In astronomical news recently - it was announced that the Milky Way has two less arms than originally thought. How? Why? And what’s a galaxy to start with? To answer these questions, I talk to Dr Pamela Gay, an astronomer from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, who tells us all why this [...]

A bunch of people have asked me why I do a podcast. Some even ask why I do a science podcast. Paring that back a bit, it comes down to a couple of real questions. 1) Why science? 2) Why podcast? To answer the first part - I’ve always loved science. Ever since I was knee high to [...]

Dr Seth Shostak is a senior astronomer at the SETI Institute - we discuss the SETI program and about the possibility of intelligent life out there; the Drake Equation and how soon it might be before we find extra terrestrial life of some form. Also featured on today’s show are the Brain Teaser, Pin of the [...]

Dr Pilar Gil Pons is a postdoctoral researcher in the area of super asymptotic giant branch stars who has just received a grant by the Spanish government to work on SAGB stars at Monash University in Australia. She also happens to be an expert on binary stars, which is what I talked to her about in [...]

Hi all, Here’s a great Public Service Announcement from Nobilis. Public Service Announcement

Dr Hunter Mulcare is a clinical health psychologist who has also done research work in the area of psychology. Psycho-oncology is a relatively new area within psychology. It is the psychological study of cancer patients. Dr Mulcare talked to me about some of his research into this area. What is the [...]

In this episode, I continue my talk with Dr Sarah Maddison from the Swinburne University of Technology on how planets form. If you missed part 1 of the interview, please listen to the previous show. This is part 2 of a 2 part interview. Download MP3 of Ep 63 Please vote for this podcast this month at You [...]

In this episode, I talk to Dr Sarah Maddison from the Swinburne University of Technology on how planets form - both in our solar system, and other systems around the universe. We discuss the standard solar system as we know it - and “Hot Jupiters” that have been discovered around distant stars - and [...]

In this episode I speak to Dr Geoff Campbell, honorary research fellow from the school of mathematics from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. Dr Campbell talked to me about his pioneering research work, including that of Visible Lattice Points, in the area of pure mathematics. He also talks about their application in [...]

Happy ANZAC Day to everyone in Australia and New Zealand!

Dr Hunter Mulcare is a clinical health psychologist who has also done research work in the area of psychology. Dr Mulcare talked to me about what psychology is, what it is useful for, and about some of the research he has done especially in the area of drug and alcohol research. He also shares his [...]

In this episode I talk to Adam Parker, who is currently doing a PhD in robotics. We talk about robots, and their portrayal in current society. Some of the topics mentioned in the interview: Karel Capek Rossum’s Universal Robots Metropolis IMDB site Metropolis wikipedia site Kino Metropolis site Kismet, the social robot Al-Jazari and his robot from the 11th century Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Jacques [...]

Vale Arthur C Clarke, author of the 2001, A Space Odyssey series, Rendezvous with Rama, and a host of other science fiction novels and stories, who passed away today at the age of 90 in Sri Lanka. He was a man well before his time, and predicted via his stories the advent of many [...]

In this episode I speak to Dr Geoff Campbell, honorary research fellow from the school of mathematics from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. Dr Campbell talked to me about Srinivasa Ramanujan, a self-taught mathematical genius from the early part of last century. Download MP3 of Ep 58 Please vote for this podcast this month at You [...]

In this episode I talk to Lynne Kelly, author and educator, about critical thinking and how it is taught and applied in education. How are people taught today compared to the past? How should they be taught? This is part two of a two part interview. Lynne’s website is http://www.lynnekelly.com.au Download MP3 of Ep 57 Please vote [...]

In this episode I talk to Lynne Kelly, author and educator, about critical thinking and how it is taught and applied in education. How are people taught today compared to the past? How should they be taught? This is part one of a two part interview. Lynne’s website is http://www.lynnekelly.com.au Download MP3 of Ep 56 Please vote [...]

Brains Matter Brain Teaser minicast number 9. In these episodes, I’ll provide you with a brain teaser, and answer them in the following minicast. Send me your answers! Download MP3 of BMBT009 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes [...]

In this episode, I talk to Professor David Karoly, Federation Fellow at the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne in Australia - and who is also a lead author for the IPCC (Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change) report on global warming. We discusses climate change - what is it, what [...]

Hi all, The issues with downloading the mp3’s of the episodes should be resolved now. Please let me know if you still have difficulties. OG

Hi all, Some of you may have noticed problems in getting the audio files for the show as of today (21/2). We’re currently experiencing some problems with the mp3 hosting server, hopefully it won’t be too long until it comes back up. Thanks OG

In this episode I talk to Lynne Kelly, author and educator, about her book “The Skeptics Guide to the Paranormal”, and some of the anecdotes she had about the reality behind some so-called paranormal events. Download MP3 of Ep 54 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and [...]

