logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
28m 14s

World’s oldest forest fossils

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

The world’s oldest fossilised forest was uncovered in Somerset last week. We head to palaeobotanist, Dr Christopher Berry’s, lab at Cardiff University to learn about these cladoxylopsids. They lived 390 million years ago and although they are not the ancestors of today’s trees, they reveal some extraordinary evolutionary secrets.

Also, Marnie speaks to Dr Chris Thorogood of the University of Oxford Botanic Gardens about his new book Pathless Forest: The Quest to Save the World’s Largest Flowers. Called “Rafflesia” plants and found in the remotest parts of South East Asia, their flowers burst from the rain forest floor the size of pumpkins and are critically endangered. Chris talks of his world of extreme fieldwork and hair-raising expeditions, braving leeches, lizards and lethal forest swamps, to discover the rarest of rare blooms.

Plus, the Wildlife Trust’s Making Friends with Molluscs campaign starts today, and I’m sure many gardeners will declare this an impossible task! We visit some allotments in Bristol to find out how people are managing slug and snail populations. And chat to Brian Eversham from the Trust of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, who explains why these garden creatures should be considered our friends, not foes.

And finally, Dr Stewart Husband from last week’s programme returns to answer more of your burning questions about your tap water.

Up next
Jul 3
Can science save our oceans?
More than 2,000 marine scientists have come together at the One Ocean Science Congress in Nice, France. It is a gathering that will bring marine experts from all over the world together to share the latest discoveries about the health of our seas and oceans. It is an issue at the ... Show More
28m 11s
Jun 26
Your science questions answered
We’ve been rummaging through the Inside Science mailbox to pick out a selection of the intriguing science questions you’ve been sending in, and assembled an expert panel to try to answer them. Marnie Chesterton is joined by Penny Sarchet, managing editor of New Scientist, Mark Ma ... Show More
28m 7s
Jun 19
Does the pandemic agreement make the world safer?
The World Health Organisation has agreed a treaty looking at tackling the issue of future pandemics. It’s hoped it will help to avoid some of the disorganisation and competition for resources like vaccines and personal protective equipment that were seen during the Covid-19 outbr ... Show More
27m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2021
Top Human Origins Discoveries of 2021
2021 was a big year in science! Fossil discoveries introduced new relatives to our family tree, new findings added fascinating twists to the human story, and breakthroughs in research methods opened new worlds to explore. In this episode, five scientists discuss their favorite hu ... Show More
31m 16s
Sep 2023
Tree Soil, Rodent Biologist, Soundscape Artist. Sept 8, 2023, Part 2
Where Soil Grows Above The TreesYou might be used to the feeling of Earth under your feet, but did you know that there’s soil high above your head? Way up in the treetops, where ferns, mosses, flowers, and even trees grow on top of the forest. A new study in Geoderma describes th ... Show More
46m 56s
Jun 2018
What’s the Tiniest Dinosaur?
Two small creatures are at the heart of today’s questions, sent in to curiouscases@bbc.co.uk.The Tiniest Dinosaur "What is the tiniest dinosaur?" asks young listener Ellie Cook, aged 11.Our hunt takes us from the discovery of dinosaurs right up to the present day, which is being ... Show More
26m 46s
Mar 2022
The Deadliest Fart in the Animal Kingdom!
Ben Garrod, presenter, biologist and author joins us to chat about the animals that no longer exist and those that are currently endangered this week! Professor Hallux and Nurse Nanabot are back this week too and they have all the information for us about opticians and how our ey ... Show More
27m 56s
Nov 2023
#210 - Top DNA Scientists are Bringing EXTINCT Animals Back to Life | Forrest Galante
Forrest Galante is a 6X world record spear fisherman, wildlife biologist, conservationist & explorer. He hosts 'Extinct or Alive' on Animal Planet, and 'Mysterious Creatures' on Discovery Channel. EPISODE LINKS: https://youtube.com/@ForrestGalante https://instagram.com/forrest.ga ... Show More
2h 38m
Oct 2024
The world's longest treasure hunt
After 31 years, a mammoth treasure hunt consisting of solving eleven cryptic clues has finally concluded. A replica of the final prize – a golden owl – was dug up in France, leaving fellow treasure hunters both disappointed and relieved. Inspired by this pursuit, the Unexpected E ... Show More
49m 29s
May 2
Axolotls: How the endangered amphibian is making a comeback
Axolotls are only found in the wild in one place in the world; an area of wetland just outside Mexico City. They are one of the world’s most endangered, and arguably most adorable, amphibians. Not just meme-worthy, they are also scientifically fascinating - they don’t really age ... Show More
11m 8s
Dec 2024
The New Conservationists: Thanks to Conservation Efforts, Pandas, Wolves and Panthers Are Making a Comeback (Part 4)
Tens of thousands of animal species are facing extinction, mostly because of human activity. But thanks to conservationists, there are some animals that are making a comeback.This is part four of “The New Conservationists,” a four-part series about the evolving world of animal co ... Show More
23m 25s
Aug 2023
Old Things Considered: La Brea, Megalodon, Dino Footprints, Surviving History. Aug 25, 2023, Part 2
How Early Humans May Have Transformed L.A.’s Landscape ForeverJoin us on a time traveling adventure, as we go back 15,000 years to visit what’s now southern California. During the last Ice Age, saber-toothed cats, wooly mammoths, and dire wolves prowled the landscape, until … the ... Show More
47m 16s