It Starts With...

Why does alcohol affect your body the way it does?

It Starts With...

Show Notes

Alcohol has been socially lubricating, intoxicating and relaxing humans for thousands of years. But the chemistry behind alcohol and the biological effects it has on the human body are still being understood.

Join David Boldeman and science journalist Ellen Phiddian in this episode of the It Starts With… podcast as they take a sip from the chalice of knowledge to get to the gurgling heart of what alcohol is and how it affects the body.

Ellen and David explore the properties of ethanol, why we get drunk, as well as the harmful effects of overconsumption of alcohol on the human body. It Starts With... is a ConnectSci podcast. ConnectSci delivers trusted, fact-based content, including peer-reviewed journal articles, eBooks and science news articles. It is operated by CSIRO Publishing, a not-for-profit, editorially independent publisher based in Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from It Starts With...

Oct 13, 2026

Palaeontology has changed enormously in recent decades, but many museum and theme park dinosaurs still look like they came straight out of last century. Palaeontologist James Ronan joins David Boldeman to explain why that matters, how his Dinosaur Accuracy Audit grades exhibits on everything from posture to feathers, and why Jurassic Park's raptors are still shaping what we see today. For more information on James' work visit james-ronan.co.uk It Starts With... is a ConnectSci podcast. ConnectSci delivers trusted, fact-based content, including peer-reviewed journal articles, eBooks and science news articles. It is operated by CSIRO Publishing, a not-for-profit, editorially independent publisher based in Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 6, 2026

Can AI tell when a cow is getting sick before a farmer? An Australian team is working on using farm data to create a digital version of each cow and look for signs of illness before they become obvious. The technology can help prevent issues to improve milk production and keep animals healthy. David Boldeman discusses the future of farming with Alex Barakat from Digibus AI, who is helping build the technology, and dairy industry consultant Peter Best from Agstrat. It Starts With... is a ConnectSci podcast. ConnectSci delivers trusted, fact-based content, including peer-reviewed journal articles, eBooks and science news articles. It is operated by CSIRO Publishing, a not-for-profit, editorially independent publisher based in Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 28, 2026

The first of a new fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) has set off from Tasmania, Australia, on a nine-month mission to monitor the Southern Ocean.

Sep 22, 2026

We're told white keeps you cool and black soaks up the heat — but where does purple fit in? Imma Perfetto joins David Boldeman to unpack the surprising physics of colour and heat after a new purple fabric was found to keep you cooler than white cotton. The discovery was made by researchers at Adelaide University.

Sep 15, 2026

New research shows that making sexual health services pleasure-inclusive for young people returns $23 for every $1 spent.

See all episodes →