How The Humble Beaver Shaped A Continent
The American beaver, Castor canadensis, nearly didn’t survive European colonialism in the United States. Prized for its dense, lustrous fur, and also sought after for the oil from its tail glands, the species was killed by the tens of thousands, year after year, until conservation efforts in the late 19th century turn ... Show More
Yesterday
Why do sports announcers talk like that?
If you watch sports, whether the recent NBA finals or the ongoing World Cup matches, you may have noticed that the athletes aren’t the only ones putting on a show. The announcers seem to be playing a beautiful game of their own, capturing the excitement and play-by-play of the ga ... Show More
13m 14s
Jun 18
Swords, cannibalism, poison: inside the world of killer microbes
There is a murderous crime spree happening right under—and perhaps inside—our noses. Killer microbes armed with weapons are eviscerating, assassinating, and detonating their fellow microbes. And the newest culprit? A protist that morphs into a cannibilastic supergiant when times ... Show More
21m 14s
Dec 2023
John Perlin, "The Forest Journey: The Story of Trees and Civilization" (Patagonia, 2023)
A Foundational Conservation Story Revived.
Ancient writers observed that forests always recede as civilizations develop and grow. The great Roman poet Ovid wrote that before civilization began, “even the pine tree stood on its own very hills” but when civilization took over, “the ... Show More
28m 27s
Mar 2021
[Broadcast] Damaged Amazon Adds To Global Warming; Prehistoric Magnetic Flip Shook Up Life On Earth; Birch, Beech And Other Unusual Syrups; and more
Damaged Amazon Adds to Global Warming / Belo Monte Dam Disrupts Amazon Floodplain Balance / Horse of a Different Color / Beyond the Headlines / Prehistoric Magnetic Flip Shook Up Life on Earth / Not Just Maple Syrup: Birch, Beech and Other Sappy Trees
The first broad study o ... Show More
52m 29s
