Ockham’s Razor
William of Ockham was an English monk, philosopher, theologian, who provided the scientific method with its key principle 700 years ago. 'What can be done with fewer assumptions is done in vain with more,' he said. That is, in explaining any phenomenon, we should use no more explanatory concepts than are absolutely necessary. Simplicity should never be despised. Thoughtful people have their say, without interruption, on important science-related topics.
Science on Mornings on triple j
Science on Mornings, on triple j. 27/11/2008 Listen Now
Join Zan Rowe and her scientific guests, with a bunch of curious triple j listeners for a weekly injection of science, myth-bashing and answers! Science on Mornings is published every Thursday.
Science on Mornings, on triple j. 20/11/2008 Listen Now
Join Zan Rowe and her scientific guests, with a bunch of curious triple j listeners for a weekly injection of science, myth-bashing and answers! Science on Mornings is published every Thursday.
All in the Mind
Extraordinary Cases in Psychology: Part 3 of 4The man with the hole in his head Listen Now
Extreme cases of brain damage litter the history of neuroscience. Phineas Gage is perhaps the most famous. A railway worker in 19th-century Vermont, he managed to survive a catastrophic accidentthe penetration of a metre-long iron rod through his head. What happened to Gage has become the stuff of legend, and fundamentally changed him and the way we think about the brain. NB: The All in the Mind podcast edition is a different program from the broadcast edition this week for copyright reasons. And, the streaming audio is on the BBC's website here. Read Transcript
Extraordinary Cases in psychology: Part 2 of 4 - The wild boy of Aveyron Listen Now
In 1800, a young boy emerged from the woods of the Aveyron District in France, naked and wild. He became a scientific enigma to influential psychologist Dr Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard, and redefined the nature vs. nurture debate. His legacy lives on today, especially in the Montessori approach to learning. NB: The All in the Mind podcast edition is a different program from the broadcast edition this week for copyright reasons. And, the streaming audio is on the BBC's website here. Read Transcript
Extraordinary Cases in psychology: Part 1 of 4 - The story of Kitty Genovese (broadcast not podcast only) Listen Now
When a young woman, Kitty Genovese was brutally killed in a prolonged attack in New York in 1964, not one of 38 witnesses called for help until too late. The case led to the naming of the phenomenon known as the Bystander Effect. The first of four compelling programs on influential cases in the history of psychology. NB: The All in the Mind podcast edition is a different program from the broadcast edition this week for copyright reasons. And, the streaming audio is on the BBC's website here. Details below. Read Transcript
The voices within... Listen Now
Many people hear voices inside their head - - some are diagnosed with schizophrenia, others live privately with the experience. International leaders in the Hearing Voices Network gather in Australia this week, controversially challenging the belief that voices are a pathological symptom without psychological meaning. They argue people can find it therapeutic to 'dialogue' with the voices. Meet three clinicians pushing the boundaries. Read Transcript
In Conversation
Bryan Gaensler Listen Now
He became a junior professor at Harvard at a preposterously early ageand then said, 'thanks,' and came back to Sydney. Is this rational behaviour? Bryan Gaensler assures us it is, because he has tremendous fun tracking supernovae with his astronomical mates back in Australia, but still maintains useful contact with his old crowd back in Boston. The best of both worlds! And in the cosmic one: he's just revealed a celestial gem. Read Transcript
Michael Crichton Listen Now
He was trained as both a doctor and an anthropologist, yet he made his name as a writer. Michael Crichton's death was overshadowed by the US presidential election. In this program we hear from the man himself on why scientists should not feel neglected or abused. They were not the villains of his novel Jurassic Park but, indeed, the heroes. Why the confusion? Read Transcript
Reginald Sprigg Listen Now
This is not a question on the lips of many Australians as we contemplate energy crises and upheavals on the land. Yet Sprigg was a pioneer who established so many aspects of Australian natural history. He helped discover the Ediacaran fossils in South Australia, showing that a different kind of life prevailed before the forms we recognise today. He was also an explorer who helped establish our oil industry. Paul Willis talks to Kristin Weidenbach, one of Sprigg's relatives, about his legacy. Read Transcript
