Dr Karl Podcast

Leap years, dizziness and epoxy resin

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why does the sun feel hotter on certain days? What would happen if an astronaut sneezed inside his helmet while in space? And does drinking lots of w...

Throat tickles, arctic currents and sticky surfaces

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How important are orgasms to our mental health? What would happen if the world stopped spinning? And would expired milk be safe to drink if you boile...

Bubble baths, sustainable populations and virtual reality

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does working out increase your sex drive? Should we be worried about seagulls eating too many chips? And how has a stingray who's had no contact with...

Synthetic meat, collagen and sperm races

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Can drinking apple cider vinegar improve gut health? Is it okay to put chicken in the fridge while it’s still hot? And how does the carnivore diet ...

Healing heat, barefoot skiing and dominant hands

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are we connected to all our muscles? Why do I get sleepy when I have passengers in my car? Does drinking alcohol through a straw get you drunk faster...

Fizzy poop, cold orgasms and hand drying hacks

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How does a shark smell blood in water? Does jet lag feel worse when travelling east to west? Should we be worried about the bacteria between our toes...

Lightening balls, parallel galaxies and soda water

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Could you sunbathe on the moon? Does the atmosphere alter our vision? Does the earths magnetic field impact gravity?Dr Karl answers these questions a...

Min Min lights, wet swimmers and antibiotics

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does sex impact sporting performance? What is antibiotic resistance? Should we give plastic trees the axe?Dr Karl answers these questions and more on...

Fish gills, earwax and bio-luminescent algae

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do we remove earwax safely? Why is it cold at the peak of a mountain if hot air rises? Why don't scars tan?Bianca Nogrady answers these questions...

Sticky skin, thunderstorms and funnel-web spiders

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can thunder hurt you? Why is my skin sticky? Why do I have the exact same dream every night?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on triple j Mor...

Synesthesia, goosebumps and music taste

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do certain tracks make us cry?How can a song take you back to a specific moment in time?What influences your music taste?Dr Karl & Dr Solange...

Cortisol, histamine and toe nails

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If I hold my nose when i sneeze, will my eyes pop out? Why can't we grow arms and legs back? Why do we cry?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, ...

Christmas Beetles, Venus and farts

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Where are all the Christmas beetles? Why do some mammals sweat and others don't? If the cells in our body get replaced every 7 years - why do our t...

Hibernation, fungus and foamy trees

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do weeds grow faster than other plants? What happens when our body cramps? How do Bears hibernate?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on tr...

Transmitting from the moon, plant fires and twin dreams

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do flies like humans more than poop? How is dark energy created? Will masks change the evolution of our face? Dr Karl answers these questions and mo...

Stargazing, rovers and Mars

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Could we adapt to the climate on Mars? What is system inertia? How scientifically accurate is the 2015 film 'The Martian'?Our special guest this wee...

Wind farms, kelp forests and jellyfish

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do insects bite me and not my partner? What impact do wind farms have on marine life? How do underwater noises effect dolphins?Our special guest ...

Itching, black holes and dogs

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we itch at random times? Will mining on the moon affect Earth? How do tracking dogs pick up people's scent?Dr Karl answers these questions and...

Whale hearts, ear wax and eyeballs

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What causes colours in sunsets? Why can some people spin their eyes really fast? How much pollution is being emitted when a car sits at traffic ligh...

Radioactive ooze, dodging bullets and limitless brain

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Lucy and Dr Karl are joined by special guest astrophysicist Professor Geraint Lewis to answer all your science questions inspired by movies! What...

Varrora mites, El Nino and ocean salt

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can Metalcore clear your throat? Can you make alcohol out of paper? Why is the ocean salty?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on triple j Morn...

Evolution, knees and static electricity

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What part of our nose do we use to smell? Will climate change effect evolution? Can you re-catch the sickness you gave to someone else?Dr Karl answer...

Time travel, seahorses and climbing stairs

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Where are we at with time travel? How come male seahorses give birth? Is it quicker to go up the stairs two steps at a time?Dr Karl answers these que...

Worms, congestion and the blue moon

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can you burn more calories if you sing while exercising? What happens when your ears pop? How beneficial is pre-workout?Dr Karl answers these questi...

Powder scams, turtle insulation and lemon hot water

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Will another species evolve from humans? Is Jupiter a solid or a gas? If chickens eat redback spiders, do their eggs become poisonous? Dr Karl answe...

