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Articles by Fiona Pepper
Meditation can help and it can harm. This is what happens when it goes wrong
Fiona Pepper for All In The Mind "Everybody thinks meditation's hunky-dory … there's just this automatic assumption that it couldn't possibly come in and totally blow up your brain." Three years ago, Sue discovered pranayama, a type of meditation involving modifying the length and timing of breaths. But the self-described "spiritual seeker" in her 70s from Florida stopped after having "an acute traumatic experience … caused by meditation". Sue is not alone.
Program: When meditation goes wrong: part two
Meditation sickness, meditation-related adverse effects or meditators in distress – you probably haven't heard these terms, even if you do meditate. Yet research finds adverse effects occur in half of all meditators. For one in 10, it impairs their functioning or lasts more than a month. Experts say many people can benefit from meditation, but it can also come with harms.
Program: When meditation goes wrong: part one
Meditation has a lot of benefits, but could it also have risks? Over the past decade, meditation and mindfulness have been promoted to reduce stress and increase relaxation. But there is another story of meditation that rarely gets told... one that involves anxiety, insomnia — even psychosis. Today, how one person went from being an evangelical mindfulness meditator, to a leading researcher on the adverse effects of meditation.
Program: Lab Notes: What happens if a major ocean current … stops?
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a vast current that helps move water and energy right around our planet, from top to bottom. Scientists say it is slowing down — and might stop altogether, with dire consequences for the global climate if it does. So how do major ocean currents work, why is it slowing down, and what will happen if it collapses?
Program: Lab Notes: AI data centres are coming to remote Australia
The Kimberley region is more than 2000 kilometres north of Western Australia's capital city, Perth. The area is both extremely remote and extremely beautiful. So why is it the proposed location for Australia's biggest "AI factory"? Why do we need this massive AI data centre? And are these factories likely to be built in other remote parts of Australia? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia).
Program: Lab Notes: Aussies loved Artemis II — and they want more
Australians were captivated by the recent Artemis II mission — and they’re hungry for more. New YouGov polling reveals surging national interest in space exploration and its future. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.
Program: Lab Notes: Is measles back?
In 2024, measles claimed an estimated 95,000 lives around the world – despite the fact that we have an effective, affordable vaccine. In Australia, at least 80 cases have been recorded this year. So is measles back? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.
Program: Lab Notes: What can we grow on the Moon?
The main aim of NASA's Artemis program is to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon — so what will we eat? And can food be actually be grown there? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.
Program: Lab Notes: Can we replace lab animals?
Humans have done experiments on animals for thousands of years — but animal testing has always been controversial because of the concerns for animal welfare. Recently, there have been more and more efforts to find alternatives to lab animals. So how is this quest going? What's on the horizon – and will we ever get rid of animals from the lab completely? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia).
Program: Lab Notes: NASA's mission to the Moon
It's more than 50 years since humans went anywhere near the Moon — but that's about to change. After a series of delays, NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch in early April. So what's the aim of the mission, where exactly are the astronauts headed, and why is it happening now? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia).
Program: Lab Notes: Super-K flu is here … but it's not our biggest problem
A fast-moving strain of influenza known as "Super-K" is circulating in Australia and has been driving up flu numbers around the world. Virologists are constantly tracking strains like this as they come and go. Professor Kirsty Short, shares her anxiety about the flu season ahead, as well as a surprising recent win — and a call to arms about vaccination. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia).
Program: Lab Notes: Slip! Slop! Slap! SUCCESS!
Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world — but there's some good news for Aussie kids. The presence of moles is a strong predictor of melanoma and researchers in Queensland have found that the number of moles found on children's bodies has halved in recent decades. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia).
Lab Notes: Why air traffic won’t return to normal for months?
Major international airports in the Middle East have been closed this week due to the war with Iran, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded. So, what happens after a major airspace closure? How do pilots know where they should fly? And how long will it take to get things back to normal? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia).
The Challenger Legacy: Q&A - ABC listen
What's the point of space exploration? Would you fly on a space shuttle? How did engineers fix the joints after the Challenger disaster? For this special bonus episode of The Challenger Legacy, hosts Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Fiona Pepper answer your questions.
