Shows
Curiosity Killed the RatPumpkinsDid you know that - botanically speaking - Halloween Jack O’Lantern Pumpkins are more closely related to zucchini than they are to Kent / Jap pumpkins, butternut pumpkins, or giant pumpkins?
This episode, Kade and Matt chat about some awesome PUMPKIN science!
Like, speaking of giant pumpkins… how and why do they get so giant?!
What does it take, according to science, to grow amazing pumpkins? We chat about everything from companion planting, to the birds and the bees (that is, quite literally, pollination methods) of male and female flowers. We touch on history and c...
2024-11-041h 35Curiosity Killed the RatEpilepsy (ft. Dr Lauren Bleakley)Epilepsy: you've heard of it, you likely know people who have it, but do you know the science behind it? This month, Kade and Matt are joined by Dr Lauren Bleakley to find out just that. Stick around to the end of the episode for our listener question looking at the surprising benefits of chocolate milk!
As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on X, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com
We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can j...
2024-10-081h 03Curiosity Killed the RatThe Philosophy of Science (ft. Bodhi Houareau-Rose)This month, Kade and Matt are joined once again by Bodhi for a very special episode: The Philosophy of Science. This will be part 1 of 3 in a special series where we delve into some of the more abstract ideas about science itself. What is science? How effective is peer review? What is burden of proof? And much, much, much more. Make sure to check out the reference list below for further resources on anything we discuss during the episode.
As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on X, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in t...
2024-09-082h 40Curiosity Killed the RatCKtR Flashback: CryingThis month Kade & Matt take a break from recording to give listeners a blast from the past with their episode all about crying.
Why do our eyes leak when we feel emotions, chop onions, or get poked in the eye? Do these scenarios lead to the creation of different types of tears? How are tears created? WHY? This episode, Kate and Matt delve into all these questions and so many more, as we chat all about crying. We also tackle a listener question about sweating – why do our palms sweat when we get nervous?
References:
https://www.ncbi.nl...
2024-08-011h 01Curiosity Killed the RatAcetylcholineAcetylcholine: the greatest neurotransmitter you've never heard of. This month, Kade and Matt deep dive into what makes this chemical fascinating enough to make Kade spend the last 5 years of their life researching it. What does it do? How was it discovered? What makes it special? Listen to the end of the episode to hear Matt take on the role of asking the listener question, further picking Kade's brain about the many quirks of this neurotransmitter.
As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on X, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.c...
2024-07-011h 32Curiosity Killed the RatThe Science of Narrative (ft. Riley)This episode on curiosity killed the rat, join Kade, Matt and Riley for a deep dive into the science of Narrative. How are human brains wired to understand the world via narrative, and how is this used both for and against us? We break down the concept of “narrative” into the components of setting, characters, and plot, and chat about some of the research being done in all of these areas. We also have a look at some real-life examples of the ways narrative is being harnessed to influence our beliefs and behaviour, from marketing to propaganda. Kade then answ...
2024-06-012h 04Curiosity Killed the RatAntarctica 2: Electric Igloo (ft. Dr Jarrod McKenna)Welcome to season 5 of Curiosity Killed the Rat! To kick off the year, Kade and Matt welcome special guest Dr Jarrod McKenna onto the show once again to talk about his recent amazing experience visiting Antarctica: a place so cool it deserved another whole episode. What's it like to visit one of the most isolated places in the world as a tourist? How is climate change affecting this beautiful continent? What can we do as regular people to help? Stick around to the end of the episode to hear all this, and the listener question: alcohol and the menstrual...
2024-05-011h 30Curiosity Killed the RatMDMA & PsilocybinIn one final episode for 2023 / season 4 of Curiosity Killed the Rat, Kade and Matt bring you an extended special reflecting on one of the biggest Australian milestones of 2023: the re-classification and approval of MDMA and Psilocybin to assist therapy. Kade leads us through the science accompanying the historical journey of these drugs; from their discovery and synthesis, through their recreational use (both legal and illegal), to their status today as promising therapeutic compounds. Stick around for a listener question of great seriousness and importance: If a tree in the forest falls and no one is there to hear it...
2023-12-312h 18Curiosity Killed the RatSpider websThis episode, join Kade and Matt as they spin their way into the world of spider webs – just in time for Halloween! Learn about the absolute wonder that is spider silk: its incredible properties, how it is made, why humans can’t yet mass-produce it, and some of the interesting efforts scientists are trying to change that! Stick around for a listener question all about glow sticks. As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on twitter, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com We also now have a Patreon! If you love our cont...
2023-10-311h 18Curiosity Killed the RatDebunking Channel 7’s ”Detransitioning” SpotlightLink for Kade's video: https://youtu.be/rdOc2HB5sx0?si=-4B_koSDMxPxyNMi
This month on Curiosity Killed the Rat, we are taking a break from our usual content to present the audio from the YouTube video made by host Kade Huckstep this month in response to Channel 7’s blatant spread of disinformation and misrepresentation of science. It breaks down the “documentary” aired about detransitioning, and goes through the scientific evidence that does actually exist. As a show, we value the spread of correct information, and so this is our part in the fight against mis/disinf...