Planet 9, asparagopsis and plant frequencies

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do we have a new planet in our solar system? How does asparagopsis decrease methane gas from live stock? Can plants hear certain frequencies?Dr Karl,...

Fresh sheets, frozen bacteria and facepalms

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why are bubbles round? Is my vacuum cleaner haunted? Why do we facepalm? Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on triple j Mornings with host Lu...

Aliens, freediving and AI paradoxes

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do you measure the size of a galaxy? Will AI answer all the paradoxes in the world? How many times could you wrap your intestines around the glob...

Jacked bulls, space navigation and farts

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How are bulls so toned if they only eat grass? How do astronauts navigate in space? Can you fart and sneeze at the same time?Dr Karl answers these q...

Super taste, lasagna leftovers and potato energy

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How come reptiles can bask in the sun and not get sunburnt? Why does pasta taste better as leftovers? What's the best way to clean grease?Dr Karl a...

Sharks, Chilli and Belly Button Fluff

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What does a mirror see when it looks in a mirror? How old can Sharks be? Are Sea levels equal?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on triple j ...

Astronomy, Animals and Radio Waves

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How does First Nations Astronomy differ? How do Wombats clean their pouch? How can we trick our memory?Dr Karl, Corey Tutt and Krystal De Napoli ans...

Winter chills, Electricity & Mud

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do some people feel the cold more than others? What state is electricity? Where does all the sweat, bevvies and yucky stuff go after a music fest...

Rainbows, Goosebumps and The Winter Solstice

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do the deceased still get goosebumps? Can you smell sickness? And you'll meet, the Rainbow Chasers.Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on ...

Merging galaxies, sound barriers & anesthetic

15 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Where did snakes evolve from? Is it possible to be at a standstill in the universe? Could a human head survive if detached from the body?Dr Karl answ...

Antimatter, Blood Pressure & Gravity Simulators

08 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How much of the Ocean is undiscovered? Can our body become immune to Cold & Flu tablets? What on earth is Anti-matter?!Dr Karl answers these que...

Earthquakes, Testosterone & Coffee Poo

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do earthquakes work in Australia? How do testosterone levels affect our body? Why do we need to poo after coffee?Dr Karl answers these questions ...

Microwaves, Kissing & Breath Testing

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we close our eyes when we kiss? Where’s the best heating position in the microwave? How does alcohol breath testing work?Dr Karl answers the...

Sugar, Chewing & Metabolism

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we crave something sweet after dinner? Can supplements really affect our metabolism speed? Does cooking food affect the use by date?Dr Karl an...

Electronic Noses, Winter Snuffles & Space Sunburn

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can our hearts sync to the music we're listening to? What's the speed of our nervous system? Can helicopters fly in space?Dr Karl answers these ques...

Aurora Australis, budgies & coffee

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do all living things on earth sleep? Which alcohol is the worst for you? Does time ever skip a beat?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on trip...

Eclipse, DNA & Contagious Lifestyles

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why does you voice get deeper when you're sick? Can a solar flare scorch the Earth? How did Axolotls evolve?Dr Karl answers these questions and more,...

Antibiotics, Tastebuds & Supernovas

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do flies experience time quicker? Why can some people nap and others can't? How do antibiotics work?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on tr...

Snot, Tanning & Planets

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How Does Grass Spread? Why Do We Get Snotty In Winter? Should We Worm Ourselves Often?Bianca Nogrady answers these questions and more, on triple j M...

Wombats, Dinosaurs & Hormones

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What would Dinosaurs taste like? Do dogs recognise their own breed? Why do kids get more nosebleeds than adults?Science writer Zoe Kean & Naomi K...

Bendy bones, lonely octopus and shark nurseries

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do trees have large dead branches? Do sharks have bones? When do single octopi die? Science writer Zoe Kean answers these questions and more, on...

Chilli, Anemone & Jellyfish in Space

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do Shells have tiny holes? How do Clown Fish avoid being stung? Is Algae the future?Bianca Nogrady and David Wachenfeld answers these questions ...

Tickles, Deodorant & Grapes

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are wind powered cars possible? Can you get sick from rapid changes in temperature? Can Astronauts be tickled in space?Bianca Nogrady answers these q...

Morning Breath, Energy & Aurora Australis

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How does our body use energy? Why does food change colour when cooked? Why deos Beer taste stronger when its warm?Dr Karl & Professor Alice Motio...

Fungus, Motion sickness & Ageing

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do we age the same in outer space? Can some animals have Gay sex? Is the fungus from 'The Last of Us' real?Dr Karl & Dr Naomi Koh Belic answers t...

