Science Friction
- Episodes
- 250
- Format
- Series – listen from the start
- Latest episode
- Nov 10, 2026
About the podcast
Even big diseases start small. The series Patient Zero traces how disease outbreaks begin and why they happen. Over eight episodes, you'll follow disease detectives around the globe working to solve medical mysteries. Patient Zero is a season from the ABC Science archives presented by reporter Olivia Willis. Outbreaks (Season 8) 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. In Outbreaks, science presenter Belinda Smith looks back on some of the disease outbreaks that shaped Australia. 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.
Episodes 250
04 | Patient Zero: How we got there
From Melbourne to Munich, Lombardy to Wuhan and all the way back again: this episode is about what happened when we faced those first coronavirus cases. Where things went well, where they didn’t — and whether …
Show notes
From Melbourne to Munich, Lombardy to Wuhan and all the way back again: this episode is about what happened when we faced those first coronavirus cases. Where things went well, where they didn’t — and whether there’s anything we could have done to stop it.Guests:Rhonda StuartHead of infection prevention at Monash HealthMerle BöhmerInfectious disease epidemiologist at the Bavarian Health and Food Safety AuthorityRaina MacIntyreProfessor of Biosecurity at the Kirby Institute, University of New South WalesFabrizio CarinciBiostatistician at the University of BolognaCarl ZimmerScience journalist and columnist for The New York TimesHost:Olivia WillisProducers:Cheyne Anderson, James BullenExecutive Producer:Joel WernerSound Design:Tim Jenkins
03 | Patient Zero: December transplant
Three transplant patients die within a week of each other and alarm bells start ringing.Guests:Fiona PepperActor, playing the part of Rae MoranDr Mike CattonDeputy Director, Doherty Institute for Infection and …
Show notes
Three transplant patients die within a week of each other and alarm bells start ringing.Guests:Fiona PepperActor, playing the part of Rae MoranDr Mike CattonDeputy Director, Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityDr Dominique MartinAssociate Professor in Bioethics, Deakin UniversityHost:Olivia WillisProducers:James Bullen, Cheyne AndersonExecutive Producer:Joel WernerSound Design:Tim Jenkins
02 | Patient Zero: The basement files
A junior doctor uncovers a mystery that rewrites the story of a famous epidemic — and we learn the troubling origins of 'patient zero' as a concept.Guests:Dr John GerrardDirector of Infectious Diseases and …
Show notes
A junior doctor uncovers a mystery that rewrites the story of a famous epidemic — and we learn the troubling origins of 'patient zero' as a concept.Guests:
Dr John GerrardDirector of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Gold Coast University Hospital
Professor Sharon LewinDirector, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Phil CarswellFounding president, Victorian AIDS Council
Bill BowtellAdjunct professor, University of New South Wales
Host:Olivia WillisProducers:Cheyne Anderson, James BullenExecutive Producer:Joel WernerSound Design:Tim Jenkins
01 | Patient Zero: In the water
Disease is spreading in the wake of a natural disaster on the Caribbean nation of Haiti — and everyone thinks they know where it's coming from. Spoiler: they don't.Guests:Jonathan M. KatzFreelance journalist …
Show notes
Disease is spreading in the wake of a natural disaster on the Caribbean nation of Haiti — and everyone thinks they know where it's coming from. Spoiler: they don't.
Guests:
Jonathan M. KatzFreelance journalist and author, The Big Truck That Went By
Dr Louise IversExecutive Director, Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Global Health; Associate Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Nelson Junior CeranorHost:Olivia WillisProducers:James Bullen, Cheyne AndersonExecutive Producer:Joel WernerSound Design:Tim Jenkins
04 | Outbreaks: The bird flu
It's the incursion we've been dreading. H5N1 bird flu has arrived in Australia.But this strain circulated the globe for decades before it landed on our shores.How has the risk to humans changed since the virus …
Show notes
It's the incursion we've been dreading. H5N1 bird flu has arrived in Australia.
