For thousands of years smallpox was the worst virus in the world. It killed more people than any other disease - perhaps as many as half a billion in the 20th Century alone.

But then, following a concerted global effort of vaccination, we wiped it out - the only disease threatening humans to have been fully eradicated.

Will tells Rod how this happened!

The Wholesome Show is Dr Rod Lamberts and Dr Will Grant, proudly brought to you by The Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science!

For thousands of years smallpox was the worst virus in the world. It killed more people than any other disease - perhaps as many as half a billion in the 20th Century alone. But then, following a concerted global effort of vaccination, we wiped it out - the only disease threatening humans to have been fully eradicated. Will tells Rod how this happened! The Wholesome Show is Dr Rod Lamberts and Dr Will Grant, proudly brought to you by The Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science!

From tales of historical idiocracy and scientific genius to weird and wacky cultural phenomena, Dr Rod Lamberts and Dr Will Grant are here to take you on a wild conversational journey, deep diving into the crevices of science, history and culture that you never knew existed. 

From tales of historical idiocracy and scientific genius to weird and wacky cultural phenomena, Dr Rod Lamberts and Dr Will Grant are here to take you on a wild conversational journey, deep diving into the crevices of science, history and culture that you never knew existed.

Bizarre science history from academics with beers

A Little Bit Of Science

For thousands of years smallpox was the worst vir…

The Eradication of Smallpox

Everyone wants to live forever, dogs are out here doing actual jobs, and someone has tried to work out where heaven might be using astronomy. We dig into the strange science of longevity, including research suggesting reproduction and lifespan might be linked in uncomfortable ways. Then they meet the working dogs sniffing out invasive species, guarding airport runways, and generally making the rest of us look lazy.

From there, things get cosmic. An opinion piece argues heaven could sit beyond our cosmic horizon, which is a great way to accidentally spend your afternoon thinking about infinity. There is also a quick detour into gelatin-based culinary chaos, featuring the kind of vintage recipes that should come with a warning label.

We wrap up with listener stories, including a cow named Veronica who can use a broom as a tool, because of course she can.

 

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction 

00:19 Exploring the Science of Longevity

01:00 Psychology and Climate Action

01:09 Mailbag and Birthday Surprise

01:27 Lifestyle Changes for Longevity

02:47 Reproduction and Longevity

12:58 Dogs with Jobs

21:07 Science Finds Heaven

27:51 Cosmic Horizon and Hubble's Law

29:39 Einstein's Relativity and Speed of Light

31:18 The Mysteries Beyond the Cosmic Horizon

40:49 Veronica the Tool-Using Cow

48:03 Gelatin: A Culinary and Industrial Marvel

54:58 Komodo Dragons and Asexual Reproduction

56:25 Listener Mailbag and Fun Facts

 

 

 

SOURCES:

 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656622000423

https://futurism.com/health-medicine/conspiracy-theories-psychology

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656622000423

https://futurism.com/health-medicine/men-lifespan-castration

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1109009

https://www.aol.com/articles/heaven-real-science-may-reveal-130016778.html

https://michaelguillen.com

https://www.iflscience.com/we-didnt-even-think-about-looking-broom-wielding-veronika-shows-tool-use-in-cows-isnt-so-absurd-after-all-82260

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9963746/

https://www.nature.com/news/2006/061218/full/news061218-7.html

https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/blog/trending-now/dogs-with-unusual-jobs

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2024/04/05/schizophrenia-hallucinationspsychiatric-assistance-dog/73171229007/

https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/people-like-the-idea-of-being-green-but-they-hate-being-told-what-to-do-even-more/

