Archive for the ‘mathematics’ category
8 June, 2010
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
Categories: astronomy, interview, mathematics, podcast
Tags: active galactic nuclei, agn, astronomy, brains matter, galaxies, galaxy, interview, math, mathematics, maths, michael brown, physics, podcast
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31 January, 2010
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
Please vote for this podcast this month at
You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes
Categories: astronomy, biology, chemistry, fun, interview, mathematics, podcast
Tags: allie ford, brains matter, debate, international year of astronomy, interview, john lattanzio, marion anderson, podcast
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17 August, 2009
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
Please vote for this podcast this month at
You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes
Categories: astronomy, biology, chemistry, climate, fun, geology, history, interview, mathematics, music, physics, podcast, psychology, sport, zoology
Comments: 4 Comments
17 August, 2009
There was a problem with wordpress with this entry; please go to This entry
Categories: astronomy, biology, chemistry, climate, fun, geology, history, interview, mathematics, music, physics, podcast, psychology, sport, zoology
Tags: adam parker, adrian gentle, andrew prentice, astronomy, big bang, biology, brains matter, century, chemistry, climate change, cricket, david karoly, djoymi baker, einstein, elephants, global warming, greek, humour, interviews, john lattanzio, lhc, marc west, mark boland, mathematics, maths, movies, mythology, nobel prize, orly lacham-kaplan, pamela gay, peter doherty, physics, podcast, relativity, roger rassool, roger short, roman, science fiction, seth shostak, star formation, statistics, stem cells, synchrotron, zachary moore, zoology
Comments: 1 Comment
11 July, 2009
I talk to Dr Rosemary Mardling, an astrophysicist from Monash University on the topic of extra-solar planets. Topics we cover include:
– What is an extra solar planet?
– How do we find extra solar planets?
– How do we estimate the size and form of these extra solar planets?
– How do we explain the “Hot Jupiter” style planets that have been found?
– Most extra solar planets that have been found are short period – why is this the case?
– Is our solar system “normal”, or unusual?
– How do we determine if a system has more than one extra solar planet?
– What could finding extra solar planets mean for us here in our solar system?
Also included in this show are the listener of the episode, and listener feedback.
Apologies for the audio quality of this interview – it’s been cleaned up as much as possible.
Download MP3 of Ep 97
Please vote for this podcast this month at
You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes
Categories: astronomy, interview, mathematics, podcast
Tags: astronomy, astrophysics, brains matter, interview, mathematics, physics, planet formation, podcast, rosemary mardling
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17 June, 2009
Dr Andrew Prentice from Monash University continues his discussion with me about his theories of the formation of the solar system. In this episode, we concentrate on the Saturniun system, satellites such as Titan and some of the observations in comparison to his predictions, and conclude by reflecting back on what was discussed in the previous two episodes.
This is the final part of a 3 part interview series with Dr Prentice. Please listen to episodes 93 and 94 first.
Download MP3 of Ep 95
Please vote for this podcast this month at
You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes
Categories: astronomy, interview, mathematics, podcast
Tags: andrew prentice, brains matter, interview, laplace, moons, planetary formation, podcast, satellites, saturn, solar system, supersonic turbulence, titan
Comments: 1 Comment
10 June, 2009
I continue my talk to Dr Andrew Prentice from Monash University, extending on the discussion in part 1 of this interview series on Supersonic Turbulence, to talk about the Modern Laplacian Theory, and how it helps describe planetary and satellite formation, and it’s weaknesses. The discussion on satellites, and especially Titan, is fascinating.
This is part 2 of a 3 part interview series.
Download MP3 of Ep 94
Please vote for this podcast this month at
You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes
Categories: astronomy, interview, mathematics, podcast
Tags: andrew prentice, brains matter, laplace, modern laplacian theory, moons, planetary formation, predictions, satellites, supersonic turbulence
Comments: 2 Comments
3 June, 2009
I talk to Dr Andrew Prentice on the topic of Supersonic Turbulence, a theory he proposed which helps in understanding his predictions on the objects within the solar system and formation of the solar system. Dr Prentice has also made some astounding predictions as has been documented here
This is the first of a 3 part interview.
Download MP3 of Ep 93
Please vote for this podcast this month at
You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes
Categories: astronomy, interview, mathematics, podcast
Tags: astronomy, brains matter, interview, planetary formation, podcast, solar system, supersonic turbulence
Comments: 1 Comment
6 March, 2009
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
Please vote for this podcast this month at
You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes
—
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
|
|
Categories: astronomy, biology, chemistry, climate, fun, interview, mathematics, music, physics, podcast, psychology
Tags: astronomy, biology, chemistry, climate, fun, marc west, music, physics, podcast, science songs
Comments: 13 Comments
10 February, 2009
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
You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes
Categories: fun, interview, mathematics, podcast, psychology, sport
Tags: brains matter, cricket, interview, marc west, mathematics, podcast, psychology, science, sport
Comments: 2 Comments
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