2023-09-3048 minCuriosity Killed the RatAntidepressantsThis month on Curiosity Killed the Rat, Kade and Matt tackle a more serious issue: the science of antidepressants. What is depression? How is it caused? How do antidepressants work, and are they actually effective? Stick around to the end of the episode to hear sound guy Matt answer a listener question about the science of noise cancelling headphones!
As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on twitter, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com. We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you...
2023-08-311h 27Curiosity Killed the RatSnowflakesJoin Kade and Matt on a wondrous wintery episode where we talk all about snowflakes! How are they formed? What makes them so unique and special? Is everything we think we know about them true? Stick around to end to hear Matt tell some fun facts about native Australian trees!
As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on twitter, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com. We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can jump on to https://www.patreon.com/curiosityrat...
2023-07-311h 02Curiosity Killed the RatRockets (ft. Oliver Anagnostou & Benji Metha)This month on Curiosity Killed the Rat, Kade and Matt are joined by Oliver Anagnostou and Benji Metha to talk about rockets! What is a rocket? How does a rocket actually work? Listen to find out how rocket science really is out of this world! Stick around to the end of the episode for a listener question that answers: what is it that gives us butterflies in our belly?
As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on twitter, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com. We also have a Patreon! If...
2023-06-301h 01Curiosity Killed the RatBonesThis episode on Curiosity Killed the Rat, Kade and Matt talk about bones! Bones may in fact be one of the most under-appreciated parts of the body. Not a bunch of dry pieces of scaffolding holding our bodies together, bones do all sorts of weird and wacky things you may not expect!
As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on twitter, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can jump on to https://www.patreon...
2023-05-3131 minCuriosity Killed the RatTestosteroneWelcome back to season 4 of Curiosity Killed the Rat! This episode, Kade and Matt are chatting all about Testosterone: a hormone that makes you sweaty and hungry and hairy and horny. We often learn about testosterone and its effects on the body in the context of a cisgender male puberty. But testosterone can be important for other individuals, too! This episode, our resident scientist Kade – who has been on testosterone as part of a gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy for several months – will discuss the biology behind testosterone and its effects on the body, specifically through a trans-masculine lens. Kade dive...
2023-04-301h 10Curiosity Killed the RatSunscreen (ft. Dr Catriona Nguyen-Robertson)During the holiday season in Australia, it's hot and summery, and we're all told to slip slop slap. But what is sunscreen, and how does it actually work? What does SPF mean? Does sunscreen cause cancer? Kade and Matt are joined once again by friend of the show, Dr Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, to talk all things sunscreen.
If you loved what Cat had to say and want to find more from her, you can follow her on twitter @CatrionaNR, Instagram @nyuroscientist, and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_NtXSj9jH06SHNmsKhyfuQ). And, as always, you can find...
2022-12-311h 18Curiosity Killed the RatGross Stuff: Pathology Edition (ft. Arin Oliver)Just in time for halloween, Kade and Matt are joined by Arin Oliver to talk about weird, gross, and curious aspects of working in a pathology laboratory. From dismembered toes, to human soup, and a deep dive into working in science & sci-com in between, tune in for a spooktacular conversation. Stick around till the end of the episode to find out some of the scientific explanations for why vampires were once thought to be real!
If you want to hear more of Arin, check out their sound cloud at https://soundcloud.com/user-880237105
As always...
2022-10-301h 45Curiosity Killed the RatStomach UlcersThis episode, Kate and Matt discuss stomach ulcers, gastritis, the bacteria h. pylori, and one man’s decision to use HIMSELF as a lab rat. That’s right, we tell the tale of Barry J Marshall, winner of the 2005 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine for his work uncovering the cause of stomach ulcers… and, more importantly, the absolutely insane way he went about proving his hypothesis. We also tackle a listener question about snails… what happens, exactly, when they’re given amphetamines? If you love the logo that inspired this episode, you can find the artist Steff on Instagram...
2022-09-301h 05Curiosity Killed the RatTelescopes: Hubble & beyond (ft. Stephenie Bernard & Benji Metha)In light of science’s latest and greatest big project on everybody’s lips right now – the James Webb Space Telescope – Kate and Matt are joined by astronomer Stephanie Bernard (and our regular space consultant Benji Metha) to talk about some of the OTHER telescopes out there! What is the Hubble Space Telescope and why was it made? What advantages do space telescopes have over the ones here on earth? Where does astronomy even come from? Stick around ‘til the end to hear Kate answer this month’s listener question all about mozzies! If you loved what Stephi had to say, you...
2022-08-311h 19Curiosity Killed the RatMusclesThis time on Curiosity Killed the Rat, Kate and Matt discuss all things muscle. How do we grow bigger muscles? How to our muscles actually make us move? How do steroids effect our bodies? Stick around to the end for a listener question on how much of our brain do we really need. As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on twitter, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can jump on to https://www.patreon.com...
