Science Friction
ABC Australia
Science Friction's latest season is: The Challenger Legacy.
In January 1986, the Challenger space shuttle disintegrated 73 seconds after lift-off. This is the story of how the tragedy unfolded, the engineers who tried to stop it — and the enduring consequences for humanity's exploration of space.
Artificial Evolution (Season 4): Three decades ago, Dolly the Sheep became the first ever cloned mammal. Nearly 30 years later, genetic technology has reshaped the world around us. Environment reporter Peter de Kruijff explores what's changed, where we are headed, and whether we're okay with it.
Brain Rot (Season 3): How does being chronically online affect our brains? Technology reporter Ange Lavoipierre explores the wildest ways people are using tech — from falling in love with AI companions to data-dumping a life into a language model — and the big questions about our own screen use.
Cooked (Season 2): Why do some studies show ice cream is good for you? Why do some people say they feel good going carnivore, and do we really need as many electrolytes as the internet tells us? Food and nutrition scientist Dr Emma Beckett cuts through these confusing findings to explain how nutrition science works.
AI Overlords (Season 1): AI didn't come from nowhere, and its development hasn't been a smooth, straight line — it's been rife with drama, conflict and disagreement. Technology reporter James Purtill looks at where AI came from, who controls it and where it's heading.
In January 1986, the Challenger space shuttle disintegrated 73 seconds after lift-off. This is the story of how the tragedy unfolded, the engineers who tried to stop it — and the enduring consequences for humanity's exploration of space.
Artificial Evolution (Season 4): Three decades ago, Dolly the Sheep became the first ever cloned mammal. Nearly 30 years later, genetic technology has reshaped the world around us. Environment reporter Peter de Kruijff explores what's changed, where we are headed, and whether we're okay with it.
Brain Rot (Season 3): How does being chronically online affect our brains? Technology reporter Ange Lavoipierre explores the wildest ways people are using tech — from falling in love with AI companions to data-dumping a life into a language model — and the big questions about our own screen use.
Cooked (Season 2): Why do some studies show ice cream is good for you? Why do some people say they feel good going carnivore, and do we really need as many electrolytes as the internet tells us? Food and nutrition scientist Dr Emma Beckett cuts through these confusing findings to explain how nutrition science works.
AI Overlords (Season 1): AI didn't come from nowhere, and its development hasn't been a smooth, straight line — it's been rife with drama, conflict and disagreement. Technology reporter James Purtill looks at where AI came from, who controls it and where it's heading.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 25, 2026 • 43min
BONUS | The Challenger Legacy: Q&A
They answer listener questions about the Challenger disaster, including how the shuttle’s solid rocket booster joints were re‑engineered. They compare shuttle, Saturn V and SLS tradeoffs and discuss commercial versus NASA safety incentives. They cover abort options, inspection limits, how Orion reaches the Moon, launch windows, environmental impacts of rockets, and what space travel actually feels like.
Feb 17, 2026 • 31min
05 | The Challenger Legacy: Apollo on Steroids
Charlie Camarda, retired NASA engineer and former astronaut, warns about Orion’s heat shield and re-entry risks. Peter King, CBS News Radio correspondent, explains how Orion is like an 'Apollo on steroids' and covers launch operations and testing. They discuss hydrogen leak challenges, reused shuttle hardware, and why heat shield damage has raised urgent safety concerns.
Feb 10, 2026 • 26min
04 | The Challenger Legacy: The Devil You Know
Miles O'Brien, CNN aerospace correspondent and longtime space reporter, shares eyewitness reporting and analysis. He recounts foam-impact tests that pierced shuttle wings. He discusses how foam caused Columbia's loss and why imaging or rescue were not viable. He reflects on cultural and engineering lessons around launch pressure and safer return-to-flight practices.
Feb 3, 2026 • 24min
03 | The Challenger Legacy: Columbia
Miles O'Brien, CNN aerospace correspondent who filmed Columbia's launch, tells how he spotted a troubling foam strike. Short scenes cover the discovery of the footage, denied requests to inspect the wing, the tragic re-entry loss, and the stark parallels with Challenger. Personal family calls and the scramble to support loved ones add a human dimension.
Jan 27, 2026 • 33min
02 | The Challenger Legacy: Five Lepers
Engineers watch the Challenger explosion from afar and wrestle with prior warnings they gave about O-ring problems. The show digs into the SRB design, how cold weather affected seals, and a tense teleconference where managers overruled safety concerns. It follows the sidelining of five engineers, secrecy and fear of reprisal, and the long aftermath of redesigns and cultural fallout.
