Comments: 989 • Responses: 77  • Date: 

DrKarlKruszelnicki528 karma

Howdy from me (Dr Karl Kruszelnicki), ready to go at (my) 1059 Sydney Time.

DrKarlKruszelnicki329 karma

Dear All, Thanks so much for this fantastic experience - I had no idea it would be like this and so much fun.

Come to my book signings for Book 34 (Game of Knowsns) (drkarl.com) and chat/ask questions (you don't have to buy a book to be My New Best Friend For Ever).

Love to do this again (now that I know how it works).

Karl

sweet_chick283276 karma

Doctor Karl - Who is your scientific hero? Why?

DrKarlKruszelnicki860 karma

scientific hero? Why?

Richard Feynman. He said - Stick to the facts, ignore opinions. Nature doesn't lie.

mikehunnt225 karma

Dr. Karl,

Maroubra Beach is covered in pumice at the moment (and the bodies of Bra Boy enemies naturally), has a undersea volcano erupted that we don't know about or is this floating around from some terrestrial eruptions ages ago?

Also - rather than buying Dr Karl Reddit Gold someone should organise a crowd funding effort to thank Dr Karl in the form of a collection of the LOUDEST shirts that can be bought on the internet.

DrKarlKruszelnicki177 karma

Maroubra Beach is covered in pumice at the moment (and the bodies of Bra Boy enemies naturally), has a undersea volcano erupted that we don't know about or is this floating around from some terrestrial eruptions ages ago?

Really? Got pix?

Walter_Ego139 karma

what was your strangest experience as a taxi driver?

DrKarlKruszelnicki275 karma

Strangest experience as a taxi driver? Getting lost in the huge Yagoona Tip(garbage dump) at 0200, with no stars to navigate out by, and out of radio range. I had to wait for dawn.

Ausghostdog82 karma

Why were you at the tip?

DrKarlKruszelnicki330 karma

Took a short cut ...

bleergh136 karma

Hi Dr. Karl, just wanted to say I've been a massive fan since I was knee high to a grasshopper, you were a huge inspiration to me seeking a career in science. Couple of questions...

What, in your opinion, are the biggest challenges science and science education are currently facing in Australia?

You seem to have an almost prodigal knack for retaining all sorts of information across the entire spectrum of science. Is there any preparation/research involved in your podcasts/radio show, or is this all just pulled out of your brain on the spot? If the latter, is this a talent you've always had, or something you've developed over time?

Cheers!

DrKarlKruszelnicki343 karma

What, in your opinion, are the biggest challenges science and science education are currently facing in Australia?

Lack of respect for the the Concept of Education > lack of funding

DrKarlKruszelnicki250 karma

Is there any preparation/research involved in your podcasts/radio show,

1) The reading of $10,000 of scientific/medical/etc literature per year 2) Formalising this fuzzy information inside brain into stories (radio, net, books, etc) 3) Repeat for one third of a century

nazzazzan110 karma

Hey Dr Karl! What is the most astounding fact you can tell us about the universe/life in general?

DrKarlKruszelnicki392 karma

What is the most astounding fact you can tell us about the universe/life in general?

1)all the gold you will ever touch was made inside an exploding star 2)Kilogram for kilogram, your compost pile generates 33,000 times more power than our Sun

danamos102 karma

Do you smoke weed? Do you think it will be decriminalized or legalized for medical use in Australia?

DrKarlKruszelnicki463 karma

Do you smoke weed? Do you think it will be decriminalized or legalized for medical use in Australia?

NSW has just REJECTED the medical use of marijuana for six very specific conditions (terminal cancer, loss of appetite due to chemotherapy, etc). The NSW Govt WRONGLY claimed that the medical data was against the efficacy of marijuana in these six very specific conditions. One thing I learnt as a doctor - we currently all have to die, what matters is that you have a Good Death. Why are we denying these people in pain the opportunity for a Good Death? NSW Govt - please reconsider.

nath1234101 karma

What would you change about Australian politics at the moment with respect to science?

DrKarlKruszelnicki492 karma

"What would you change about Australian politics at the moment with respect to science?" Treat "science" as though it was an investment in the future, not a short-term cost.

