The Science Show

Australia's known for having some of the world's toughest sunscreen standards, but in June, that reputation was rocked.Independent testing of 20 sunscreens found 16 did not meet their advertised SPF50 rating, including three children's sunscreens and three sold by the Cancer Council.So how are sunscreens tested, and what can we learn from these recent SPF revelations?This episode was first broadcast in September 2025.You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more. Get in touch with us: [email protected]:John Staton, scientific director at SciPharmMore information:What is SPF, and how is sunscreen's sun protection factor tested in the laboratory?Choice report finds popular Australian sunscreens fail to meet SPF claims on labelThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.

Retiring Vice Chancellor of the University of South Australia David Lloyd awarded Pratchett two honorary degrees. In exchange, the author honoured the university with a special scholarship – to be offered every year forever. This week David Lloyd explains his enthusiasms for the Discworld author in front of a packed audience at the Hawke Centre in Adelaide.

A huge cold blob of air above Antarctica and bushfires spreading along ridgelines don't appear to have anything in common, yet the strange behaviour of these natural phenomena — and many others — can be understood and explained by mathematics. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.Get in touch with us: [email protected]:Chantelle Blachut, mathematician at UNSW Canberra

In her book Prove It! Elizabeth Finkel presents the evidence showing no link between pain relief drugs and autism

Step into the supermarket and there's plastic around just about everything, even mangoes — and not all that packaging will be properly disposed of.So with around 20 million tonnes of plastic polluting the environment each year, not to mention the potential health effects of microplastics, is there a better, more environmentally friendly alternative?You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.Get in touch with us: [email protected]:Edward Attenborough, chemical engineer and chemist at Monash UniversityMore information:Bacterial species-structure-property relationships of polyhydroxyalkanoate biopolymers produced on simple sugars for thin film applicationsThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Taungurung people.