Catalyst

Meet Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, world-renowned primatologist, humanitarian, conservationist and UN Messenger of Peace.

Do sharks have friends? Watch and see if there is actually anything to study when we look at the "social behavior" of sharks off the coast of New South Wales, Australia!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could just sit and watch a movie about the universe and see how everything unfolded? Thanks to a new scientifically accurate computer simulation called the Illustris, which models a part of the universe, a cube 350 million light years across, you can!

Each year, over 2000 people apply for jobs in Antarctica, but few are successful. What are the physical and psychological attributes required to work in the most remote location on Earth? Could you snag a job in sub-zero temperatures at an Antarctic station?

Take a look at the Voyager unmanned space probes launched in the 1970's -- and where they are now after 36 years of travel! Voyager I is the furthest travelled man made object in space. What are the missions finding in the distant universe?

Titanium implants are a favorite among surgeons. They're light, durable and strong and readily accepted by the human body. But with each surgery comes a small but potentially deadly risk - infection through the introduction of bacteria. How can they design implants to resist bacterial infection?

The Catalyst team look at what YouTube can teach us about meteors and how far can sea levels rise? Also how to stay as safe as possible in a house fire.

Tattoos: They are on trend but how easy are they to remove? Moon Mining: Scientists look at ways to mine the moon. Muscle fibre Fishing Line: How fishing line, a hairdryer and an electric drill make artificial muscle fibres.

Could omega 3 supplements reduce aggressive behaviour of inmates?; Antarctica Sea Ice: The sleeping giant of climate change; Dog Optimism: How does your dog view the world? Is it an optimist or pessimist?

Three years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster we explore the hidden impact of radioactive sediments and why do some trauma patients appear to recover from injury but just a few days later develop multiple organ failure?

In the first of a two-part special, reporter Dr. Graham Phillips investigates whether what we feed the bacteria deep inside our gut could be contributing to a whole litany of diseases.

In this two-part Gut Reaction special, reporter Dr. Graham Phillips investigates whether the Western diet could be contributing to a whole litany of diseases by causing an imbalance in the bacteria deep inside our gut.

Would you apply for a job in the Antarctic? Mark Horstman looks into the physical and psychological profiles of successful applicants. Dr. Maryanne Demasi investigates the development of ingestible, protein based drugs.

Could lead exposure in childhood lead to an adult life marked by violent crime? Although much is being done to reduce contamination, once the damage has been done, it can't be reversed.

Mammalian meat allergy is on the rise in Australia and the surprising cause is a tick bite. Dr. Jonica Newby meets Dr. Sheryl van Nunen, the clinician who discovered the link.

Dr. Jonica Newby tries her luck at passport fraud and Dr. Graham Phillips investigates the effectiveness of anti-venom for red back spider and brown snake bites.

Faced with a flu pandemic, will anti-viral drugs protect us? Dr. Maryanne Demasi investigates. Plus searching for our sun's lost siblings - what can it tell us about the existence of life on other planets?

Graham Phillips investigates new technology that is able to convert more than 40 per cent of the sun's light into electricity. Plus Mark Horstman discovers that no other continent has been as important for bird evolution.

Dr. Jonica Newby investigates home batteries - how they work, why you will want one, how they will change the way we consume electricity & what they mean for the future of the world's power generation.

It turns out oxytocin is responsible for a lot more than just love. Dr. Graham Phillips discovers oxytocin's great potential to treat social disorders, like drug addiction and alcoholism.

Wi-Fi blankets our homes, schools & cities. Dr. Maryanne Demasi takes a closer look at the link between mobile phones & brain cancer & explores whether our wireless devices could be putting our health at risk.

Prof. Vanessa Hayes is searching for the origins of modern society, revealing the bedrock of human genetic diversity. Her work exposes some startling truths about racial inequality in modern medicine.

Dr. Graham Phillips sits down with physicists Dr. Katie Mack & Professor Lawrence Krauss to review Hollywood's treatment of science. And is the level of mercury in the fish we're eating safe for our health?

Could the soundtrack of your life bring back fading memories? Catalyst takes you inside an extraordinary new program, revealing how personalised playlists can re-awaken the brains of people with dementia.

In the series return of Catalyst, Biomedical engineer Dr Jordan Nguyen examines virtual reality & how it could transform the way we learn & travel. He also meets some of the most life-like avatars scientists are creating.

Professor Tim Flannery investigates how seaweed is helping to save the world - from growing the foods of the future, helping save the reef and even combating climate change.

Will we soon find evidence of alien life? Scientists are currently in the throes of an unprecedented search for ET - and an answer to this long-pondered question may come sooner than you think.

66 million years ago an asteroid hit the planet. Now an expedition is underway to drill 1500m into the crater it created - the Chicxulub asteroid impact crater, aiming to unearthing the secrets that killed the dinosaurs.

Heart surgeon Dr Nikki Stamp takes us into the amazing world of our hearts - revealing how they function, how can we look after them and shows us the latest science she uses to help fix them when they go wrong.

After 20 years in space, NASA's Cassini spacecraft has begun the final chapter of its exploration of Saturn. It will end with a spectacular crash into its surface. Professor Alan Duffy will be there as the action unfolds.

