Catalyst

8:00pm – Thursday, March 10 on ABC1

New look Catalyst takes to nature in this Special Animal Edition teeming with zoological science. Catalyst visits the zoo and the farm and treks into the wilds of Africa. Featuring more, shorter reports, this week’s program talks to the animals…

Trunk Calls Scientists at San Diego Zoo have discovered a remarkable level of chatter going on between African elephants. Graham Phillips meets the elephants using low frequency sound waves, too low to be picked up by the human ear, in complex vocal communication.

Zoonosis The life threatening diseases SARS, Bird Flu and AIDS all jumped from an animal host into humans. Poor rural communities living cheek to jowl with livestock provide the perfect opportunity for pathogens to take the leap from a goat, chicken or sheep into a farmhand or baby. And as agriculture encroaches on virgin forest, there is an increased threat of these diseases emerging from the wild. Dr Paul Willis travelled to Kenya, to the frontline of the war against zoonoses.

Peacock Spider After spending three years in search of a 4mm spider, Dr Jurgen Otto’s perseverance paid off when he not only found but also filmed the male Peacock Spider in all its glory – as it raised its brilliantly coloured flaps and waved its legs in a life and death love dance.

Belly Flop Frogs The springy leap of the frog wasn’t always so graceful on landing. Super slow-motion footage clearly and comically shows how antecedents of the modern frog were unable to recoil their legs in flight – ensuring a crash landing at the end of every journey.

Love Calls Sydney’s Taronga Zoo plays an important role in the protection of threatened and endangered species. Paul Willis visits their captive corroboree frogs, now outnumbering those in the wild, and meets a leopard seal learning love songs.

8:00pm – Thursday, March 3 on ABC1

Thursday,3 March 2011 Has domesticating our dogs made them smarter? Your average pet pooch can be taught to shake hands and play dead. Working dogs can round up the flock. But how do modern dogs compare to dingos or their wild ancestor, the wolf? Jonica Newby examines a slice of the canine brain.

Replacement Skin Current treatments can save the lives of burns victims with even the most extensive injuries. But their skin is never the same and their quality of life suffers greatly. Maryanne Demasi meets researchers at the University of Sydney who have developed a synthetic form of skin that emulates the elastic properties of the supple organ we are born with.

Jaws Studies of shark teeth have revealed much about their preferred prey, but little is known about how a shark’s jaws work and what this might reveal about their eating habits. Surfing Scientist, Ruben Meerman, looks into the jaws of a great white shark (well, a sophisticated model of one) to calculate the force of its bite and he learns what that might teach us about juvenile shark behaviour.

Navigating GPS Ever wondered how the GPS on the dashboard of your car actually works? Paul Willis navigates his way around the technology that gets us so accurately – most of the time – from A to B.

Howling Wolves A lone wolf howling at the full moon is a romantic and chilling image. But do wolves really howl at the full moon? The complex vocal harmonies of the pack sing different tunes.

Deep Sea Locomotion Filming at depths of up to 4km, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute has captured extraordinary images that provide a rare insight into underwater locomotion.

8:00pm – Thursday, February 24 on ABC1

Exercise Overdose There’s plenty of evidence that exercise is good for you. But can you have too much of a good thing? Tanya Ha reports on a potentially deadly heart condition affecting elite athletes, which may be caused by extreme levels of training.

Robot Wars Robots have revolutionised the ways wars are fought. Soldiers fight alongside thousands of unmanned vehicles, remotely controlling their actions. The new generation of robot, however, is upon us, where groups of robots cooperate to carry out complex tasks without human intervention. Mark Horstman attends the world’s first competition for autonomous robots, organised by the US and Australian Departments of Defence.

Mars Robots In 2004, two solar-powered robots called Spirit and Opportunity rolled on to Mars. Both rovers were expected only to operate for 90 days, but far exceeded that prediction. Catalyst takes a comical look at their progress and the third robotic invader about to join them from Earth.

