist	Dandy Warhols	Hunter
Other	Laptop Jam	Spiderbait
Other	Lots of sciency songs	Roisin Murphy	Christopher
Other	March the Mad Scientist	Jethro Tull
Other	Pop Science	Devin Anderson
Other	Professor Frink’s Autobiographical Song	Professor Frink	Sophia
Other	Science Fiction	Divinyls	Ozzmosis
Other	Scince is Golden	The Grates	Ozzmosis, Hunter
Other	She Blinded Me With Science	Thomas Dolby	Ken
Other	Technology	The Whigs
Other	The Future’s So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades)	Timbuk 3	Ozzmosis
Other	The Science of the Two	Edan	Hunter
Other	The Scientist	Aimee Mann	Spectrum
Other	The Scientist	Coldplay	Ozzmosis
Other	Theorem	Kineto	Spectrum
Other	Weird Science	Oingo Boingo

085 – Marc West – The Science and Psychology of Cricket – Part 2

In this episode, I continue my discussion with science journalist Marc West. We talk about the psychology and science of sport – and the case study we use is cricket. The topics we talk about can apply to practically any team sport, but being the cricket fans we are, we relate it to the gentleman’s game. Topics we cover in this second part of our discussion include:

– Psychology and batsmen
– The psychology of Shane Warne
– The difference between on field and off field psychology
– Body language
– The usage of sports psychologists and counselling for the English team
– Life after a sporting career
– The similarities between professional sportsmen and retired soldiers
– Research into injuries and sports medicine
– Kinematic studies of the doosra and off-break deliveries
– Tracking the workload of cricketers using GPS
– A mathematical surprise about the statistics of the best batsmen in the game – Sachin Tendulkar, Don Bradman, and even Ricky Ponting! (in fact, the top 34 test run scoring batsmen) What is this revelation, and how could this revelation be true? Mathematics will show you the way…
– Is it harder to get Ricky Ponting out at 49 compared to 51?
– The longer a batsman stays at the crease, the harder it is to get him out, right? Wrong! Listen in and find out why…
– How does this relate to the exponential distribution and coin tosses?

Also featured in this episode is Listener of the episode, and listener feedback.

This is part 2 of a 2 part interview. Please listen in to episode 84 for the first part of the interview.

Download MP3 of Ep 85

You can read Marc’s articles at the following sites:

The Curse of the Duck
Psychology & Cricket

Please vote for this podcast this month at

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084 – Marc West – The Science and Psychology of Cricket – Part 1

I talk to science communicator and cricket tragic, Marc West, on the topic of cricket – and the science and psychology of the sport. Marc has published several articles on the science and mathematics of the game, and in this episode, discusses the following with me:

– How fit are cricketers?
– How far do batsmen run during a century?
– How do batsmen know where the ball is going when their eyes can’t track the ball?
– The ways in which scientists make measurements of cricket players
– How does body language influence how good a batsman is?
– How much of the game is psychological?
– How can psychology be effective for a player?
– Mentally coping with new cricketing situations
– Using psychology to foster player development in the coaching process

Also featured in this episode is Listener of the episode, and listener feedback.

This is part 1 of a 2 part interview. Please listen in to episode 85 for the conclusion to the interview.

Download MP3 of Ep 84

Please vote for this podcast this month at

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