Intelligence is emerging from sand and less than 1% of the population seems to care!

Physicist and science communicator Petr Lebedev joins the podcast following his SXSW talk to explore why AI is advancing so fast, and why that should make us pause. From completing a PhD in physics and writing for Veritasium to leading science communication at Palisade Research, Petr steps in to bring some clarity to the weird, wild, and worrying sides of AI.

Did you know that no one truly understands how large language models actually work? We go deep on misaligned systems, humanoid and dog robots, and why many experts believe AI could pose a serious global risk. Is AI our greatest tool — or something we're slowly losing control of? This conversation is big, so we've split it into three parts. Part two drops next week.

A mysterious glow from the centre of the Milky Way has scientists intrigued. Astrophysicist Geraint Lewis explains how this gamma-ray excess, first detected in 2009, could be evidence of dark matter particles interacting deep in our galaxy. With dark matter believed to make up a vast, invisible halo that holds galaxies together, uncovering the source of this glow may bring us closer to understanding what the universe is really made of.

www.geraintflewis.com/
Linkedin: geraint-lewis-4a499b1

In this episode, I'm joined by Professor Clare Collins, Australian dietitian and Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Newcastle. Clare is my go-to expert when it comes to all things nutrition, and today she's here to unpack the often confusing world of processed and ultra-processed foods.

We dive into what really separates the two, explore the role of additives, emulsifiers, and flavour enhancers, and discuss how some of these ingredients, designed to make foods more appealing, may be doing our health more harm than good. Plus, she shares practical, no-nonsense tips to help you make smarter choices next time you're wandering the grocery aisles.

Check out Clare's free online resource, No Money No Time, for simple, budget-friendly recipes and nutrition advice - nomoneynotime.com.au/

Follow Clare on X: @ProfCCollins and LinkedIn: Clare Collins.