DrKarlKruszelnicki98 karma

Hoorah, one hour down, another half-hour to go (for this time). Karl

kyebosh88 karma

On a scale of 1 to Homeopathy, how excruciatingly annoying is it that you can't tell people straight up "it's placebo, your friend isn't actually experiencing that" to so many questions on the J's?

DrKarlKruszelnicki152 karma

Homeopathy? There seems to be zero data backing up its supposed efficacy - apart from the Placebo Effect. The Placebo Effect is real, but still poorly understood. K

noxidc81 karma

Good morning Dr Karl I love listening to you every Thursday morning on the way to work! live streaming and living in WA ftw!

a quick question for you which fence do you sit on . FTTN? or FTTP?

DrKarlKruszelnicki185 karma

a quick question for you which fence do you sit on . FTTN? or FTTP?

1) Fibre 2) The optic fibre that goes to your home is identical to the fibre that joins the capital cities 3 The current data transmission record for fibre is 1 billion Mb/sec. It will go much higher. Copper can't go above 100 Mb/sec.

hlpdsk71 karma

Hi Dr Karl, why is it that sometimes when I look up at an analog clock it looks like the second hand has just ticked backwards?.

Also the batteries are fine.

DrKarlKruszelnicki133 karma

Second hand ticks backwards? The time taken for vision to get processed (light landing on retina>Brodman Areas 17,18, 19 >full 3D colour vision) is about 300 milliseconds. There are "glitches" in this imperfect system. I read a paper on this very topic about 8 years ago, but don't have time to find it right now. Sorry.

Abbrevi870 karma

Dr Karl, I remember you did a lot of television adds back in the 90s about the dangers of microsleeps on the road. Considering advances in car design in the past few years and the role fatigue plays in traffic accidents, do you think it's time to raise the speed limit on some Australian roads?

Also, beetroot on a burger, yay or nay?

DrKarlKruszelnicki239 karma

beetroot on a burger, yay or nay?

The best thing about beetroot is the red colour in the toilet bowl the next morning > short-term panic about cancer > long-term relief and satisfaction after realising that it was only beetroot (again).

BucklingSprings69 karma

Hi Dr Karl. Do you think living at high altitude would be a good substitute for aerobic exercise? Would you even need to exercise?

DrKarlKruszelnicki160 karma

Do you think living at high altitude would be a good substitute for aerobic exercise? Would you even need to exercise?

One always HAS to exercise. IF you exercise hard all your life, you will lose a few % of strength in your 40s, a few more % in your 70s - but will enter your 80s with ~95% of strength you had in your 20s.

monacle_man62 karma

Dr Karl, What is your opinion on the current educational apparatus as relevant to todays needs, especially with respect to the research of people such as Sir Ken Robinson.

Do we need an educational seachange, or do you think that the current system is adequate.

DrKarlKruszelnicki274 karma

Education. When I was in Bangkok Airport checking in a group of schoolkids (I was not the teacher, but she was in hospital, so I took over), the person behind the counter asked if I was a teacher. I said "yes" because it was too complicated to explain full story. She then upgraded me to Business Class. Only when we all treat ALL teachers (childcare to University) with that kind of respect, will the Education System be unbroken.

realneil58 karma

Dr Karl, thanks for providing your time today.

Can I ask you about your own beliefs regarding the nature of reality?

Do you think we make reality with our thoughts?

DrKarlKruszelnicki359 karma

Can I ask you about your own beliefs regarding the nature of reality?

Reality is for people who can't handle drugs.

ShayP9253 karma

If lightning strikes in the ocean or a large body of water does it make a splash?

DrKarlKruszelnicki57 karma

Lightning hits water? I dunno if it makes a splash. Anybody got hard answer?

Thenervemann49 karma

Hi, I see you have a lot of education under your belt in a lot of technical areas. I have a degree in Mechanical engineering since I like to rebuild anything. However, the job has nothing to do with that, mostly just sitting at a desk an doing nothing. Do you have any recommendations? I think you wikipedia page said you used to be a mechanic. How did that go?