Martin Green Listen Now
Our first NSW Scientist of the Year is Professor Martin Green, formerly of Queensland, now at the University of NSW. He has held the world record for the performance of photovoltaic cells for some years. Now his lead has been substantially increased. But why has this brilliant research often struggled for support? And what is the potential of the solar alternative to replace oil? Read Transcript
Ockham’s Razor
Innovation today, not tomorrow Listen Now
Professor Kurt Lambeck, President of the Australian Academy of Science, assesses the Cutler Report and the Green Paper, an outcome of the Review of the National Innovation System. He suggests ways in which Australia must increase its investment in science and technology. Read Transcript
The meaning of life Listen Now
Dr Jack Carmody, who coordinates a postgraduate course in Medicine and Music at the University of Sydney, tells us amongst other things how hormones influence the brain, the march of DNA down generations and reproduction. Read Transcript
The return of the Osprey Listen Now
Ospreys are a bird of prey and are found in costal regions worldwide. Unfortunately, in the UK at the start of the 1800s these birds were high on the list of species to be destroyed. Today Bob Holderness-Roddam, Project Officer with Volunteering Tasmania, tells of his experiences as a volunteer in Scotland in the 1960s, protecting the nests of the few remaining breeding birds. Read Transcript
I wish I had become a scientist Listen Now
The Managing Director of Centurion Enterprise Management Services in Victoria, Dr Ron Harper, wonders what might have been if he had chosen a career as a scientist. However, he chose a career in management and today tells us what makes a good and efficient manager. Read Transcript
The Health Report
Monday 01 December 2008
Listen NowPersonalised medicine - why drugs don't always work (Part 2 of 2) Pick up a prescription from your pharmacist and you hope the pills you pop will work well. But they often don't and your individual genetics can play a big role. The Human Genome Project made big promises about personalised medicine - drugs designed with individual genetics in mind - but has it delivered? And what pull will personalised medicine have on the purse strings of pharmaceutical companies and public health? Read Transcript
Monday 24 November 2008
Listen NowPersonalised medicine: Can you trust online genetic tests? (Part 1 of 2) Enter the brave new world of the genomic marketplace where DNA democracy has arrived. Just you, your credit card and an internet connection can now unearth the secrets of your genome. But are there risks? Is the science too premature, and can your doctor keep up? Today the first of two programs on the hope and hype of the genetics revolution and the push for personalised medicine. Read Transcript
Monday 17 November 2008
Listen NowOverseas trained doctors Today a special feature on overseas trained doctors. Australia often doesn't look after them very well and appears to put needlessly complicated, demeaning and expensive barriers in their way. Read Transcript
Monday 10 November 2008
Listen NowTestosterone and low female libido In an international trial researchers investigated the effect of testosterone patches to treat low levels of libido in women. Read Transcript
The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on patients with heart failure A large study in Italy of 7000 people with heart failure has tested the idea that it might be good to take omega-3 fatty acids. Read Transcript
Lifestyle changes in people with heart disease If someone had a heart attack or is at high risk of developing serious heart disease they are advised to change their lifestyle. However, it's surprising how many patients do not follow this advice. Read Transcript
Generic medicines At the end of October this year the National Prescribing Service launched its Generic medicines are an equal choice campaign, which aimed to provide consumers with information which allows them to make an informed choice. Read Transcript
Monday 03 November 2008
Health care in the next U.S. administration In September this year senior health policy advisors discussed their candidates' positions on health care reform in the U.S. Read Transcript
Public release of health care performance data It has been suggested that publicly releasing performance results in the health care sector may influence and improve the quality of care in hospitals and other health care organisations. Read Transcript
Crude: the incredible journey of oil
National Science Week
Planet Slayer