Meet the ostrich, one of nature’s most unusual creatures: a two-metre-tall, flightless bird that struts about the African savannah. CrowdScience listener Pat found herself entranced by seeing them on a wildlife documentary, where two ostriches were exhibiting some bizarre behaviour. According to her, the female was sitting on her eggs in a ‘nest’ that was ba ... Show More
Aug 2018
Cavendish banana survival; Guillemot egg shape; Unexpected Truth About Animals; Tambora's rainstorm
The last banana you probably ate was a type called Cavendish. But this, our last commercially viable variety is under severe threat, as the fungus, called Tropical Race 4, is laying waste to swathes of Cavendish banana plants across China, Asia and Australia. Recently, scientists ... Show More
28m 8s
Jul 2021
PureScience: From being extinct in less than 100 yrs of discovery to evolving in art — the journey of the dodo
The dodo went extinct in less than 100 years of its discovery, and today is a symbol of extinction by human activity. Owing to its location, very few individual birds were sighted by humans in the 1600s, and most of what we know about the bird comes from description and art. TheP ... Show More
14m 7s
Dec 2023
Is the pigeon the weirdest animal on earth?
It is related to the dodo, makes milk and even played a role in the French Revolution. Surely this bird deserves some recognition?Featuring:Rosemary Mosco, Science writer and author of 'The Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching'.Nathan Finger, Host of 'Bird of the Week' podcast Dr Robi ... Show More
26m 4s