TED Radio Hour

How deserted places find a second life

43 snips
Aug 15, 2025
Shane Campbell-Staton, an evolutionary biologist, discusses surprising species adaptations to human activities. Garry Cooper, CEO of Reaply, highlights how a circular economy can minimize waste, particularly in labs. Urban expert Anika Goss shares insights on revitalizing Detroit by transforming vacant lots, while conservationist Alysa McCall focuses on innovative strategies for human-bear coexistence. Together, they explore themes of renewal, adaptation, and sustainability in abandoned places, offering inspiring visions for a harmonious future.
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ANECDOTE

Field Observations From Chernobyl

  • Kara Love observed wolves in Chernobyl living amid heavy radiation exposure while the area hosted diverse wildlife like bison and lynx.
  • She noted pups receive constant environmental and dietary radiation that could affect health across lifetimes.
INSIGHT

Rapid Evolution In Chernobyl Wolves

  • Wolves in Chernobyl show rapid genomic changes after only a few generations exposed to chronic radiation.
  • Those fastest-changing regions map to genes tied to cancer biology and immune response.
ADVICE

Translate Evolutionary Hits Into Medicine

  • Work with biomedical researchers to test whether evolved mutations have therapeutic potential.
  • Translate evolutionary findings into physiological studies to seek novel cancer treatments.
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