2022-08-011h 04Curiosity Killed the RatMusclesThis time on Curiosity Killed the Rat, Kate and Matt discuss all things muscle. How do we grow bigger muscles? How to our muscles actually make us move? How do steroids effect our bodies? Stick around to the end for a listener question on how much of our brain do we really need. As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on twitter, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can jump on to https://www.patreon.com...
2022-07-311h 04Curiosity Killed the RatJames Webb Space Telescope: Round 2 (ft. Maddie Marshall & Benji MethaWay back in 2020 we did an episode all about the James Webb Space Telescope. Since then, this Bad Boi has been launched, is in space, unfolded, and ready to deliver it’s first data to the world! Given this, we thought it was time for an update, getting the low-down from high-up about the current status of the James Webb Space Telescope! With Kate out this episode due to an unfortunately timed cased of COVID, friend-of-the-show Benji steps up alongside Matt to chat to fellow astronomer Maddie Marshall. If you loved the insight Maddie had to give, you can fi...
2022-07-011h 11Curiosity Killed the RatRefrigeration (ft. Mark Kelly)The refrigeration cycle is so fundamental to human society, but it can be very easy to take for granted. This episode, Kate and Matt are joined by Mark Kelly, who teaches us all about the science and history of refrigeration. We dive into thermodynamics and heat transfer, as Mark explains just why he thinks refrigeration is amazing and how it relies on what feels like a bug in the physics engine of our world. We also tackle a listener question about dust… what is it, exactly? As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on twitter, instagram, and facebook, and se...
2022-05-311h 24Curiosity Killed the RatSchizophrenia & Brain Development (ft. Ulysse Thivisol)This episode, Kate and Matt are joined by Ulysse Thivisol to chat about the brain and some of the cool research he is doing to learn about it! We talk about everything from brain development and substance use to schizophrenia, and how those things overlap. We also tackle a listener question about the mysterious “alcohol jacket”… does drinking actually warm you up? If you enjoyed what Ulysse had to say and want to find more of him, you can follow him on twitter @Uthivisol. And, as always, you can find us @curiosityrat on twitter, instagram, and facebook, and send your l...
2022-04-301h 15Curiosity Killed the RatStingraysThis episode, join Kate and Matt as they take a deep dive into the world of Stingrays! The many species of stingray range so greatly in size and habitat, but they share some common incredibly cool features. Just how exactly do they hunt for their prey? How do they sense it? Of course, we also discuss the tragedy of Steve Irwin’s death. But just how dangerous are stingrays? What usually happens if you get stung by one, and what should you do? We also tackle a listener question about breathing and just how/why we breathe in oxygen an...
2022-03-311h 08Curiosity Killed the RatFear (ft. Brandon Richards)Kate and Matt bring in a brand new season of Curiosity Killed the Rat with the help of this week's guest, Brandon Richards, to talk about all things fear. What's the difference between fear and anxiety? Why do adrenaline junkies love fear so much? What actually occurs in the brain when we're scared, and how could we use this knowledge? Stay tuned till the end of the episode for our Listener Question, where Kate reveals the truth about what is actually inside those DO NOT EAT packets that seem to show up in all sorts of products.
A...
2022-02-281h 15Curiosity Killed the RatBotoxFor the final episode of the season, we take a deep dive into the science of Botox! Or, more accurately, botulinum toxin: one of the most dangerous biological substances known to humankind. We mostly associate Botox with its cosmetic use, but there is so much more to it! This toxin was first discovered thanks to the illness it causes when accidentally eaten. From there, its powers were harnessed by the medical and cosmetic industries… but HOW does it work!? This episode, Kate goes into the history, the neuroscience, and the medical uses of botulinum toxin – resulting in a fun ride...
2021-11-141h 06Curiosity Killed the RatVaccines: Booster Episode (ft. Catriona Nguyen-Robertson)This is a super special BONUS EPISODE all about vaccine science communication! Do you have loved ones or people in your life expressing some hesitancy around the COVID vaccine? Is hitting them with facts just not doing the job? This episode, Kate, Matt, and Cat have a chat about vaccine hesitancy and how to best have those conversations. We discuss WHY some people might be feeling hesitant, and how best to approach a conversation with them. We talk about where some of the mis/disinformation is coming from, and we help give you some tools to bust a couple...
2021-10-1838 minCuriosity Killed the RatVaccines: Dose 2 (ft. Catriona Nguyen-Robertson)This episode, Kate and Matt are joined once again by our resident immunologist Catriona Nguyen-Robertson! We hit you up with your second dose of vaccine science, expanding on our previous vaccine episode. We start with a quick recap of the past ep’s key points: what are vaccines, how do they work, and what is new and cool about the COVID ones? Then we talk about second doses! Why do we need a second dose of the COVID vaccine, but not for some other vaccines? We also chat about booster shots… will we need them in the future? Why/why...
2021-10-1850 minCuriosity Killed the RatIg Nobel PrizeThis episode, Kate informs Matt about the fantastically hilarious “Ig Nobel Prizes”. The Ig Nobels are a parody of the better-known Nobel Prize, and they reward science that makes you laugh, and then makes you think.