DrKarlKruszelnicki110 karma

Unhappy in job?

Every time I was unhappy, I left for something different. Sometimes I knew that the new field would make me happy, sometimes I didn't. But I jumped. But in general, on each occasion, my income would go down (typically 10-85%)

8305kate47 karma

Dr Karl, how do you cope with people phoning into Triple J asking science questions relating to penises? I feel bad for you.

DrKarlKruszelnicki140 karma

Radio questions about genitals? Not worried about it at all. It's not just Terrorists that have genitals and have sex - "regular" people do have both as well. It's just another body part(s) between the belly part and the knees.

moustachaaa46 karma

Hi Dr Karl! I've been a fan of your books ever since my parents bought me a couple almost 10 years ago.

I would like to ask you what is: * the most important research you've done/read/seen; * and what is the most interesting research you've done/read/seen?

Thanks! I'm looking forward to getting your next book for Christmas (it's almost a tradition!)

DrKarlKruszelnicki76 karma

what is: * the most important research you've done/read/seen;

Done - what causes belly button fluff and why is it almost always blue Read - Bow St Pump (keep your drinking water separate from sewage) Seen - Large Hadron Collider > (understanding of what causes the strange phenomenon called Mass) > in the future, switch Mass off?

groomingfluid45 karma

Hey Dr Karl, I always loved your books and the way they put sciencey stuff into accessible language, so thanks for actually getting me to read.

As a scientist and an immigrant that dabbled in politics, do you worry about the way climate science and immigration policy is heading?

DrKarlKruszelnicki100 karma

As a scientist and an immigrant that dabbled in politics, do you worry about the way climate science and immigration policy is heading?

Yes - but given enough time, the pendulum will swing.

Sayfog44 karma

What do you see as the most effective thing Australia can do to combat climate change? Like spamming solar panels everywhere or perhaps invest in moonshots such as getting fusion power viable.

DrKarlKruszelnicki209 karma

What do you see as the most effective thing Australia can do to combat climate change?

Set up the Zero Carbon Australia plan (Uni of Melbourne) to generate all of our electricity from renewables THEN sell the technology to the rest of the world. Solar thermal would provide 60%, wind 40%. Would give us electricity - averaged out over 30 years - at ONE-THIRD the price of burning carbon. Australia is the ideal Prototype Location, as we have a huge surface area and low population.

DrKarlKruszelnicki43 karma

Another 15 minutes to go of Lots of Fun.

kamoylan37 karma

Dear Dr Karl,

I've gotten into debates with some people and would like to know how you handle similar situations.

How do you deal with people who dispute known facts and well tested theories that go against their beliefs? I'm not talking about people who interpret the same thing differently (e.g. a lot of economic theory) but people who dispute things like evolution, the WW2 holocaust, and global warming.

DrKarlKruszelnicki82 karma

How do you deal with people who dispute known facts and well tested theories that go against their beliefs? I'm not talking about people who interpret the same thing differently (e.g. a lot of economic theory) but people who dispute things like evolution, the WW2 holocaust, and global warming.

It's difficult.

In USA, 46% of population don't accept the Science of Geology, Radioactive Dating and Evolution. (but they are fine with Metallurgy, Engineering, some parts of Astronomy). The Australian figure is 31%.

satanic_badgers34 karma

Firstly sorry for bugging you so much on Twitter.... Can you tweet you're doing this for proof please? (pesky rules)

My 5 questions from the Iama request

1.How did you go from being a taxi driver to doctor, to broadcaster, all round science go-to guy?

2 What question has been your favourite in your years of broadcasting?

3 You walked across Spain your podcasts indicate that was a religious thing. Are you spiritual, and if so how does this effect your views on science.

4 Why does every podcast seem to have a question about faeces. Is it an Aussie obsession?

5 What's the deal with the shirts?

DrKarlKruszelnicki114 karma

You walked across Spain your podcasts indicate that was a religious thing. Are you spiritual, and if so how does this effect your views on science.

I'm happy to believe in a God - but not a God that cares about each of us individually. Otherwise, why would several million children under the age of 5 die each year.

