Science Friction
ABC Australia
In humanity's next giant leap, astronauts are heading back to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
We'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates, from lift-off to splashdown, and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.
The Challenger Legacy (Season 5)
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.
We'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates, from lift-off to splashdown, and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.
The Challenger Legacy (Season 5)
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 5, 2025 • 0sec
02 | Cooked: All-meat eaters say they feel great - but why?
Delve into the carnivore diet trend, featuring personal stories from followers who swear by their meat-only meals. Hear about the surprising health benefits they report, such as improved mental clarity and energy levels. The podcast tackles the cultural significance and identity ties within dieting communities while shedding light on potential long-term health risks. As personal dietary choices shape social interactions, explore the psychological complexities and community dynamics that influence adherence to this controversial lifestyle.
Jan 29, 2025 • 26min
01 | Cooked: Could ice cream actually be good for you?
Two decades ago, nutritional epidemiologists made a startling finding – that people eating more ice cream were less likely to develop diabetes.In the years since, various groups have tried to account for this peculiar scientific signal — with limited success.In multiple studies the link between ice cream and a reduced risk of diabetes persists. Yet nutrition experts globally still aren’t convinced.But if it’s not true, what’s causing the signal?Grab a spoon and dig into culture, causation and confounders — and the joy of a tub of ice cream.Credits:Presenter: Dr Emma BeckettProducer: Carl SmithSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Nathan TurnbullThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.More information:Nutrition Science's Most Preposterous Result - The Atlantic.Here's the scoop on the new thinking about ice cream, yogurt, cheese and health - WBUR.Dairy and your heart health - Heart Foundation.
Jan 28, 2025 • 0sec
00 | INTRODUCING — Cooked
For Science Friction, a new series — Cooked!On Cooked, we dig into the nuance of nutrition. Why are studies showing that ice cream could be good for you? Do we really need as many electrolytes as the internet says? And why are people feeling good on the carnivore diet?Nutrition and food scientist Dr Emma Beckett helps comb through the evidence on food groups and ingredients like meat, dairy and salt — to unpick why nutrition studies can be so conflicted and confusing.
Nov 28, 2023 • 26min
06 | Is super-intelligent AI around the corner?
Behind the rise of AI there's big questions about where this technology is going.Is it going to be super intelligent — and if that happens — is it going to kill us all?In our final episode, we're diving into the future and unpacking the full spectrum of expert predictions, from the idea that we're on the brink of creating human-level AI, to fears that AI will make humanity extinct.Come meet our future AI overlords.
Nov 21, 2023 • 26min
05 | The year the world woke up to AI with a bang
2023 was the year powerful new AI technology went mainstream, with image generators and tools like ChatGPT.And people quickly started wondering where these advances were taking them.This is the story of 2023 in three chapters: the first contact, the backlash that followed, and the new reality.It's the story of actors fighting back against plans to replace them with digital clones, writers suing AI companies for stealing their words, and students figuring out how to use their new magical writing tool.
Nov 14, 2023 • 26min
04 | If you control AI, you control the world
AI is often portrayed as being all about technology. But it is also about money and control. Because those who control AI, may control the world.In the AI world, there are two names that keep coming up: OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, and its CEO, Sam Altman.Who is Sam Altman? How did his tiny company leapfrog the tech giants and win the scramble for control of AI? And what are Altman's plans for the future?
Nov 7, 2023 • 26min
03 | The bumpy history of driverless cars and their AI brains
When you think about a driverless car future, perhaps your mind goes to being driven around, watching movies from the backseat and drinking martinis.For over a decade, perfect driverless cars have seemed only a few years away. But in reality, they were nowhere close.Now, driverless cars are finally being rolled out in some cities.But (like humans) they're crashing and causing chaos.So are driverless cars finally here? Or is teaching a car to drive simply too difficult?
Oct 31, 2023 • 26min
02 | Locked up by AI for a crime he didn't commit
As ChatGPT shows us, AI can do some amazing stuff. But it does some creepy stuff as well. And it's already been responsible for locking up innocent people.The story of how AI scanned millions of drivers licences and accused Michigan man Robert Wiliams of a crime he didn't commit.When human biases lead to neural networks going rogue.
Oct 24, 2023 • 26min
01 | The day modern AI toppled humanity's champion
Exploring the victory of AlphaGo against a human Go champion, the podcast discusses the rise of AI and the power of neural networks. It delves into the historical dispute between Minsky and Rosenblatt regarding AI development and highlights the early days of neural networks research.
Oct 23, 2023 • 4min
I for one welcome... Hello AI Overlords!
2023 has been the breakout year of artificial intelligence. After decades of investment and improvement, the technology suddenly went mainstream. For many, it was as though a miraculous machine was plonked in our midst.But AI didn't come from nowhere. And it hasn't been a smooth and simple process. It's been a story rife with drama, conflict, and disagreement.So where did it come from? Who made it? Who controls it?Welcome to our new Science Friction series Hello AI Overlords!Across six fascinating episodes, we'll tell you the human stories that shaped the emergence of today's AI technology over more than half a century and where we might be heading.First episode out Wednesday 25th October