We take a dive into some of the most entertaining award winners from this year, last year, and across history. From levitating frogs and giving helium to alligators… to knives made from faeces and unboiled eggs. This is a wild ride of hilarious, but also super interesting science!
We also tackle a listener question about wind… how, and why, does it h...
2021-10-041h 27Curiosity Killed the RatButtsThis episode, Kate and Matt are joined by Elysa for a super serious scientific conversation about… butts. Specifically, we talk about the role butts play in a very important part of life: waste removal. Interestingly, not all creatures have butts that develop and function the same, nor do they deal with waste removal in the same ways. So, this episode, we go on a tour of anuses across the animal kingdom. We talk about humans, and how our anus develops and works. But(t) we also talk about animals with mouth-butts, creatures that can create jet-pack-style transportation with their bu...
2021-09-201h 27Curiosity Killed the RatSpace Debris (ft. Benji Metha)Space debris: What is it? Is it dangerous? How can we get rid of it? This week, we are joined by friend of the show Benji Metha to talk about space junk! Stay tuned to the end of the episode where we also tackle a listener question about eel junk.
If you liked what Benji had to say and want to find more of him, you can find him on Instagram (@benjaminmetha). And, as always, you can find us @curiosityrat on twitter, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com
...
2021-09-061h 24Curiosity Killed the RatFlamingosThis episode, Kate and Matt chat about a wonderfully majestic and strange-looking creature: the flamingo! A large brightly coloured bird, the flamingo begs many interesting questions. Why are they bright pink? How do they eat and why do their tongues look like something out of a horror film? What do their social structures look like? And of course… why do they stand on one leg? This episode tackles a listener question about problematic substance use… what exactly is the difference between “addiction”, “dependence”, and “abuse”? As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on twitter, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener qu...
2021-08-2357 minCuriosity Killed the RatLearning Science (ft. Janine Jaramillo)In a slightly different style of episode to usual, we’re joined by Janine Jaramillo for a chat full of reflections about science. We chat about our experiences studying and researching science, why science is so important and relevant to EVERYONE (whether you want to be a scientist or not), and some science-related life hacks to do with stress, drinking, and social media that we wish we’d known in high school! We also tackle a fun listener question about the brain – does it using it burn calories!? As always, you can find and follow us on social media! We are...
2021-08-091h 38Curiosity Killed the RatVideo Games (feat. Meg Pusey)This episode, Kate and Matt are joined by the amazing Meg Pusey to talk all about video games. Meg introduces us to a wildly cool concept: using video games to do SCIENCE! We learn about a whole category of video games out there being used to do either data collection or data analysis for real scientific research. We talk about some super cool examples you can go play yourself, such as Fold it (https://fold.it/) or Eye Wire (https://eyewire.org/explore), and about science mini-games embedded into big, popular, commercial games. We also chat about educational games...
2021-07-261h 05Curiosity Killed the RatColourThis episode we take a deep dive into the science of colour! From the physics to the biology to the psychology, Kate and Matt chat all about what exactly “colour” is, and how we’re able to perceive it. What are the physical properties of colour? How do fluorescent colours work? Why are the primary colours of paint and light different, and why do they mix differently? How are our eyes, and our brains, able to discriminate between different colours? We cover all this and so much more. We also tackle a listener question about forensics… how exactly do scientis...
2021-07-121h 23Curiosity Killed the RatArtificial Pancreas (ft. Jasmine Schipp)This episode, Kate and Matt are joined by the lovely Jasmine Schipp. Jasmine is a PhD candidate researching the experiences of people with type 1 diabetes who are using open-source technology to manage their condition. We chat briefly about what diabetes is, the different types of diabetes, the role of the pancreas… and how people are taking matters into their own hands to create artificial pancreases! We then take a deep dive into how this amazing technology, and the current trials and tribulations associated with it, are impacting the people behind the diagnoses. We also tackle a listener question about ph...
2021-06-281h 12Curiosity Killed the RatAssisted Reproduction (ft. Jarrod McKenna)This episode, Kate is joined by reproductive biologist and science communicator Jarrod McKenna about some of the cool research going on in the world of assisted reproduction. How does a cute little animal like the Egyptian Spiny Mouse help us study reproduction? What are some of the cool techniques that exist to assist with reproduction? We also tackle a listener question about yawning. Why do we do it? And why does looking at other people yawning make us yawn? If you liked what Jarrod had to say and want to find more of him, you can find him on...
2021-06-141h 05Curiosity Killed the RatPint of Science Special: Gravitational Waves (ft. Chayan Chatterjee)We’re once again teaming up with the wonderful crew from Pint of Science to bring you a super interesting episode featuring UWA physics PhD Candidate Chayan Chatterjee. Chayan teaches Kate and Matt all about gravitational waves: what they are, what we can learn from them, and how we go about using cool tech like AI to detect them! We’re also back with a listener question this week: why is milk the go-to solution for reducing spice, and are there better alternatives? If you liked what our guest had to say today and want to find more of him...
