Show Notes
In 2000, people who visited the Melbourne Aquarium started to get sick. Really sick. This outbreak would go on to become the largest of its kind in Australia. This story goes back 50 years to a mystery that stumped scientists in Philadelphia. How did they crack the case, and why are we still struggling to stop this disease? Got feedback? Email us [email protected] Guests: Professor Robert PromisloffClinical Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Drexel University Dr Jane GreigEpidemiologist, Burnet Institute and Médecins Sans Frontières Dr Verlaine TimmsMicrobiologist, University of Newcastle and University of Western Sydney Stephen WalshLawyer Presenter: Belinda Smith Producer: Shelby Traynor Senior Producer: James Bullen Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
More from Science Friction
In 2021, four people across four different parts of the United States fall ill. They all have the same disease — a life-threatening bacterial infection. But the weird thing is they haven't travelled anywhere. And the bug that causes the infection isn't found in the US. So how did they get it? This handful of cases kicks off a disease investigation with roots that stretch back to northern Australia. Got feedback? Email us [email protected] Guests: Dr Julia PetrasEpidemiologist, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr Mindy ElrodMicrobiologist, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Will MisiSupport worker, Cairns Dr Josh HansonGeneral and infectious diseases physician, Cairns Dr Ella MeumannInfectious diseases physician; Clinical microbiologist, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin Presenter: Belinda Smith Producer: Shelby Traynor Senior Producer: James Bullen Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
From mystery illnesses to flesh-eating bacteria and the looming threat of bird flu — outbreaks can push scientists, communities and health systems to their limits. For Science Friction on ABC Radio National, Belinda Smith looks back on some of the disease outbreaks that shaped Australia. Hear about the scientists racing to find answers, the unusual diseases they're hunting, and the everyday people caught in the middle. Outbreaks is a four-part series from Science Friction on ABC Radio National. Episode 1 is out Wednesday October 14th.
When it comes to the often incomprehensible world of quantum, it can be hard to distinguish hype from reality. We might be on the verge of a breakthrough ... or tech start-ups might be trying to drum up momentum for the benefit of their stakeholders. Hype is important in science, but can it go too far? And has AI knocked the wind out of the sails of quantum computing? Got feedback? Email us [email protected] Guests: Dr Tara RobersonScience communicator Stela TodorovicMedia Director for PsiQuantum Australia Gideon LichfieldJournalist, former editor-in-chief of WIRED and MIT Technology Review Professor Warwick BowenDirector of the Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology and leader of the Quantum Optics Laboratory, University of Queensland Presenter: Jacinta Bowler Script producers: Fiona Pepper, James Bullen Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond
You might not know it, but Australia is an unexpected frontrunner in the race to build a quantum computer. Despite our isolation, leading quantum experts have called Australia home for decades, chipping away at this massive challenge. What have we learnt, from our first digital computer CSIRAC, to now? And will it all culminate in the world's first million-qubit computer? Got feedback? Email us [email protected] Guests: Dr Peter ThorneFormer weekend service operator for CSIRAC Professor Michelle SimmonsCEO of Silicon Quantum Computing and director of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, UNSW Professor Robert ClarkFounding director of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Technology, UNSW Professor Geoff PrydeChief Technical Director, PsiQuantum Australia Presenter: Jacinta Bowler Script producers: Fiona Pepper, James Bullen Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond
It's 1994, and a mathematical algorithm puts a spotlight on quantum computing for the first time. Defence departments, spy agencies and cybersecurity experts are on edge over the explosive Shor's algorithm. They spend decades and billions of dollars searching for a solution before something called "Q-day" arrives. Got feedback? Email us [email protected] Guests: Dr Henry EverittSenior technologist for optical sciences, US Army Emeritus Professor Charles ClarkPhysicist, formerly National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Dr Sushmita RujAssociate professor, University of New South Wales' Institute for Cybersecurity Special thanks to Nick Adams for reading Peter Shor's limerick. Presenter: Jacinta Bowler Producer: Fiona Pepper Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond Additional audio courtesy of CSIRO Publishing