Everyone wants to live forever, dogs are out here doing actual jobs, and someone has tried to work out where heaven might be using astronomy. We dig into the strange science of longevity, including research suggesting reproduction and lifespan might be linked in uncomfortable ways. Then they meet the working dogs sniffing out invasive species, guarding airport runways, and generally making the rest of us look lazy.
From there, things get cosmic. An opinion piece argues heaven could sit beyond our cosmic horizon, which is a great way to accidentally spend your afternoon thinking about infinity. There is also a quick detour into gelatin-based culinary chaos, featuring the kind of vintage recipes that should come with a warning label.
We wrap up with listener stories, including a cow named Veronica who can use a broom as a tool, because of course she can.
&nbsp;
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction&nbsp;
00:19 Exploring the Science of Longevity
01:00 Psychology and Climate Action
01:09 Mailbag and Birthday Surprise
01:27 Lifestyle Changes for Longevity
02:47 Reproduction and Longevity
12:58 Dogs with Jobs
21:07 Science Finds Heaven
27:51 Cosmic Horizon and Hubble's Law
29:39 Einstein's Relativity and Speed of Light
31:18 The Mysteries Beyond the Cosmic Horizon
40:49 Veronica the Tool-Using Cow
48:03 Gelatin: A Culinary and Industrial Marvel
54:58 Komodo Dragons and Asexual Reproduction
56:25 Listener Mailbag and Fun Facts
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
SOURCES:
&nbsp;
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656622000423
https://futurism.com/health-medicine/conspiracy-theories-psychology
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656622000423
https://futurism.com/health-medicine/men-lifespan-castration
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1109009
https://www.aol.com/articles/heaven-real-science-may-reveal-130016778.html
https://michaelguillen.com
<a href="https://www.iflscience.com/we-didnt-even-think-about-looking-broom-wielding-veronika-shows-tool-use-in-cows-isnt-so-absurd-after-all-82260">https://www.iflscience.com/we-didnt-even-think-about-looking-broom-wielding-veronika-shows-tool-use-in-cows-isnt-so-absurd-after-all-82260</a>
<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9963746/">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9963746/</a>
<a href="https://www.nature.com/news/2006/061218/full/news061218-7.html">https://www.nature.com/news/2006/061218/full/news061218-7.html</a>
<a href="https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/blog/trending-now/dogs-with-unusual-jobs">https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/blog/trending-now/dogs-with-unusual-jobs</a>
<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2024/04/05/schizophrenia-hallucinationspsychiatric-assistance-dog/73171229007/">https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2024/04/05/schizophrenia-hallucinationspsychiatric-assistance-dog/73171229007/</a>
<a href="https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/people-like-the-idea-of-being-green-but-they-hate-being-told-what-to-do-even-more/">https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/people-like-the-idea-of-being-green-but-they-hate-being-told-what-to-do-even-more/</a>

Science Finds Heaven, Longevity Hacks and Smart Dogs

The FBI’s search for Bigfoot shows that even serious agencies can get swept up in a good mystery. Their investigation ended with a misidentified animal instead of a legendary creature, but the files are still a treasure for anyone fascinated by conspiracies and the unknown. Sometimes, the search is more interesting than the answer.

Meanwhile, scientists in Queensland have been busy breaking down the secrets of your favourite brew. By analysing the proteins in dozens of beers, they found that craft brews really do stand apart from the mass-produced stuff. If your IPA tastes special, it is not just in your head. Science backs you up.

On a darker note, the world of fame is not all it is cracked up to be. Research shows that musicians in the spotlight face far greater risks than the rest of us, with fame itself becoming the real danger. The pressure and constant scrutiny can take a heavy toll. Sometimes, chasing the dream comes with a price nobody wants to pay.





CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction

01:13 The FBI's Bigfoot Files

01:46 Exploring the Freedom of Information Vault

03:37 The FBI's Investigation into Bigfoot

07:08 Mass Spectrometry and Beer Proteins

10:12 Craft Beer vs. Mass-Produced Beer

13:01 The Dream of Being a Rockstar

13:58 The Risks of Fame in the Music Industry

18:09 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Engagement

 

SOURCES:

The FBI Released Bigfoot’s Official File

Beer snobs, rejoice: Craft beer really is different

The price of fame? Mortality risk among famous singers

The FBI&rsquo;s search for Bigfoot shows that even serious agencies can get swept up in a good mystery. Their investigation ended with a misidentified animal instead of a legendary creature, but the files are still a treasure for anyone fascinated by conspiracies and the unknown. Sometimes, the search is more interesting than the answer.
Meanwhile, scientists in Queensland have been busy breaking down the secrets of your favourite brew. By analysing the proteins in dozens of beers, they found that craft brews really do stand apart from the mass-produced stuff. If your IPA tastes special, it is not just in your head. Science backs you up.
On a darker note, the world of fame is not all it is cracked up to be. Research shows that musicians in the spotlight face far greater risks than the rest of us, with fame itself becoming the real danger. The pressure and constant scrutiny can take a heavy toll. Sometimes, chasing the dream comes with a price nobody wants to pay.
 