As many of you know, today is the first day of the lunar Chinese New Year, so happy new year to you all! It’s the Chinese Year of the Rat. The most recent Rat years are 1996, 1984, 1972 and 1960 - those born in the year of the Rat are considered hard working and [...]

Brains Matter Brain Teaser minicast number 8. In these episodes, I’ll provide you with a brain teaser, and answer them in the following minicast. Send me your answers! Download MP3 of BMBT008 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes [...]

In episode 53, I talk about the creation of the first synthetic genome. The show also features a brain teaser, pin of the episode, and listener feedback. Download MP3 of Ep53 Promo in this episode for Erk Pod. Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by [...]

Brains Matter Brain Teaser minicast number 7. In these episodes, I’ll provide you with a brain teaser, and answer them in the following minicast. Send me your answers! Download MP3 of BMBT007 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes [...]

In this episode I talk to Dr Todd Lane about something all air travellers are interested in - turbulence. What causes it, and what is our current understanding of the phenomena. Download MP3 of Ep52 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in [...]

Brains Matter Brain Teaser minicast number 6. In these episodes, I’ll provide you with a brain teaser, and answer them in the following minicast. Send me your answers! Download MP3 of BMBT006 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes [...]

I talk to Dr Todd Lane about the Helios experimental aircraft from NASA, and his investigations into the reasons why it crashed. Download MP3 of Ep51 Click here to see the Helios aircraft in flight. Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes [...]

In this episode, the last for the year, and also the 50th episode of the show, I go through some of the major achievements and discoveries in science and technology over the past 50 years. The show also features a brain teaser and listener feedback. Download MP3 of Ep50 Please vote for this podcast this month [...]

Brains Matter Brain Teaser minicast number 5. In these episodes, I’ll provide you with a brain teaser, and answer them in the following minicast. Send me your answers! Download MP3 of BMBT005 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes [...]

Brains Matter Brain Teaser minicast number 4. In these episodes, I’ll provide you with a brain teaser, and answer them in the following minicast. Send me your answers! Download MP3 of BMBT004 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes [...]

Brains Matter Brain Teaser minicast number 3. In these episodes, I’ll provide you with a brain teaser, and answer them in the following minicast. Send me your answers! Download MP3 of BMBT003 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes [...]

Brains Matter Brain Teaser minicast number 2. In these episodes, I’ll provide you with a brain teaser, and answer them in the following minicast. Send me your answers! Download MP3 of BMBT002 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes [...]

In this episode I interview Dr Pamela Gay from the University of Illinois, Edwardsville, on the Big Bang and the origin of the universe. Download MP3 of Ep49 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes digg this

Welcome to the Brains Matter Brain Teaser minicast. In these episodes, I’ll provide you with a brain teaser, and answer them in the following minicast. Send me your answers! Download MP3 of BMBT001 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes [...]

Part 2 of my interview with Professor Peter McIntyre from the University of Melbourne on pain - what is it, how do we feel it, wha forms of it are there, and how does it relate to our sense of taste? If you haven’t listened to part 1 in the last episode, please listen [...]

To the South Asian listeners and to those who celebrate it, happy Deepavali! OG

In the episode today, I speak to Professor Peter McIntyre from the University of Melbourne on pain - what is it, how do we feel it, what forms of it are there, and how does it relate to our sense of taste? Listen to this interview, and learn about it! Download MP3 of [...]

On today’s show, a quick preview of the new OS released by Apple - Leopard, and the regular brain teaser, pin of the episode, and listener feedback. Download MP3 of Ep46 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes digg this

In today’s episode, I continue my interview with Dr Mark Boland, Accelerator Physicist from the Australian Synchrotron. We tour the facility, and continue our discuss on the synchrotron and what it can be used for. Also on today’s episode, the Brain Teaser, Listener feedback, and Pin of the Episode. A picture I took [...]

On today’s episode, I talk to Dr Mark Boland from the Australian Synchrotron. Dr Boland tells me about how the synchrotron works. Also on today’s show - news, pin of the episode, and the Brain Teaser. Synchrotron Overview: Join me for the next episode where Dr Boland takes me on a tour of the facility. Download MP3 of [...]

Brains Matter was first broadcast on 16/10/2006, which means that today is the one year anniversary of the show. Download MP3 of Ep43 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes

I interview Nobel Laureate and Australian of the Year, Professor Peter Doherty, and we talk about the work that led to his Nobel Prize, his books, his views on modern science, and I also get a joke out of the Nobel Prize winner. The show also features some news, pin of the episode, and [...]