But this strain circulated the globe for decades before it landed on our shores.
How has the risk to humans changed since the virus emerged? And what aren't we prepared for?
Got feedback? Email us [email protected]
Guests:
Dr Jarrod HodgsonWildlife biologist, Australian Antarctic Division
Dr Vidya BhardwajResearch scientist in emergency animal disease, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness
Professor Kirsty ShortProfessor of Virology, University of Queensland
Dr Jason LombardVeterinary epidemiologist, Colorado State University
Additional audio of Heard Island courtesy of the Australian Antarctic Division.
- Presenter: Belinda Smith
- Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Senior Producer: James Bullen
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
- Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
03 | Outbreaks: The mozzie mystery
It starts as a mozzie bite ... but then it turns into something much worse.And the search for a cause stretches back decades.How did flesh-eating bacteria come to be in Melbourne's inner suburbs?And what do …
Show notes
It starts as a mozzie bite ... but then it turns into something much worse.
And the search for a cause stretches back decades.
How did flesh-eating bacteria come to be in Melbourne's inner suburbs?
And what do possums have to do with it?
Got feedback? Email us [email protected]
Guests:
KylahMelbourne
Professor Paul JohnsonInfectious diseases physician, Austin Health and University of Melbourne
Professor Tim StinearMolecular microbiologist, Doherty Institute and University of Melbourne
Dr Veronique ParisMedical entomologist, University of Melbourne
- Presenter: Belinda Smith
- Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Senior Producer: James Bullen
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
- Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
More information:
Breaking Buruli - Science Friction02 | Outbreaks: The great mimicker
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 …
Show notes
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
01 | Outbreaks: The aquarium illness
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 …
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
INTRODUCING — Outbreaks
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 …
Show notes
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.
04 | Dead and Alive: Hype train
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 …
Show notes
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
03 | Dead and Alive: Plucky country
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 …
Show notes
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
02 | Dead and Alive: Quantum attack
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 …
Show notes
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
01 | Dead and Alive: Battle for quantum supremacy
Google announces it has achieved something game changing — quantum supremacy. But not everybody agrees.The company claims its quantum computer called Sycamore has solved a problem that no classical computer …
Show notes
Google announces it has achieved something game changing — quantum supremacy. But not everybody agrees.
The company claims its quantum computer called Sycamore has solved a problem that no classical computer could manage in hundreds of thousands of years.
IBM wants this stricken from history.
A war of words breaks out as two tech giants race to build a useful quantum computer that could change how the world works.
Got feedback? Email us [email protected]
Guests:
Scott YoungCropping and livestock farmer in Ballan, Victoria
Gideon LichfieldJournalist, former editor-in-chief of WIRED and MIT Technology Review
Professor John Martinis2025 Nobel laureate in Physics
Credits:
- Presenter: Jacinta Bowler
- Producer: Fiona Pepper
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
- Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
- Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond
This story was made on the lands of the Wurundjeri, Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.
More information
Quantum supremacy using a programmable superconducting processorOn “quantum supremacy” - IBMINTRODUCING — Dead and Alive
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?For …
Show notes
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?
For Science Friction on ABC Radio National, Jacinta Bowler unpacks how the weird world of quantum physics could change everything.
Hear about the surprising twists, the quantum cat-fights and the plucky heroes that have defined humanity's effort to build nature's most unpredictable machine.
Dead and Alive is a four-part series from Science Friction on ABC Radio National. Episode 1 is out Wednesday July 8th.
12 | Artemis Explained: What a ride
The Integrity astronauts are back on Earth recovering from their journey, while NASA prepares for Artemis III. Belinda and Jacinta answer some of your questions in the wake of a successful moon orbit mission …
Show notes
The Integrity astronauts are back on Earth recovering from their journey, while NASA prepares for Artemis III.
