Science Friction

In 2021, four people across four different parts of the United States fall ill.
They all have the same disease — a life-threatening bacterial infection.
But the weird thing is they haven't travelled anywhere. And the bug that causes the infection isn't found in the US.
So how did they get it?
This handful of cases kicks off a disease investigation with roots that stretch back to northern Australia.
Got feedback? Email us sciencefriction@abc.net.au
Guests:
Dr Julia PetrasEpidemiologist, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dr Mindy ElrodMicrobiologist, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Will MisiSupport worker, Cairns
Dr Josh HansonGeneral and infectious diseases physician, Cairns
Dr Ella MeumannInfectious diseases physician; Clinical microbiologist, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin
Presenter: Belinda Smith
Producer: Shelby Traynor
Senior Producer: James Bullen
Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins

In 2000, people who visited the Melbourne Aquarium started to get sick. Really sick.
This outbreak would go on to become the largest of its kind in Australia.
This story goes back 50 years to a mystery that stumped scientists in Philadelphia. 
How did they crack the case, and why are we still struggling to stop this disease?
Got feedback? Email us sciencefriction@abc.net.au
Guests:
Professor Robert PromisloffClinical Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Drexel University
Dr Jane GreigEpidemiologist, Burnet Institute and Médecins Sans Frontières
Dr Verlaine TimmsMicrobiologist, University of Newcastle and University of Western Sydney
Stephen WalshLawyer
Presenter: Belinda Smith
Producer: Shelby Traynor
Senior Producer: James Bullen
Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins

From mystery illnesses to flesh-eating bacteria and the looming threat of bird flu — outbreaks can push scientists, communities and health systems to their limits. 
For Science Friction on ABC Radio National, Belinda Smith looks back on some of the disease outbreaks that shaped Australia.
Hear about the scientists racing to find answers, the unusual diseases they're hunting, and the everyday people caught in the middle.
Outbreaks is a four-part series from Science Friction on ABC Radio National. Episode 1 is out Wednesday October 14th.

When it comes to the often incomprehensible world of quantum, it can be hard to distinguish hype from reality. 
We might be on the verge of a breakthrough ... or tech start-ups might be trying to drum up momentum for the benefit of their stakeholders.
Hype is important in science, but can it go too far? And has AI knocked the wind out of the sails of quantum computing?
Got feedback? Email us sciencefriction@abc.net.au
Guests:
Dr Tara RobersonScience communicator
Stela TodorovicMedia Director for PsiQuantum Australia
Gideon LichfieldJournalist, former editor-in-chief of WIRED and MIT Technology Review
Professor Warwick BowenDirector of the Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology and leader of the Quantum Optics Laboratory, University of Queensland
Presenter: Jacinta Bowler
Script producers: Fiona Pepper, James Bullen
Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond

You might not know it, but Australia is an unexpected frontrunner in the race to build a quantum computer. 
Despite our isolation, leading quantum experts have called Australia home for decades, chipping away at this massive challenge. 
What have we learnt, from our first digital computer CSIRAC, to now? And will it all culminate in the world's first million-qubit computer?
Got feedback? Email us sciencefriction@abc.net.au
Guests:
Dr Peter ThorneFormer weekend service operator for CSIRAC
Professor Michelle SimmonsCEO of Silicon Quantum Computing and director of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, UNSW
Professor Robert ClarkFounding director of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Technology, UNSW
Professor Geoff PrydeChief Technical Director, PsiQuantum Australia
Presenter: Jacinta Bowler
Script producers: Fiona Pepper, James Bullen
Senior Producer: Shelby Traynor
Executive Producer: Petria Ladgrove
Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins
Archives Research: Lisa Chidlow, Michael Osmond