In this episode, I talk to Dr Roger Rassool about why physics is useful - in more ways than people assume! The physics of music, and how elephants communicate using infrasound. Please listen to episode 39 (part 1) and episode 40 (part 2) of the interview series with Dr Rassool. http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/photo/people/roger/home.html ANZAAS home page: http://www.anzaas.org.au/ Download MP3 of Ep41 Today’s [...]

In this episode, I talk to Dr Roger Rassool about particle physics, and his research into a land mine detector using nitrogen, a Positron Emission Tomography Scanner - which uses anti-matter to work, and the Single Photon Detector, which is used in synchrotrons. These are all research projects in the the Physics Solutions for [...]

Dr Roger Rassool is a particle physicist from the University of Melbourne. He runs the physics MUPPETS outreach program, aimed at students, and those who are interested in science. I talked to him about the program. Download MP3 of Ep39 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button [...]

Thank you to all the current and new listeners. It’s because of you guys that I get the encouragement and enthusiasm to do the show. Checking iTunes last week, the show hit #2 in the science category in Australia, and a few days earlier, #2 in science in New Zealand as well. So thanks [...]

Thank you to all the current and new listeners. It’s because of you guys that I get the encouragement and enthusiasm to do the show. Checking iTunes last week, the show hit #2 in the science category in Australia, and a few days earlier, #2 in science in New Zealand as well. So thanks [...]

Briony Rogers is the president of the Victorian chapter of EWB Australia. Listen to Briony discuss engineering, the purpose of EWB, as well as some EWB experiences. Engineers Without Borders web site: http://www.ewb.org.au/ Download MP3 of Ep38 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing [...]

Scientists have discovered a hole in the universe. A discussion on what they found, plus pin of the episode, listener feedback, and a brain teaser. Today’s promo is of Promotime Download MP3 of Ep37 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes [...]

You can now be notified of Brains Matter updates by entering your email - not only will you be notified of when a podcast is posted, but any other posts on the site.

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Congratulations on your fine product Chris Smith - Naked Scientists Podcast & the Nature Podcast, England - August 2006 I like this podcast very much. Succinct and informative. Check it out! Diego - Australia October 2006 These podcasts are really entertaining and well put together. Dennis - Australia November 2006 Love your work, brains matter. i look forward to continued interesting [...]

If you’d like to play the podcast through your browser, you can select an episode and play it via the flash player below. Play Podcast

Part 2 of an interview with Dr Adrian Gentle on Regge Calculus - a mathematics that is used to describe space-time. Please listen to episode 35 as an introduction to this episode. Dr Gentle’s web page is at: http://www.usi.edu/science/math/apgentle/ and his papers can be found at arxiv.org Wikipedia link on Regge calculus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regge_Calculus Today’s [...]

Part 1 of an introduction and setup to understanding Regge Calculus - a mathematics that is used to describe space-time. Dr Gentle’s web page is at: http://www.usi.edu/science/math/apgentle/ and his papers can be found at arxiv.org Wikipedia link on Regge calculus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regge_Calculus The next episode will go into the detail of Regge Calculus. Today’s promo is of [...]

A brief introduction to physicist Max Planck, the Brain Teaser, Pin of the Episode, and some listener feedback. Download MP3 of Ep34 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes digg this

Hi all, Some great news - Brains Matter has been featured on the iTunes Australia music store on the front page for podcasts: It’s also sitting at #6 for science podcasts on ITMS Australia: -OG

Sun not responsible for recent warming Study of climate sceptics The Great Global Warming Swindle Hack interview with David Karoly Some say that the ABC shouldnt be airing it. Others say it’s truth. Hack caught up with David Karoly, a scientist who appears in the debate airing after the documentary

Sun not responsible for recent warming Study of climate sceptics The Great Global Warming Swindle Hack interview with David Karoly Some say that the ABC shouldnt be airing it. Others say it’s truth. Hack caught up with David Karoly, a scientist who appears in the debate airing after the documentary

Today I talk with Dr Adrian Gentle, formerly of the Los Alamos National Laboratories, and currently at the University of Southern Indiana, on Einstein’s General Relativity. I would advise you to listen to last week’s episode on Special Relativity as a precursor to this show. Dr Gentle’s web page is at: http://www.usi.edu/science/math/apgentle/ and his [...]