Einstein’s Big Mistake If Einstein were alive today, he’d be excited to learn that his biggest error by his own admission may in reality have been an insightful stroke of genius. Graham Phillips explains how developments in our understanding of the cosmos have rekindled interest in Einstein’s fudge factor.

Sport Technology Analysing video and other data after a sports performance has long been utilised to improve athletes’ results.

Athletes can now wear minute technology that will output data almost instantly. Graham visits Griffith University in Queensland to get some pointers on his athletic ability.

8:00pm – Thursday, February 17 on ABC1

Back with more exciting and enlightening science, Catalyst’s trusted stable of specialist reporters explain the science you want and need to know about – trust them they’re Doctors! And watch out for more than a few surprises in 2011.

Square Kilometre Array Australia is taking part in an international project to build the world’s most powerful radio telescope. Referred to as the Square Kilometre Array, it would stretch across a vast expanse of the West Australian desert, with a few dishes in other States and even as far flung as New Zealand! It will be 10,000 times more capable than present radio telescopes and will allow astronomers to look back to the birth of the very first stars. It’s also expected to shed light on the mysterious dark energy known as quintessence. Graham journeys to Murchison in the remote WA desert where the Australian team are constructing the first component of the array that they hope will win them the bid to host this ambitious international project.

Birth of Radio Astronomy Catalyst takes a fun look at how the humble telephone contributed to the birth of radio astronomy.

Do Not Enter-ococci Surfing scientist Ruben Meerman loves the beach and will venture into the surf in most weather conditions.

But just how safe is the beach after a heavy downfall? Stormwater drains in suburban areas carry many pollutants into waterways and onto our beaches, but enterococci, a bacteria found in the gut of both humans and animals, is the lurgy of most concern to water safety authorities. Ruben tests a sample of water from the beach to see just what lurks there after a deluge.

Snail Whisperer Most people pass through their parks and gardens, and the bush, oblivious of the thousands of species of snails that exist in Australia. Jonica Newby goes into the rainforests of Queensland to meet taxonomist, Dr John Stanisic, who’s spent the best part of thirty years dedicated to promoting the charming Aussie snail.

Future Classroom The traditional way of teaching subjects like grammar has been through text, but this simply doesn’t cut it with today’s ‘Net-Age’ kids growing up in a media rich environment. Paul Willis goes into the classroom where students interpret poetry and stories to create their own computer animations.

Clever Crows The New Caledonian crow is smarter even than its cheeky Aussie cousin. Not only does it have the ability to use tools, like sticks for foraging, it is also one of the very few non-human species known to manufacture and modify tools for the job.

New Series

8:00pm – Thursday, September 23 on ABC1

Thursday, 23 September 2010 Part two of Catalyst’s 10th Birthday edition celebrating ten years on television with a retrospective of scientific achievement in the first decade of this millennium Fertility There’s no doubt that in vitro fertilisation has been instrumental in shaping the way we procreate. In the last 10 years medical and social shifts have helped growing numbers of infertile couples to have babies. Thirty years after Australia’s first test tube baby was born Maryanne Demasi looks back on the triumphs of an increasingly fertile industry.

The decade of the brain It’s no exaggeration to say the last 10 years have witnessed a revolution in our understanding of the brain. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and bold new testing paradigms have opened up a new world of understanding about brain development. The take home message of the decade is that the brain is far more adaptable than anyone ever suspected.

Landmark studies take us from genes, to neurochemistry, to the shaping of individual personalities – and how that determines the likelihood of outcomes like ending up in gaol! As Jonica Newby experienced in 2006, a gene can determine how quickly you damp down your natural stress response, which in turn predicts your likelihood of clinical depression under stress. Jonica finds the fun in this retrospective romp through a decade of the brain.