Belinda and Jacinta answer some of your questions in the wake of a successful moon orbit mission.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
- Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
11 | Artemis Explained: Mission accomplished
There wasn't a dry eye in mission control as the Artemis II astronauts safely returned in what NASA called a "perfect" splashdown.Belinda and Jacinta relive the historic re-entry, and dig into the wild physics …
Show notes
There wasn't a dry eye in mission control as the Artemis II astronauts safely returned in what NASA called a "perfect" splashdown.
Belinda and Jacinta relive the historic re-entry, and dig into the wild physics associated with blasting through Earth's atmosphere and plopping into the ocean.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
- Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
10 | Artemis Explained: Countdown to splashdown
Nine days down … only one to go.The Artemis II mission is currently hurtling through space back to Earth, and is expected to land in the Pacific Ocean off the Californian coast tomorrow morning, Australia …
Show notes
Nine days down … only one to go.
The Artemis II mission is currently hurtling through space back to Earth, and is expected to land in the Pacific Ocean off the Californian coast tomorrow morning, Australia time.
Belinda and Jacinta find out what the four astronauts on board have been doing as they make their approach, including being sent on an impromptu scavenger hunt, and what they can expect to feel as they re-enter Earth's atmosphere.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
- Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
09 | Artemis Explained: Next stop, Earth
With under two days to go, the Artemis II astronauts are making the most of their remaining time in space. Belinda and Jacinta take a look at what they've been up to in the lead up to re-entry, and what they …
Show notes
With under two days to go, the Artemis II astronauts are making the most of their remaining time in space.
Belinda and Jacinta take a look at what they've been up to in the lead up to re-entry, and what they can expect to feel as they return to Earth.
And if you've ever wondered what urine looks like as it's sprayed into space, well, we have you covered.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
- Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
08 | Artemis Explained: Homeward bound
After the high of the lunar flyby, the four Artemis II astronauts are now on the return leg of their mission while scientists pore over the thousands of images sent back to Earth so far. Belinda and Jacinta …
Show notes
After the high of the lunar flyby, the four Artemis II astronauts are now on the return leg of their mission while scientists pore over the thousands of images sent back to Earth so far.
Belinda and Jacinta delve into some surprising observations from the flyby, and answer more listener questions about everything from space navigation to the need for belts in weightlessness.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
- Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
07 | Artemis Explained: Moon flyby success
It’s been a big day for the Artemis II astronauts. They broke a 56-year record for the furthest distance humans have travelled from Earth, successfully looped around the Moon, and capped off the flyby with a …
Show notes
It’s been a big day for the Artemis II astronauts. They broke a 56-year record for the furthest distance humans have travelled from Earth, successfully looped around the Moon, and capped off the flyby with a solar eclipse.
Belinda and Jacinta break down what the crew saw as they gazed upon the Moon’s far side and why they lost contact with mission control for 40 minutes.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
- Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
06 | Artemis Explained: Moon joy
We’re at the pointy end of the Artemis II mission now: It’s the eve of the lunar flyby. With the four astronauts now looped into the Moon’s gravitational clutches, they’ll have an intense few hours observing …
Show notes
We’re at the pointy end of the Artemis II mission now: It’s the eve of the lunar flyby.
With the four astronauts now looped into the Moon’s gravitational clutches, they’ll have an intense few hours observing the lunar surface, taking photos, and breaking Apollo 13’s record for humans furthest from Earth.
Artemis Explained is a daily podcast from ABC Radio National. From lift-off to splashdown, we'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.
If you have a question about the Artemis mission you'd like Belinda and Jacinta to answer in a future episode, email [email protected]
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
- Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
05 | Artemis Explained: Science in space
Alongside taking snaps of Earth, chatting with mission control and fixing the toilet, the Artemis II astronauts are also taking part in all kinds of scientific research. So what experiments are running on the …
Show notes
Alongside taking snaps of Earth, chatting with mission control and fixing the toilet, the Artemis II astronauts are also taking part in all kinds of scientific research. So what experiments are running on the Orion capsule, and what do Australian lasers have to do with anything?