Sun in the clear over global warming A solar radiation study is evidence that global warming over the past two decades cannot be blamed on the Sun, a theory espoused by climate-change sceptics. Maths proves the silliness of silly walks Scientists have explained mathematically why the famous “silly walks” of Monty Python’s John Cleese have never caught on [...]

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is showing the mockumentary, masquerading as a documentary, called “The Great Global Warming Swindle”. Unfortunately, it’s being pitched as a documentary, and those who do not have an understanding of science, climatology, or plain logic, may be fooled into believing it. There have been many deconstructions of it, and it includes [...]

Saturn moon looks like a sponge (ABC Australia science news) Scientists make landmark DNA discoveries (ABC Australia science news) Vatican reveals Roman necropolis (news.com.au) Mercury probe swings by Venus (Discovery channel) Future universe will ’stop expanding’ (National Geographic) Lava microbes lived on early earth (Discovery channel) Meditator’s brains seem alert (ABC Australia science news) Earth is shrinking (ABC Australia science news)

The Missing Day (click here)

Today I talk with Dr Adrian Gentle, formerly of the Los Alamos National Laboratories, and currently at the University of Southen Indiana, on a topic that everyone has heard of - but one that not everyone understands. Relativity, and in particular, special relativity. Dr Gentle’s web page is at: http://www.usi.edu/science/math/apgentle/ and his papers can [...]

Hi all, Some news (click here) for you all to explain my show creation abilities for the next couple of months. OG

Hi all, Some news (click here) for you all to explain my show creation abilities for the next couple of months. OG

You are made of space-time (New Scientist) Why Pluto had to go (Cosmos Magazine) Chimps cheer for attention (Discovery channel) Researchers find what may be a new state of matter (Ars Technica) Waterless planets defy expectations (Discovery channel) Regular naps make hearts healthy (Discovery channel) Spice healer (Scientific American) Pluto’s newest moons named Hydra and Nix (Space.com) Huge seas spotted on Saturn moon [...]

You are made of space-time (New Scientist) Why Pluto had to go (Cosmos Magazine) Chimps cheer for attention (Discovery channel) Researchers find what may be a new state of matter (Ars Technica) Waterless planets defy expectations (Discovery channel) Regular naps make hearts healthy (Discovery channel) Spice healer (Scientific American) Pluto’s newest moons named Hydra and Nix (Space.com) Huge seas spotted on Saturn moon [...]

Short show today including a brief introduction to thermodynamics and the movie Blade Runner. Pin of the episode, and a promo of the CaffiNation podcast. Download MP3 of Ep31 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes or manually with your [...]

BM has been featured on Podomatic

Hi all, If you subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, or have previously subscribed to Brains Matter via iTunes and have been receiving errors or weren’t getting updates on the podcast, read the following: Resubscription for iTunes listeners

Here’s a promo for the Brains Matter podcast. Feel free to spread the word on the podcast, and the learning of science in general. Brains Matter promo If you are a podcaster and would like to do a promo swap, please drop me a line. Shows that have featured the promo: The CaffiNation Podcast - Ep 141 (At [...]

Has your head ever felt hot after using a mobile phone? Mobile phones boiling an egg Anyone willing to comment on this and talk through the physics?

I talk with Dr Zachary Moore, from the Department of Biophysics and Molecular Genetics from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, regarding evolution, and to tackle the questions that some nay-sayers have about it. Dr Moore’s website is http://www.drzach.net/ Download MP3 of Ep30 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on [...]

Greenhouse consensus Article from Dr Karl Carbon emissions have sped up since 2000 World emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide increased three times faster after 2000 than in the 1990s, putting them at the high end of a range of forecasts by an international climate change panel, scientists report.

Planet hunters spy distant haul (BBC) Astronomers eagerly await potential birth of ’super’ sun Astronomers have pinpointed two massive stars, orbiting close to each other in space, that could merge to create a “super” sun, 100 times bigger than our own. The massive “binary” star system, located in a galaxy orbiting the Milky Way, has been captured [...]

Planet hunters spy distant haul (BBC) Astronomers eagerly await potential birth of ’super’ sun Astronomers have pinpointed two massive stars, orbiting close to each other in space, that could merge to create a “super” sun, 100 times bigger than our own. The massive “binary” star system, located in a galaxy orbiting the Milky Way, has been captured [...]

I talk to Dr Alan Dorin from Monash University about his interests in the philosophy and application of the principles of artificial life, in particular self-assembly and ecosystem simulation, to generative electronic art. Download MP3 of Ep29 The link to Dr Dorin’s web page is: http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~aland/ Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on [...]

