Can animals create, or even enjoy music?Ann rips through the animal kingdom to check out the musical talent of some likely and unlikely performers.Featuring:Dr. Stuart Watson, University of Zurich.Dr. Chiara De Gregorio, University of Torino.Assistant Professor Adena Schachner, University of California.David Teie, Musician and composer, Music for Cats.Associate Professor Cameron Webb, University of Sydney and NSW Health Pathology.Featured sounds:Musical Stimuli for Parrots by Adena Schachner, Fostog's Touch by David Teie (music for cats) and Marlene McCohen (YouTube) and her Amazon parrot Lucy.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.For more about bird song and music click here.This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2023 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
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The trap is set: Webs, hypnosis, and mucus tubes
We'll all go to trouble to get a good meal, but some animals take it to the extreme.Some build architectural masterpieces to entrap their prey, or use body parts as lures.But what is your cat doing when it makes the 'ek ek ek ek?' Is it trying to bewitch the birds?Featuring:Professor Kris Helgen, Australian Museum.Julia Henning, PhD candidate, University of Adelaide.Associate Professor Inon Scharf, Tel Aviv University.Dr David Merritt, Entomologist.Associate Professor Ajay Narendra, Macquarie University.Extra audio: Cat Ek ek ek by @thiscatisdumpling.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter/Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Belinda Smith, Producer.Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri. This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
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Mushrooms: Is the future fungi?
Fungi are already hard at work helping trees survive drought, recycling fallen logs, rotting away carcases, and helping human digestive systems, but could they do more?Is our future made of fungi?Research has shown the fungi's potential to make medicine, clothing, and cheap fire-retardant housing, but trying to isolate and harness just one species is not an easy task given they get into pretty much everything.Featuring:Dr. Tien Huynh, associate professor at the School of Sciences, RMITGrace Boxshall, PhD student at the University of Melbourne and visiting junior research fellow at the University of New South Wales.Georgina Hold, professor of gut health at the School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South WalesDr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, fungal and plant ecologist at the University of New EnglandAlistair McTaggart, mycologist and researcher at Psymbiotika LabJustin Beardsley, researcher at the University of Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute and physician at Westmead HospitalProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
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Mushrooms: What are they, really?
Mushrooms were once lumped in with plants, and they stayed there well after science knew better.But if a fungus is not a plant… is it a closer relative of yours than you might've thought?With millions of species on Earth, and many that live inside you, it seems important to know about the kingdom of fungi.Featuring:Tom May, senior principal research scientist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria; and co-author of Planet Fungi Grace Boxshall, PhD student at the University of Melbourne and visiting junior research fellow at the University of New South WalesGeorgina Hold, Professor of Gut Health at the School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South WalesDr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, fungal and plant ecologist at the University of New EnglandProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
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Mushrooms: Why do they kill?
As daily updates about the 'mushroom murders' monopolised newsfeeds around the country, the What the Duck?! team started questioning the motives. Not the human ones — the fungi ones.Why would a mushroom need a toxin so powerful it takes just a few grams to kill a human?And where's the warning? Nature usually throws up alerts for poison, like bright colours or spots, but the death cap is pretty plain.Why does a mushroom need such a deadly toxin anyway?Featuring:Tom May, senior principal research scientist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria, and co-author of Planet Fungi Grace Boxshall, PhD student at the University of Melbourne and visiting junior research fellow at the University of New South Wales.Lindsay Mollison, retired consultant physician in infectious diseases and gastroenterologyJustin Beardsley, researcher at the University of Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute and physician at Westmead HospitalProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
Netherlands