Living Planet

Spring is in the air, and so are fresh blooms! With the US marking National Flower Day this week and flower season about to ramp up in the world's flower capital, the Netherlands, we wanted to revisit one of our favorite episodes. Find out how cut flowers are grown, how they reach us, and what it takes to keep them blooming year-round.

Governments are cracking down on climate protests. They say activists have crossed the line into extremism. But history shows resistance only adapts. As repression intensifies, will it crush the movement - or make it stronger?

Last year, the world pumped over 41 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Hard to picture, isn’t it? In this episode, we explore different ways of understanding this basic concept of climate science along with the help of a researcher with a very personal link to the origins of our obsession with carbon dioxide.

Is Ireland really running out of water? Is AI to blame? And where does Irish mythology fit in? In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we answer your questions, share unexpected insights, and, of course, have a bit of craic along the way.

Dan Luscher, an urban planning enthusiast advocating for 15-minute cities, joins Lindsay Sturman, a TV writer involved in the Livable Communities Initiative. They discuss the vision of cities where everything is a short walk or bike ride away. While celebrating the sustainability of these urban designs, they tackle the controversies and conspiracy theories surrounding them. The conversation highlights the urgent need for transformed spaces, inclusive zoning, and innovative solutions to create vibrant, walkable communities, all while addressing socioeconomic disparities.

Scientists in the US have found a way to grow plants in complete darkness. Could this be the future of farming, reducing land use and environmental impact? Or will traditional agriculture remain irreplaceable?

What would you do to save your home from disappearing? As sea levels rise, the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu mulls a permanent move to the metaverse to save its culture. But not everyone is giving up just yet.

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.