Todays episode responds to some more listener questions, including Evolution v Creationism, Pin of the episode, more on b-Flat, and Peak Oil Theory. The links mentioned in the show can be found in the show notes pdf file below. Download MP3 of Ep28 Read the episode 28 transcript Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by [...]

Hi all, It’d be great if you like the show, if you could vote for Brains Matter in the Bloggers Choice Awards. BM is in a few categories: Don’t forget to vote for the podcast in Podcast Alley using the link on the side as well!

In this episode, I continue the interview with stellar astrophysicist Professor John Lattanzio from Monash University. Topics include observation vs theory, AGB stars and their shells, nuclear reactions and convection within AGB stars, and globular clusters. The link to Professor Lattanzio’s tutorial on AGB stars that he mentions in this episode can be found here: http://www.maths.monash.edu.au/~johnl/StellarEvolnDemo/ Download [...]

In this episode, I talk with stellar astrophysicist Professor John Lattanzio from Monash University. Topics include the formation of stars, something you might not know about supernovae, and what would happen if all the hydrogen in the universe was used up. Download MP3 of Ep26 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by [...]

Want to know what a sunset on Mars looks like?

I’ve just signed up as an Amazon Affiliate, and if you’re after some good stuff to read or watch, or are looking at good presents for someone who is interested in science, check out the “Support the Show” link, which has a whole bunch of suggestions of stuff you can buy off Amazon. Just [...]

If you enjoy the show, and you’d like to support the show, there are many ways of doing so. o E-mail me - Send me an e-mail. I love hearing from people and knowing what you think. Suggest an idea for a show, or let me know how you think I’m doing. o Make a [...]

Here are some images that show a good comparison of the relative sizes of objects, not just in our solar system, but from a stellar perspective as well. (Note: the images were taken prior to Pluto being reclassified as a Dwarf Planet) Image of the smaller planets and Pluto Comparison of the relative sizes of the [...]

In this episode, I follow up some listener suggestions for topics. These include the appearance of the note B-Flat in nature, attraction and the Burmese Kayan tribe, and hydrogen balloons. There is also the brain teaser of course! Download MP3 of Ep25 Read the episode 25 transcript Please vote for this podcast this month at You can [...]

A podcast on the lost knowledge of the Indus Valley Civilisation, looking at the cities of Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and Dholavira, a brain teaser, and some listener feedback. Download MP3 of Ep24 Read the episode 24 transcript Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes [...]

Albert Einstein dies in 1955

Albert Einstein dies in 1955

This is a great link Human Brain Map

Dimitri Mendeleev - the father of the periodic table that we all come across in Chemistry. Who was he, and where did he come from? Download MP3 of Ep23 Read the episode 23 transcript Please vote for this podcast this month at You can donate by clicking on the button above, and subscribe by subscribing in iTunes or [...]

Some changes are afoot… Read about them here

Climate, a brain teaser, pin of the week, primate evolutionary split, conservapedia, subliminal advertising, Finnish politics, gadgets, a quote from a Stephen Hawking presentation, and some listener feedback. Music on today’s episode comes courtesy of Glen at Modular Recordings. The band is Cut Copy, and you can find their information at http://www.cutcopy.net Featured music includes: Cut Copy [...]

Today I interview Professor Duncan Forbes, deputy director of the Swinburne University Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing. He discusses the formation of galaxies, and globular clusters. You can find more information on Professor Forbes at: http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/dforbes Have a look at Swinburne’s distance education astronomy courses: http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/sao Download MP3 of Ep21 Please vote for this podcast this month at You [...]

Armand Hippolyte Louis Fizeau, a brain teaser, fossil fuels and octane ratings, and the Pin of the Week. Music by the Australian electro band Neuropa on todays show comes courtesy of Alberto Martinez from Rivetting Promotions and Neuropa’s label. Find out more information on Neuropa at http://www.neuropa.biz. Songs featured today include: Neuropa - The Blitz Neuropa [...]

pH factor, Baby development, a brain teaser, the origins of the Cinderella story. Music by the Australian electro band Neuropa on todays show comes courtesy of Alberto Martinez from Rivetting Promotions and Neuropa’s label. Find out more information on Neuropa at http://www.neuropa.biz. Songs featured today include: Neuropa - The Silicon Teens Neuropa - The New Tomorrow Neuropa [...]

People who have been guests of Brains Matter and that I’ve had the fortune to interview have been: Michael Feller - Michael wrote a thesis called “The Aryan Connection”, and discussed Nazis and their origins, and the neo-Nazis of today, and how it is affecting society. 4/12/2006 - Episode 8 - The Aryan Connection Dr Djoymi Baker - [...]