Living Planet

As Dublin grapples with a water crisis, a proposed pipeline threatens the River Shannon's future. Tales from an 82-year-old shed light on the river's rich history. Friends reminisce about childhood adventures and the changing wildlife along the river. Tensions rise as urban demands clash with rural ecological concerns, while sustainability challenges loom over data centers' water and energy use. The podcast explores the delicate balance between development and preserving this vital waterway.

We recently devoted an episode to exploring LED light pollution in one of Germany’s brightest cities. In part two, we hear from a motley team of researchers who want to rewild urban cities. An artist and an ethicist are leading the way with a “light clock,” an intriguing thought experiment on the relationship between light and time.

Who doesn't love a good story? Even in the noise of today, some books keep on drawing new readers. Outdated in many ways, yet standing the test of time, can those with strong natural settings foster an appreciation of the world around us? An English county with its fair share of well-known writers might be a good place to explore that idea.

What happens to bees in winter? These busy creatures don't just vanish when the cold sets in. In this second episode of our Naturally Connected mini-series we learn about the amazing survival strategies of bees.

What is it about the sea that draws us in? From rugged cliffs to sandy shores, Tamsin Walker explores the ocean’s magnetic pull and the mysteries of its hold on us in this opening episode of our Naturally Connected mini-series.

Before we ring in the New Year, Living Planet has some answers to your listener questions. Which is better for the environment: reusable or paper coffee cups? And what about the water footprint of the meat industry? Does it really take 15,000 liters of water to produce one kilo of beef? Plus, our favorite moments of 2024.

Curtis van der Schaaf, an Assistant Professor and forestry extension specialist at Mississippi State University, unpacks the sustainability debate between real and artificial Christmas trees. He discusses the ecological impact of both choices, emphasizing the benefits of sourcing trees locally from tree farms. Curtis also explores innovative uses for post-holiday real trees in culinary creations, like Christmas tree needle-infused ice cream. Listeners are encouraged to consider quality, sentiment, and community connections when selecting their holiday trees.

What can a well-manicured lawn reveal about social status, our relationship to the Earth and the American Dream? A surprising amount. From fancy French palace gardens to suburban America, come along for the garden party as we mow over the history of the lawn – and ask if its time is up. This episode is from DW's Don't Drink the Milk podcast.

More and more cities are switching to LEDs to save money and, ultimately, the planet. But ecologists are worried about this trend. Dr. Chris Kyba explains why on a night walk through Cologne, one of Germany's brightest cities.

In the heart of Berlin, woodpeckers are turning the city into their playground. From drumming on trees to carving out homes, these master carpenters are thriving in the most unlikely of places. But why are they drawn to the bustling streets and towering buildings?