Science Friction
Hosted by Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler · ABC Australia
4.6from 111 ratings
- 293
- Episodes
- 27
- Transcribed
- 111
- Ratings
- Monthly
- Cadence
- 2018
- First episode
About Science Friction
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. Dead and Alive (Season 7) Quantum computers could be the next giant leap in technology — transforming how we heal people, how we grow food, how we get around our cities. So how close are we to the quantum future we've been promised? Science reporter Jacinta Bowler unpacks how the weird world of quantum physics could change everything. Artemis Explained (Season 6) In humanity's next giant leap, astronauts are heading back to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. We track the Artemis II mission in real time, 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. Science reporter Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki bring you 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.
- Publisher
- ABC Australia
- Category
- science · society & culture
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 28 Oct 2018
- Latest episode
- 3 Nov 2026
Latest episodes
27 of 293 episodes have a transcript.
3 Nov 2026TRANSCRIPT
04 | Outbreaks: The bird flu
27 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
03 | Outbreaks: The mozzie mystery
20 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
02 | Outbreaks: The great mimicker
Inside a recent episode
04 | Outbreaks: The bird flu
Published 3 Nov 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] In the beginning, farmers didn't know what was wrong with their cattle, only that there was something wrong with them. And it was pretty widespread. There were quite a few farms, and they'd done a lot of the testing for traditional diseases that we would see, and they were all coming up negative. […]
Read the full transcript with a Pod Engine plan.
See plansWho has been a guest on Science Friction
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
- Dr Jarrod Hodgson
- Dr Vidya Bhardwaj
- Professor Kirsty Short
- Dr Jason Lombard
- Kylah
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 4.4 / 5
- 64 ratings
- Spotify
- 4.8 / 5
- 47 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 58 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
- Quality
- 95
- Social presence
- 0
- YouTube
- 0
- Engagement
- 50
Contact Science Friction
- Guest appearances
- Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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Questions about Science Friction
Who hosts Science Friction?
Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler host the show. Published by ABC Australia.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes monthly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Science Friction take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Where can I read transcripts?
27 of 293 episodes have a transcript on Pod Engine. Full transcripts are available with a Pod Engine plan.
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