DrKarlKruszelnicki109 karma

What's the deal with the shirts?

1) I love bright colours 2) Why should women have the monopoly on bright colours 3) Part of the Millennia-old tradition of "stage clothing" 4) Ever enjoyed the flash of colour in a city on a winter's day when you see somebody in non-black/grey clothing?

DrKarlKruszelnicki69 karma

How did you go from being a taxi driver to doctor, to broadcaster, all round science go-to guy?

Random noise of the Universe + working hard + being prepared + being open to the Awe and Wonder of the Universe + never letting myself get bored ++++

swertsta34 karma

Dr Karl, what is your favorite smell?

DrKarlKruszelnicki98 karma

Jasmine flowers in spring and new babies

Ausghostdog33 karma

  • What has been one of the oddest experiments you have done to test something?

  • Personal question, given your family history with boat people. What is you thoughts on the current Australian policy?

  • Is there anything you have wanted to study, but haven't had the opportunity?

  • When I seen you at UTas, you spoke of your time at Cheyenne Mountain, have you ever had a chance to go back there?

  • What's one thing you hate about science?

  • Have you thought about running for government again?

  • Whilst your partner was pregnant, did you do any experiments on her? How did she take it?

  • How do your kids friends take it when they find out your THE dr Karl?

  • One last one, How do you relax?

DrKarlKruszelnicki196 karma

Personal question, given your family history with boat people. What is you thoughts on the current Australian policy?

My father was a "person smuggler", smuggling Jews out of Nazi-occupied Poland.

DrKarlKruszelnicki72 karma

Is there anything you have wanted to study, but haven't had the opportunity?

Geology, metallurgy, so much

DrKarlKruszelnicki70 karma

How do you relax?

Family, exercise, just "be" with whatever's happening around me and go with the flow.

DrKarlKruszelnicki62 karma

Whilst your partner was pregnant, did you do any experiments on her? How did she take it?

Nope

Azkatro33 karma

Hi Dr Karl, great to see you on Reddit! On climate change, I'm sure nobody will argue that it's real, but... is it really all our fault? Like, 100% our fault? Or are we merely contributing some portion of it with our pollution?

DrKarlKruszelnicki123 karma

On climate change, I'm sure nobody will argue that it's real, but... is it really all our fault? Like, 100% our fault?

100% our fault. We knew that Climate Change was real back in 1988 - and have wasted the last 25 years.

LadyPenyee29 karma

Hi Dr Karl! About 5 years ago you met my husband (then boyfriend) at a cinema at Randwick, he was working on the door taking tickets and you were seeing an XMen movie. You both started talking and you ended up inviting my husband and I to the ABC studios for a day while you did your radio shows. I just want to say thank you! That was one of our most entertaining adventures and you were so kind (you even bought us breakfast). I usually have a million questions buzzing in my head but I can't remember any right now so I'll just ask this: What are your plans for Christmas?

DrKarlKruszelnicki32 karma

Xmas? To make another rainbow (for the front of the house) to replace the one that died.

rainbowplethora29 karma

Hi Dr Karl! My boyfriend is a huge fan (me too, but not as much as him). I buy him one of your books every Christmas. He wanted me to ask you: Why do we feel heat from mustard or wasabi in the nose, but chilli heat on the tongue?

DrKarlKruszelnicki34 karma

Why do we feel heat from mustard or wasabi in the nose, but chilli heat on the tongue?

1) Dunno 2) I know that the receptors (VR2) for chilli are on the tongue. Dunno where receptors for wasabi are? In nose?

Barbz8629 karma

Dr Karl. Have you ever considered a go at politics? And if so, what party would you join? Or would you fly solo? VOTE ONE DR KARL!!!!!

DrKarlKruszelnicki66 karma

Have you ever considered a go at politics?

I failed mightily in the 2007 Federal Election, as a Senate candidate. I personally got (below the line, if you understand what that means) 40,000 votes out of the 750,000 I needed. One would need a few million $ for advertising - as very few people knew that I was running for the NSW Federal Senate.

