logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2019
26m 8s

19 September 2019: XKCD, and Extinction ...

SPRINGER NATURE LIMITED
About this episode

This week, absurd advice from XKCD’s Randall Munroe, and a conversation with climate lawyer turned activist Farhana Yamin.


In this episode:

 

00:46 How to do things (badly)

Cartoonist Randall Munroe tell us about his new book: How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems.


08:21 Research Highlights

How insemination makes honeybee queens lose their way, and ‘toe maps’ in the brain. Research Highlight: Sex clouds queen bees’ vision; Research Highlight: ‘Toe maps’ in the brain guide painters born without hands


10:31 From climate lawyer to climate activist

After three decades of climate advocacy, renowned IPCC lawyer Farhana Yamin decided to join Extinction Rebellion – she tells us why. Comment: Why I broke the law for climate change


17:48 News Chat

How nations are progressing towards limiting greenhouse-gas emissions, and climate cash flow. News Feature: The hard truths of climate change — by the numbers; News Feature: Where climate cash is flowing and why it’s not enough


This episode of the Nature Podcast is part of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 media outlets to highlight the issue of climate change.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Nov 19
Insulin cream offers needle-free option for diabetes
<h2>00:45 A molecule that delivers insulin through the skin</h2><p>Researchers have developed a skin-permeable polymer that can deliver insulin into the body, which they say could one day offer an alternative to injections for diabetes management. The skin’s structure presents a ... Show More
42m 5s
Nov 14
‘Malicious use is already happening’: machine-learning pioneer on making AI safer
<p>Yoshua Bengio, considered by many to be&nbsp;one of the godfathers of AI,&nbsp;has long&nbsp;been at the forefront of machine-learning research&nbsp;. However, his opinions on the technology have shifted in recent years&nbsp;— he joins us to talk about&nbsp;ways to address the ... Show More
15m 6s
Nov 12
Huge eruption on a distant star confirmed at last
00:45 A coronal mass ejection from a distant starResearchers have detected what they say is the strongest evidence yet of a coronal mass ejection (CME) coming from a star other than our Sun. CMEs are massive bursts of fast-moving plasma that can be detected thanks to the characte ... Show More
33m 51s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2023
Defeating Doomerism: The Search For A New Climate Narrative
<p>On the last Energy Gang we looked at the impact of record temperatures on the energy sector. This week, we discuss another impact of climate change: its effect on human psychology. We discuss how the way we talk about global warming affects how we respond to it.</p><p>A recent ... Show More
57m 13s
Nov 2021
Can COP26 deliver on climate change?
<p>The science is unequivocal: human-made climate change is leading the world into an environmental crisis, and time is running out to prevent permanent damage to ecosystems and make the planet uninhabitable for many of us humans. </p><p>As communities around the world increasing ... Show More
39m 53s
Oct 2021
Can we still avoid climate catastrophe?
Just a few days before COP26 opens in Glasgow, the World Meteorological Organisation reported record greenhouse gas levels, despite a fall in CO2 due to pandemic restrictions. The UN Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report also revealed that current country pledges will only ... Show More
26m 28s
Nov 2021
From Hurricane Katrina to COP26: How to be a stubborn optimist in the face of the climate crisis
Over the past two weeks, world leaders and delegates from nearly every country have gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, for COP26. This annual summit on climate change will attempt to update the 2015 Paris agreement with accelerated action, higher targets and more ambitious cuts to ca ... Show More
32m 35s
Oct 2020
A Radical Approach to Climate Change
Could altering the Earth’s atmosphere to reflect back some of the sun’s rays be a solution to climate change? It would likely decrease global temperatures, but it might lead to climate wars. Humanity might become “addicted” to it for survival. And ultimately, would this technolog ... Show More
58m 5s
Jul 2022
Bonus Episode: Why We Must Defeat Climate Change and How to Do It
The earth is getting warmer and the consequences of that have already begun to impact us all. Today, 6 out of 10 Americans describe themselves as “alarmed” or “concerned” about climate change, according to one recent study. Climate change is a huge global problem and there is lik ... Show More
31m 4s
Aug 2022
Cosmic Queries – Predicting Earth’s Climate Future with Kate Marvel, PhD
<p>What can the climate on Venus tell us about Earth? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice answer questions about climate modeling, the state of climate change, and future predictions with climate scientist, Kate Marvel. </p><p>NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons ... Show More
44m 11s
Nov 2022
Why Climate Justice is on the Agenda at COP27
<p>With just a few days until world leaders and policy makers&nbsp;meet in&nbsp;Egypt for COP27, two returning Energy Gang members join host Ed Crooks to discuss what is expected from the latest round of international climate talks.</p><p>As the&nbsp;UN&nbsp;warns that&nbsp;there ... Show More
58m 4s