Where Are We At With...?

Where Are We At With Democracy?

Democracy is in danger. Around the world, the number people living in a democratic system is shrinking, and some of the biggest and most powerful democracies are showing dramatic signs of falling apart. If our vote doesn't guarantee our voice is heard, what can we do? Saffron Zomer is the CEO and founder of the Australian Democracy Network, an advocacy group intended to fight for a system that Winston Churchill famously said was the worst form of government, except for all the other ones. Where Are We At With Democracy? Where Are We At With...? [https://www.wawawpod.com/]

Where Are We At With Crown of Thorns?

Coral reefs are under immense pressure around the world. Climate change, oil spills, pollution, plastics and tourists are all contributing. But for more than 60 years, we've been aware of another threat that is part of the reef ecosystem itself. The Crown of Thorns Starfish is voracious, venomous and very, very hard to stop. Professor Morgan Pratchett from James Cook University has spent three decades studying the creature in an effort to fight back.

Where Are We At With Sneakers?

The first casual running shoes were invented in the 1970s, and within 50 years, some of them are so good that they're banned for competitions. But our feet didn't evolve to wear shoes. Millenia of improvements left humans with unique, brilliantly adapted structures for movement. A big brain and fast feet took us to the top of the ancient food chain. Now, we wear shoes every day, and for myriad activities. People like Professor Glenn Lichtwark from QUT are trying to discover how we manage our movement, with or without shoes.

Where Are We At With Eucalyptus?

Eucalyptus trees define the Australian landscape. However, what sustained First Nations Australians for millennia mystified and frightened European colonisers. Now, Eucalypts are grown around the world, often causing immense damage to the local economy, environment and culture. One of the world's most respected botanists, Professor Stephen Hopper from the University of Western Australia, explains what modern science can tell us about these trees, and how ancient knowledge can help protect them.

Where Are We At With Consciousness?

What does our brain do when we dream? Can we tell if someone is dreaming just by scanning their brainwaves? What do we mean by conscious? Does ADHD make the brain act like it's dreaming during the day? How many people are actually aware during hospital operations? Just some of the deep and challenging questions that people like Professor Nao Tsuchiya from Monash University are trying to answer, using science, philosophy, psychology and maths.