Uncover the secrets to healthier skin as we get up close and personal with some of the most common rashes, spots and blemishes. Dr Shalin Naik and Dr Caroline West show you how to care for your body's largest organ.

Chef Paul West reveals the key breakthroughs in science and technology that will shape what we might be eating in the coming decades.

In Part 2 of Feeding Australia, Chef Paul West, Dietitian Professor Clare Collins and Dr Noby Leong reveal the key breakthroughs in science and technology that will shape what we might be eating in the coming decades.

Catalyst examines the science of time travel. What do we need to be able to do or understand to construct a functioning time machine. Dr Graham Phillips showcases the scientists working on the cutting edge of discovery.

Nutritionist Dr Joanna McMillan is on a mission to help stem the onslaught of Type 2 diabetes, devising a personalised program to help four Australians on the brink of developing the chronic illness.

Vibrant maths whizz Lily Serna pits mathematics against luck in fields as varied as birthdays, blackjack, Aussie rules football, and even air sea rescues - and puts the audience to the test in this massive maths test.

With Australia in the grip of an allergy epidemic, we set up a pop-up clinic to understand why so many of us are suffering from these conditions and reveal the latest science about what we can do to treat and prevent them.

Catalyst brings together 15 ordinary Australians to take part in a revealing scientific experiment - to see if practicing mindfulness can help treat conditions like chronic pain, anxiety and stress that affect millions of us.

Professor Tamara Davis meets the scientists on a quest to hunt down black holes, the journey has brought us to the cusp of an unprecedented milestone in scientific achievement - to photograph a black hole for the first time.

Ian Henderson, the recently retired and much loved ABC newsreader, sets out on a quest to find the secret to ageing healthily, and along the way uncovers some amazing new science that could benefit us all.

Dr Sarah McKay uncovers the revolutionary new science that promises to keep your brain healthy into old age - and uncovers the drugs that hope to defeat many of the diseases of ageing.

Lily Serna finds out how maths can help us all become smarter with the risks we take in life. And she discovers that far from taking too many risks, many of us are playing it too safe.

In a two part special, chef Paul West, dietician Professor Clare Collins and chemist Dr Noby Leong reveal the delicious chemistry, biology and physics hidden inside the foods we love, so we can cook better and eat healthier.

Paul explores the science behind cryogenic freezing and how it's being used to ensure frozen fish tastes almost as good as fresh. In a gelato factory, Clare gets the scoop on why humans are hard-wired to desire junk food.

Catalyst sets up a pop-up dental clinic in Western Sydney to investigate Australia's most common dental complaints, uncovering the tips to keep your mouth healthy and revealing surprising secrets behind a beautiful smile.

Asteroids are an ever-present threat to our survival, but as Astrophysicist Professor Tamara Davies discovers - they may also be responsible for kickstarting life on Earth.

As our populations grow, cities are under increasing pressure. Physicist Dr Niraj Lal explores engineering solutions designed to make our cities cleaner, greener and more efficient places to live.

Australia is home to a large number of venomous animals - some so lethal they can kill a human in minutes. But within the deadly cocktail of their venom, lies a potential pharmacy of drugs that could save your life.

The koala is a national icon on the path to extinction. Professor Tim Flannery investigates the story behind the headlines, meeting researchers working to understand the threats koalas face, and how we can avoid them.

In the first of a two-part special, astrophysicist Professor Tamara Davis and astronomer Greg Quicke meet the Australian scientists on a mission to solve the many challenges of putting people on the red planet.

In this second episode of Catalyst's Mars special, astrophysicist Professor Tamara Davis and beloved astronomer Greg Quicke explore a question we've longed to answer - is there life on Mars?

Australia is home to 66 venomous species - some are so lethal they can kill a human in thirty minutes. But within the deadly cocktail of their venom, lies a potential pharmacy of drugs that could save your life.

It's a diagnosis we all dread but with advances in technology and medicine, more people are living better and longer with cancer. We follow patients experiencing this new kind of care - their stories are filled with hope.

Intermittent fasting is growing in popularity, and aside from weight loss, there are claims it can improve our health. Dietician Dr Joanna McMillan tracks 5 people fasting to understand the benefits and impacts on our bodies.

Nature journalist and self-confessed bird-nerd, Ann Jones, heads out on an urban safari through Melbourne, uncovering the secret lives of the city's feathery friends.

Celebrate the science of beer with chef Paul West, as three teams of budding brewmasters take on the challenge to make their best homebrew. But do they have what it takes to impress our panel of international judges?

This intimate look at the awe-inspiring world of fetal surgery is a story of hope and trailblazing medicine. Follow pioneering doctors as they help parents face agonising decisions about their baby's future.

Australians spend over a billion dollars on injectable treatments annually and clients seeking "tweakments" are getting younger. We explore the psychology behind this trend and the consequences of pursuing perfection.

Solar storms, eruptions from the Sun with the power of 20 nuclear bombs, have the potential to hit earth in just two days. A direct hit would obliterate our technology from satellites to smart phones. We need advance warning.

The happiest 50-year-olds are living to be the healthiest 80-year-olds. Their secret? Relationships. Lily Serna explores how to live a healthier and more satisfying life through the science of our social connections.