About this season
Catalyst is Australia's premier science investigation series. Each week the team brings you stories from Australia and around the world, meeting scientists at the forefront of discovery.
Episodes (22)
1. Meteors, Sea Level Rise, House Fires
Aired 17 July 2014 • 29 min
The Catalyst team look at what YouTube can teach us about meteors and how far can sea levels rise? Also how to stay as safe as possible in a house fire.
2. Tattoos, Moon Mining, Muscle Fibre
Aired 24 July 2014 • 30 min
Tattoos: They are on trend but how easy are they to remove? Moon Mining: Scientists look at ways to mine the moon. Muscle fibre Fishing Line: How fishing line, a hairdryer and an electric drill make artificial muscle fibres.
3. Omega 3 Inmates, Antarctic Sea Ice, Dog Optimism
Aired 31 July 2014 • 30 min
Could omega 3 supplements reduce aggressive behaviour of inmates?; Antarctica Sea Ice: The sleeping giant of climate change; Dog Optimism: How does your dog view the world? Is it an optimist or pessimist?
4. Radiation Fallout, Multiple Organ Failure
Aired 7 August 2014 • 30 min
Three years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster we explore the hidden impact of radioactive sediments and why do some trauma patients appear to recover from injury but just a few days later develop multiple organ failure?
5. Gut Reaction: Part 1 - What You Eat Could Be Making You Ill
Aired 14 August 2014 • 30 min
In the first of a two-part special, reporter Dr. Graham Phillips investigates whether what we feed the bacteria deep inside our gut could be contributing to a whole litany of diseases.
6. Gut Reaction: Part 2 - Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Aired 21 August 2014 • 30 min
In this two-part Gut Reaction special, reporter Dr. Graham Phillips investigates whether the Western diet could be contributing to a whole litany of diseases by causing an imbalance in the bacteria deep inside our gut.
7. AE2 - The Silent ANZAC, Where Does Fat Go?
Aired 28 August 2014 • 30 min
Inside Australia's long lost World War 1 submarine, the AE2, we reveal her hidden secrets and investigate what scientists are doing to protect her from the ravages of time.
8. Epilepsy, Brian Schmidt
Aired 4 September 2014 • 30 min
Catalyst investigates two ground breaking treatment procedures for epilepsy; We meet the man who discovered dark energy - Nobel Prize winner Professor Brian Schmidt.
9. Dr. Jane Goodall Profile, Mystery Mummy, Eureka Prizes
Aired 11 September 2014 • 30 min
Dr. Jane Goodall entered the forests of Tanzania as a girl with a dream. Twenty years later she left a woman with a mission; Can science help the dead speak? We 'unwrap' a mummy to unveil secrets hidden for thousands of years.
10. Testosterone - It's Not All About Sex
Aired 18 November 2014 • 30 min
Dr. Graham Phillips delves into the latest research on testosterone, from the womb to old age, it moulds the male body & mind. It is also a hormone of good health during the life of both men & women.
11. Honey Bees, Drinking Water, Driver Distraction
Aired 25 September 2014 • 30 min
Catalyst investigates how modern agriculture methods, increasing diseases and the impending threat of the deadly varroa mite could destroy the last safe-haven for bees on the planet.
12. Mega Tsunamis, Allergy Pill, Nature Play
Aired 2 October 2014 • 30 min
Ground breaking Japanese research reveals clues about future hazards for tsunami-prone countries. How playing outdoors can improve children's health and could the bacteria in our stomach ulcers help cure allergies.
13. Falling In Friendship
Aired 9 October 2014 • 30 min
Friendship: From before we can even speak, we seek the companionship of others. But why is this drive so powerful? And how come out of all the people we meet in our lives, we fall in friendship with some and not others?
14. Global Warming Pause, Virtual Universe, Green Alloys
Aired 16 October 2014 • 30 min
Global Warming Pause: The big question in climate science - what happened to global warming? Virtual universe - reveals the life of the universe. Green alloys - 'reincarnating' CDs, pushbike and car parts.
15. Tokyo Flood Prevention, Crying, Open Plan Office
Aired 23 October 2014 • 30 min
Tokyo flood prevention - How does a city of rivers defend itself in during flooding rain? Crying - are tears of joy different from tears of sorrow? Open plan office layout - how the open plan office can affect our health.
16. The Wind, Bird Strike
Aired 30 October 2014 • 30 min
What does it mean when the weather report says - winds will be up to 50kph... How much notice should we really take?; With planes and birds sharing our skies, how common are collisions and how can they be avoided.
17. Aircraft Electromagnetic Interference, Tilapia, Laser Danger
Aired 6 November 2014 • 30 min
How Aircraft Electromagnetic Interference (AEI) affects our military aircraft; Detecting Tilapia; the cane toads of our waterways and what makes Lasers so dangerous?
18. Low Carb Diet - Fat or Fiction?
Aired 13 November 2014 • 30 min
Catalyst investigates the science behind the low carb diet. What are the health benefits and are there any risks? Is it suitable for everyone?
19. Genetic ID, Tunnel Borer, Coral Trout
Aired 20 November 2014 • 30 min
The Catalyst team look at how our genes can affect exercise performance; Come face to face with 120 metre tunnel borers Florence and Elizabeth; And reveal the good news for Coral trout on the Great Barrier Reef.
20. Antiviral Abalone, Fermat's Theorem, Predator Scat
Aired 27 November 2014 • 30 min
Could abalone blood be the new treatment for cold sores and herpes?; The inspirational story of 350 year old mathematics problem and how it was solved; Tasmania's Great Poo Hunt - have foxes invaded the island state?
21. Future Cities
Aired 4 December 2014 • 30 min
With a soaring population how do we keep our cities liveable? And what will the city of tomorrow look like? Catalyst reporter Anja Taylor investigates some innovative ideas for Australia's future cities.
22. Implant Protection, What Rat Is That?, Science Of The Perfect Drink
Aired 11 December 2014 • 30 min
Reporter Mark Horstman gives up some of his own blood to test specially coated stents that can mimic the blood vessel wall and Dr Jonica Newby is on a mission to find out what's been lurking in the back yard.