Astronomy Arguably the biggest success story in astronomy, in the decade Catalyst has been on air, is the Hubble Space Telescope. It celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. We take a look at some of the amazing images Hubble has given us over the years, and discover the major contributions it has made to astronomy. For example, Hubble accurately pinned down the age of the universe, found hard evidence for dark energy and it showed the existence of super-massive black holes at the centres of galaxies. Astrophysicist, Dr Graham Phillips, takes a peek at the eventual replacement for Hubble: the James Webb Telescope, that will be more powerful than Hubble and will orbit much further from Earth.

8:00pm – Thursday, September 16 on ABC1

Catalyst celebrates an incredible ten years on television with a retrospective of research and discovery in the first decade of this millennium.

Cosmology In the first of this 2-part special, astrophysicist Dr Graham Phillips, provides his perspective on what we’ve learnt about the universe in the last ten years.

From the big bang to the end of time, more has been learned about the universe in the last ten years than in any other decade.

The history of the world Palaeontologist, Dr Paul Willis examines the recent revolutions in our understanding of the history of the Earth and the evolution of life on it. In the last decade we’ve seen the resolution of a long-standing debate about human origins; did our ancestors come out of Africa relatively recently, or did different groups mix and evolve across the planet over a long period of time.

Climate change When Catalyst started a decade ago, global warming was regarded by many as a potential problem for the distant future – a scientific hypothetical with few tangible impacts in the here and now. What was once arcane research into parts per million of a trace gas called CO2, now wafts around every household, boardroom, and parliament. Mark Horstman asks what role for science in the debate that is defining the course of the twenty-first century.

Part 2 of Catalyst’s 10-year retrospective next week.

8:00pm – Thursday, September 9 on ABC1

In part 1 of Fatherhood, Dr Jonica Newby followed three dads-to-be, testing their hormones and their humour – as they made the transition to fatherhood. It revealed the biological changes that turn human males into caring dads, and examined couvade syndrome – a sort of sympathetic male pregnancy.

So what happens after baby arrives.

Our three dads have now changed their first nappies and spent their first sleep-interrupted nights. They’ve also said goodbye to something most males hold very dear – their testosterone. Common in many animal species, after courtship and birth have occurred, testosterone plummets. Tests reveal the same to occur in men.

But other biological changes can occur. Post-natal depression, recognised in some women after childbirth, can also afflict men. Unfortunately, it can be the touchpaper that causes the departure of a father from the family unit. The biological and behavioural impacts on children who don’t have devoted contact with their fathers is presented and reveals outcomes such as early onset of puberty, higher school drop-out rates and delinquency.

This suggests that dads provide something different to mums when it comes to nurturing our kids. And playtime is a large part of it. Experiments show a link between the ability of kids to mix with their peers and time spent playing fun games with dad.

The challenge that is addressed is the modern prevalence of non-residential dads and whether it is possible to be a good dad and a non-residential one. It is highly complex with many factors at play such as money, relationships and education. But it seems that dads are getting better at being all round parents – not just fun playmates.

The more we look, the more we discover about what it takes to be a good dad – there’s the natural biology – and there’s the behaviours we can learn.

8:00pm – Thursday, September 2 on ABC1

In Defence of the Flying Fox Flying foxes are vilified for their behaviour, such as feasting on fruit orchards and trees in our Botanic Gardens, as well as being carriers of the rare but deadly Hendra virus. But, how much do we really know about these fruit bats.

In Melbourne and Sydney, the Royal Botanic Gardens face large scale destruction by many thousand strong colonies of bats. They’re tearing the trees apart. Some say the bats must move because they are destroying valuable and rare trees, while others say that they are simply part of urban wildlife and we have to learn to co-exist with them. But for garden managers, it’s reached crisis point.

Paul Willis looks at why these much maligned creatures are appearing more in our urban environments and what measures are being taken to safely relocate them out of the Botanic Gardens.