2021-05-3158 minCuriosity Killed the RatPint of Science Special (ft. Amanda Krause, Emily Scicluna, & Brooke Farrugia)Kate and Matt are once again partnered up with Pint of science to bring you a very special episode with not 1, not 2, but 3 guests! In this episode we delve into three uniquely different topics: music psychology, the Fat Tailed Dunnart (an adorable tiny carnivorous marsupial!), and the use of Sugar Polymers in bioengineering!
If you liked what our guests had to say today and want to find more of them, you can check them out on twitter @StudyListening @SciclunaEmily @brookefarrugia
If you want to find more Pint of Science content you can check out #PintAU21 an...
2021-05-171h 17Curiosity Killed the RatGraphite (ft. Declan Burke)This episode, Kate and Matt are once again joined by the Chemical Cowboy Declan Burke. This time he is here to chat all about graphite. Which, believe it or not, is more exciting than just pencils! We learn all about some of graphite’s incredible physical properties, the difference between natural and synthetic graphite, and some of the wildly cool uses for this amazing material! All this, and so much more. We also have a listener question about that dangly thing at the back of our throats… what is it for? The Slow Mo Guys video referenced in the epis...
2021-05-031h 15Curiosity Killed the RatSibling ScienceIn this episode about the science of siblings, we take a close look at the popular idea that your birth order can affect your personality or who you grow up to be. Are first born children more likely to be natural leaders? Are they more neurotic, having experienced the luxury of undivided parental attention only to be “dethroned” by the birth of younger siblings? Are younger siblings more free-spirited and less conscientious? Is there any actual scientific substance to birth-order theory at all?? In our listener question we talk about cannabinoid receptors – do we still have them even if we nev...
2021-04-1959 min
Curiosity Killed the RatEntropy (ft. Bodhi Houareau-Rose)Have you ever wondered why your room always gets messy, no matter how much you clean it? Why you can't un-break that priceless plate you accidentally dropped? Or if there is anything we can do as individuals to prevent the inevitable heat death of the universe? In this extra long episode, Kate and Matt are joined by Bodhi to talk about entropy, life, and ethics, and how they are all more closely related than you may think. Stick around to the end for our listener question, where we find out why some people cannot stand the taste of certain foods...
2021-04-061h 57
Curiosity Killed the RatAntartica (ft. Dr Jen Martin)This episode, Kate and Matt are joined by legendary science communicator Dr Jen Martin to chat all about her experiences when she visited the coldest, driest, most remote continent on earth: Antarctica. Jen went to Antarctica as a staff member for Homeward Bound (a global leadership program for women in STEMM) and consequently was involved in the (so far) largest women-only expedition to Antarctica. But what kind of temperatures are we talking about? Is climate-change-in-action super clear from Antarctica? What is it like to actually BE there?! Jen, being an ecologist in training, also chats to us about some of...
2021-03-211h 06
Curiosity Killed the RatVaccines (ft. Catriona Nguyen-Robertson)Joined by our resident immunologist Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, Kate and Matt chat all about Vaccines! How and why do vaccines work to protect us against disease? What happens in the body in response to receiving a vaccine, and how does this help? What are some of the different types of vaccines? And what about the COVID-19 vaccines? Are they safe? Why were they ready so quickly? And why are they an example of some very clever science in action!? This episode’s listener question is about cheese – why does it taste better melted!?If you enjoyed what Cat had to say toda...
2021-03-081h 07
Curiosity Killed the RatCryingWhy do our eyes leak when we feel emotions, chop onions, or get poked in the eye? Do these scenarios lead to the creation of different types of tears? How are tears created? WHY? This episode, Kate and Matt delve into all these questions and so many more, as we chat all about crying. We also tackle a listener question about sweating – why do our palms sweat when we get nervous?References:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4035568/https://athenaeum.libs.uga.edu/handle/10724/36619https://psych-neuro.com/2014/03/14/the-biochemecial-purpose-of-crying/https://scienceblogs.com/observations/2011/01/08/why-do-women-cry-obviously-itshttps://science.howstuffworks.com/life/in...
2021-02-211h 00
Curiosity Killed the RatLoveWith Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Kate and Matt spend this episode talking about the science of love. What is love? Can science explain all those feelings you get when you fall in love with somebody? Breaking love down into the three phases of Lust / Attraction / Attachment, we delve into some of the neuroscience and biochemistry responsible for love. We also answer a listener question about plants and grow lights… how do they work? Episode sources:http://www2.webmatic.it/workO/s/113/pr-457-file_it-Journal%20of%20Molecular%20Evolution%2057.pdfhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01614576.2000.11074334http://helenfisher.com/downloads/articles/10lustattraction.pdfh...
