Podcasts about nature podcast

When it comes to sexual organs, the penis is really 'out there.' Name another organ that can change its form AND function in a matter of seconds!There's a lot of variety in the animal kingdom; from spikes and nails to coils and collagen — so, this appendage is worth investigating… close up.Sex is Weird is a new series of What the Duck?! With Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom.Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.Featuring:Dr Emily Willingham, biologist, journalist and authorDr Diane Kelly, Senior Research Fellow, University of Massachusetts, AmherstAssociate Professor Andrew Durso, Florida Gulf Coast University, FloridaAssociate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USDr Bruno Buzatto, Flinders University, South AustraliaPhilippa Holm, HFR Performance Horses, VictoriaProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

When you really think about it, sex to make babies is WEIRD! You take an outie that has to get stuck inside an innie that links into a production line of eggs to assemble a perfect tiny being. It's so damn complicated!So why does it work like that?Join us at What the Duck for the first episode of a new series where we figure out how living things went from splitting ourselves in half to double the population, to periodically feeling compelled to copulate in such a vigorous, sometimes highly embarrassing, manner.Earth — this is your sexual history!Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.Featuring:Emeritus Professor David Siveter, University of Leicester, UKAssistant Professor Emily Mitchell, University of Cambridge, UK and curator of non-insect invertebrates, University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, UKDr Marissa Betts, geologist and palaeontologist at the University of New England, Armidale, AustraliaDr Emily Willingham, biologist, journalist and authorAssociate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional mastering: Isabella Tropiano and Russell StapletonThanks also to Will Ockenden, Belinda Smith, Corey Hague and Joel Werner.This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're diving into one of the most dazzling birds in North America—the Costa's Hummingbird. After a listener wrote in with a question, we decided this tiny desert specialist deserved a full episode—and it does not disappoint.From its iridescent purple crown to its high-speed aerial displays, the Costa's Hummingbird is a master of survival in some of the harshest environments. We explore its unique behavior, desert habitat, feeding strategies, and what makes it stand out among hummingbirds.We also revisit the Black-backed Woodpecker, connecting back to our earlier episode with Ryan, who shared his experience birding on the autism spectrum. That conversation opened up an important discussion about how birding can be more inclusive—and how the birding community can create space for everyone to enjoy nature in their own way.Whether you're a beginner learning your first birds or a seasoned birder looking to go deeper, this episode blends science, storytelling, and real-world perspectives.As always, it's married ornithologists and Field Museum curators John Bates and Shannon Hackett, alongside birding enthusiasts RJ and Amanda Pole, bringing you birds through both expert insight and curious discovery.Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:YouTube InstagramTikTokBlueSky

In 2002 Gigoo became the world's wealthiest chicken when her owner left her £10 million in his will.How does a chook even open a bank account?Within legal limitations there are ways to provide your pets the lifestyle they're used to after you die.But what about divorce?Can you have visitation rights to see your goldfish?And when a dog's day in court climbs though the tiers of the Australian legal system, it might surprise you how little the pet is mentioned.Featuring:Professor Katy Barnett, Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne, and co-author of Guilty PigsProfessor Prue Vines, Faculty of Law and Justice, the University of New South WalesIan Charman, family law specialist, consultant solicitor, Adelta LegalProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerIsabella Tropiano, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're joined by birder Ryan Shostack to talk about the incredible Black-backed Woodpecker—and how birding can be more inclusive for everyone.The Black-backed Woodpecker is a fascinating species known for its unique relationship with burned forests, and Ryan shares his firsthand experiences seeing this bird multiple times in the wild. We explore its behavior, habitat, and why it's such a special find for birders.Ryan also opens up about his experience birding on the autism spectrum (including Asperger's), and what birding means to him. It leads to a thoughtful and honest conversation about accessibility, inclusion, and how the birding community can better support people of all backgrounds and abilities.With Shannon's own experience with hearing loss, this is a topic we've been wanting to explore for a while—and this conversation really delivers. We also go on a few fun tangents (including wolves), making this a wide-ranging and meaningful episode.As always, it's Field Museum ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett, alongside RJ and Amanda learning right along with you.If you're interested in birding, bird behavior, inclusion in nature, or just love great conversations about the outdoors—this is an episode you won't want to miss.Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:YouTube InstagramTikTokBlueSky