Jan 20, 2026 • 26min
01 | The Challenger Legacy: Launch Fever
It's the morning of January 28th, 1986. On board the space shuttle Challenger are seven astronauts, including teacher Christa McAuliffe.She is set to be the first ever teacher in space. But Christa never makes it to orbit.In the wake of an unprecedented disaster, questions start to be asked.Should this mission have been launched in the first place?To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki about the legacy the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster left on culture, space exploration and high-risk decision making, search ‘Science Friction: The Challenger Legacy podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.Guests:John TribeRetired shuttle engineerSteve NesbittFormer NASA public affairs officerJune Scobee RodgersWidow of Challenger commander Dick ScobeeAdam HigginbothamAuthor, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of SpaceCredits:Presenters: Fiona Pepper and Karl KruszelnickiReporter: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSeries Producer: Jonathan WebbExecutive Producer: Petria LadgroveSound Engineer: Tim JenkinsArchives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael OsmondThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.
Jan 11, 2026 • 0sec
INTRODUCING — The Challenger Legacy
Forty years ago this January, the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated on its way into orbit. All seven astronauts on board were killed.In the days after the tragedy, the world wanted answers. What really caused the shuttle to explode? And should the launch have been stopped altogether?For season five of Science Friction, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Fiona Pepper investigate how the Challenger disaster unfolded – and what that has meant for space exploration from 1986 to now.The Challenger Legacy is a five-part series from Science Friction. Episode 1 is out Wednesday 21st January.
Oct 7, 2025 • 0sec
05 | Artificial Evolution: Gene-Edited Babies
In 2018, a Chinese scientist made an announcement that shocked the world — and landed him years in prison.In a special episode of Artificial Evolution, Health Report reporter Shelby Traynor traces the story of He Jiankui, the researcher who helped to produce genetically edited babies.His actions invited condemnation from scientists worldwide and opened new fronts of scientific and ethical debate.Thank you to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for supplying the baby KJ audio, and Genepool Productions for supplying the citizen's jury audio used in this episode.You can hear more episodes of Science Friction with journalist Peter de Kruijff about DNA, cloning, genetic modification and gene editing on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Reporter: Shelby Traynor Presenter: Peter de KruijffProducers: Shelby Traynor, Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Roi HubermanThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Whadjuk Noongar and Menang Noongar peoples.
Sep 23, 2025 • 26min
04 | Artificial Evolution: Pig Parts for People?
Timothy Andrews has lived with a pig kidney in his body for eight months.That makes him a record breaker — living longer with a gene-edited pig kidney than anyone else in the world so far.In the final episode of Artificial Evolution, he tells us about his journey, his hopes for making it a year with the transplant, and the challenges he's faced along the way.With expanded clinical trials into this 'xenotransplantation' around the corner, researchers and advocacy groups argue a future in which animal organs are used in life-saving transplantation procedures for humans is not far off.So what is the science and history of xenotransplantation? What are the ethical concerns? And what's happening in Australia?You can hear more episodes of Science Friction with journalist Peter de Kruijff about DNA, cloning, genetic modification and gene editing on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Guests:Timothy AndrewsNew Hampshire, United StatesProfessor Wayne HawthorneProfessor of Transplantation, Westmead HospitalProfessor Dominique MartinProfessor of Health Ethics and Professionalism, Deakin UniversityProfessor Syd JohnsonProfessor of Bioethics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New YorkCredits:Presenter: Peter de KruijffProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Tim SymondsArchives Researcher: Lisa ChidlowThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Whadjuk Noongar and Menang Noongar peoples.
Sep 16, 2025 • 27min
03 | Artificial Evolution: Yuck or Yum? Gene-Edited Meat
Gene-edited fish are on the market in Japan, and similar foods could soon be on Australian shelves. But will we want to eat them, how affordable will they be, and what do they even taste like?On this episode of Artificial Evolution, Pete looks at the future of gene editing for consumption, what's on the menu, and whether it’s a sustainable way to feed the world.You can hear more episodes of Science Friction with journalist Peter de Kruijff about DNA, cloning, genetic modification and gene editing on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Credits:Presenter: Peter de KruijffProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Richard Girvan/Angie GrantArchives Researcher: Lisa ChidlowThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Whadjuk Noongar and Menang Noongar peoples.