2021-02-0858 min
Curiosity Killed the RatPerpetual Motion MachinesWelcome back, folks, to another season of Curiosity Killed the Rat! This episode, Kate and Matt chat about the idea of perpetual motion, and the amazing machines designed to harness this motion to keep moving… forever! From overbalanced wheels to self-refilling flasks, we take a dive into some of the coolest perpetual motion machines that have been theorised throughout history (…or claimed to be real on YouTube…) and why, realistically, they couldn’t possibly work. This episode’s listener question is about sunsets; why are more spectacular than others?Referenced CollegeHumor sketch:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFtrn4vvTkk&ab_channel...
2021-01-2558 min
Curiosity Killed the RatGhosts (ft. Rosie Arnold)In a truly spooktacular Halloween special to round out season 1, Kate and Matt are joined by Rosie Arnold to chat about ghosts! Have you ever wondered about the explanations scientists have for ghostly encounters? As Rosie breaks down some theories of human perception, we chat about how humans experience the world and why some humans might feel/ hear/ or even see ghosts. Our listener question keeps us in the spirit… spirit, as we try answer the question: Do EMF meters measure ghost energy?If you loved what Rosie had to say you can find more of her on twitter (https://tw...
2020-10-311h 09
Curiosity Killed the RatSciComm (ft. Steph Brown, Cat Thompson, & Wayne Du)We have an exciting episode this week feature not one, not two, but THREE awesome guests from the Science Communication program at Unimelb, ready to chat all about some awesome science! Steph teaches us about aquatic apes and tiny bones in our ears. Cat leads us through the solving of the mystery in the link between vultures, rabies, and Voltaren. Wayne chats about how different animals can camouflage... by changing their smell!Kate then tackle’s this week’s listener question all about IV vitamin treatments… is there science behind the hype?If you loved what our guests had to say yo...
2020-10-171h 11
Curiosity Killed the RatLasers (ft. Kaih Mitchell)In this episode, Kate and Matt are joined by physicist Kaih Mitchell to discuss all things Lasers. What is a Laser beam? How are different colour lasers made? How powerful and deadly can they be? This week's listener question takes a look at how habits are formed and what a person can do to overcome them.Find more of Kaih Mitchell on Radio SciLense every Saturday at 4pm AEST at Radio Fodder: http://radiofodder.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RadioSciLens?s=20Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/radioscilens
2020-10-031h 07
Curiosity Killed the RatSubmerged Landscapes (ft. Patrick Morrison)Have you ever wondered what Aboriginal Australian culture looked like thousands of years ago? Thanks to the end of the last ice age and rising sea levels, so much of what was once dry land is now underwater. But that doesn’t stop archaeologists from discovering and learning from artefacts found under the sea! This episode, Kate and Matt are joined by archaeologist Patrick Morrison to chat about an ancient aboriginal archaeological site discovered at Murujuga, Western Australia, as part of the ARC Deep History of Sea Country project. Patrick tells us all about how researchers go about finding these un...
2020-09-191h 14
Curiosity Killed the RatThe Immunoverse (ft. Catriona Nguyen-Robertson)Come on a journey with us… into the immunoverse! Inside our immune system we have a whole host of characters: from assassins to superheroes, hipsters to butlers. Kate and Matt are joined once more by singing scientist Catriona Nguyen-Robertson. Cat is an immunologist who tells us about some of the cool immune cells she studies, and the role they play in our internal immunoverse.Kate also answers a listener question about snakes… do they have necks?!If you loved what Catriona had to say you can find her on twitter (https://twitter.com/CatrionaNR), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nyuroscientist/), and...
2020-09-051h 01
Curiosity Killed the RatMusic & the Brain (ft. Catseye Parish)What does your brain look like… on music? Have you ever wondered why music makes you feel the way it does, or what exactly is going on in your brain when you hear a bangin tune that you vibe with? How about playing music… what does that do? And are there differences between the brains of musicians and non-musicians? To answer all of these questions and more, Kate and Matt are joined by James aka singer/songwriter known as Catseye Parish. This episode’s listener question is about dogs… can they see in the dark?If you want to find more of...
2020-08-221h 02
Curiosity Killed the RatCarnivorous PlantsEveryone knows that plants belong at the bottom of the food chain… but what about when they don’t? This episode, Matt and Kate talk all about carnivorous plants. That’s right… plants that eat animal flesh to get the juicy nutrients that they need to survive. We all know about the venus fly trap, but HOW does it work? And what about some of the other 600+ species of carnivorous plant? How do they attack, kill, and digest their prey? And also… why? This week’s listener question is about weighted blankets and how they might affect your dreams.Episode References:h...
2020-08-081h 02
Curiosity Killed the RatJames Webb Space Telescope (ft. Benji Metha)The Hubble Space Telescope has contributed to some of the most exciting science from the last 30 years, but technology has evolved. Now, we have Hubble 2: The Hubbling… more officially known as the James Webb Space Telescope. Friend of the show and return guest Benji Metha chats to Kate and Matt about this exciting telescope, all the amazing things it will be able to do, and all the trials and tribulations it has faced during development.The picture of we discuss can be found at https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/hires/2015/3-scientistspl.jpg, and if you were wondering how one fi...
