logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2021
19m 1s

How Climate Change Will Remake the Human...

Science History Institute
About this episode

On this episode of The Disappearing Spoon, Sam Kean delves deep into the science behind the evolution of animal and human bodies. Like animals, human bodies have also evolved to adhere to the demands of ever-changing climates. This raises a question: how will human bodies respond to climate change?

Credits

Host: Sam Kean Senior Producer: Mariel Carr Producer: Rigoberto Hernandez Audio Engineer: Jonathan Pfeffer

Up next
May 29
The History of the School Lunch
Feeding kids a healthy lunch every school day is a feat of science and logistics. Molded into shape by nutrition scientists who wanted to optimize children’s health, the school lunch has endured war, economic depression, and even a global pandemic. Some might say it’s all the str ... Show More
49m 51s
Feb 2025
Science, Interrupted: Part 2
Genetic engineering breakthroughs in the late 1960s and early 1970s came with a lot of promise—and peril too. Fears about what could happen with recombinant DNA experiments put scientists in the middle of a moral dilemma. Did they have a responsibility to consider how others migh ... Show More
44m 24s
Feb 2025
Science, Interrupted: Part 1
Genetic engineering breakthroughs in the late 1960s and early 1970s came with a lot of promise—and peril too. Fears about what could happen with recombinant DNA experiments put scientists in the middle of a moral dilemma. Did they have a responsibility to consider how others migh ... Show More
41m 55s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2021
Why do we find it so hard to take action on climate change?
For decades scientists have warned us about the risks of climate change. Yet humans are badly psychologically designed to face up to the challenge of changing our behaviour. Research shows that constant threats of impending doom make us hit the snooze button rather than waking us ... Show More
27m 23s
Sep 2022
Can animals evolve to deal with climate change?
As climate change brings rising temperatures and shifting patterns of rainfall, animals are adapting to keep pace. Bird’s bodies are growing smaller, their wingspan longer, lizards are growing larger thumb pads to help them grip more tightly in hurricane strength winds, beak size ... Show More
27m 27s
Apr 2016
Episode 27: Losing Alaska
Human beings would be better at fighting climate change if we weren't so, well, human. In this episode, we explore the psychological barriers to addressing climate change. 
23m 2s
Jun 2022
The Life Scientific: Pete Smith
Pete Smith is very down to earth. Not least because he’s interested in soil and the vital role it plays in helping us to feed the world, mitigate climate change and maintain a rich diversity of species on planet earth. He was born in a pub and failed the 11+ exam (designed to ide ... Show More
27m 43s
Aug 2023
Prof Jim Skea: living in an era of 'global boiling'
July 2023 has been confirmed as the hottest month ever on Earth. A combination of heatwaves across the Northern Hemisphere, unseasonable warmth in parts of South America and Antarctica, and global sea surface temperatures around 0.51°C above the 30-year average, meant it broke al ... Show More
26m 22s
Mar 2023
Can artificial intelligence help farmers adapt to the effects of climate change?
The effects of climate change on weather patterns around the world, including seasonal temperatures and rainfalls, are being felt keenly in agriculture – with shifting seasons and varying yields undermining years of habit-formed knowledge and process. Technology experts are helpi ... Show More
26m 59s
Nov 2017
Climate Change and Health; Moth Snow Storm Feedback; Whale Brain Evolution; Pharoah's Serpent
Adam Rutherford talks to researchers on a major global study that aimed to quantify how climate change has already damaged the health of millions of people. Hugh Montgomery is the co-chair of the Lancet Countdown report and says that climate change is the largest single threat to ... Show More
34m 27s
Aug 2022
What do warmer waters mean for life below the waves?
The Ocean, it covers more than 70% of the surface if our planet, it provides us with food, medicine and even influences the weather. For years its also helped to mitigate the effects of climate change. Since the 1970’s over 90% of atmospheric warming caused by green house gas emi ... Show More
27m 22s
Dec 2020
Climate and Diet of Early Humans
Did early humans eat a paleo diet? Can we learn how to deal with climate change by studying our ancient ancestors? Neil deGrasse Tyson, comic co-host Matt Kirshen, and geochemist Tina Lüdecke explore the climate and diet of early humans. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or liste ... Show More
47m 2s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami