Our Broken Planet

The Natural History Museum, London
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  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Our Broken Planet

Nature is in crisis. Hear from activists, scientists and those most affected as we unpack the challenges we face as well as the solutions that lie within our grasp. In this podcast from the Natural History Museum in London, discover the interconnected issues facing our planet and explore what we can do about them together.

  1. Standing up for nature: What can we do to fix our broken planet?

    08/22/2023

    Standing up for nature: What can we do to fix our broken planet?

    Surveys show that most of us are really worried about climate change and we want something to be done. But what? This series, we've explored many ways in which nature is changing in response to human activity and the dangers posed to people and planet as a result. In this final episode, Tori and Khalil explore how people are taking action in the face of the planetary emergency. Along the way, you'll find out: When has activism been effective? How do scientists feel about climate change? One thing everyone can do to start making a positive change Contributors: Dr Erica McAlister - Senior Curator for Diptera and Siphonaptera (flies and fleas) at the Natural History Museum Professor Tristram Wyatt - Senior research fellow in the Department of Biology at the University of Oxford and Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research at UCL The Tyre Extinguishers - A nameless group who deflate the tyres of SUVs in criminal acts of protest Alessandra Korap Munduruku - Member of the Munduruku group of Sawré Muybu, an indigenous territory in northern Brazil, and President of the Pariri Indigenous Association Dr Rim Saab - Social psychology lecturer at the University of Sussex, who specialises in the psychology of political action Have your say: Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us: Instagram: @natural_history_museum Twitter: @NHM_London TikTok: @its_NHM Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast

    44 min
  2. Deep down and dirty? Mining for a sustainable future

    08/15/2023

    Deep down and dirty? Mining for a sustainable future

    A more sustainable future lies within reach. One where human societies are powered by wind and solar energy, leaving behind dirty, climate-changing fossil fuels in the past. Sounds good right?   But with many tonnes of rare earth metals needed to manufacture just one wind turbine, switching to this greener way of life likely means more mining – and lots of it – at least in the short term. But where and how could we get these metals while causing the least possible harm to people and planet?  Khalil meets scientists and campaigners to find out:  Why are some people so interested in mining the deep sea?   What lives on the ocean floor and what would happen to it if mining got the green light?  How can science help reverse the long-term damage caused by mining?  Contributors:  Richard Herrington, research lead for resourcing the green economy at the Natural History Museum  Adrian Glover, Natural History Museum Merit Researcher specialising in deep-sea biodiversity  Louisa Casson, Global Project Leader for Greenpeace's Stop Deep Sea Mining campaign  Have your say:  Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us:  Instagram: @natural_history_museum  Twitter: @NHM_London  TikTok: @its_NHM  Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast

    44 min
  3. Something in the air: Can Nigeria stop its silent killer?

    08/08/2023

    Something in the air: Can Nigeria stop its silent killer?

    Nigeria has some of the highest levels of unhealthy air across the African continent – a leading cause of inflammatory illness and premature death. Could its huge and growing cohort of young people have the solution? Tori & Khalil head to the “Giant of Africa” to find out how one of the world’s fastest growing nations – by economy and population – is dealing with rapidly accelerating energy demand and what might happen next. Join us and find out What’s the cause of Nigeria’s dangerous air pollution – and what can be done about it? How can African countries avoid some of the environmental mis-steps made by more industrialised nations?  What can Lagos teach us about building greener, more liveable megacities of the future? Contributors Dr Rose Alani, head of the Air Quality Monitoring Research Group at the University of Lagos Oludayo Yusuf, Consulting Embryologist at Origene Health Services in Lagos Joshua Gabriel Oluwaseyi, environmental activist and founder of LearnBlue Dr Mofoluso Fagbeja, air quality specialist and co-author of the World Bank-funded report Development of an Air Quality Management Plan for Lagos Desmond Appiah, country lead for The Clean Air Fund in Ghana Have your say: Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us: Instagram: @natural_history_museum Twitter: @NHM_London TikTok: @its_NHM Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast

    37 min
  4. Abusing nature is making us sick: What's the cure?

    08/01/2023

    Abusing nature is making us sick: What's the cure?

    As modern human societies have tried to dominate and organise nature, we have been interacting with other species in some dangerous ways. From encroaching on the territory of wild creatures, to industrially farming other species in unnaturally cramped conditions, human actions are increasing the likelihood of animal nasties jumping the species barrier to infect us. Tori & Khalil ask whether our extractive relationship with nature could be making us sick and what we can do about it. Along the way, you’ll find out: Why are bats so full of viruses?   Could the next pandemic start on a factory farm? Which single behaviour has an outsized impact on helping keep nature healthy? Contributors: ·       Dr Emilia Skirmuntt, Evolutionary virologist with the Oxford Vaccine Group, Oxford University.  ·       Dr Rajib Ausraful Islam, Veterinary researcher with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh  ·       Pak Warman, fisherman and local bat protector with the Alliance for Tompotika Conservation, based in Sulawesi, Indonesia ·       Dr David Redding, Biodiversity and health research lead at the Natural History Museum ·       Ed Winters (AKA Earthling Ed), vegan educator and co-founder of Surge Activism Have your say: Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us: Instagram: @natural_history_museum Twitter: @NHM_London TikTok: @its_NHM Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast