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
01:13 The FBI's Bigfoot Files
01:46 Exploring the Freedom of Information Vault
03:37 The FBI's Investigation into Bigfoot
07:08 Mass Spectrometry and Beer Proteins
10:12 Craft Beer vs. Mass-Produced Beer
13:01 The Dream of Being a Rockstar
13:58 The Risks of Fame in the Music Industry
18:09 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Engagement
&nbsp;
SOURCES:
<a href="https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/animals/a69529680/fbi-bigfoot-file-released/">The FBI Released Bigfoot&rsquo;s Official File</a>
<a href="https://www.futurity.org/craft-beer-mass-spectrometry-taste-2609242/">Beer snobs, rejoice: Craft beer really is different</a>
<a href="http://google.com/url?sa=D&amp;q=https://jech.bmj.com/content/early/2025/11/30/jech-2025-224589%3Fref%3D404media.co&amp;ust=1765595400000000&amp;usg=AOvVaw22PrCjy70Zharf8btxk3ED&amp;hl=en">The price of fame? Mortality risk among famous singers</a>

FBI Hunts Bigfoot, Craft Beer's Hidden Science and Fame Kills Rockstars

AI is giving people a confidence boost they might not deserve, especially among those who consider themselves tech-savvy. Studies show that using AI for problem-solving leads many to overestimate their own abilities, with higher AI literacy actually making users more likely to trust the machine and question themselves less. The smarter we think we are with technology, the more likely we are to fall for its digital flattery.

Meanwhile, ancient Australia was home to predators that make today’s wildlife look tame. Fossil evidence suggests that five-metre crocodiles once hunted by dropping out of trees onto unsuspecting prey. This twist on the classic crocodile encounter adds a new layer of terror to Australia’s already legendary roster of dangerous animals. Forget snakes in the grass. Sometimes the real threat was lurking above.

On the cultural front, Gen Z is challenging old standards and rewriting the rules on everything from ironing to mental health. Some in this generation long for a less digital era, question the value of traditional skills, and proudly reject the notion that neat clothes equal good character. They also claim credit for baggy jeans and even admit to being the most annoying generation to work with.

From digital delusions to tree-dwelling crocs and Gen Z’s new priorities, the only thing we can count on is that the world refuses to stay boring.

 

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction 

00:48 AI and the Dunning-Kruger Effect

02:11 AI Literacy and Overconfidence

02:51 AI's Impact on Self-Assessment

06:59 Australian Wildlife and Myths

07:35 Legend of the Drop Croc

08:57 Generational Differences

10:10 Gen Z's Perspective

11:03 Skills and Inventions

12:52 Annoying Generations at Work

13:40 Conclusion and Call to Action

 

SOURCES:

AI Is Causing a Grim New Twist on the Dunning-Kruger Effect

Generation Conflicted: How Do Gen Zers Compare Themselves to Past Generations?

Evidence of ancient tree-climbing 'drop crocs' found in Australia

Australia’s oldest crocodylian eggshell: insights into the reproductive paleoecology of mekosuchines

AI is giving people a confidence boost they might not deserve, especially among those who consider themselves tech-savvy. Studies show that using AI for problem-solving leads many to overestimate their own abilities, with higher AI literacy actually making users more likely to trust the machine and question themselves less. The smarter we think we are with technology, the more likely we are to fall for its digital flattery.
Meanwhile, ancient Australia was home to predators that make today&rsquo;s wildlife look tame. Fossil evidence suggests that five-metre crocodiles once hunted by dropping out of trees onto unsuspecting prey. This twist on the classic crocodile encounter adds a new layer of terror to Australia&rsquo;s already legendary roster of dangerous animals. Forget snakes in the grass. Sometimes the real threat was lurking above.
On the cultural front, Gen Z is challenging old standards and rewriting the rules on everything from ironing to mental health. Some in this generation long for a less digital era, question the value of traditional skills, and proudly reject the notion that neat clothes equal good character. They also claim credit for baggy jeans and even admit to being the most annoying generation to work with.
From digital delusions to tree-dwelling crocs and Gen Z&rsquo;s new priorities, the only thing we can count on is that the world refuses to stay boring.
&nbsp;
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction&nbsp;
00:48 AI and the Dunning-Kruger Effect
02:11 AI Literacy and Overconfidence
02:51 AI's Impact on Self-Assessment
06:59 Australian Wildlife and Myths
07:35 Legend of the Drop Croc
08:57 Generational Differences
10:10 Gen Z's Perspective
11:03 Skills and Inventions
12:52 Annoying Generations at Work
13:40 Conclusion and Call to Action
&nbsp;
SOURCES:
<a href="https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-dunning-kruger-effect">AI Is Causing a Grim New Twist on the Dunning-Kruger Effect</a>
<a href="https://edubirdie.com/blog/gen-z-vs-past-generations">Generation Conflicted: How Do Gen Zers Compare Themselves to Past Generations?</a>
<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2lpyrnjleeo">Evidence of ancient tree-climbing 'drop crocs' found in Australia</a>
<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2025.2560010">Australia&rsquo;s oldest crocodylian eggshell: insights into the reproductive paleoecology of mekosuchines</a>

The Eradication of Smallpox

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