Evolution, Ethanol & Venom

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do Cicadas chirp? Were there in-between stages in human evolution from Ape to Human? Could we survive by eating our own skin?Dr Karl answers the...

Clouds, Space & Storms

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why does Jupiter have so many moons? Why are there different layers of clouds? What is heat haze?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on triple...

Blue Bottles, Sun & Farts

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do we measure time? What should come first, sunscreen or insect repellent? Where do Blue Bottles come from?Dr Karl answers these questions and m...

Cicadas, Mints & Urine

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How does Bluetooth work? Will human's evolve to lose all of our hair? Is the hole in the Ozone Layer repaired?Dr Karl answers these questions and mo...

Hot prawns, rubber shoes & sad songs

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can temperature affect food allergies? Could our shoes be harming the environment? What's the song that makes Dr Karl cry?Dr Karl answers these ques...

Flickering lights, snake digestion and air conditioners

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can smells stick in your nose forever? Do clouds actually "burn away"? Do monkeys also have genetic disorders?Dr Karl answers these questions and mo...

Atoms, farts & boiled eggs

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How heavy are our farts? Who was the first Human alive? Are Florence + The Machine song's scientifically factual?Dr Karl answers these questions and...

Invincibility, sphincters & mirrors

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can sound waves hurt you? Which generation will be the last one to die? Why is the reproductive window shorter for women then men?Dr Karl answers th...

Dark matter, astrology & globular clusters

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we call it the Milky Way? Does dark matter actually exist? What do astrophysicists think of astrology? Dr Karl & astrophysicist Professo...

Fecal transplants, sunscreen & nasal sprays

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do fecal transplants do? How long should you use a nasal spray? Why isn't there a longer lasting sunscreen?Dr Karl answers these questions and m...

Experiments, Surgeries & Melting

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Does Ice melt quicker in fizzy drinks? What happens to the air inside us after surgery? Should we clean our teeth with warm water?Dr Karl answers the...

Caffeine, Cockroaches & Non-stick Pans

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are non-stick pans toxic? Will Nuclear powered cars be possible in future? Can tree's evolve?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on triple j Mo...

Snoozing, jellyfish toxin & phantom smells

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is snoozing bad for you? How does heat act in other elements? When can we download our brains?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on triple j M...

Supplements, Digestion & Food

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do foods affect out food? Do green supplements have the same effect as eating Veggies? How many times a day should we Poo?Dietician, Clare Colli...

Terraforming, Rovers & Mars

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Could we live on Mars in the next 100 years? Do Space Rovers enjoy music? How quickly do scientists receive data from Mars?NASA Scientist, Adrian Br...

Dog Breeds, Elements & Insects

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why does warm water sometime look opaque? How is the Earth so warm if Space is so cold? Why do some dog breeds have sinus issues?Dr Karl answers the...

Coral Reefs, Bleaching & Marine Biology

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is Coral Bleaching? How do Jellyfish move? Is La Nina affecting Coral Reefs?Dr David Wachenfeld, Chief Scientist of the Great Barrier Reef Mar...

Space Collisions, Identical Twins & Steam Boats

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why does time travel faster when you sleep? Why do lights and colours look different under water? Why do we get Diarrhea?Dr Karl answers these questi...

Bananas, Spiders & Sun Gazing

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Does vitamins dissolve slower in cold water? Why does the Sun burn if there is no oxygen in space? Why do some people get hiccups after running?Dr Ka...

Immortal jellyfish, jet lag, stomach acid

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why don't bids get electrocuted? Can we nuke a comet? Why don't babies grow nose hair?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on triple j Mornings ...

Climate Change, Green Power & Rainbows

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What can we do to reduce Climate Change? Is solar panels adding to the heat of the earth? Why don't Rainbows have colours like black and brown?

Mysterious sounds, sunsets and heartburn

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How was the earth made? Does time pass differently on other planets? Why does smell just before rain starts?

Introducing: WHO'S GONNA SAVE US?

21 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This isn't a podcast about how climate change is real – we've known that for a long time. And it's not another show about the devastation climate c...

Aerospace, Indigenous STEM, pollution

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How much pollution does an aeroplane make? Why is it so addictive to pick a scab? What would happen if the world lost oxygen for five minutes?

Co2 absorption, directions in space, smelly wee

10 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is timber making the world heavier? How do you navigate in space? And, why does your wee smell after eating asparagus?

