Are puppy dog eyes really a sign of love, or does Fido just want a lil snack? Can dogs really "speak" by pressing talking buttons, or do they just make great content for TikTok? There's more to canine communication than howls and growls — and a wagging tail could be telling you more than you think. Featuring: Dr. Mia Cobb, Chaser Innovation Research Fellow (Canine Welfare Science), Animal Welfare Science Centre at the University of Melbourne Professor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State University Associate professor Federico Rossano director of the comparative cognition lab at the University of California San Diego Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Nat Tencic, Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Petria Ladgrove, Executive Producer This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2025 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

'Man's best friend' sure sounds better than 'obligatory symbiont', but what are the true dynamics at play? There's no denying the bond people feel and the attachment dogs have for their humans, but if we put that beautiful relationship under scientific scrutiny, does it hold up? Can any dog go 'full Lassie' if you (or Timmy) get stuck down a well? Will your dog save you? Featuring: Professor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State University Dr. Mia Cobb, Chaser Innovation Research Fellow (Canine Welfare Science), Animal Welfare Science Centre at the University of Melbourne Professor Chris Johnson, the University of Tasmania Dr. Annika Bremhorst, founder of Dogs and Science, and canine scientist at the University of Bern Further reading: Importance of a species' socioecology: Wolves outperform dogs in a conspecific cooperation task Pet dogs release their trapped and distressed owners: Individual variation and evidence of emotional contagion Good dog! Using livestock guardian dogs to protect livestock from predators in Australia's extensive grazing systems Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Nat Tencic, Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Petria Ladgrove, Executive Producer This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in May and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

There's designer clothes, but they have nothing on designer dogs! They come in a huge range of shapes and colours and sizes, from the tiny Chihuahua to the Great Dane. In the animal world this much variation usually means different species, but not for dogs — so where did they all come from? And what role did Victorian-era rats play in the development of 'breed standards'? Featuring: Joyce Sullivan, papillon breeder Wayne Douglas OAM, Afghan Hound breeder Esther Joseph, all breeds judge Michael Worboys emeritus professor the University of Manchester Professor Greger Larson, evolutionary genomics at the University of Oxford Dr Angela Perri, zooarchaeologist, Chronicle Heritage Dr. Elaine Ostrander, geneticist at National Institutes of Health (US) Dr Heidi Parker, geneticist at National Institutes of Health (US) Further reading: Canine Genomics and Genetics: Running with the Pack The invention of the basset hound: breed, blood and the late Victorian dog fancy Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Nat Tencic, Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Petria Ladgrove, Executive Producer This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in May and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung 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 the ABC Listen app (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 relationship between humans and big scary wolves has come a long way to give us tiny fluffy lap dogs with very discerning tastes in expensive food. Whose idea was it? Was it the wolves who wanted the warmth of the fire, or the humans who wanted protection from the other scary carnivores? And take a look at the first archaeological evidence of a beloved family pet preserved with its human family for almost 15,000 years! Featuring: Luc Janssens, Specialist in small animal surgery and archaeologist Professor Greger Larson, evolutionary genomics at the University of Oxford Dr Angela Perri, zooarchaeologist, Chronicle Heritage Professor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State University Further reading: A new look at an old dog : Bonn-Oberkassel reconsidered Identification of genomic variants putatively targeted by selection during dog domestication Dog domestication and the dual dispersal of people and dogs into the Americas Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Nat Tencic, Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Petria Ladgrove, Executive Producer This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in May and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

Nematodes are found in every environment on Earth and can survive in some seriously extreme conditions. They will come back to life after being frozen for 40 thousand years! WHAT THE DUCK?! There's so much more to these creatures than a chocolate square for an itchy rear end… Sign up here for the nematode appreciation society. Featuring: Dr Mike Hodda, senior principal research scientist, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO Bethany Perry, PhD student at the ARC Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity, University of Canberra and CSIRO Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer This episode of What the Duck?! was recorded and produced on the land of the Ngunnawal, 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

