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Artwork for Science Friction

Science Friction

ABC Australia
Artemis II
NASA
Moon
Carnivore Diet
Ice Cream
Diabetes
Genetic Engineering
Internet Addiction
Gene Editing
Mental Health
Quantum Computing
Attention Span
Challenger Disaster
Epidemiology
Nutrition
Tech Addiction
Social Media
Smartphone Addiction
Technology Addiction
Dolly the Sheep

Quantum computers could be the next giant leap in technology — transforming how we heal people, how we grow food, how we get around our cities. So how close are we to the quantum future we've been promised? For Science Friction on ABC Radio National, Jacinta Bowler unpacks how the weird world of quantum physics could change everything. Hear about the surprising twists, the quantum cat-fights and t... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes404Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Science Friction

Latest Episodes

It's 1994, and a mathematical algorithm puts a spotlight on quantum computing for the first time.

Defence departments, spy agencies and cybersecurity experts are on edge over the explosive Shor's algorithm.

They spend decades and billions of dollar... more

Google announces it has achieved something game changing — quantum supremacy. But not everybody agrees.

The company claims its quantum computer called Sycamore has solved a problem that no classical computer could manage in hundreds of thousands of ... more

Quantum computers could be the next giant leap in technology — transforming how we heal people, how we grow food, how we get around our cities.

So how close are we to the quantum future we've been promised?

For Science Friction on ABC Radio Nationa... more

The Integrity astronauts are back on Earth recovering from their journey, while NASA prepares for Artemis III.

Belinda and Jacinta answer some of your questions in the wake of a successful moon orbit mission.

To hear more podcast episodes from ho... more

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Dr. Kelsey Young
Moon expert
NASA
Episode: 07 | Artemis Explained: Moon flyby success
Christina Cook
Mission specialist, one of the Artemis II astronauts
NASA (astronaut)
Episode: 01 | Artemis Explained: Before the launch
Reed Wiseman
Commander, Artemis II crew
NASA (astronaut)
Episode: 01 | Artemis Explained: Before the launch
Victor Glover
Pilot, Artemis II crew
NASA (astronaut)
Episode: 01 | Artemis Explained: Before the launch
Jeremy Hansen
Mission specialist, Artemis II crew
Canadian Space Agency (astronaut)
Episode: 01 | Artemis Explained: Before the launch
Vincent Paul-Petit
Mayor of a commune in France focused on reducing smartphone use in public spaces.
Seine-Port Commune
Episode: 05 | Brain Rot: Meet the people who ditched their smartphones. Is it worth it?
Jameson Butler
Co-founder of The Luddite Club, promoting a smartphone-free lifestyle among youth.
The Luddite Club
Episode: 05 | Brain Rot: Meet the people who ditched their smartphones. Is it worth it?
Steph Challis
High school teacher and parent advocating for delaying smartphone usage in children.
Achuca School
Episode: 05 | Brain Rot: Meet the people who ditched their smartphones. Is it worth it?
Anna Lembke
A professor of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine at Stanford University.
Stanford University
Episode: 04 | Brain Rot: Is internet addiction real?

Hosts

Jacinta Bowler
Host of Artemis Explained; space science journalist
Belinda Smith
Host of Artemis Explained; co-host and science communicator

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 661 ratings
  • Excellent podcast

    Such a great podcast. Informative and fun to listen to!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AmandaJNewbery
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Great Presenters

    Really enjoyed the smart funny and well put together work of Belinda and Jacinta. More from these two please!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ENeeri
    Australia3 months ago
  • Most extraordinary

    Haven’t listened to this regularly since they’ve been without their amazing former host (?) It’s ok though. Thanks for covering Artemis 2 daily.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    äöjdå
    New Zealand3 months ago
  • Artemis explained, interesting and accessible.

    Love listening to this podcast! Learning about space and the planets in junior high school many years ago was fun and engaging but was not what I pursued in my senior and university studies. So much fun revisiting the science of space and recalling why I loved it so much. Thanks for terrific and engaging episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mos67
    Australia3 months ago
  • Fantastic concise recap

    Thank you guys, absolutely loved this recap. So clear and concise and refreshingly interesting and entertaining 🚀🚀🚀

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Appollo tragic
    Australia5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some episodes are noted to be highly engaging, with a few comments about occasional bias or feel in certain topics.
Listeners praise clarity and engaging hosts who balance smart, accessible space science with entertaining delivery.
The show is appreciated for informative, concise recaps and strong host dynamics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#33
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#7
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#126
South Africa/Science
Apple Podcasts
#139
New Zealand/Science
Apple Podcasts
#204
Russia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#220
Saudi Arabia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

04 | Artemis Explained: Halfway to the Moon
Q: What makes someone qualified to leave planet Earth, and what was the selection process?
The selection process pools thousands of applicants each year and looks for a blend of flight training (often via Navy or Air Force backgrounds), advanced degrees in relevant fields, physical fitness, health, and specific physical parameters, such as height and vision, with the commander and mission specialists bringing diverse engineering and scientific expertise; Artemis II reflects this by highlighting the crew's credentials, training, and readiness for a high-stakes, 10-day mission.
10 | Artemis Explained: Countdown to splashdown
Q: When will splashdown actually happen?
Splashdown is expected within a roughly 13-minute window once reentry begins, around 9:45 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time, depending on conditions.
10 | Artemis Explained: Countdown to splashdown
Q: Did the crew have champagne or whiskey to toast Earth from space?
Alcohol has been present historically but is generally not used; carbonated liquids are avoided due to problematic burping in microgravity.
10 | Artemis Explained: Countdown to splashdown
Q: How does the spacecraft maneuver in space when there is no air?
Thrust is produced by ejecting mass backward, not by pushing against an environment; the spacecraft uses controlled propulsion to change its orientation and trajectory.
10 | Artemis Explained: Countdown to splashdown
Q: Why do they need so much maths for planning and navigation?
Maths predict key parameters like spacecraft weight, velocity, distance to the Moon, and gravitational forces, allowing mission planners to reconfigure routes and fuel needs for each Artemis II mission.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Location
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Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Science Friction

What is Science Friction about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-focused show delivering timely updates on human spaceflight, with a strong emphasis on Artemis II and related lunar exploration topics. Episodes mix mission status, engineering explanations, and human-interest angles, often featuring regular hosts who guide listeners through complex spaceflight concepts, live events, and behind-the-scenes dynamics. A notable strength is that it blends accessible science with first-hand mission context, plus occasional deep dives into space history and the Challenger legacy, making it appealing to listeners who want clear explanations of how space missions unfold along with broader implications for future exploration.

Where can I find podcast stats for Science Friction?

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How many listeners does Science Friction get?

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How many subscribers and views does Science Friction have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Science Friction has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Science Friction?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Science Friction:

1. The Science Show
2. What's That Rash?
3. No One Saw It Coming
4. If You're Listening
5. What The Duck?!

How many episodes of Science Friction are there?

Science Friction launched 9 years ago and published 404 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Science Friction?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Science Friction?

Recent guests on Science Friction include:

1. Dr. Kelsey Young
2. Christina Cook
3. Reed Wiseman
4. Victor Glover
5. Jeremy Hansen
6. Vincent Paul-Petit
7. Jameson Butler
8. Steph Challis

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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