Hosted by Dr Cat · JOY 94.9 - Rainbow Community Podcasts for our LGBTI, LGBTIQA+, LGBTQIA+, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGB, Gay, Lesbian, Trans, Intersex, Queer Communities
High time for space plants: cannabis clocks and trusty tomato
Branch into the world of high‑stakes horticulture. There’s no room to waste space – literally.
Laura Steel is a post-doctoral researcher with the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Plants for Space at La Trobe University. She is a plant scientist who has helped cannabis tell time and know when to flower, fine-tuned taro’s diet in nutrient-poor soil, and is now tweaking tomatoes to be compact, zero‑waste food and medicine for life in space.
It’s all about making plants work smarter and sculpting plant architecture so every root, stem and leaf earns its keep. Whether they’re helping feed communities on fragile soils or extreme places on Earth, or future astronauts on long missions, these plants could help feed the world…and beyond.
Settle in while we leaf Earth’s comfort zone behind and see how far we can grow!
Originally aired 29th September, 2026.
The post High time for space plants: cannabis clocks and trusty tomato (https://joy.org.au/sciencequeeries/2026/10/05/high-time-for-space-plants/) appeared first on Science Queeries (https://joy.org.au/sciencequeeries).
22 Sept 2026
Understanding pain and feeling heard
Pain is something we all feel – but for young people with cerebral palsy, it’s a daily reality that remains poorly understood. In fact, some don’t even register “pain”, because it’s simply the norm.
Aayushi Khillan is a medical student and PhD researcher who’s mapping out chronic pain in cerebral palsy. She is building tools at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute to help understand people’s experiences of pain so that clinicians can better manage and treat it.
Her research reveals that what we measure in tests doesn’t always match what people feel and report. It’s a reminder that pain is multidimensional, personal, and complex. Listening to young people’s experiences is just as important as the scientific data.
Beyond her research, Aayushi founded the award-winning Body Buddies – adorable, educational organ plushies that make learning about your body fun and friendly. Understanding your body isn’t just about science – it’s about empowerment.
Originally aired 15th September, 2026.
The post Understanding pain and feeling heard (https://joy.org.au/sciencequeeries/2026/09/22/understanding-pain-and-feeling-heard/) appeared first on Science Queeries (https://joy.org.au/sciencequeeries).
13 Sept 2026
Neutron stars and the universe’s pulse
The universe is spinning with mysteries – and we’re tuning in to hear them.
Pulsars are neutron stars so dense that a teaspoon of their material would weigh as much as Mt Everest. They spin hundreds of times per second, emitting beams of radio waves like cosmic lighthouses sweeping across space.
Dr Cat chats to astrophysicist Rami Mandow about detecting their radio waves, on radio. Rami studies these incredible stars at Macquarie University. He investigates how pulsars pulse and why they’re crucial for understanding physics
But you don’t need a professional telescope to explore the cosmos. Anyone can look up and contribute to our understanding of the universe through amateur astronomy and astrophotography – and Rami will share how.
Pulsars aren’t just cosmic objects. They’re reminders that the universe is vast, beautiful, and full of mysteries waiting to be solved.
Originally aired 8th September, 2026.
The post Neutron stars and the universe’s pulse (https://joy.org.au/sciencequeeries/2026/09/14/neutron-stars-and-the-universes-pulse/) appeared first on Science Queeries (https://joy.org.au/sciencequeeries).
Who has been a guest on Science Queeries
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dr Rob Ryan
Jess Leck
Rory Young
Zofia Witkowski-Blake
Dilendra Wijesekara
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
67,304
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
80
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
32
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