Artemis Explained is a daily podcast from ABC Radio National. From lift-off to splashdown, we'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.
If you have a question about the Artemis mission you'd like Belinda and Jacinta to answer in a future episode, email [email protected]
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected]
Credits:
- Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
04 | Artemis Explained: Halfway to the Moon
The Artemis II astronauts have passed the halfway point between Earth and the Moon, and still have around another day's travel time before they approach their lunar flyby. So what do they get up to while …
Show notes
The Artemis II astronauts have passed the halfway point between Earth and the Moon, and still have around another day's travel time before they approach their lunar flyby.
So what do they get up to while they’re hurtling through space? And how do astronauts go about their daily routine in a cramped Orion capsule?
Artemis Explained is a daily podcast from ABC Radio National. From lift-off to splashdown, we'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.
If you have a question about the Artemis mission you'd like Belinda and Jacinta to answer in a future episode, email [email protected]
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
- Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
03 | Artemis Explained: No turning back
Just over a day after blasting off, four astronauts encased in an Orion capsule have veered away from Earth and are now on course to fly around the Moon.Bel and Jacinta unpack what the "trans-lunar injection" …
Show notes
Just over a day after blasting off, four astronauts encased in an Orion capsule have veered away from Earth and are now on course to fly around the Moon.
Bel and Jacinta unpack what the "trans-lunar injection" manoeuvre involved, and take a look at some of the highly relatable challenges faced by the astronauts during their first day in space. Because when you're flying towards the Moon, email problems should be the last thing on your mind.
Artemis Explained is a daily podcast from ABC Radio National. From lift-off to splashdown, we'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.
If you have a question about the Artemis mission you'd like Belinda and Jacinta to answer in a future episode, email [email protected]
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
- Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
02 | Artemis Explained: Lift off
And we have lift off!Four astronauts successfully blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center and have started their journey to the Moon.But it wouldn't be a Moon launch without a couple of hiccups. We walk …
Show notes
And we have lift off!
Four astronauts successfully blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center and have started their journey to the Moon.
But it wouldn't be a Moon launch without a couple of hiccups. We walk through what went down (and up!).
Artemis Explained is a daily podcast from ABC Radio National.
From lift-off to splashdown, we'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.
If you have a question about the Artemis mission you'd like Belinda and Jacinta to answer in a future episode, email [email protected]
In pictures: Artemis II NASA’s first mission to the Moon in decadesTo hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Credits:
- Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
01 | Artemis Explained: Before the launch
For the first time in 50 years, humanity is on the cusp of returning to the Moon, with the Artemis II lunar flyby mission set to launch in the coming days.But if we've already been to the Moon, why bother going …
Show notes
For the first time in 50 years, humanity is on the cusp of returning to the Moon, with the Artemis II lunar flyby mission set to launch in the coming days.
But if we've already been to the Moon, why bother going back now? And who will be on board when the spacecraft blasts off?
Welcome to the first episode of Artemis Explained. From lift-off to splashdown, we'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates and answer your questions about life as an astronaut, the science of spaceflight, and plans to venture beyond the Moon.
If you have a question about the Artemis mission you'd like Belinda and Jacinta to answer in a future episode, email [email protected]
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler about the Artemis II mission to the moon, search ‘Science Friction: Artemis Explained podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Credits:
- Presenters: Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler
- Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
This episode was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples.
BONUS | The Challenger Legacy: Q&A
What's the point of space exploration? Would you fly on a space shuttle? How did they fix the joints after the Challenger disaster? For this special bonus episode of The Challenger Legacy, hosts Dr Karl …
Show notes
What's the point of space exploration? Would you fly on a space shuttle? How did they fix the joints after the Challenger disaster?
