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Science & Medicine

Dr Karl Podcast

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Join Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Lucy Smith and their scientific guests, with a bunch of curious triple j listeners for a weekly injection of science, myth-bashing and answers!

Episodes

20 of 277 episodes

Night sweats, time travel and dog poo

Why do farts follow you? When riding a bike, how do you gain speed without pedalling? And why do we experience itchiness? Dr Karl answers th...

0:41:00Oct 29, 2026

Bruising, cockatoo schedules and roasted potatoes

How do bandages affect bruising? Can bunions return after surgery? And why does a sauna feel hotter when you chuck water on the coals? Dr Ka...

0:41:00Oct 22, 2026

Coral bleaching, bioluminescence and intelligent fish

Do fish have feelings? Does Shark Tale stack up scientifically? And how can you get involved in marine science? Dr Karl answers these questi...

0:40:00Oct 15, 2026

Dyslexia, El Niño and itchy ears

Why do we dance when we hear music? Can you smell someone's sickness? And why do cats always land on their feet? Dr Karl answers these quest...

0:41:00Oct 8, 2026

Glowing planets, shrinking brains and living till you're 150

How is it possible to day dream? Can screen time and AI impact how you age? And what makes the colours of the sunset? Dr Karl answers these...

0:40:00Oct 1, 2026

The full moon, earworms and tickling

Why does cola taste different when it's in a can? How come we shouldn't reheat meat more than once? And why do we sneeze when we get into ho...

0:40:00Sep 24, 2026

Honeybees, climate change and pollination

Why is the sun so good at removing tomato stains? Why do plants change colour in response to cold weather? And are we getting closer to what...

0:42:00Sep 17, 2026

Radio stars, spiral galaxies and threadworms

When will Australia have a total solar eclipse? What determines the life cycle of a star? And why does our body go into 'survival mode'? Dr...

0:41:00Sep 10, 2026

The third eye, scented candles and norovirus

Why do our ears produce wax? What is the storage capacity of the human brain? And will we ever run out of music combinations? Dr Karl answer...

0:40:00Sep 3, 2026

Black tea, pins & needles and toilet doors

Does sneezing cure nausea? Why do brown paper bags ripen produce? And how does aromatherapy work? Dr Karl answers these questions and more o...

0:40:00Aug 27, 2026

Calcium v. iron, E=mc² and The Pill

Is nicotine a laxative? Are mental health conditions hereditary? And can you retrain gut bacteria? Dr Kate Thomas, Dr Caitlin Thurn and Dr K...

0:40:00Aug 20, 2026

Axolotls, hydration and escalators

What does space smell like? Why does a beer taste different with breakfast? And why is the 'feels like' temperature different to the actual...

0:42:00Aug 13, 2026

Endometriosis, oversleeping and 'irritable male syndrome'

Does sex get rid of a headache? If you're on hormonal contraception, do you still release an egg each month? And when you eat corn, why does...

0:39:00Aug 6, 2026

Alzheimer's, furry friends and spider webs

Why do our dogs love us so much? Can the temperature change our sense of smell? And could the evolution of dinosaurs happen again? Dr Karl a...

0:40:00Jul 30, 2026

Cold sores, facial hair and double rainbows

Why do you get a full body shiver after using the toilet? Why is the sky a different colour in WA? And why are celestial orbits on the same...

0:39:00Jul 23, 2026

Dirt bikes, flat earthers and illegal drugs

How do one way mirrors work? Why do you need to sneeze when you look at the sun? And why does driving feel faster at night? Dr Karl answers...

0:41:00Jul 16, 2026

Thylacines, blocked noses and bird flu

How different would the environment be if the thylacine wasn't wiped out? Are animal sightings symbolic? And why do bower birds collect blue...

0:41:00Jul 9, 2026

Pokémon, off-grid festivals and cannabinoids

Why is red light more environmentally friendly? Which science fiction is the most realistic about our present and future? And what triggers...

0:41:00Jul 2, 2026

Pokémon, off-grid festivals and cannabinoids

Why is red light more environmentally friendly? Which science fiction is the most realistic about our present and future? And what triggers...

0:41:00Jul 2, 2026

The meaning of life, shark attacks and the Large Hadron Collider

What is the best kind of shade? Why are some rocks older than others? And is winter the dustiest season? Dr Karl answers these questions and...

0:37:00Jun 25, 2026