The Cosmos Podcast

If marine microbes are Earth's unsung heroes, year 12 student Emelia is singing their praises. They produce 50% of our oxygen, are a crucial part of the food pyramid and they can even help us understand the ancient world. In this episode of Podcast Next Gen, join Emelia as she unpacks marine microbes in all their fabulous forms.Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos Magazine and the National Youth Science Forum. The reporters are year 12 students from across Australia – the next generation of scientists, science journalists and podcasters.These ‘shortcast’ episodes have been written and recorded by the students, giving them the opportunity to work with real science journalists and editors to make their science concept come to life.

While for most of us, maths might conjure up equations and stuffy professors, for year 12 student Matilda, she thinks of poetry.From weird and wonderful mathematical sequences popping up in traditional verse structures, to the mathematics of metre and rhythm, and even completely numerical poems, maths is everywhere.In this episode of Podcast Next Gen, join Matilda as she dives into poetic mathematics and mathematical poetry.Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos magazine and the National Youth Science Forum. The reporters are year 12 students from across Australia – the next generation of scientists, science journalists and podcasters.These ‘shortcast’ episodes have been written and recorded by the students, giving them the opportunity to work with real science journalists and editors to make their science concept come to life.

For those lucky enough to have been able to experience it, an aurora is an incredible sight. But year 12 student Hajara wanted to know what was happening behind the scenes to cause these gorgeous hues. In this episode of Podcast Next Gen, she investigates how it occurs, where the colours come from, and exactly when and where you can find the auroras. Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos magazine and the National Youth Science Forum. The reporters are year 12 students from across Australia – the next generation of scientists, science journalists and podcasters.These ‘shortcast’ episodes have been written and recorded by the students, giving them the opportunity to work with real science journalists and editors to make their science concept come to life.

Have you ever been trying to study and turn on some music, but discover that what you’ve picked is just too good? Instead of focusing on your work, you end up vibing with the song.Jorja, a year 12 student and robotics enthusiast wanted to know why, and so she hooked up her own brain to find out.Explore Jorja’s brain on music, why jazz might be the most meditative, and why you need to keep an eye on those gamma waves.Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos magazine and the National Youth Science Forum. The reporters are year 12 students from across Australia – the next generation of scientists, science journalists and podcasters.These ‘shortcast’ episodes have been written and recorded by the students, giving them the opportunity to work with real science journalists and editors to make their science concept come to life.

We all know the feeling – sweat forming on your brow and your face heating up. Eating something spicy is not an easy thing to forget.Year 12 student Stephanie wanted to know why spicy food is just so hot. In this episode of Podcast Next Gen she discovers why a study used strawberry jam spiked with capsaicin, why one food acts like tear gas, and why you might need to fake it to you make it when it comes to spice. Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos Magazine and the National Youth Science Forum. The reporters are year 12 students from across Australia – the next generation of scientists, science journalists and podcasters.These ‘shortcast’ episodes have been written and recorded by the students, giving them the opportunity to work with real science journalists and editors to make their science concept come to life.

We all know about climate change, but do we really understand it? Maya, a year 12 student and musical theatre fan wants to know how it actually works. So, why is our planet warming? Is it really our fault? And why is it like putting on a jumper? Maya puts on her best investigative sweater to find out. Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos Magazine and the National Youth Science Forum. The reporters are year 12 students from across Australia – the next generation of scientists, science journalists and podcasters.These ‘shortcast’ episodes have been written and recorded by the students, giving them the opportunity to work with real science journalists and editors to make their science concept come to life.

Sophie is a year 12 student who loves kelp. And why wouldn’t she? A kelp forest called the Great Southern Reef is home to thousands of species of whales, sharks, turtles, okra, seals, and crustaceans.But can kelp help us as well as all these animals? Sophie dives into the slimy substance to find out.Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos Magazine and the National Youth Science Forum. The reporters are year 12 students from across Australia – the next generation of scientists, science journalists and podcasters.These ‘shortcast’ episodes have been written and recorded by the students, giving them the opportunity to work with real science journalists and editors to make their science concept come to life.