For this special bonus episode of The Challenger Legacy, hosts Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Fiona Pepper answer your questions.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki about the legacy the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster left on culture, space exploration and high-risk decision making, search ‘Science Friction: The Challenger Legacy podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Guests:
Peter KingCorrespondent for CBS News Radio
Wendy Whitman CobbSpace policy expert at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies
Tony AntonelliRetired NASA astronaut
Credits:
- Presenters: Fiona Pepper and Karl Kruszelnicki
- Reporter: Fiona Pepper
- Senior Producer: James Bullen
- Series Producer: Jonathan Webb
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
- Sound Engineer: Emrys Cronin
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.
05 | The Challenger Legacy: Apollo on Steroids
NASA is gearing up for the Artemis II mission — where it will send astronauts around the moon for the first time in 50 years. While space exploration is never without risk, a retired astronaut is warning that …
Show notes
NASA is gearing up for the Artemis II mission — where it will send astronauts around the moon for the first time in 50 years. While space exploration is never without risk, a retired astronaut is warning that NASA is "playing Russian roulette" with the lives of the crew.
So have lessons been learnt from the Challenger and Columbia disasters?
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki about the legacy the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster left on culture, space exploration and high-risk decision making, search ‘Science Friction: The Challenger Legacy podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get in touch with us: [email protected].
Guests:
Peter KingCorrespondent for CBS News Radio
Wendy Whitman CobbSpace policy expert at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies
Charlie CamardaRetired NASA research engineer and astronaut
Howard BerkesFormer investigative reporter, NPR
Leslie EbelingDaughter, Bob Ebeling
Brian RussellFormer engineer, Morton Thiokol
Credits:
- Presenters: Fiona Pepper and Karl Kruszelnicki
- Reporter: Fiona Pepper
- Senior Producer: James Bullen
- Series Producer: Jonathan Webb
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
- Sound Engineer: Simon Branthwaite
- Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.
04 | The Challenger Legacy: The Devil You Know
In the wake of twin disasters two decades apart, how do we make sense of why they happened?In episode four, we find out what happened on the very first flight after Columbia — and ask whether NASA changed at …
Show notes
In the wake of twin disasters two decades apart, how do we make sense of why they happened?
In episode four, we find out what happened on the very first flight after Columbia — and ask whether NASA changed at all.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki about the legacy the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster left on culture, space exploration and high-risk decision making, search ‘Science Friction: The Challenger Legacy podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Guests:
Mike CiannilliFormer Columbia integration systems engineer, NASA
Miles O'BrienAerospace correspondent, CNN
Adam HigginbothamAuthor, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space
Mark MaierDistinguished professor of leadership, Chapman University, California
Eileen CollinsFormer astronaut; commander, STS-114
Credits:
- Presenters: Fiona Pepper and Karl Kruszelnicki
- Reporter: Fiona Pepper
- Senior Producer: James Bullen
- Series Producer: Jonathan Webb
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
- Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
- Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.
03 | The Challenger Legacy: Columbia
In 2003, close to two decades after the Challenger disaster, seven astronauts were killed in another space shuttle accident. History has repeated itself and NASA faces another reckoning — the parallels between …
Show notes
In 2003, close to two decades after the Challenger disaster, seven astronauts were killed in another space shuttle accident.
History has repeated itself and NASA faces another reckoning — the parallels between the two disasters are undeniable.
To hear more podcast episodes from hosts Fiona Pepper and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki about the legacy the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster left on culture, space exploration and high-risk decision making, search ‘Science Friction: The Challenger Legacy podcast’ from Radio National (RN) on the ABC Listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.
Guests:
Miles O'BrienAerospace correspondent, CNN
Jon ClarkFormer NASA physician and husband of Laurel Clark
Mike CiannilliFormer Columbia integration systems engineer, NASA
Julie PayetteFormer astronaut, NASA
Credits:
- Presenters: Fiona Pepper and Karl Kruszelnicki
- Reporter: Fiona Pepper
- Senior Producer: James Bullen
- Series Producer: Jonathan Webb
- Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
- Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
- Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond
Special thanks to the Clark family for sharing their family archives.
This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.
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