CSIRO's National Research Collection in Canberra is where millions of dead things bring life to Australian science. The specimens, collected over many decades, have just been very carefully moved into a new purpose-built facility named Diversity. The What the Duck?! team had a "sticky beak" inside to find DNA extraction robots, extinct birds, predatory flies, and a few thousand slides containing insect genitalia. This episode was recorded in September, before recent announcements were made about CSIRO funding. Featuring: Dr Alicia Grealy, research projects officer, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO Dr Keith Bayless, research scientist, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO Andrea Wild, science communicator, CSIRO Dr Anna Kearns, research scientist, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO Dr Olivia Evangelista de Souza, curator and digital data manager, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO With thanks to Thea Williams and Ian Dewar at CSIRO Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer This 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

After receiving a heartbreaking email, Ann goes on a mission to prove that 'girls DO like spiders, frogs and all things nature'.' Featuring: Lyra and Julie Gould from Canada Dr. Jodi Rowley- Australian Museum and University of NSW Professor Maydianne Andrade- University of Toronto Dr. Amber Beavis- Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer Associate Professor Tanya Latty- Sydney University Plus excerpts from videos to Lyra from: Dr Federica Turco Dr Juanita Rodriguez Dr Kate Umbers Dr Perry Beasley-Hall Dr Jessica Fenker Josie Styles Ying Luo Plus extra sounds from: Christopher MacGregor, ABC Radio National listener with an excellent frog chorus from Bayswater in Perth, WA Frank Lambert, with a Spot-throated Babbler recording from Thailand, via xeno canto XC200877 (CC BY-NC 4.0) Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Petria Ladgrove, Producer Joel Werner, Script Editing This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

It's like a classic horror film. There are huge fangs, a segmented body, a remote location, the ocean bashing against cliffs, you're all alone and there's no one to help. The first bodies that turn up are of the children… of petrels. Featuring: Luke Halpin, PhD Researcher, Monash University Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Petria Ladgrove, Producer Joel Werner, Script Editing This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

Turns out centipedes versus millipedes isn't as simple as a numbers game. But here at What the Duck?! we never skip leg day. Featuring: Dr Juanita Rodriguez, Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO. Dr Bruno Alves Buzatto, Flinders University. Luis Villazon, Science Educator UK. Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer. Petria Ladgrove, Producer. Additional mastering: Angela Grant. This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

Can animals create, or even enjoy music? Ann rips through the animal kingdom to check out the musical talent of some likely and unlikely performers. Featuring: Dr. Stuart Watson, University of Zurich. Dr. Chiara De Gregorio, University of Torino. Assistant Professor Adena Schachner, University of California. David Teie, Musician and composer, Music for Cats. Associate Professor Cameron Webb, University of Sydney and NSW Health Pathology. Featured sounds: Musical Stimuli for Parrots by Adena Schachner, Fostog's Touch by David Teie (music for cats) and Marlene McCohen (YouTube) and her Amazon parrot Lucy. Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer. Petria Ladgrove, Producer. Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri. For more about bird song and music click here. This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2023 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

We will all go to trouble to get a good meal, but some animals take it to the extreme. Some build architectural masterpieces to entrap their prey, or use body parts as lures. But what is your cat doing when it makes the 'ek ek ek ek?' Is it trying to bewitch the birds? Featuring: Professor Kris Helgen, Australian Museum. Julia Henning, PhD candidate, University of Adelaide. Associate Professor Inon Scharf, Tel Aviv University. Dr David Merritt, Entomologist. Associate Professor Ajay Narendra, Macquarie University. Extra audio: Cat Ek ek ek by @thiscatisdumpling. Production: Ann Jones, Presenter/Producer. Petria Ladgrove, Producer. Belinda Smith, Producer. Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.   This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

Fungi are already hard at work helping trees survive drought, recycling fallen logs, rotting away carcases, and helping human digestive systems, but could they do more? Is our future made of fungi? Research has shown the fungi's potential to make medicine, clothing, and cheap fire-retardant housing, but trying to isolate and harness just one species is not an easy task given they get into pretty much everything. Featuring: Dr. Tien Huynh, associate professor at the School of Sciences, RMIT Grace Boxshall, PhD student at the University of Melbourne and visiting junior research fellow at the University of New South Wales. Georgina Hold, professor of gut health at the School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, fungal and plant ecologist at the University of New England Alistair McTaggart, mycologist and researcher at Psymbiotika Lab Justin Beardsley, researcher at the University of Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute and physician at Westmead Hospital Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer This 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

