Microplastics, Macro-problem

Do the artificial sweeteners most of us consume everyday cause cancer? You're about to find out!Bethany, Stefanie and Alastair take us through the evidence from both sides of the debate and answer this intriguing question once and for all (at least based on the current data!).Click here for a full reference list

Join Abbey, Marnie and Josiah as they delve into the world of female fertility. They investigate why fertility declines with age and what are some actional strategies for increasing their chances of conceiving, as well as looking ahead to what may be possible in the future. Shownotes/references.

You've no doubt heard the headlines about microplastics and how much of these we are all consuming. But what does the science behind this say? And what are these microplastics doing in the body?Join Velda, Reece, Frank and Ziona as they delve into the science of microplastics and their impact on the body.Show notes/references.

Nothing is straight forward when it comes to autoimmunity and how it develops. It requires a combination of genetic and environmental factors to rear its ugly head.Join Shauna, Emma & Methul as the explore the complex world of autoimmunity.Show notes/references.

Ever wondered what makes melanoma the most dangerous form of skin cancer? It’s a diagnosis no one wants to hear, but there is growing hope. Advances in research and treatment are transforming outcomes and helping us fight this aggressive disease more effectively than ever before.Join Aditya, Nekesha & Aliyah as they explore the world of melanoma and what we can do to avoid this aggressive skin cancer.Show notes/references.

Can COVID increase your chance of Alzheimer's disease? Both COVID-19 & Alzheimer's disease have some overlapping effects on the brain, so it's certainly worthy of investigation!Join Laila, Simona & Max, as they get to the bottom of the links between COVID-19 & Alzheimer's disease.Show notes/references.

Have you ever wondered why the flu shot gets updated each year? And how do scientists work out how to chance the vaccine well ahead of time?Join Emma, Wendy & Hadik as they explore the answer to these questions and much more!Show notes/references.

We all know that Female fertility declines with age - but why is this the case? And what can be done to give couples a better chance of conceiving? Join Dov, Charli & Jedid, as they explore female fertility and seek out potential solutions to help slow age-related infertility.Show notes/References.

Imagine living in a world where a cut could be deadly.If we want to avoid this possibility in the future, we need antibiotics that actually work!Jonathan, Ash, Vidara & Victoria dive into to shed light on the emerging threat that is antibiotic resistance. Tune in to find out why this is such a big problem and to find out what you can do to help.Show notes/references

Alexandra, Andrew & Zeyneb do a deep dive on the impacts of pre-natal stress on the developing fetus and after birth. They particularly focus on the potential impacts of stress on the child's developing brain. They also offer some strategies to manage stress for both mother and baby. Tune in to find out more![1] Wu, Y., De Asis-Cruz, J. and Limperopoulos, C. (2024). Brain structural and functional outcomes in the offspring of women experiencing psychological distress during pregnancy. Molecular PsychiatryWhat happens in the womb[2] Zhu, P., Wang, W., Zuo, R. and Sun, K. (2018). Mechanisms for establishment of the placental glucocorticoid barrier, a guard for life. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences[3] Davis, E.P., Sandman, C.A., Buss, C., Wing, D.A. and Head, K. (2013). Fetal Glucocorticoid Exposure Is Associated with Preadolescent Brain Development. Biological Psychiatry,[4] Coussons-Read, M.E. (2013). Effects of Prenatal Stress on Pregnancy and Human development: Mechanisms and Pathways. Obstetric Medicine[5] Clarke, A.S., Wittwer, D.J., Abbott, D.H. and Schneider, M.L. (1994). Long-term effects of prenatal stress on HPA axis activity in juvenile rhesus monkeys. Developmental Psychobiology, 27[6] Braithwaite, E., Kundakovic, M., Ramchandani, P., Murphy, S. and Champagne, F. (2015). Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms predict infant NR3C11F and BDNFIV DNA methylation. Epigenetics[7] Moog, N.K., Nolvi, S., Kleih, T.S., Styner, M., Gilmore, J.H., Rasmussen, J.M., Heim, C.M., Entringer, S., Wadhwa, P.D. and Buss, C. (2021). Prospective association of maternal psychosocial stress in pregnancy with newborn hippocampal volume and implications for infant social-emotional development. Neurobiology of Stress[8] Mulligan, C., D’Errico, N., Stees, J. and Hughes, D. (2012). Methylation changes atNR3C1in newborns associate with maternal prenatal stress exposure and newborn birth weight. Epigenetics[9] Meane, M.J. and Szyf, M. (2005). Environmental programming of stress responses through DNA methylation: life at the interface between a dynamic environment and a fixed genome. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience[10] Herring, C.M., Bazer, F.W., Johnson, G.A. and Wu, G. (2018). Impacts of maternal dietary protein intake on fetal survival, growth, and development. Experimental Biology and Medicine[11] Zhang, H. and Wang, L. (2013). Use of antidepressants during pregnancy: a better choice for some. Shanghai Archives of Psychiatry[12] Desaunay, P., Eude, L.-G., Dreyfus, M., Alexandre, C., Fedrizzi, S., Alexandre, J., Uguz, F. and Guénolé, F. (2023). Benefits and Risks of Antidepressant Drugs During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Meta-analyses. Pediatric Drugs[13] Expectful. (n.d.). Expectful—A Health & News Hub from Fertility to Postpartum. https://expectful.com/.[14] Porter, A.C., Hunter, S., Noonan, K. and Hoffman, M.C. (2022). A Mindfulness Application for Reducing Prenatal Stress. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 67 (4), 442-447. doi:10.1111/jmwh.13359.[15] Pregnancy, birth & baby . (n.d.). https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/about-pregnancy-birth-and-baby.[16] myGov. (2025). Mental health during pregnancy. https://my.gov.au/en/services/raising-kids/having-a-baby/before-your-baby-arrives/mental-health-during-pregnancyBonus question[17] Rifkin-Graboi, A., Meaney, M.J., Chen, H., Bai, J., Hameed, W.B., Tint, M.T., Broekman, B.F.P., Chong, Y.-S., Gluckman, P.D., Fortier, M.V. and Qiu, A. (2015). Antenatal Maternal Anxiety Predicts Variations in Neural Structures Implicated in Anxiety Disorders in Newborns. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 54(4), pp.313-321.e2.