Beer_in_an_esky27 karma

Hi Dr Karl, huge fan (as both an Australian, a scientist, and an owner of a ridiculously long surname). Your books were a staple of my reading collection as a kid!

Two questions;

1) Do you have any relatives in WA... I met a girl with the exact same last name as you, figured it was rare enough that you would probably be at least somehow connected.

and the main question...

2) How did you get into science outreach and education? Do you think it's worth going through established programs (Questacon etc.), or just trying to take a job in something close and work toward it?

I'm currently in the 3rd year of my PhD... and seriously starting to doubt academia is for me. My favourite parts were tutoring and spruiking science on the open days, so I figure that might be worth chasing...

DrKarlKruszelnicki27 karma

Do you have any relatives in WA... I met a girl with the exact same last name as you, figured it was rare enough that you would probably be at least somehow connected.

There are a few (but not many) Kruszelnickis around. We seem to be all out of Lvov/Lviv/Landberg in Ukraine/Poland several generations ago.

cheeseslices26 karma

Are redheads actually going extinct? Or is that just a myth?

DrKarlKruszelnicki57 karma

Are redheads actually going extinct? Or is that just a myth?

Debunked in Book 28, Never Mind the Bollocks. The genetics about redheads, blondes and blue eyes is (1) very complicated (2) wrongly taught at high schools in an overly simplistic manner.

oversizedchromespoon25 karma

Howdy Dr Karl, I've wondered this for a while now, for no particular reason. Would somebody who had just died either burn, tan or none of the above if left out in the sun?

DrKarlKruszelnicki38 karma

Would somebody who had just died either burn, tan or none of the above if left out in the sun?

No tan, as that is caused by melanin (yup, same chemical in iris) laid down by living melanocytes. Dry out - yes

hawtdawgspudder25 karma

Hey Dr Karl.

Why do blue eyes seem to dull as one gets older? Is it a common occurance or is the dye leaking out?

DrKarlKruszelnicki46 karma

Why do blue eyes seem to dull as one gets older?

Blue colour is due to (Rayleigh's Law of Scattering) acting on (melanin particles in iris). With age, more melanin particles get laid down > less intense blue.

Gus_the_snail25 karma

I've heard you mention that you like to do free Skype sessions with schools. What is the best way of getting in touch to line that up with my school? Thanks Dr Karl.

DrKarlKruszelnicki66 karma

I've heard you mention that you like to do free Skype sessions with schools. What is the best way of getting in touch to line that up with my school?

Ring the University of Sydney, and ask for me.

DrKarlKruszelnicki22 karma

12 minutes to go - a Big Finish...

zonteck21 karma

Listened to you for over a decade through triple j and bbc5, thanks for your time as always.

How do you manage to determine the content and collate materials for upcoming abc sci talks/ books. Do you have a rough list and just build folders of related content waiting for a couple of perfect articles to come out?

DrKarlKruszelnicki38 karma

How do you manage to determine the content and collate materials for upcoming abc sci talks/ books.

I read $10,000 of scientific/medical/engineering/etc literature each year > whatever I find astonishing.

Speeeeedracer21 karma

Dr Karl, if we were to place large mirrors on the moon and have them facing at a certain spot on Earth, could we potentially have daylight in that place 24/7?

DrKarlKruszelnicki60 karma

if we were to place large mirrors on the moon and have them facing at a certain spot on Earth, could we potentially have daylight in that place 24/7?

Not if we had them on the Moon, but yes, if we had them in GeoStationary Orbit.

Mookiewook21 karma

Dr Karl, first of all, have always been a huge fan whenever you're on Triple J! Which technological advancement that is soon to go mainstream are you most excited about and why?

DrKarlKruszelnicki74 karma

Which technological advancement that is soon to go mainstream are you most excited about and why?

3D printing. It will be as big as Printing in 1450, Steam in 1750 and Transistors in 1950.

linsell19 karma

Why do I feel thirsty after a nap?

DrKarlKruszelnicki40 karma

Saliva production is about 1,000 ml/day (750-1,500). Drops enormously when asleep > dry mouth > local feeling of thirst.