Indoor Air When we think of air pollution, images of billowing smokestacks or other industrial outpourings most commonly spring to mind. But perhaps we should be focusing a little closer to home, in fact inside our homes! Air quality in the outdoor environment is thoroughly researched and regulated, but little is known about the air inside our homes.

Tanya Ha investigates a new indoor air quality survey conducted by CSIRO of 40 households in Melbourne.

The E=mc2 diet It’s the most famous equation in physics…E=mc2. But you don’t hear it discussed in relation to weight loss – at least not until Bernie Hobbs puts her unique spin on it.

Emperor Penguins Right now, in the depths of a harsh Antarctic winter, Emperor Penguin eggs are hatching. At temperatures of 40 degrees below zero, Emperor Penguins breed in the coldest environment of any bird species. While in Antarctica, Mark Horstman met a seabird ecologist who has spent decades unravelling the mysteries of where Happy Feet goes when he – or she – leaves home.

Watch Out For…

8:00pm – Thursday, August 26 on ABC1

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are the Oscars of Australian science. Catalyst brings you the winners of the major awards including the young recipient of the Sleek Geeks Prize for students and the illustrious People’s Choice Award. In this year The International Year of Biodiversity, Catalyst focuses on the loss of species and the importance of not squandering the world’s natural wealth. Prominent scientists in attendance voice their views on the potential gains that can be made from highly diverse ecosystems and what is at stake if we don’t maintain them.

Penguins – Winners and Losers Gentoo and Adelie Penguins live side by side on the Antarctic Peninsula. Over the past few decades the Adelie penguin populations have been declining quite rapidly, while over the same period the Gentoo has risen in number and extended their range. These changes are largely the result of a reduction in sea ice which has caused a decline in the amount of krill available for the penguins to feed on. Dr Paul Willis travels to the world’s coldest continent, to find out how our southern neighbours are faring in a warming world.

Zebra Finch Australia has celebrated several renowned scientists. But there is one unsung hero that deserves a special mention – the Zebra Finch. This attractive little bird’s resilience in the Australian environment, monogamous breeding habit and birdsong has seen it become one of scientists’ darlings for research. They are the second bird in history to have their genome mapped. In this profile, the extent of the contribution to science of this true Aussie battler is revealed.

People’s Choice Awards Find out if the scientist you voted for is the next ambassador for science. Who will carry the mantle of the People’s Choice Award into 2012.

8:00pm – Thursday, August 19 on ABC1

Scientists in Schools Educators and policy makers are concerned about statistics that show a declining interest by school students in science and mathematics. Debate goes back and forth about the reasons why and how to reverse the trend – whether it’s a matter of more labs, more teachers, or not enough homework! Now there’s an innovative national program where classrooms adopt their very own working scientist. Mark Horstman spent some time at one primary school in Tasmania where science is one of their favourite subjects.

The Big Sleep Sleep deprivation can be a terrible thing. Thinking clearly is difficult when you’re extremely tired and driving a car or operating machinery is very dangerous. Extreme sleep deprivation is rare; a much more common problem is partial sleep loss, known as sleep restriction.

Maryanne Demasi and Graham Phillips visit the Woolcock Institute in Sydney, to test their wits following a terrible night’s sleep.

SCUBA Archive In 2008 John Allport and his wife, Marg, were watching TV, Catalyst in fact, when something caught their eye. In a story about levels of methane in the atmosphere, Dr Paul Willis identified a sample of air collected in 1978 – the oldest sample stored in the CSIRO air archive at Cape Grim, Tasmania. John however, had an older specimen in his shed – a SCUBA tank last filled in 1968. Ruben Meerman visits John and the CSIRO’s Dr Paul Fraser who received his exciting contribution to atmospheric study.

Truckie for Nature You might think years of study are required before you can take part in real scientific research.

But that’s not necessarily the case. Truck driver Terry Lane is a passionate naturalist in his spare time and his work has had a dramatic impact on improving the home of some very special creatures. Tanya Ha joined Terry on one of his field trips.