In prepping a Year 9 Science lesson on conservation of energy, Ant comes across a booklet on heat and bush fires. The science behind the burning of wood naturally has him busting to know whether humans can spontaneously combust. What's involved in pyrolysis, combustion, and the wick effect? And can these scientific phenomena explain why images alleging to show the aftermath of spontaneous human combustion depict one lonely limb remaining? 

In prepping a Year 9 Science lesson on conservation of energy, Ant comes across a booklet on heat and bush fires. The science behind the burning of wood naturally has him busting to know whether humans can spontaneously combust. What's involved in pyrolysis, combustion, and the wick effect? And can these scientific phenomena explain why images alleging to show the aftermath of spontaneous human combustion depict one lonely limb remaining?

Every story has a side of science. Join Stacey and Clinton as they dive headfirst into the fascinating science behind a new story each week. Whether it’s the secrets of Netflix’s algorithm, the mysteries of spontaneous human combustion, or the possibility of life on Mars, we uncover the weird, wonderful, and sometimes downright bizarre explanations hiding in plain sight.

Our goal is to make science relatable, engaging, and just a little bit addictive. We’re here to connect the dots between the everyday and the extraordinary, proving that there’s always a “side of science” to every story.

So grab your curiosity (and maybe a snack), and let’s explore the science behind it all—one rabbit hole at a time.

Theme music composed by Denis / Weird Man. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every story has a side of science. Join Stacey and Clinton as they dive headfirst into the fascinating science behind a new story each week. Whether it&rsquo;s the secrets of Netflix&rsquo;s algorithm, the mysteries of spontaneous human combustion, or the possibility of life on Mars, we uncover the weird, wonderful, and sometimes downright bizarre explanations hiding in plain sight.
Our goal is to make science relatable, engaging, and just a little bit addictive. We&rsquo;re here to connect the dots between the everyday and the extraordinary, proving that there&rsquo;s always a &ldquo;side of science&rdquo; to every story.
So grab your curiosity (and maybe a snack), and let&rsquo;s explore the science behind it all&mdash;one rabbit hole at a time.
Theme music composed by Denis / Weird Man. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Side of Science

Can humans spontaneously combust?

In this final episode for Season 2, Stacey and Clinton journey from the darkness of space to the deepest parts of the sea to untangle the science of cloud computing. Launching with a tale that connects Genghis Khan, the International Space Station, and Steve Jobs, it's not just about servers in the sky; it's a deep dive into Sputnik, submarine cables, and the surprising energy required to stream your favorite shows. From the garden hoses on the ocean floor and power consumption of AI to finding the coolest places on Earth to house our data and to how the cloud is accelerating science endeavours around the world. It’s a mission like no other to answer WTF is the cloud.

Curriculum Links:

Science as a Human endeavour: Technological advancements in computing and internet infrastructure, ethical considerations of energy consumption and environmental impact of data centres, the role of international collaboration in large-scale science projects.

Physics: Electromagnetic waves and their use in data transfer, the principles of light transmission through fibre optic cables, energy transfers and transformations in computing systems, and the relationship between electricity, resistance, and heat generation.

Technology: How data is stored and protected, the basics of binary code and electromagnetic memory, and future technologies such as liquid cooling, quantum computing, and DNA data storage.

Space technology: The history of space exploration and its influence on the development of internet and cloud computing, and the use of cloud computing in modern space research and data analysis.

In this final episode for Season 2, Stacey and Clinton journey from the darkness of space to the deepest parts of the sea to untangle the science of cloud computing. Launching with a tale that connects Genghis Khan, the International Space Station, and Steve Jobs, it's not just about servers in the sky; it's a deep dive into Sputnik, submarine cables, and the surprising energy required to stream your favorite shows. From the garden hoses on the ocean floor and power consumption of AI to finding the coolest places on Earth to house our data and to how the cloud is accelerating science endeavours around the world. It&rsquo;s a mission like no other to answer WTF is the cloud.
Curriculum Links:
Science as a Human endeavour: Technological advancements in computing and internet infrastructure, ethical considerations of energy consumption and environmental impact of data centres, the role of international collaboration in large-scale science projects.
Physics: Electromagnetic waves and their use in data transfer, the principles of light transmission through fibre optic cables, energy transfers and transformations in computing systems, and the relationship between electricity, resistance, and heat generation.
Technology: How data is stored and protected, the basics of binary code and electromagnetic memory, and future technologies such as liquid cooling, quantum computing, and DNA data storage.
Space technology: The history of space exploration and its influence on the development of internet and cloud computing, and the use of cloud computing in modern space research and data analysis.