BakedWatchingToons19 karma

Does it ever irritate you to have people call up asking the same question time after time? What is your most disliked question you regularly receive?

You're a hero, someone to aspire to be like, and I'm an immense fan :-)

DrKarlKruszelnicki81 karma

Does it ever irritate you to have people call up asking the same question time after time?

Never. One thing I learnt being a roadie for Bo Diddley, after hearing him sing the same songs, night after night. For the audience, it's their first time.

captainzigzag17 karma

Well nobody else seems to have asked this yet, so: would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or 1 horse-sized duck?

DrKarlKruszelnicki47 karma

100 duck-sized horses. It's a standard military/business/political technique - divide, and then conquer.

ClipboardX16 karma

Hey there Dr. Karl!

In your first book "Great Moments in Science" there was a young picture of you with half a beard. Literally, straight-down-the-middle-shaved-on-one-side half. The captioned mentioned something along the lines of a psychological experiment. Was there any legit science going on here (and if so can you elaborate?) or were you just being a bit kooky and going off!?

DrKarlKruszelnicki42 karma

Half-a-beard?

Just having fun. But I had to stop as my appearance was making some older and more fragile people anxious.

Fender2715 karma

Hi Dr Karl.

Just wondering in your opinion how far we are away from the next jump in science and technology?

I feel that all the huge breakthroughs in science are overshadowed by the invention of a fridge with a TV on the front.

Do you think true science will make it to the limelight any time soon and bring in a new age?

Also, I love Science hour on Triple J. Keep up the good work!

DrKarlKruszelnicki22 karma

how far we are away from the next jump in science and technology?

1) Dunno 2) Breakthoughs coming up in Dark Matter, Dark Energy and Mass/Higgs - but dunno when.

scootah15 karma

Hi Dr Karl!

I'm a Brisbane based pervert and a fetish performer and I sometimes do skill shares why I try and explain the technique and reasoning for the way that I hit people as part of BDSM play and performances.

When I explain stuff, I try and explain the physics as much as I can. But I'm an IT guy who's got an incomplete bachelor of business, and who recently returned to uni to study health care. Most of what I know about physics is from year 10 science classes, Mythbusters, and self education on the internet.

When I talk about the physics of spanking people, or hitting them with whips, paddles, canes or what have you, I generally talk about Newton's second law (F=MA), Newtons or FPS as a measure of impact, and how mechanical efficiency impacts the amount of energy that's being transferred, and how quickly it's transferring. I also talk about surface area of the impact and how that changes the way the energy transfer might feel.

Then I talk about leverage, and the leverage and acceleration as a whip 'wraps' around something, and about things like energy transfer medium and compression (about how energy is used in compressing air trapped at the point of impact, or how water isn't compressible under the circumstances at hand, and a wet hand will transfer energy differently than a hand cupping and catching air at the point of impact).

When I talk about these things, I'm not talking to scientists, I'm just talking to whatever collection of people interested in BDSM happen to want to learn a bit more about hitting people for consensual adult entertainment. I'm mostly just trying to explain to people what they should consider before the act, so they can predict how things are going to work out with less trial and error.

Are there any other obvious areas that you can think of that I should talk about? I also talk about a bunch of things like physiology and where to hit people to get predictable results, technique for how to hit without causing injury or unwanted excessive pain, and to the best of my knowledge - how the biochemistry of being hit with things and having it feel good works, and the implications of manipulating personal biochemistry to get a good feeling out of it. I've been able to talk to lots of medical professionals about those areas over the years and they've been able to give me a pretty comprehensive list of things to research or work on understanding, but talking about the applied physics of the activity with engineers or physicists has always been a bit problematic - so I'm never sure if I've thought of all the important things to research.

Thanks in advance! Scootah

DrKarlKruszelnicki16 karma

The Physics of Perversion? I had no idea of how subtle was the Physics.

SimonEddie15 karma

Hi Karl! I read in one of your books that idling the engine is very bad for your car, yet many mechanics i have talked to say that it is necessary when it gets around -20C (which it does where i live). Could you explain your reasoning here (i have lost the book and it was a long time ago i read it)?