Lab Notes: Why buying a star name is nonsense - ABC listen
A quick online search reveals multiple paid services for naming stars as commemorative gifts. You'll be provided with a certificate and a map for finding your star in the sky. But these names are not official and are not used by astronomers — or anyone else, for that matter. So what's going on, and how do stars really get their names?
NASA Artemis II mission concerns - ABC listen
Next month, NASA is hoping for a successful launch of Artemis II, its first mission sending humans around the moon in more than 50 years. A launch earlier this month was abandoned after a hydrogen leak was detected in a rocket. But there could be more serious problems facing the mission with a former NASA scientist claiming Artemis II is not safe to launch at all.
NASA 'playing Russian roulette' with astronauts' lives, ex-engineer says
As the Artemis II mission prepares to take off in March, a retired NASA engineer and astronaut has raised concerns about the Orion spacecraft's heat shield. The performance of the heat shield is critical to protect astronauts from the extreme temperatures of re-entry. NASA's administrator, Jared Isaacman has confirmed he has "full confidence" in Orion's heat shield design.
The Challenger Legacy: Apollo on Steroids - ABC listen
NASA is gearing up for the Artemis II mission — where it will send astronauts around the moon for the first time in 50 years. While space exploration is never without risk, a retired astronaut is warning that NASA is "playing Russian roulette" with the lives of the crew. So have lessons been learnt from the Challenger and Columbia disasters?
Lab Notes: Skincare, pregnancy and a minefield of mixed messages
Retinoids are big business for reducing wrinkles and treating acne — but there's conflicting advice on their safety for pregnant women. Should manufacturers of these skincare products be providing warnings? Or are the risks not that great? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.
The Challenger Legacy: The Devil You Know - ABC listen
In the wake of twin disasters two decades apart, how do we make sense of why they happened? In episode four, we find out what happened on the very first flight after Columbia — and ask whether NASA changed at all.
Lab Notes: Can we tap the brakes on energy-hungry AI?
AI seems to be absolutely everywhere at the moment. While we're still waiting for the productivity revolution — or the jobs apocalypse — the energy costs of AI are already staggering. So how should we think about those environmental impacts of AI? And what can we learn from previous turns of the great technological wheel? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia).
The Challenger Legacy: Columbia - ABC listen
In 2003, close to two decades after the Challenger disaster, seven astronauts were killed in another space shuttle accident. History has repeated itself and NASA faces another reckoning — the parallels between the two disasters are undeniable.
Lab Notes: What's behind the rising tree death rates?
Fire, insects and disease all pose a threat to Australia's forests but scientists are now seeing a rise in natural tree deaths right across the country. New research links this background mortality to higher average temperatures. So what do these higher temperatures mean for our forests and the future of Australia's ecosystems? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia).
PRESENTS - The Challenger Legacy - ABC listen
Forty years ago this January, the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated on its way into orbit. All seven astronauts on board were killed. In the days after the tragedy, the world wanted answers. What really caused the shuttle to explode? And should the launch have been stopped altogether? For season five of Science Friction, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Fiona Pepper investigate how the Challenger disaster unfolded – and what that has meant for space exploration from 1986 to now.
Inside NASA's space shuttle Challenger disaster that could have been stopped 40 years ago
The two solid rocket boosters flew in different directions as the external fuel tank became a fireball.() Forty years ago, the Challenger space shuttle disintegrated just after lift-off, killing its crew and changing the history of spaceflight. A small team of engineers tried to prevent the tragedy — but they were overruled. January 28, 1986 was an unusually crisp winter morning at Cape Canaveral in Florida. When the sun rose at 7:12am, the air temperature was about -5 degrees Celsius.
The Challenger Legacy: Five Lepers - ABC listen
In a conference room in Utah, space shuttle Challenger engineers watch in horror as it explodes live on TV. These engineers are more than 3,000 kilometres from the launch site - but they're about to become the centre of this story. Because they had tried to stop the launch from happening.
Lab Notes: The oldest rock art in the world…that we know of
A faint orange hand stencil on the wall of a cave in Indonesia just became the oldest art known to science. The art, made by splattering ochre over a hand, had been painted over by subsequent generations and was only preserved because moisture combined with the limestone of the cave to form a protective layer on top. The finding strengthens the picture that humans migrated via Borneo, Sulawesi and Papua to reach Australia at least 65,000 years ago.