2020-07-251h 06
Curiosity Killed the RatExercise (ft. Catriona Nguyen-Robertson)Exercise: one of the four acceptable reasons to leave the house during COVID-19 lockdowns. We know exercise is good for us, but what is actually happening inside the body? Specifically, what impact is it having on our immune system? Joined by immunologist Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, Kate and Matt chat about exercise, and what working out might do to immune function.They also chat muscle memory; do our muscles actually remember their past strength, or is it all in our brains?If you loved what Catriona has to say you can find her on twitter (https://twitter.com/CatrionaNR), Instagram (https://www...
2020-07-1159 min
Curiosity Killed the RatBoomerangsBoomerangs have been around for tens of thousands of years… but how exactly do they work? What is it about the simple but clever design that keeps them flying through the air… and why on earth do they come back to you!? This episode, Kate and Matt chat about some of the physics behind these incredible tools, and how that very same physics applies to much more modern pieces of technology like aeroplanes, helicopters, and motorbikes. This episode’s listener question is all about hiccups. What are they? How does science suggest we get rid of them? Helpful Videos (to give y...
2020-06-2753 min
Curiosity Killed the RatBLMDespite what we announced last episode, we will not be dropping a new episode this weekend. The reason is simple: our voices are just not the ones that need to be heard most right now. So, we’re going dark for episode 11. Instead, we will be posting some resources to our social media pages which you can look to if you want to understand more about the black lives matter movement. It's important that we take this time to shut up. #blacklivesmatter
2020-06-1301 min
Curiosity Killed the RatPint of Science special: Addiction (ft. Kate Huckstep)Welcome to the third and final instalment of our Pint of Science special episodes! If you don’t know what Pint of Science is, you can find out more via their website: https://pintofscience.com.au/This week, we have our very own resident scientist Kate talk to us about the area of research they’re most passionate about and actually involved in: addiction neuroscience. What happens in the brain when we do something rewarding? How do drugs of abuse hijack this system, ultimately leading to substance use disorders? And what kind of research is being done to unravel the biol...
2020-05-3038 min
Curiosity Killed the RatPint of Science special: Phenotyping (ft. Luke Whiley)Welcome to the second of our special episodes brought to you in conjunction with Pint of Science! If you don’t know what Pint of Science is, you can find out more via their website: https://pintofscience.com.au/What makes someone who they are? Is it their genes? Is it their lifestyle? Is it all of the above… and how on earth does someone research this!? This episode we are joined by Luke Whiley, who chats to us all about the different things that make up somebody’s “phenotype” and how scientists are able to research this. We talk about illn...
2020-05-2335 min
Curiosity Killed the RatPint of Science special: Synapses (ft. Elyas Arvell)Welcome to the first of our special episodes brought to you in conjunction with Pint of Science! If you don’t know what Pint of Science is, you can find out more via their website: https://pintofscience.com.au . Have you ever wondered how the cells in your brain and nervous system talk to each other? Neurons connect and communicate with each other via tiny structures called “synapses”. Elysa Carr - a graduate researcher from the Presynaptic Physiology laboratory at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health - joins us for this special Pint of Science episode. They teach us all...
2020-05-1631 min
Curiosity Killed the RatANTSWhat do a facebook group, a superhero movie, and a science podcast have in common?ANTSThat’s right, this episode we dive deep into the world of ants! What is really going on inside an ant’s nest, deep below ground? How do ants carry out epic heists when they can’t really plan or communicate? How accurate WAS Marvel’s Ant Man? Both in ant science… but also in physics?Episode Sources:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGJ2jMZ-gaIhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/ant-colonieshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004101011300384Xhttps://science.sciencemag.org/content/343/6174/1014https://www.jstage...
2020-05-021h 01
Curiosity Killed the RatHydrogen (ft. Declan Burke)Kate and Matt are joined this episode by the chemical cowboy Declan Burke, who tells us all about the wonders of Hydrogen. Why is Hydrogen such a good fuel? How do we make Hydrogen fuel? Why hasn’t the world fully embraced it yet? We also tackle a listener question that builds on our previous episode as we plunge briefly back into the world of soap… can germs grow on a bar of soap? If so… can soap actually make us sick?Studies mentioned in episode: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8264434https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17051871https...
2020-04-1858 min
Curiosity Killed the RatSoapAmidst the madness of the COVID-19 pandemic, we keep hearing the constant message of “wash your hands”… but why is this so important?! How does something as simple and ancient as soap manage to become our most effective weapon against this virus? To understand this, Kate and Matt delve into the chemistry behind soap and what is actually going on when you wash something with soap. Our listener question then takes a slight detour from our current pandemic-driven reality, and we chat about alcohol… does drinking on an empty stomach actually effect your blood alcohol concentration? How!?Episode Sources:https://www.live...
