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Heywire: Spanning the generations in an unlikely friendship

Do you think strangers with 60 years of age between them can become friends? When eighteen, George Baker found out that they can when he befriended Geoff, a man in his eighties. Could you write or record a story about yourself and/or your community? The ABC's Heywire competition calls for stories from 16-22-year-olds in ...

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Heywire: Inspirational Teens

Have you ever made a big contribution to your local community? Heywire is a national competition that assists young people to make a difference in rural communities. Bridie Johnstone from Woodend, Victoria, was a finalist of the 2012 Heywire storytelling competition for young people. Listen to how she is using music to ...

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Paul Hogan and Australian slang

Listen to Australian comic actor Paul Hogan talk to reporters in February 1987 about the Oscars and his role as Mick Dundee in the film 'Crocodile Dundee' (1986). Hogan played a laid-back outback survivalist in this hugely successful film, which is known for its use of Australian slang. Take note of Hogan's own use of Australian ...

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Radio National: Using genes to unlock the secrets of Tutankhamen

Tutankhamen was an Egyptian pharaoh who ascended to the throne in 1333 BC, at the age or nine or ten. His fame in modern times is due to the discovery of his virtually intact tomb in 1922. Since then, many questions have been asked about his life and ancestry. Listen to this audio clip to find out how genetic technology ...

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Heywire: Living in the outback, coping with boarding school

For Timmy Watson, living in a remote community in the Northern Territory is as good as it gets. But there's one drawback: the need to go to boarding school during the final years of secondary school. Find out more in Timmy's Heywire audio story. Could you write or record a story about yourself and/or your community? The ...

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Heywire: Visits from a Christmas Island crab

Discover the lush beauty and extraordinary wildlife of Christmas Island, a tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean more than 1,500 kilometres off the Western Australian coast. In this Heywire audio story, Isabelle Bolland shares some of her experiences of life on Christmas Island and reminds her audience that there is far ...

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Heywire: Young people making a difference

Have you ever considered what it must be like to be homeless? Often it is not until we are confronted with a personal experience that we realise the significance of such social issues. Luke Owens from Bendigo Victoria, was a finalist of the 2012 Heywire storytelling competition for young people. Listen to how he found out ...

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Allies capture Tobruk: Chester Wilmot reports

The siege of Tobruk took place in North Africa during World War II. Before the siege, Australian forces led the capture of the crucial Mediterranean port from Italian forces. This is an archival clip from a radio broadcast delivered by war correspondent Chester Wilmot. Listen to discover one of the most remarkable accomplishments ...

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Cholera's prevention preferable to its cure

This ABC article by Dr Karl describes in detail aspects of how water balance occurs with some interesting examples of when things go wrong. He then outlines the disease, cholera and how it is associated with bacteria carried by water and the disruption to our water balance. Dr Karl looks at the causes and effects of cholera ...

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Radio National: Stand and deliver: public speaking and democracy

Have you ever heard the words 'Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears'? They come from the great orator Mark Antony talking about the death of Caesar in Shakespeare's play 'Julius Caesar'. Listen to this audio interview with classics scholar Dr Kathryn Welch to find out what we can learn from the first public speakers, ...

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Radio National: Ways of talking

The ways that people talk can reveal much about themselves, and can also cause strong responses in listeners. Julian Burnside reads from his book 'Word watching' about the controversy over the pronunciation of the letter 'h', and how the pronunciation of words starting with 'h' has changed over the centuries. He suggests ...

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Solar thermal electricity

This program gives an update on research into solar thermal electricity. Liddell Power Station in the Hunter Valley, NSW is a hybrid power station using solar energy to pre-heat water and so reduce the use of coal and the production of carbon dioxide. Some scientists claim that harnessing the solar heat in an area 50km ...

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Science student of the year Western Australia 2008

This friendly chat helps to break down some stereotypes about scientists. Jacinta Delhaize travelled to Chile and work at the Gemini South Observatory in the Andes Mountains. She talked about her experience with high school students and for this received the Science Student of the Year award in 2008. Her PhD researches ...

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Brown note: bad vibration mega-hurts

This ABC article by Dr Karl investigates the myth that low frequency vibrations can result in an involuntary motion. The range of sound frequencies related to human hearing is described and how it can and cannot be used.

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Mercury is released as coal is burnt in power stations

This resource describes research into environmental disease resulting from the heavy metal mercury. It is estimated 60,000 babies are born each year in the United States with mercury-related diseases from the burning of coal in power stations. World wide, this is a significant problem. Mercury also enters the environment ...

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When is wrong grammar right?

Do adults or teachers ever correct how you say something? Do they tell you your grammar is wrong? Even when everybody you know says it that way? Find out who is wrong and who is right with language expert Professor Roly Sussex.

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Radio National: Sir Henry Parkes's Tenterfield Oration, 1889

What role did Henry Parkes play in the federation of Australia? Listen to a re-enactment of Sir Henry Parkes's famous 1889 speech in Tenterfield, known as the Tenterfield Oration. Note in particular the arguments Parkes used to gain political support.

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Water found on the moon

Scientists have confirmed the presence of water on the moon. Rather than occurring in rivers or lakes, water is found sparsely mixed amongst rocks. It's suggested the water came from comets, or the combination of incoming protons with oxygen. Jonathan Nally described the latest experiments where spacecraft will be sent ...

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Radio National: Using the word 'you' in English

Have you ever wondered why we use the word 'you' to refer to both one 'you' or many of 'you'? Or have you ever heard anyone refer to many of 'you' using the once grammatically incorrect word 'youse'? This program considers the words we use when we are talking to each other face to face. It also looks at the use of the word ...

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Killer cholera begins where other diseases end

This ABC article by Dr Karl continues his examination of the causes, effects and treatments for cholera. A good explanation of how the body responds to the disease cholera and when healthy, maintains a balance in its absorption of water through the digestive system. The historical background to developing treatment for ...