The Challenger Legacy: Launch Fever - ABC listen
It's the morning of January 28th, 1986. On board the space shuttle Challenger are seven astronauts, including teacher Christa McAuliffe. She is set to be the first ever teacher in space. But Christa never makes it to orbit. In the wake of an unprecedented disaster, questions start to be asked. Should this mission have been launched in the first place?
Lab Notes: Why UV levels are so high in Australia
Australia's summer UV levels are high enough to cause sunburn in as little as 11 minutes. Yet the summer sun in the Northern Hemisphere rarely feels that full on. So why does our sunlight have that extra "bite"? Spoiler: it's not the hole in the ozone layer. This episode was first broadcast in February 2025. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia).
INTRODUCING - The Challenger Legacy - ABC listen
Forty years ago this January, the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated on its way into orbit. All seven astronauts on board were killed. In the days after the tragedy, the world wanted answers. What really caused the shuttle to explode? And should the launch have been stopped altogether? For season five of Science Friction, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Fiona Pepper investigate how the Challenger disaster unfolded – and what that has meant for space exploration from 1986 to now.
Lab Notes: Why do whales strand en masse?
Every now and again, dozens or even hundreds of perfectly healthy looking whales strand themselves on a beach. And despite people's best efforts, many — if not all of them — will die. So why do whales strand themselves, and why do they seem to do it at the same locations? This episode was first broadcast in August 2025. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia).
Lab Notes: Tips to reduce microplastics exposure
Science, Plastics, Polymers and Rubber Manufacturing, Pollution, Public Health Belinda Smith: Microplastics are quite literally everywhere and we hear about studies into their potential health effects all the time. In a world first, a new study has linked microplastics to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and death. News Grab: Microplastics in the air may be leading to lung and colon cancers.
Lab Notes: How is sunscreen SPF tested?
Australia's known for having some of the world's toughest sunscreen standards, but in June, that reputation was rocked. Independent testing of 20 sunscreens found 16 did not meet their advertised SPF50+ rating, including three children's sunscreens and three sold by the Cancer Council. So how are sunscreens tested, and what can we learn from these recent SPF revelations? This episode was first broadcast in September 2025.
Lab Notes: How maths explains nature's weirdness
A huge cold blob of air above Antarctica and bushfires spreading along ridgelines don't appear to have anything in common, yet the strange behaviour of these natural phenomena — and many others — can be understood and explained by mathematics. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.
Lab Notes: How are long-range weather forecasts made?
It looks like most of Australia is in for a warmer-than-usual summer this year. That's according to the Bureau of Meteorology's long-range forecast, which was released in October. So — without a crystal ball — how do meteorologists make weather predictions so far out, how accurate are they, and how is climate change affecting them? You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia).
Lab Notes: How breastfeeding can protect against cancer
Thanks in part to 18th-century nuns, we now know that having children and breastfeeding reduces a mum's risk of developing the disease for years, even until her kid is in primary school. Now Australian scientists have discovered how breastfeeding specifically enlists the immune system to protect against an aggressive and hard-to-treat type of breast cancer. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia).
Lab Notes: How your brain chooses your next snack
It's mid-afternoon and time for a treat! Do you choose a healthy piece of fruit, or do you head straight for the chocolate? It turns out that well before we consciously decide what we're going to eat, our brain has already weighed up our choices — and in a fraction of a second. Now a new study shows which food attributes are processed by our brain faster than others, and how this might influence our dietary decisions.
Lab Notes: Times we thought we found aliens
We have a mysterious visitor to our little patch of the cosmos this week: A comet called 3I/ATLAS. This icy, rocky ball is only the third interstellar object we've discovered zooming past our Sun. There are scientists who think the comet may be alien technology sent from another solar system to invade Earth, but space agencies poured cold water on this idea. So how will we know if we truly find evidence of extraterrestrial life?
Lab Notes: The extinct ape-like human relative that made tools - ABC listen
Around 1.5 million years ago, in what's now Kenya, a human-like figure walked across the savannah. He was probably quite short by our standards, no taller than Danny DeVito. But unlike Danny DeVito, this ancient figure was not human. He was a long-extinct relative of ours called Paranthropus boisei. And now his fossilised hand bones are giving us never-before-seen insights into how he and his species lived.