DrKarlKruszelnicki33 karma

idling the engine is very bad for your car, yet many mechanics i have talked to say that it is necessary when it gets around -20C (which it does where i live)

Minus 20C!! I have no knowledge of how to deal with auto engines in that extremely hostile environment. I would follow the experts (the local mechanics who have to fix what breaks).

theduzz13 karma

Dr Karl, love your show on Triple J, when I do a stretch on the first attempt I can get to a certain point, after then immediately relaxing, then going back into the stretch I can reach further. Why?

DrKarlKruszelnicki32 karma

when I do a stretch on the first attempt I can get to a certain point, after then immediately relaxing, then going back into the stretch I can reach further

You are "standing on the shoulders of giants" - stretching on top of a previous stretch (when then becomes the new baseline"

samlev13 karma

Does the Mpemba effect work in reverse (i.e. does cooler water boil faster than warm)?

DrKarlKruszelnicki24 karma

Does the Mpemba effect work in reverse (i.e. does cooler water boil faster than warm)?

1) Dunno 2) Why don't you do the experiment? (It could mean an IgNobel...)

giantpurplemonkey12 karma

Hey Dr. Karl, huge fan. What's your one, golden piece of advice for someone wanting to enter the world of science communication? I'm in the final stages of my PhD and, once free, want to bring science to life for the greater public as you (and others) have done. Thanks!

DrKarlKruszelnicki19 karma

What's your one, golden piece of advice for someone wanting to enter the world of science communication?

Start as soon as possible. Find out what you love best (writing stories, interviews, Q&A) and make it a part of your life. Repeat.

curiose11 karma

Hi Dr Karl... Is it possible Dark Matter existed before the big bang and matter exploded into it like a cloud of milk into water?

DrKarlKruszelnicki21 karma

Is it possible Dark Matter existed before the big bang and matter exploded into it like a cloud of milk into water?

Conceptually, yes. Mathematically, dunno. Why not work it out?

tilsitforthenommage11 karma

What causes a shook up bottle of soft drink to explode everywhere when opened, but importantly how does it settle down when left sealed for a period of time?

DrKarlKruszelnicki21 karma

What causes a shook up bottle of soft drink to explode everywhere when opened, but importantly how does it settle down when left sealed for a period of time?

Important Law coming up***

Stuff goes down its local concentration gradient

**

Ball rolls down a hill. Gas goes from high concentration to low concentration.

Kosomonni11 karma

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. What do you thinof reading books? Can you suggest something easy to read? Im kind of new to books. Thank you!

DrKarlKruszelnicki24 karma

What do you thinof reading books? Can you suggest something easy to read? Im kind of new to books.

Start as I did - with Fairy Tales of all the nations and Science Fiction.

curiose9 karma

If my theory on Dark Matter should be worked out. How does a curious professional creative go about it?

DrKarlKruszelnicki17 karma

Dark Matter?

Study at a University.

flumpkind9 karma

Hi Dr Karl,

Will the Higgs Boson lead to a better understanding the force of gravity?

DrKarlKruszelnicki18 karma

Will the Higgs Boson lead to a better understanding the force of gravity?

Yes. But we don't understand either Gravity or Mass - and their connection.

Johngudmann9 karma

Hey Dr Karl! What do you see in the future of space exploration? Is asteroid mining the way Togo?

DrKarlKruszelnicki15 karma

What do you see in the future of space exploration? Is asteroid mining the way Togo?

Once we get through the unnecessary expense caused by dealing with Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming/Climate Change/Crises, we will become a Space-going race.

PickledBeerNinja8 karma

What are your thoughts on big Pharma controling medicine prices and discrediting natural alternatives that could work more effectively/safely?

DrKarlKruszelnicki21 karma

What are your thoughts on big Pharma controling medicine prices and discrediting natural alternatives that could work more effectively/safely?

Very complicated.

InfiniteBacon8 karma

Do algae generate heat as a part of their living process?

Are they permanent?

Do they generate CO2?

(These are questions raised after reading some bad science on warming by Larry Pickering, the cartoonist)I posted a copy here.