2020-04-0446 min
Curiosity Killed the RatCoronavirus: Part 3 (ft. Ellie Duckworth)In the final instalment of our epic 3-part coronavirus special, once again joined by public health expert Ellie Duckworth, Ellie and Kate tackle all your questions! We plough through most of the questions we got, which range from molecular-based to philosophical to basic advice. We then go over some of the best conspiracy theories we’ve heard - is there any truth there? We then wrap up with the positives to have come out of this situation, to leave you maybe a sense of hope going forward!If you loved what Ellie had to say you can find her on tw...
2020-03-211h 14
Curiosity Killed the RatCoronavirus: Part 2 (ft. Ellie Duckworth)This is part 2 of a 3-part series on the coronavirus pandemic currently sweeping the globe. Joining us again we have Ellie Duckworth – our epidemiologist – weighing in with educated opinions on the matter. This episode the Duck teaches the Hucks about the specifics of this novel coronavirus, SAR-CoV-2, and the resulting COVID-19 illness. We give a brief outline of how this thing has unfolded, and how it differs from the SARS and MERS situations discussed in the previous episode. We talk about the method of testing for COVID-19, how that works and why there is currently a shortage of tests. We disc...
2020-03-211h 00
Curiosity Killed the RatCoronavirus: Part 1 (ft. Ellie Duckworth)This is it. Our biggest and most ambitious episode so far. In this massive multi-part special episode, we talk all things coronavirus. Matt and Kate are joined by Ellie Duckworth: A Master of Public Health graduate, specialising in epidemiology and biostatistics. In our opening episode, we try to give a bit of background and context to the current situation. We give a brief history of other coronavirus outbreaks, like SARS and MERS, which have given scientists a head-start when it comes to understanding this novel coronavirus. We detangle definitions: what is COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 or just plain old “coronavirus” and how...
2020-03-2155 min
Curiosity Killed the RatTicklingAlmost everyone has experienced being tickled at some point in their lives, but what exactly IS tickling? Is it pleasure, or is it pain? Is it possible to tickle yourself? This episode, Kate and Matt talk about tickling, and some of the research exploring what it actually is. They also talk about fish… do they sleep? Episode Sources:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23313827https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0051959https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4290532/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982214007702https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-84UJpYFRMhttps://www.nc...
2020-03-071h 00
Curiosity Killed the RatSimulations (ft. Benji Metha)In an episode where Kate and Matt are joined by astronomer Benji Metha, the big hitting questions are asked. Are we living in a simulation? Is the matrix real? Can people really get super-human strength and lift cars off the ground in emergencies?Handy Links:https://www.tng-project.org/media/ - Pretty pictures/videos from the IllustrisTNG simulation.https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/pub/72918.php?from=267097 - Our real universe (left) vs what Hubble would see if it were looking at the simulated Illustris universe (right). Absolutely uncanny.https://www.spacetelescope.org/images/archive/category/starclusters/ - Beautiful Hubble photos...
2020-02-221h 04
Curiosity Killed the RatHypnosisHypnosis: Pseudoscience or real thing!? This episode, Kate and Matt deep dive into the world of hypnosis. Is hypnosis just a stage trick? Are people just playing along? Or can you be made to do/ think/ feel things just by being lulled into a trance? And if so, how the hell does it work?! They also chat coffee and caffeine – what is it doing in your brain and why can it give you the jitters? Episode Sources: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325348289_Improving_hypnotizability_in_adults_with_Modafinil_What_is_the_trickhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2272860https://www.nc...
2020-02-0856 min
Curiosity Killed the RatBushfires (ft. Dr Linden Ashcroft)In a slightly longer and more serious episode than usual, Kate and Matt are joined by the lovely Dr Linden Ashcroft to talk about the tragic Australian Bushfires. Is this just business as usual for an Australian summer, or is something more serious going on here? Is Climate Change to blame? Or is there more to the story? They also dive into how climate and weather can affect our mood, and why a lack of sunlight can sometimes make you gloomy!As mentioned in the episode, here are our collection of suggested charities if you wanna do your bit to...
2020-01-2557 min
Curiosity Killed the RatThe AppendixThis episode Kate and Matt discuss the appendix! Is it truly just an outdated and useless organ that can be removed with zero consequence? Or does it still actually have a function in humans? Learn all about the latest scientific thoughts about what this little dangly bit of tissue might do! There is also some nifty intel about paper cuts – why do they hurt so dang much!? Laugh as you learn, and remember you can follow Curiosity Killed the Rat on twitter (https://twitter.com/CuriosityRat), Insta (https://www.instagram.com/curiosityrat/), and facebook (https://www.facebook.com/curiosityrat/), and em...
2020-01-1132 min
Curiosity Killed the RatPins & NeedlesWelcome to our first episode! In this episode, sibling duo Kate and Matt delve into the fascinating science behind Pins and Needles. Learn all about what might be causing this strange feeling, as well as how you can fix it! They also chat about the moon, and what it might mean for Earth if our moon was supersized. All of this, with a good smattering of banter and laughs along the way! You can follow Curiosity Killed the Rat on twitter (https://twitter.com/CuriosityRat), Insta (https://www.instagram.com/curiosityrat/), and facebook (https://www.facebook.com/curiosityrat/), and email...
2020-01-0825 min