Why does the sound of nails on a chalkboard make our skin crawl? Why does a bubbling brook make us calm (if more likely to need to pee)? In this episode of Podcast Next Gen, Zeph – a year 12 student – wanted to know why some sounds are fine, but others we hate.Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos Magazine and the National Youth Science Forum. The reporters are year 12 students from across Australia – the next generation of scientists, science journalists and podcasters.These ‘shortcast’ episodes have been written and recorded by the students, giving them the opportunity to work with real science journalists and editors to make their science concept come to life.

For this episode of Podcast Next Gen, Sarah – a year 12 student – is asking how skeletons are formed and what vital functions our bones undertake in our bodies, other than stopping us all from looking like shapeless blobs!Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos Magazine and the National Youth Science Forum. The reporters are year 12 students from across Australia – the next generation of scientists, science journalists and podcasters.These ‘shortcast’ episodes have been written and recorded by the students, giving them the opportunity to work with real science journalists and editors to make their science concept come to life.

Elizabeth is a year twelve student who loves magpies and has never been swooped. For this Podcast Next Gen, she’s diving into all facets of magpie – their different calls, colours and swooping, and why they have their own rap battles.  Podcast Next Gen is a collaboration between Cosmos Magazine and the National Youth Science Forum. The reporters are year 12 students from across Australia – the next generation of scientists, science journalists and podcasters.These ‘shortcast’ episodes have been written and recorded by the students, giving them the opportunity to work with real science journalists and editors to make their science concept come to life.

Welcome to HabiChat, a podcast miniseries exploring ecosystems and the animals which live in them. Join Cosmos journalists as they talk to experts about the who’s who, and where’s where, of mammals in Australia. Cosmos journalists Jacinta Bowler and Matthew Ward Agius talk to Natasha Harrison, a conservation biologist and behavioural ecologist in her final PhD year. They join her in a woodland soundscape and talk about the furry little t-rex of the mammal world – the brush-tailed bettong – and the threats facing them. 

Welcome to HabiChat, a podcast miniseries exploring ecosystems and the animals which live in them. Join Cosmos journalists as they talk to experts about the who’s who, and where’s where, of mammals in Australia. In this episode, Cosmos journalists Imma Perfetto and Matthew Ward Agius talk to Dr Kita Ashman, a threatened species and climate adaptation ecologist for WWF Australia. Kita speaks about wet forest and temperate rainforest environments and the organisms that call them home, including one very special mammal that can silently glide distances of up to 100 metres – the southern greater glider. 

Welcome to HabiChat, a podcast miniseries exploring ecosystems and the animals which live in them. Join Cosmos journalists as they talk to experts about the who’s who, and where’s where, of mammals in Australia. In this episode, Cosmos journalists Matthew Ward Agius and Jacinta Bowler talk to Cameron Dodd, a PhD student at the University of Western Australia and the Western Australian Museum, about the kultarr.They discuss the arid environments these little-known mammals live in, the difficulties of studying such tiny, fast, and aggressive predators in the wild, a gruesome story from out in the field in the Simpson Desert, and more.

Cosmos Science regional reporters Jamie Seidel and Glenn Morrison find out how quolls were transported across the country  to help re-wild an arid reserve in outback WA.

 How can we capitalise on Indigenous burning knowledge? 

In this Cosmos Country podcast, Glenn Morrison and Marie Low talk with Associate Professor Ken Karipidis from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) about any health risks posed by transmission lines.

Somewhere in north-west NSW among 35,000 hectares of forest in the Pilliga National Park, a killer has been hiding. Nicknamed Rambo, the bandit evaded capture for more than 4 years, almost stopping a multi-million conservation project in its tracks.

 In this episode of Cosmos Country, Jamie Seidel and Dr Glenn Morrison talk with Australian National University’s Head of Disaster Solutions, Associate Professor Roslyn Prinsley about how regional communities can address frequent, intense flood events. 

River ecologist and CSIRO Scientist Paul Murray talks to Ian Mannix about his new book: "The Life and Times of the Murray Cod."

 Cosmos Country reporters Marie Low and Jamie Seidel discuss the electric ute road show with Ben Lever, a clean transport campaigner who’s been showcasing electric utes throughout Australia.