WTF is the cloud?

It’s all about good humour and not a drop of bad blood as Stacey and Clinton pour out the science of the red and white cells pumping through our bodies. They pass on the Cheerios and head straight into a heart pumping oxygenated orchestra of transportation, regulation, communication and protection. From how blood moves through our veins, arteries, and capillaries, the process of plasma leakage, tissue fluid exchange, and the effects of the scent of blood. Plus what happens when you hack your blood and the evolutionary adaptations of blood for peak performance in some populations. Leave the buff coat at home and channel your inner Buffy instead for all things crimson, yellow, black and blue.

Curriculum Links:

Biology: Body systems (circulatory system's role in transporting oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products), cells (components and functions) and genetics and evolution (evolutionary adaptations related to blood, such as the adaptations of Sherpas living at high altitudes).

Chemistry: Components of blood including plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets. 

Health and Physical Education: Performance enhancement and doping in sport including the physiological effects and potential risks of blood doping and other blood-related performance-enhancing substances.

Ethics: Ethical considerations of blood doping and genetic manipulation including the ethical issues surrounding the use of blood manipulation techniques in sports and potential future applications of genetic manipulation related to blood.

It&rsquo;s all about good humour and not a drop of bad blood as Stacey and Clinton pour out the science of the red and white cells pumping through our bodies. They pass on the Cheerios and head straight into a heart pumping oxygenated orchestra of transportation, regulation, communication and protection. From how blood moves through our veins, arteries, and capillaries, the process of plasma leakage, tissue fluid exchange, and the effects of the scent of blood. Plus what happens when you hack your blood and the evolutionary adaptations of blood for peak performance in some populations. Leave the buff coat at home and channel your inner Buffy instead for all things crimson, yellow, black and blue.
Curriculum Links:
Biology: Body systems (circulatory system's role in transporting oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products), cells (components and functions) and genetics and evolution (evolutionary adaptations related to blood, such as the adaptations of Sherpas living at high altitudes).
Chemistry: Components of blood including plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets.&nbsp;
Health and Physical Education: Performance enhancement and doping in sport including the physiological effects and potential risks of blood doping and other blood-related performance-enhancing substances. Ethics: Ethical considerations of blood doping and genetic manipulation including the ethical issues surrounding the use of blood manipulation techniques in sports and potential future applications of genetic manipulation related to blood.

How does blood do its job?

Stacey brings in a special guest to dive into the human side of science. Ali isn’t just living with Huntington’s, he grew up in a Huntington’s family, watching the disease echo through generations. Ali shares the moment a DNA test turned 'maybe' into certainty and the tight-rope walk between hope and honesty when a partner asks, “Do we try for kids?”.  It’s human, nuanced, and a powerful insight into scientific ethics: autonomy, privacy, reproductive choice, and the right to not know. Because science isn’t just Petri dishes, it’s people, futures, and the fork-in-the-road decisions that keep your mind racing at night.

Curriculum Links:

Biology: Genetics and heredity including DNA structure and function, inheritance (transmission of genetic information), genetic variation and diversity (mutations, epigenetics) and developmental biology including embryonic development (cellular differentiation, role of genes).

Physics: Technological applications of physics in genetic research (e.g., imaging techniques) and principles of measurement and data analysis in biological contexts.

Stacey brings in a special guest to dive into the human side of science. Ali isn&rsquo;t just living with Huntington&rsquo;s, he grew up in a Huntington&rsquo;s family, watching the disease echo through generations. Ali shares the moment a DNA test turned 'maybe' into certainty and the tight-rope walk between hope and honesty when a partner asks, &ldquo;Do we try for kids?&rdquo;.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s human, nuanced, and a powerful insight into scientific ethics: autonomy, privacy, reproductive choice, and the right to not know. Because science isn&rsquo;t just Petri dishes, it&rsquo;s people, futures, and the fork-in-the-road decisions that keep your mind racing at night.
Curriculum Links:
Biology: Genetics and heredity including DNA structure and function, inheritance (transmission of genetic information), genetic variation and diversity (mutations, epigenetics) and developmental biology including embryonic development (cellular differentiation, role of genes). Physics: Technological applications of physics in genetic research (e.g., imaging techniques) and principles of measurement and data analysis in biological contexts.

Can humans spontaneously combust?

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