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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058 – Geoff Campbell – The genius of Srinivasa Ramanujan

In this episode I speak to Dr Geoff Campbell, honorary research fellow from the school of mathematics from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. Dr Campbell talked to me about Srinivasa Ramanujan, a self-taught mathematical genius from the early part of last century.

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050 – Fifty years of science

In this episode, the last for the year, and also the 50th episode of the show, I go through some of the major achievements and discoveries in science and technology over the past 50 years. The show also features a brain teaser and listener feedback.

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Some July science news

Saturn moon looks like a sponge (ABC Australia science news)

Scientists make landmark DNA discoveries (ABC Australia science news)

Vatican reveals Roman necropolis (news.com.au)

Mercury probe swings by Venus (Discovery channel)

Future universe will ‘stop expanding’ (National Geographic)

Lava microbes lived on early earth (Discovery channel)

Meditator’s brains seem alert (ABC Australia science news)

Earth is shrinking (ABC Australia science news)

024 – Indus Valley Civilisation

A podcast on the lost knowledge of the Indus Valley Civilisation, looking at the cities of Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and Dholavira, a brain teaser, and some listener feedback.

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On this day…

Albert Einstein dies in 1955

On this day…

Albert Einstein dies in 1955

023 – Dimitri Mendeleev

Dimitri Mendeleev – the father of the periodic table that we all come across in Chemistry. Who was he, and where did he come from?

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019 – Baby Development, and the Cinderella Story

pH factor, Baby development, a brain teaser, the origins of the Cinderella story.

Music by the Australian electro band Neuropa on todays show comes courtesy of Alberto Martinez from Rivetting Promotions and Neuropa’s label. Find out more information on Neuropa at http://www.neuropa.biz. Songs featured today include:
Neuropa – The Silicon Teens
Neuropa – The New Tomorrow
Neuropa – The Blitz

Download MP3 of Ep19
Read the episode 19 transcript

Deano from Victoria responded to the discussion of Comet McNaught in episode 14 and took these wonderful photographs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13385037@N00/380204963/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13385037@N00/380207743/
Thanks Deano!

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