    39 min
  5. All hail our jellyfish overlords

    07/25/2023

    All hail our jellyfish overlords

    What’s brainless, heartless, eyeless and thrives in a warming ocean? Hint: it’s wobbly and it could be coming to a dinner plate near you. Tori & Khalil investigate the effects of rising sea temperatures, from changing food sources to the perilous state of coral reefs – home to one quarter of all marine species. They’re joined by scientists and campaigners to help explain the changes we’re seeing and how we can help nature and humanity adjust. Join us and find out: What happens to animals living in a more acidic sea? How do you regrow a coral reef? Will we all be eating jellyfish soon? Contributors Sanne Tuijten, marine biologist with the Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire Dr Sebastian Hennige from the University of Edinburgh Dr Lucas Brotz, from the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia John Hourston, founder of the Blue Planet Society Megan Randles, global political lead for Greenpeace’s Protect the Oceans campaign Have your say Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us: Instagram: @natural_history_museum Twitter: @NHM_London TikTok: @its_NHM Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast

    39 min
  6. Rainforests: How to restore Earth's lungs

    07/18/2023

    Rainforests: How to restore Earth's lungs

    Breathe in. Breathe out. The oxygen flowing through your body is the result of photosynthesis: the natural process through which living things convert sunlight into energy. About 30% of land-based photosynthesis happens in tropical rainforests: the lungs of the earth. Rainforests are also great at sucking up excess carbon from the atmosphere- something we know we’ve got to do more of. But in recent years, these lungs have been getting constricted: shrinking in size and choked up with smoke. So grab your mosquito net and join Tori & Khalil on a trip through the tropics to find out what's going on - and how we can help rainforests breathe deeply again. Contributors: Mardi Minangsari - Campaigner with Indonesian conservation group Kaoem Telapak Dr Helena Varkey - Professor of Environmental Politics, Universiti Malaya Dr Thomas Smith - Geographer and environmental scientist, London School of Economics Dr Michael Pashkevich, Marshall Sherfield Fellow, University of Cambridge Dr Rico Fischer, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ Leipzig Have your say: Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us: Instagram: @natural_history_museum Twitter: @NHM_London TikTok: @its_NHM Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast

    38 min
  7. Choked: Unpacking our plastic addiction

    07/11/2023

    Choked: Unpacking our plastic addiction

    We all know that plastic isn't great for our planet. But how much do scientists really know about how it's affecting nature - including our own species? Tori and Khalil try to get their noodles around 'nurdles', the tiny plastic pellets that are used to manufacture all manner of everyday objects, discovering that millions are ending up in our oceans, with unknown long-term consequences. Plus, join Natural History Museum researcher Alex Bond on Lord Howe Island, a remote paradise in the Tasman sea and mecca for nesting seabirds, where chicks are falling prey to an ominous new disease: plasticosis. You'll find out: -What caused Sri Lanka's worst maritime disaster? -How much do we know about how microplastics affect human health? -Can we get to a global agreement on ending plastic pollution? Contributors: Muditha Katuwawala - Founder of The Pearl Protectors Dr Alex Bond - Principal curator in charge of birds at the Natural History Museum Dr Fay Couceiro - Head of the microplastics research group at the University of Portsmouth Heather Mcfarlane - Senior project manager at Fidra   Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us:  Instagram: @natural_history_museum Twitter: @NHM_London TikTok: @its_NHM  Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast Resources for this episode:  The chicks choking on a toxic diet of ocean plastic https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-chicks-choking-on-a-toxic-diet-of-ocean-plastic.html Plastic diet could be causing seabird chicks to shrink https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2023/march/plastic-diet-could-be-causing-seabird-chicks-to-shrink.html Plasticosis: a new disease caused by plastic that is affecting seabirds https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2023/march/plasticosis-new-disease-caused-by-plastic-affecting-seabirds.html Ocean plastic is changing the blood chemistry of seabirds https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/july/ocean-plastic-is-changing-the-blood-chemistry-of-seabirds.html

    36 min
  8. Glaciers: Water towers of the world

    07/04/2023

    Glaciers: Water towers of the world

    What is a glacier? And what happens when they melt? Glacier ice is the world’s largest freshwater reservoir. About 1 in 5 people depend on them as their main source of drinking water, as do countless animals and plants. As they melt, it's a boom time for nature, with plenty of water to go around. But what happens if glaciers disappear completely and the water stops flowing ? To investigate the past and present impact of glaciers, and what they mean for the nature, culture and communities that depend on them, Tori and Khalil meet with trusted scientists, artists and activists, from Austria to Pakistan. Along the way, we'll find out: -How did a glacier carve Britain into an island? -What's a GLOF and why are they so dangerous? -How did one man stop a glacier being levelled for a ski resort? Contributors: Bethan Davies - Glaciologist from Newcastle University Duncan Quincey - Professor of Glaciology Gabriel Wolken - Cryosphere researcher Saba Khan - Pakistani artist Matteo Spagnolo - Professor of geography, University of Aberdeen Gerd Estermann - Retired teacher-turned-activist from Austria Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us:  Instagram: @natural_history_museum  Twitter: @NHM_London  TikTok: @its_NHM    Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast

    38 min
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4.4
out of 5
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About

Nature is in crisis. Hear from activists, scientists and those most affected as we unpack the challenges we face as well as the solutions that lie within our grasp. In this podcast from the Natural History Museum in London, discover the interconnected issues facing our planet and explore what we can do about them together.

Information

  • Creator
    The Natural History Museum, London
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2023
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
  • Show Website
    Our Broken Planet

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