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ABC Australia

The Science Show gives Australians unique insights into the latest scientific research and debate, from the physics of cricket to prime ministerial biorhythms.

The Science Show

Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world — but there's some good news for Aussie kids. The presence of moles is a strong predictor of melanoma and researchers in Queensland have found that the number of moles found on children's bodies has halved in recent decades.

You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.

Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.au

Featuring: 

 • Nick Martin, human geneticist at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Extra information:

Halving of Australian children's naevus counts during 1992-2016 and change in sun behaviour

Hopes for lower melanoma risk as study finds number of moles on children's bodies halved in 25 years

This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar people.

Lab Notes: Slip! Slop! Slap! SUCCESS!

When raised lead levels were noticed in Los Angeles last year, a chemist — who usually examines asteroids — quickly saw that the fires that ravaged the region in January 2025 were to blame.

Astronomy and toxicology converge at Caltech

Major international airports in the Middle East have been closed this week due to the war with Iran, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded. So, what happens after a major airspace closure?

How do pilots know where they should fly? And how long will it take to get things back to normal?

You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.

Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.au

Featuring: 

 • Amy Briggs, science reporter 

Extra information: 

Air travel may be disrupted by the Iran war for months. This is why
This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

Lab Notes: Why air traffic won’t return to normal for months

Robyn Williams reports from the 2026 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

How the US came close to losing half its science funding

Backyard sprinklers have transformed the Aussie urban landscape. But their path to domination of our suburbs was haphazard — and hinged on the inventions of several knockabout tinkerers. Meanwhile with a rapidly drying climate, we may need to re-consider our reliance on this invention.

You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.

Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.au

Featuring: 

 • James Purtill, technology reporter 

Extra information:

How the garden sprinkler conquered Australia

This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar people.

Lab Notes: The surprising history of the backyard sprinkler

An ancient human may be a new species, and extinct giant kangaroos - could they hop?

Stories told by feet

A quick online search reveals multiple paid services for naming stars as commemorative gifts. You'll be provided with a certificate and a map for finding your star in the sky. But these names are not official and are not used by astronomers — or anyone else, for that matter. So what's going on, and how do stars really get their names? 

‌Featuring: 

 • Laura Driessen, radio astronomer at the University of Sydney 

You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.

Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.au

This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar people.

Lab Notes: Why buying a star name is nonsense

A cave in Sulawesi was home to our ancestors for tens of thousands of years. Archaeologists are piecing together the story.

Ancient humans lived in an Indonesian cave until Homo sapiens arrived

Retinoids are big business for reducing wrinkles and treating acne — but there's conflicting advice on their safety for pregnant women.

Should manufacturers of these skincare products be providing warnings? Or are the risks not that great?

You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.

Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.au

Featuring:

 • Caitlyn Davey, health reporter

Extra information:

Retinoids are booming in the beauty industry, but are they safe to use during pregnancy?

This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar people.

Lab Notes: Skincare, pregnancy and a minefield of mixed messages

Australia’s social media ban aims to protect young people from online threats, but it may also restrict their access to discussion of democracy and political systems.

Social media ban impacts political knowledge of young Australians

AI seems to be absolutely everywhere at the moment. While we're still waiting for the productivity revolution — or the jobs apocalypse — the energy costs of AI are already staggering.

So how should we think about those environmental impacts of AI? And what can we learn from previous turns of the great technological wheel?

You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.

Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.au

Featuring: 

 • Dr Niraj Lal, renewables expert at the Australian National University 

Extra information: 

Data centres are vital for the future and AI but their environmental footprint can be a problem

This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar people.

Lab Notes: Can we tap the brakes on energy-hungry AI?

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