Sperm-ission Impossible: Male Contraceptives

Sperm-ission Impossible: Male Contraceptives

Author: JOY 94.9 - Rainbow Community Podcasts for our LGBTI, LGBTIQA+, LGBTQIA+, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGB, Gay, Lesbian, Trans, Intersex, Queer Communities April 20, 2026 Duration: 38:53

For so long, contraception has been a woman’s burden. The pill. The IUD. The implant. The patch. While condoms and vasectomies exist for people who produce sperm, the responsibility for preventing pregnancy has overwhelmingly fallen on those with ovaries.

But what if that changed?

Luke Baz at The University of Melbourne is working on a non-hormonal contraceptive that targets sperm. He is trying to block the specific proteins – molecular “on switches” – that sperm need to fertilise an egg. It’s about precision. It’s about reversibility. And it’s about finally shifting the load.

This week, we’re swimming in the science of sperm, the biology of fertilisation, and the cutting-edge research that could revolutionise reproductive autonomy. The future of birth control could be more equitable than ever before. And it starts with understanding sperm.

Originally aired 14th April, 2026.

The post Sperm-ission Impossible: Male Contraceptives appeared first on Science Queeries.


Curiosity meets community in Science Queeries, a space where the wonders of the natural world and the vibrant spectrum of human identity intersect. Hosted by Cat, this podcast from JOY 94.9’s Rainbow Community collection approaches learning with a warm, questioning spirit. It’s less a formal lecture and more a series of engaging conversations that unpack scientific concepts through an inclusive, queer lens. You’ll hear explorations that connect the dots between biology, sociology, technology, and lived experience, making complex ideas both accessible and personally relevant. Each episode invites you to consider how science shapes and is shaped by the diverse LGBTIQA+ communities it seeks to understand. The tone is thoughtful and welcoming, designed for anyone who’s ever felt on the outside looking in at traditional science communication. Whether discussing the latest research or the fundamentals of how things work, this podcast consistently centers a perspective that is often overlooked. It’s a place for learning, questioning, and finding connection in the shared pursuit of knowledge. Tune in for a refreshing take that proves science is for everyone, and that some of the most insightful discoveries begin with a simple, open-minded query.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Science Queeries
Podcast Episodes
Clits, Tits and Science Bits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:31
What do clitoral erections, lesbian co‑lactation and bimbo branding have in common? Dr Naomi Koh Belic. Bedazzled with hot‑pink and glam, Dr Naomi Koh Belic is rewriting what science education looks like. In this episode…
Infection Inspection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:20
Pathogens are everywhere. They’re invisible to our eyes, but they’re not invincible. This week, we’re diving deep into three very different infections: Talaromyces marneffei – a fungus that’s thriving in South-East Asia…
Reef-ormation Through Crab-servation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:03
Seventy percent of Australians live within 50 kilometres of the Great Southern Reef. Yet many of us have never heard of it. This reef is home to species found nowhere else on Earth. It’s a place where cuttlefish perform…
Baked In: how racism shows up in food & STEM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:04
In this well-seasoned conversation, we’re after a recipe for change. Food racism isn’t just about ingredients. It’s about whose knowledge counts as science, whose culture gets celebrated, and whose gets criminalised. Myt…
Innately You: Depathologising Being Intersex [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:36
Around 1.7% of babies born in Australia have innate variations in sex characteristics. That’s roughly one in 60 babies. For decades…and to this day, intersex people have been treated as medical problems that need solving…
One Planet, Three Crises [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:33
We are facing a triple planetary crisis. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution aren’t separate problems – they’re interconnected threats that are unravelling our world. This week, we’re exploring how these thr…
Skull and Crossbones: Brains, Bones & Teeth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:50
Let’s get into the marrow of bone structure and its link to osteoporosis, learn about some un-nerve-ing mutations that can spark brain tumours and epilepsy, and crown our conversation with cutting-edge dental solutions t…
Toad-ally Thirsty: Going Out with a Bang [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:44
When frogs face a life-threatening disease, you’d expect them to hunker down and focus on survival. But nature sometimes has other plans. A deadly disease caused by a chytrid fungus has decimated 500+ amphibian species.…
Good Moon Rising: The Science of Lunar New Year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:55
Chúc mừng năm mới! 恭喜发财! 새해 복 많이 받으세요! Happy New Year! Lunar New Year is celebrated by millions of people around the world. The celebration isn’t just cultural — it’s also astronomical. It’s tied to the night sky and is…
Sea-ing Change in Sydney Harbour [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:20
Sydney Harbour is one of the most iconic waterways in the world — but beneath the postcard views lies a complex ecological story of sea-rious degradation, recovery, and renewal. In this episode of Science Queeries, we ho…