Getting shrunk, artificial gravity, bellybutton fluff

04 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can war and violence have a lasting impact on our DNA? Would we die if we got shrunk to the size of an ant? How does wind form so quickly?Dr Karl ans...

Allergies, blankets, compost bins

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why don't we get goosebumps on our face? If we stopped CO2 emissions right now, would we reverse climate change? Why do countries have different powe...

Gumboots, dolphins, music taste

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why are females getting long COVID more than males? Why do we cry? How did humans become lactose intolerant?Dr Karl answers these questions and more,...

Rainbows, attraction, clapping

14 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can you drive through the end of a rainbow? Is it true that it only takes seven seconds to know you're attracted to someone? Why does clapping sound ...

Suckling babies, mosquitos, new species

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do baby animals (and humans) instinctively know how to suckle when they're born? What purpose do mosquitos have in the ecosystem? How long does a...

Blood alcohol concentration, frying chilli, lube

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Should you keep your tent flaps open? What happens to helium balloons when you let them go? Why does bottled water have a use by date?Dr Karl answers...

Crumbs, squishing babies, bee deaths

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can our eyes change colour? What would happen if a planet disappeared from our solar system? Why don't we all have the same sense of taste?Dr Karl an...

Ice baths, black holes, hungry cadavers

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do dogs experience time? Will the trip to Mars be dangerous? Does Dr Karl believe in Aliens?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on triple j...

Eyebrows, carbon dioxide, stomach noises

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do ceiling fans work in winter mode? Are tastebuds on the wrong side of the tongue? Can we call blood a solid?Dr Karl answers these questions and mor...

Happy hypoxia, foggy windscreens, bus vs car passengers

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Would a body decompose in space? Do noise cancelling headphones protect our ears? When will we create a super human?Dr Karl answers these questions a...

Rose thorns, oil, painkillers

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why are thorns on roses less sharp when they are dead? Is it true that oil on Earth is being slowly, but infinitely being replenished? Do painkillers...

Red heads, muscle memory, cold weather

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why do red heads get sunburnt so easily? What would happen if humans never developed muscle memory? Does cold weather make you pee more often? Dr Ka...

Red dirt, sugar levels, chemtrails

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What makes red dirt red? Why do our sugar levels affect our moods? What's the difference between a conspiracy theorist and a science denialist?Dr Kar...

Raw meat, spontaneous human combustion, drunk mosquitoes.

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are there health benefits from eating raw meat? Is spontaneous human combustion a real thing? If a mosquito bites me while I'm drunk, does the mosqui...

Grass, crumbs, sentience

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can lightning make grass greener? What's the closest call we've ever had with a meteorite? Will Artificial Intelligence ever be sentient? Dr Karl ans...

Antibodies vs Virus, Mars, Mosquitos

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How can you tell the difference between antibodies and a virus? Would a compass work on Mars? Why are some mosquitos silent and others loud? Dr Karl...

Under-eye bags, fingernail growth, sneezing

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we get bags under our eyes when we’re tired? Why do my fingernails grow faster when I’ve been drinking? Why do I always sneeze five times ...

Double yolkers, common cold, tiredness

08 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Where do double yolkers come from? Why is it so hard to shake the common cold? Why does tiredness effect our perception of time and speed? Dr Karl an...

Manufactured ozone, microwaved food, life advice

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why can't we just make ozone in a lab to replenish what has been lost due to climate change? Is it okay to microwave food twice? What's the best life...

The multiverse, alien existence and fit astronauts

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today Dr Lucy and Dr Karl are joined by special guest astrophysicist Professor Geraint Lewis to answer all your questions from around the cosmos.Can ...

Salt water, smells, money

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's the most triggering question for your local finance bro - why can't we just print more money? How does our brain know when to kick in and smell...

Infinite mushrooms, eating spiders, onion tears

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are some mushrooms infinite? Why does chopping onions make us cry? What would happen if you ate a venomous spider? Dr Karl answers these questions an...

Ear wiggles, tides, cracking joints

03 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is there a difference between a raised heart rate from an energy drink compared to excercise? If we didn't have high tides or low tides, what effect ...

Skim milk vs full cream, diet fads, gluten

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Skim milk vs full cream? Is a Keto diet sustainable for your body? Can being pregnant eliminate a gluten intolerance? Dr Karl & Lucy Smith are jo...

Bruise colour, DNA tests and Lightning

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How does glue work? Does the ocean evaporate? Is there an everlasting supply of lava?Dr Karl answers these questions and more, on triple j Mornings w...