What The Duck?!

Why snakes remain deadly even after they're dead

At first, you might think it is a plot from a zombie movie: that undead animals are coming for you.But it turns out that Australia's animals aren't just dangerous when they're alive — they can be deadly even when they're dead.Ann Jones is joined by science reporter Belinda Smith to examine why snakes can still bite up to 45 minutes after death and are potentially dangerous for years.Think we're lying? Belinda found a guy whose great aunt (and her dog) were killed by a decapitated snake!So if a snake could commit multiple murders from beyond the grave, what other animals are going to get you?Featuring:Ray Miller, relative died after being bitten by a dead snakeDr Christina Zdenek, Australian Reptile AcademyProfessor Kylie Pitt, Griffith UniversityDr Olaf Meynecke, Griffith UniversityLen Zell, retired marine scientist and author of Australian Wildlife — RoadkillProduction:Belinda Smith, ABC Science Reporter/ProducerAnn Jones, Presenter/ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional mastering: Hamish CamilleriThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri and 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 ABC Listen (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.

How a rat's smelly towel might be key to rewilding

Bush rats are not black rats — that's the first thing you need to know.Ann Jones is joined by ABC Top 5 scientist Dr Patrick Finnerty to understand why researchers are going around sniffing bush rats — and how it might help reintroduce them to Sydney's nature reserves.Find out more about the Top 5 science media residency here.Featuring:Dr Patrick Finnerty, conservation ecologist at the University of SydneyProfessor Peter Banks, conservation ecologist at the University of SydneyAssociate Professor Thomas Newsome, conservation ecologist at the University of SydneyMareshell Wauchope, PhD student at University of SydneyProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Eora and Kulin Nations.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (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.

How Marion Anstis became the tadpole whisperer

Marion Anstis pursued her love of tadpoles and frogs on afternoons and weekends, writing papers for scientific journals despite not studying zoology at university.When she retired from her job as a music teacher, she finally had the time to pack her campervan and travel the country, chasing wet seasons and documenting the frogs she found.The result of that fastidious research venture is her PhD and the froggy bible, Tadpoles and Frogs of Australia.In 2022 her contribution to the field was recognised with the genus Anstisia named after her, a group of frogs that lay their eggs on the ground.Featuring:Dr Marion Anstis, herpetologist and authorProduction: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 ABC Listen (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.

Diane Purcell on how algae grows on you

From the rolling hills of country Ireland to rolling waves beneath her boat docked in Hobart, Dr Diane Purcell has explored the most extreme places algae survive.She's also explored the prospect of its survival away from Earth when she worked at NASA studying extremophiles.Some of Diane's earliest research was looking at algae behaviour when it's kind of sleep deprived, and algae that will eat so much it will literally explode!She's also dealt with the ebb and flow of research work by moving to Darwin and working as a high school science teacher.Featuring:Dr Diane Purcell, Project Manager of the Remediation Section, Science and Technical Branch, at the Environment Protection AuthorityProduction: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 ABC Listen (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.

The field guide to a birding life: Peter Menkhorst

Peter Menkhorst is the mammalogist who wrote the birding bible, The Australian Bird Guide.As a boy, Peter would go birdwatching with his dad, setting up in a hide before dawn to observe malleefowl tending their mounds — and ignoring ongoing attacks from mosquitoes!His professional work ranged from surveying mammals and developing National Parks, to ecological research and managing over-abundant koalas, while also leading conservation work to protect the orange-bellied parrot, the regent honeyeater and the helmeted honeyeater.Peter still keeps a list of the birds he sees, in the hardcover notebook his grandmother gave him when he was 11.Featuring:Peter Menkhorst, zoologist and authorProduction: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 ABC Listen (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.