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ABC Australia

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 on Wednesday, July 8th.

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'll bring you daily Artemis II mission updates, 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. This is 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.

Science Friction

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 sciencefriction@abc.net.au

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

04 | Dead and Alive: Hype train

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 sciencefriction@abc.net.au

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

03 | Dead and Alive: Plucky country

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 sciencefriction@abc.net.au

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

02 | Dead and Alive: Quantum attack

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 sciencefriction@abc.net.au

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” - IBM

01 | Dead and Alive: Battle for quantum supremacy

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.

INTRODUCING — Dead and Alive

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: sciencefriction@abc.net.au.

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.

12 | Artemis Explained: What a ride

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: sciencefriction@abc.net.au.

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

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: sciencefriction@abc.net.au.

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

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: sciencefriction@abc.net.au.

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

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: sciencefriction@abc.net.au.

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

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