Mushrooms were once lumped in with plants, and they stayed there well after science knew better. But if a fungus is not a plant… is it a closer relative of yours than you might've thought? With millions of species on Earth, and many that live inside you, it seems important to know about the kingdom of fungi. Featuring: Tom May, senior principal research scientist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria; and co-author of Planet Fungi  Grace Boxshall, PhD student at the University of Melbourne and visiting junior research fellow at the University of New South Wales. Georgina Hold, Professor of Gut Health at the School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, fungal and plant ecologist at the University of New England Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer This 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

As daily updates about the 'mushroom murders' monopolised newsfeeds around the country, the What the Duck?! team started questioning the motives.  Not the human ones — the fungi ones. Why would a mushroom need a toxin so powerful it takes just a few grams to kill a human? And where's the warning?  Nature usually throws up alerts for poison, like bright colours or spots, but the death cap is pretty plain. Why does a mushroom need such a deadly toxin anyway? Featuring: Tom May, senior principal research scientist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria  Grace Boxshall, PhD student at the University of Melbourne and visiting junior research fellow at the University of New South Wales. Lindsay Mollison, retired consultant physician in infectious diseases and gastroenterology Justin Beardsley, researcher at the University of Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute and physician at Westmead Hospital Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer Rebecca McLaren, Producer Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer This 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

Have you found yourself wondering why a simple brown mushroom would develop a toxin so strong that just a few grams could kill a human? What the Duck?! is investigating the motives of toxic fungi and exploring the curious world of puffballs, fly agarics, stinkhorns, and death caps. Powerful toxins are scary, but there are varieties that could help humans in medical treatment, space exploration, manufacturing and by consuming plastic waste… Mushrooms are sending us mixed messages! What the Duck?! serves mushrooms from October 3rd. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (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.

Cuckoo babies hatch in the nests of other bird species then quickly, often brutally, make sure they're the only baby to get fed… So how does a cuckoo know how to be a cuckoo? Well… that is a ducking good question. Featuring: Cassandra Taylor, ANU. Claire Taylor, Uni of Melbourne. Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer. Petria Ladgrove, Producer. Joel Werner, Script Editing. This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and produced (mainly) on the land of the Wadawarrung and the 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

There are so many sticky things in nature, but what's the nature of their stickiness? Could slug mucus or frog ooze be used in medical treatments? Ann puts on her spider-woman gloves to find out. Featuring: Ella Tyler, wife of the late Prof Mike Tyler. Prof Andrew Smith, Biology, Ithaca College. Prof George Murrell, Director Orthopaedic Research Institute, St George Hospital, NSW. Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer. Petria Ladgrove, Producer. This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the 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 the ABC Listen app (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.ore the mysteries of nature.

If you ever wanted to be able to stick to walls like spider man, then listen to this. How do geckos and ants walk easily up walls and across the ceiling? Is an insect foot sticky in the same way as a reptilian tootsie? And how does underwater stickiness compare? Just how is that barnacle attached to a boat? Featuring: Rishab Pillai, James Cook University. Dr Christofer Clemente, University of the Sunshine Coast. Dr Eleanor Velasquez, Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) at UQ. Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer. Petria Ladgrove, Producer. Joel Werner, Script Editing. This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the 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 the ABC Listen app (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.

This place is so extreme that NASA sends scientists to test equipment for Mars missions. And yet, Australia's salty lakes are full of life. Featuring: Bonnie Teece, Postgraduate Researcher at UNSW Angus D'Arcy Lawrie, PhD Student at Murdoch University. Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer. Petria Ladgrove, Producer. Joel Werner, Script Editing. This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Ann finds out that birds are not really blue. Not even bluebirds. If they're not blue, then what the duck are they? Featuring: Richard McClure, Stems Flower Market, Ballarat. Nate Byrne, ABC News Breakfast Meteorologist and science nerd. Prof Andrew Lowe, University of Adelaide. Dr Kate Umbers, University of Western Sydney. Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer. Petria Ladgrove, Producer. Joel Werner, Script Editing. This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.