Lab Notes: How solar eclipses trick birds into singing
Few astronomical wonders are as spectacular as a total solar eclipse, when the Moon fully covers the Sun, plunging us into daytime darkness. If we're lucky, we can see this epic phenomenon as it happens — through special glasses, of course. But our preoccupation with looking at the sky means we may not notice what's happening to the animals around us. When it comes to birds, many of which rely on the Sun to tell them when to sing a dawn chorus, how does a solar eclipse change how they behave?
Lab Notes: How humpback whales bounced back
This has been a bumper year for whale-watching on Australia's east coast, with thousands of humpbacks spotted cruising along their annual migration route. This population was almost wiped out by whalers last century but has bounced back — and then some. A new estimate suggests there are now more of these humpbacks than in pre-whaling times. So why are the eastern Australian humpbacks going gangbusters while other populations aren't doing nearly as well?
Lab Notes: These high-tech mouthguards predict concussions
If you've been watching the Women's Rugby World Cup, you may have noticed players have been wearing special mouthguards that light up when they've suffered a significant knock to the head. It's the first time these concussion-predicting mouthguards have been trialled at a major competition. So in the wake of recent concussion concerns, from professional AFL and rugby league to community competitions, is this the future of sport?
Lab Notes: After the SPF scandal — how is sunscreen tested? - ABC listen
Australia’s known for having some of the world’s toughest sunscreen standards, but in June, that reputation was rocked. Independent testing of 20 sunscreens found 16 did not meet their advertised SPF50 rating, including three children's sunscreens and three sold by the Cancer Council. So how are sunscreens tested, and what can we learn from these recent SPF revelations?
Lab Notes: Move over, NASA — Australia's heading back into space - ABC listen
When you think of leaders in the space sector, big hitters like NASA and private companies like SpaceX spring to mind. But since the very beginning of the Space Age, Australia has played a role in the space flight industry. And this year, an Australian company tried to launch a rocket from Australian soil. So why is Australia building and launching rockets at all, especially when so many nations are already miles ahead?
Lab Notes: Why your hay fever will get worse with climate change - ABC listen
For many Australians, this time of year brings golden wattle blossoms, swooping magpies … and sneezes, wheezes and itchy eyes. Hay fever (or allergic rhinitis) strikes when your immune system responds to an allergen, such as grass pollen. But what seem like minor seasonal sneezes and sniffles also have a serious side, and as the planet warms, our hay fever is tipped to get much worse.
Lab Notes: Why do whales beach themselves? - ABC listen
Every now and again, dozens or even hundreds of perfectly healthy looking whales strand themselves on a beach. And despite people's best efforts, many — if not all of them — will die. So why do whales strand themselves, and why do they seem to do it at the same locations? Featuring: Kate Sprogis, marine mammal ecologist at University of Western Australia Learn more on Lab Notes, the show that brings you the science of new discoveries and current events.
Lab Notes: The fall of the food pyramid
For many Australians, our first contact with dietary guidelines was the food pyramid, which had fruit, veggies, and carbs at its base, and fats and sugar at the very top. The pyramid has had a makeover and it's now the "healthy eating plate". Fresh Australian dietary guidelines are due to drop next year, and — if other countries are anything to go by — their focus could extend beyond human nutrition and into the health of the planet.
Lab Notes: The native ants that take down cane toads - ABC listen
Meat ants (Iridomyrmex purpureus) don't sound like the most endearing Australian animals. These purple-red insects are super territorial, swarming and biting anything that threatens their nest. But it turns out they're not just aggressive, flesh-tearing fighters. They're also farmers, architects, and — best of all — cane toad exterminators. Learn more on Lab Notes, the show that brings you the science of new discoveries and current events.
Hinamoeura Cross was seven years old when the last nuclear bomb was tested in French Polynesia
Hina Cross was seven years old when the last of the 193 nuclear bombs was tested in French Polynesia in 1996. But she never learned about it in school. After being diagnosed leukaemia at the age of 24, Hina began to realise the full extent of the fallout. Now an Anti-Nuclear Activist and newly appointed Member of Parliament in Tahiti, Hina aims to unveil the country’s true history and give Polynesians the chance to tell their own stories.
Lab Notes: How do I avoid eating and breathing microplastics?
It's impossible to escape microplastics. They're in our food and water, and the air around us is teeming with them. So considering they're all around us, how can we minimise our exposure to tiny plastic fragments without resorting to living in a cave?
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