Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, Director of the Office of Science for the US Department of Energy, discusses the 'Energy Earthshots' projects aimed at accelerating innovation in the fight against climate change. She emphasizes the need for equitable policies backed by science and explains the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 through nature-based solutions and new technologies.

Original broadcast date: March 11, 2022. From our planet's underwater caves to its ancient soils, there are entire worlds right beneath our feet. This hour, we explore the subterranean forces that shape our lives above the ground. Guests include cave diver Jill Heinerth, death care advocate Katrina Spade, soil scientist Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, and paleontologist Nizar Ibrahim. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at plus.npr.org/ted.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's easy to overlook the soil beneath our feet, or to think of it as just dirt to be cleaned up. But soil wraps the world in an envelope of life: It grows our food, regulates our climate, and makes our planet habitable. "What stands between life and lifelessness on our planet Earth is this thin layer of soil that exists on the Earth's surface," says Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, a soil scientist at the University of California-Merced. Just ... don't call it dirt. "I don't like the D-word," Berhe says. Berhe says soil is precious, taking millennia to regenerate. And with about a third of the world's soil degraded, according to a UN estimate, it's also at risk. Prof. Berhe, who is also serving as Director of the U. S. Dept. of Energy's Office of Science, marks World Soil Day by telling Aaron Scott about the hidden majesty of soil and why it's crucial to tackling the climate crisis.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Jill Heinerth, a renowned cave diver, shares thrilling tales of exploring underwater caves and the dangers they pose. Katrina Spade discusses eco-friendly death care, promoting human composting as a sustainable alternative to traditional methods. Soil scientist Asmeret Asefaw Berhe highlights the vital role of soil in climate change mitigation and encourages climate-smart practices. Lastly, Nizar Ibrahim reveals fascinating insights about Spinosaurus, uncovering its identity as a river-dwelling predator, challenging previous concepts in paleontology.

From our planet's underwater caves to its ancient soils, there are entire worlds right beneath our feet. This hour, we explore the subterranean forces that shape our lives above the ground. Guests include cave diver Jill Heinerth, death care advocate Katrina Spade, soil scientist Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, and paleontologist Nizar Ibrahim.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy