ABOUT THIS PODCAST 🔗
A weekly Australian science podcast exploring the people and stories behind discovery. It Starts With... curiosity, ideas, accidents, problems, or a passion — and it leads everywhere, from fossils to AI, microplastics to Mars, the microscopic to the galactic.
David Boldeman talks to scientists, researchers and others about the journey behind the science and how they got there.
It Starts With... is a ConnectSci podcast, produced by CSIRO Publishing, Australia's trusted source for fact-based content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosts:
Update frequency:
weekly
Average audio length:
30 minutes
Guest interviews
English
Australia
27 episodes
since May 6, 2026
episodic
LATEST EPISODE 🔗
What was it like to be a nuclear physicist during the Cold War?
Dr John Boldeman AO looks back at the early days of Australia’s nuclear research program. He joined the Australian Atomic Energy Commission at Lucas Heights in 1960 and went on to work alongside scientists on both sides of the Iron Cu…
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PREVIOUS EPISODES 🔗
It might start with just one person. One becomes two, two becomes four, and under the right circumstances a single infection can become an epidemic.
But why do some diseases spread so much faster than others, and is there a limit to how contagious a disease can become?
David Boldeman is joined by…
Content warning: this episode discusses suicide and mental health. If you need support, in Australia call Lifeline 24/7 on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14. In the US or Canada, call or text 988.
Many people wait months to see a psychologist, while clinicians are stretched thin and burning out.
Psych…
Palaeontology has changed enormously in recent decades, but many museum and theme park dinosaurs still look like they came straight out of last century.
Palaeontologist James Ronan joins David Boldeman to explain why that matters, how his Dinosaur Accuracy Audit grades exhibits on everything from …
Can AI tell when a cow is getting sick before a farmer?
An Australian team is working on using farm data to create a digital version of each cow and look for signs of illness before they become obvious.
The technology can help prevent issues to improve milk production and keep animals healthy.
Dav…
The first of a new fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) has set off from Tasmania, Australia, on a nine-month mission to monitor the Southern Ocean.
CSIRO’s Dr Elizabeth Shadwick discusses with host David Boldeman how the project will help us to better understand how much carbon dioxide from …
We're told white keeps you cool and black soaks up the heat — but where does purple fit in? Imma Perfetto joins David Boldeman to unpack the surprising physics of colour and heat after a new purple fabric was found to keep you cooler than white cotton. The discovery was made by researchers at Adela…
New research shows that making sexual health services pleasure-inclusive for young people returns $23 for every $1 spent.
Across 99 countries, that's 30.7 million more people protected, 4.3 million unintended pregnancies avoided, and over 90,000 lives saved by 2050.
It turns out the missing piece…
The last Tasmanian tiger died 90 years ago. Could de-extinction science bring it back? Professor Andrew Pask explains how.
September 7, 1936, was the last confirmed sighting of a thylacine (Tasmanian tiger). It was named “Benjamin” and died at Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart, Australia.
Now, 90 years on, …
Why does mint make your mouth feel like it's full of ice even though it doesn't change the temperature in your mouth?
In this episode, host David Boldeman sits down with science journalist Ellen Phiddian to unpack the strange sensory science hiding behind everyday flavors. They dig into the trigemi…
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from ConnectSci, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.
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