DrKarlKruszelnicki15 karma

Algae? All living creatures (hot- or cold-blooded) generate some heat (due to Laws of Thermodynamics) Generate CO2? Yes

Lekkers7 karma

Triple J is the home of Doctor Karl, which is all well and good. What are your thoughts of Commercial / Contemporary radio?

DrKarlKruszelnicki11 karma

What are your thoughts of Commercial / Contemporary radio?

It's part of the package that is the totality of radio.

ich_liebe_berlin7 karma

I have a bit of an odd question that might get looked over, but I've always wondered...

If I go to the toilet and do a wee at 10am, and don't drink anything for the rest of the day, why will I still have to go to the toilet a few hours later at 2pm? If I released all the urine in me earlier, where does the rest of it come from if I don't drink anything?

DrKarlKruszelnicki20 karma

Urine? Your two kidneys filter 1,500 kg of blood each day, and generate about 1 ml/minute of urine. This is (to a minor degree) independent of short term minor water intake. But, if you drink lots/no water, then kidneys will shift (under influence of Osmolality/Salt sensors>Anterior Pituitary>ADH/Vasopressin) to making lots/very little urine.

Iuliusoptimates6 karma

Dr. Karl, whats it been like doing so many jobs during your life? I remember reading something where you have been a taxi driver and a roadie at one point.

DrKarlKruszelnicki14 karma

Dr. Karl, whats it been like doing so many jobs during your life? I remember reading something where you have been a taxi driver and a roadie at one point.

It gives you the empathy to walk in another person's shoes, and feel and live as they do.

bliprock5 karma

Hi dr Karl. Can you please give us your views on the ITER project for nuclear fission. What's your thoughts on its viability or time it will take

DrKarlKruszelnicki9 karma

ITER project for nuclear fission. What's your thoughts on its viability or time it will take?

Fusion has great potential. Time? The sooner the better.

shangralack5 karma

[deleted]

DrKarlKruszelnicki11 karma

2nd IgNobel? I have a plan ....

singingfish424 karma

What data would you have to collect to debunk the stupid chemtrails conspiracy? Atmospheric samples? Soil samples? What would be the simplest thing to do to show that it's probably[1] a load of rubbish?

[1] polite scientific term

DrKarlKruszelnicki5 karma

What data would you have to collect to debunk the stupid chemtrails conspiracy? Atmospheric samples? Soil samples?

Yep. But, with proper controls, and a wide enough sample.

kegzy3 karma

Dr Karl, what is something in science that you are baffled by?

DrKarlKruszelnicki12 karma

what is something in science that you are baffled by?

Dark Matter, Dark Energy and why the Moon "appears" bigger on the horizon.

overly_outraged2 karma

Dr. Karl,

Is Ison going to be the great comet of 2013/14 -- visible by the naked eye and brighter than the sun?

Thank you for doing this AMA.

DrKarlKruszelnicki10 karma

Is Ison going to be the great comet of 2013/14 -- visible by the naked eye and brighter than the sun?

Comets are like cats - they do exactly what they want.

DiabeticCookyMonster1 karma

Dr Karl, in your opinion, when will science have gone too far?

DrKarlKruszelnicki6 karma

when will science have gone too far?

When it does more harm than good?

stephidermis1 karma

Dr Karl, do you prefer jelly beans or jelly babies?

DrKarlKruszelnicki4 karma

Dr Karl, do you prefer jelly beans or jelly babies?

Because they worked so well for my patients when I was a doctor at the Sydney Kids Hospital, jelly beans.

evilpandas991 karma

Hi Dr Karl

I want to engage kids in Science, and i'm looking for small experiments that I can wow them with. This is more getting them engaged in science rather them enquiring how it happens.

Do you have any tips for me? Do you have any go to things that just amaze kids?

DrKarlKruszelnicki1 karma

I want to engage kids in Science, and i'm looking for small experiments that I can wow them with.

Go to abc.net.au and search for Ruben Meerman/Surfing Scientist. He has LOTS of pdfs and videos for small experiments that involve mostly household stuff.