logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2022
23m 55s

James Lovelock: The future of life on Ea...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

In an interview recorded in 2021, Stephen Sackur speaks to one of the past century's most influential environmentalists, James Lovelock. He introduced us to the Gaia hypothesis – the idea that our planet and all the life on it are part of one dynamic, self-regulating system. At the age of 101, Lovelock still had big thoughts about the future of life on Earth. Have we humans sown the seeds of our own destruction?

Audio for this episode updated on Monday 1st August 2022.

Up next
Jul 6
Sir Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister: The UK needs strong international relationships
The UK needs strong international relationships Nick Robinson, presenter of the BBC Today programme and Political Thinking podcast, speaks to Sir Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister, about the importance of maintaining strong international relationships.In an interview recorded to ma ... Show More
22m 59s
Jul 1
Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister: Regime change is a futile exercise
Lyse Doucet speaks to Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, about the future of Iran’s nuclear programme and its government. The interview took place in the country’s capital Tehran after Iran’s twelve-day war with Israel. Both sides fired missiles into each other ... Show More
22m 59s
Jun 29
Philippe Kehren, CEO of multinational Solvay: Reducing reliance on China’s rare earth metals
Jonathan Josephs speaks to Philippe Kehren, CEO of chemical multinational company Solvay. His firm sits at the forefront of Europe’s efforts to diversify its supply of rare earth metals. These elements are essential to much of modern technology, from mobile phones to medical equi ... Show More
22m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2021
A Geochemical HIstory of LIfe on Earth: 5. The Anthropocene
Could human engineering stabilise the Earth's climate and chemistry in the long term? Tim Lenton of Exeter University explains why the Gaia hypothesis is the key to understanding the future of life on Earth. But what about life beyond Earth? Justin Rowlatt speaks to astronomer Li ... Show More
23m 47s
Feb 2024
Origin of Life, Self Control vs Willpower, Puppy Love
Today, you’ll learn about a bacterial discovery that challenges our understanding of how and when life formed on Earth, the importance difference between self control and willpower, and the truth about whether or not your dog really loves you. Origin of Life “Scientists Just Made ... Show More
14m 29s
Apr 2020
How Far We've Come
In our premiere episode, we climb aboard an audio time machine with the reporter Adam Cole to look back at pivotal moments in climate change history. Host John D. Sutter speaks with the actor and climate activist Ed Begley Jr. about the first Earth Day 50 years ago and the things ... Show More
30m 19s
May 2024
The Infinite Monkey's Guide To… The Future
We know the universe is rapidly expanding but what happens if other galaxies disappear from view? That’s what Eric Idle wants to know as he ponders the future and what it holds in store. Solar scientist Lucie Green says this is not worth dwelling on because we’ll all be wiped out ... Show More
19m 43s
May 2023
Wild Britain
In 2020, the UK government committed to protecting at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. Step seven years into the future with Gaia. The UK has achieved its biodiversity goal, but what does wild Britain look like? Richard Benwell, CEO of wildlife and Countryside Link, ... Show More
28m 50s
Oct 2023
The Life Scientific: Gideon Henderson
We’re used to hearing the stories of scientists who study the world as it is now but what about the study of the past - what can this tell us about our future?Gideon Henderson’s research focuses on trying to understand climate change by looking at what was happening on our planet ... Show More
27m 17s
Dec 2021
Dave Goulson, "Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse" (Harper, 2021)
Drawing on thirty years of research, Goulson has written an accessible, fascinating, and important book that examines the evidence of an alarming drop in insect numbers around the world. "If we lose the insects, then everything is going to collapse," he warned in a recent intervi ... Show More
1 h
Mar 2021
James Hollis on Living Between Worlds
James Hollis is an American Jungian psychologist. He is a public speaker and the author of 16 books. He runs a private practice as a Jungian Psychoanalyst and is the Executive Director of the Jung Educational Center.Eric and James have an interesting conversation about his newest ... Show More
42m 17s