Dive into the hidden battles of nature as we explore essential marine phytoplankton and their struggles against viral threats. Discover how bats are unsung heroes in cotton farming, boosting crops and farmer profits. Uncover the paradox of declining bee populations in China and the surprising rise of human pollinators for apples. Each tale challenges perceptions on valuing nature, offering a thought-provoking look at how we assess environmental worth amidst economic pressures.
33:19
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Ocean's Invisible Viral Battle
Coccolithophores wage a continuous viral battle in oceans, crucial for Earth's oxygen supply.
Their white chalky shields and virus arms race create blooms visible from space.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Bats as Valuable Natural Pest Control
Bats in Texas cotton farms eat pests, protecting crops and reducing pesticide use.
Their natural role provides farmers an estimated $700,000 in saved crop damage annually.
insights INSIGHT
Earth's Ecosystem Services Value
Nature provides ecosystem services globally worth $142.7 trillion annually, surpassing all world economies combined.
This includes pollution control, flood protection, and food production across diverse ecosystems.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set in the world of Panem 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games. The story follows Coriolanus Snow, who is 18 years old and preparing for the 10th Hunger Games. The novel explores the early days of the Hunger Games, the reconstruction period after the war known as the Dark Days, and Coriolanus's journey from a young man to the future villainous President Snow. It delves into themes of survival, ambition, and the evolution of the cruel Hunger Games contest[1][3][4].
The Once and Future Worker
Oren Cass
In honor of our Earth, on her day, we have two stories about the overlooked, ignored, and neglected parts of nature. In the first half, we learn about an epic battle that is raging across the globe every day, every moment. It's happening in the ocean, and your very life depends on it. In the second half, we make an earnest, possibly foolhardy, attempt to figure out the dollar value of the work of bats and bees as we try to keep our careful calculations from falling apart in the face of the realities of life, and love, and loss.
Sign up for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)!
Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today.
Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation Initiative, and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Radiolab 
