The Science Show - Separate stories podcast

Three evolutionary biologists changed the way we think about life and our world.  They were all brilliant in their own ways and all difficult, gutsy fighters against scientific orthodoxy. But with the insight came ideas which were sometimes very wrong.
Sharon Carleton explores the achievements and sometimes wacky views of Lynn Margulis, Paul Ehrlich and Desmond Morris.

Ecologist Angela Moles chats with Tim Entwisle about Australia’s support for young scientists and how it compares with other OECD countries. They discuss how plants are responding to a warming world, and touch on some big ideas in conservation. Should all species be saved? And why is the year 1750 a benchmark for conservation legislation in NSW? Are we ever returning to the conditions of that year?

Millions, perhaps billions of sharks teeth lie on the ocean floor. Valuable mineral deposits collect on their fossilised remains. Now they are viewed as a resource and if exploited devastation will come to an little known ecosystem.

Deep in an old gold mine in South Dakota, scientists witnessed a flash of energy in a giant pool of xenon. Some in the astronomical community are pretty excited, saying this is our best hint yet at what dark matter is. How do we know, why does it matter — and what happens next?
Jonathan Webb shines a light on dark matter with Dr Theresa Fruth, who was involved in the potential discovery.
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 Theresa Fruth, University of Sydney
Further information:
'Exciting hint' of dark matter spotted by LUX-ZEPLIN detector, physicists report
Search for dark matter particle interactions in an extended nuclear recoil energy window with the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment
This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.

A UN report in September said global heating will hit 1.8C — at least — but this could be partially reversed by removing carbon from the atmosphere. One way to achieve this is by establishing vast new forests. Trees take carbon dioxide from the air for photosynthesis, and it turns out microbes living in tree bark can absorb another potent greenhouse gas, methane. Shelby Traynor meets two researchers investigating the microbial world within tree bark.