A lost monkey in an Ikea carpark is an illegally traded pet, so does he have a legal owner?When it comes to animal ownership, courts turn to Roman-era laws to try and figure out if an animal is tame or wild.It may work sometimes, but leaves out the modern idea of the animal's best interests.And it doesn't explain how an elephant can have a criminal rap sheet.Content warning: This program contains stories where animals are punished as if they are criminals. Some listeners may find this confronting.Featuring:Professor Katy Barnett, Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne, and co-author of Guilty PigsDr Michelle Granden, psychologistMary Roach, author of Animal, Vegetable, CriminalProfessor Sindhu Radhakrishna, National Institute of Advanced studies in Bengaluru, IndiaWith thanks to Dr Michelle Granden whose research inspired the title of this episodeAnd extra sounds from bird enthusiasts:Mike Dooher, XC402422. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/402422 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

How much booze does it take to intoxicate an elephant?The answer isn't as much as you might expect, because not all guts are created equal when it comes to metabolising alcohol.This explains why an elephant might be considered a lightweight and your donkey got into a fight last weekend.But alcohol isn't the only cause of misbehaviour — so what motivated the legless serial doorbell pranksters?Featuring:Dr Mareike Janiak,  postdoctoral associate at the University of CalgaryDr Christine Sutton, particle physicist and past editor of CERN CourierKate Connolly, Berlin correspondent for the Guardian NewspaperDr Imogen Cavadino, freelance malacologistWith news audio thanks to NPRAnd extra sounds from bird enthusiasts:Mike Dooher, XC355140. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/355140 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Lonnie Bregman, XC373738. Accessible at  www.xeno-canto.org/373738 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Mike Dooher, XC402422. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/402422 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Frank Lambert, XC1031363. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1031363 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0)Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?!  was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

In this episode:00:46 A massive trial assessing the outcomes of ‘off label' cancer treatmentResearch Article: Verkerk et al.12:49 Research HighlightsNature: Microbial hockey: bacteria can spin a ‘puck' just by swimmingNature: Regular physical activity in midlife cuts risk of early death15:14 10,000 years of western Eurasian evolutionNature: Landmark ancient-genome study shows surprise acceleration of human evolutionResearch Article: Akbari et al.Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the Nature Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music or your favourite podcast app. An RSS feed for the Nature Podcast is available too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Forget feathered friends — these are our feathered foes.They can wield knives, get involved in the world of organised crime and drug dealing, and even shut down the Large Hadron Collider.But the most pressing question is, why did the duck cross the road at speeds so high local law enforcement was on the case?Featuring:Dr Christine Sutton, particle physicist and past editor of CERN CourierMary Roach, author of Animal, Vegetable, CriminalDr Laura Adams, psychology instructor at Langara CollegeProfessor Dina Siegel, criminology at Utrecht UniversityDr Amber Lee, avian & exotic animal veterinarian at The Unusual Pet VetsSven Montgomery, Police Inspectorate, municipality of KönizWith extra sounds from bird enthusiasts:David m, XC116357. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/116357 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0)David m, XC164431. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/164431 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0)Khristos Nizamis, XC531740. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/531740 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0)Romuald Mikusek, XC912877. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/912877 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Daniel Parker, XC949456. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/949456 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Ray Cooke, XC1058578. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1058578 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHarvey O'Sullivan, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

The fear of being eaten by an animal is so visceral that a mass psychosis, featuring a monkey man, once swept across Delhi.But in the event of an actual attack, investigators look for specific forensic clues to identify which predator was responsible.Was the perpetrator human or animal? Or in one infamous case in the US, was it human … or owl?Featuring:Phoebe Judge, host of the podcast CriminalEuan Ritchie, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Deakin UniversityMary Roach, author of Animal Vegetable CriminalProfessor Sindhu Radhakrishna, National Institute of Advanced studies in Bengaluru, IndiaProfessor Satish Kr. Verma, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Amrita University in Faridabad, IndiaWith extra sounds from bird enthusiasts:Barry Edmonston, XC1001471. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1001471 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Leonardo da Pinchy is a literal cat burglar with more than 350 pieces of evidence against him — evidence that's easy to confirm because when he steals his neighbour's underwear, he brings it home with a satisfied look of great pride.Steven Seagull is banned from the local corner store after a six-year beef-flavoured-chip-thieving spree.Then there are the monkeys holding phones hostage for fruit juice.These aren't the only creatures with a criminal record — far from itSo when animals steal, what is driving their behaviour?Featuring:Dr Neeltje Boogert, associate professor in animal behaviour at the University of ExeterHelen North and Leonardo da PinchyJulia Henning, PhD candidate at the University of AdelaideProfessor Sindhu Radhakrishna, National Institute of Advanced studies in Bengaluru, IndiaProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Pigs tried for murder, weevils expelled from heaven and how a bloke dressed as an executed French monkey became mayor of an English town.Topsy the elephant travelled the US performing for cheering circus-goers, but when her drunken trainer rode her into town wreaking havoc, was that her poor decision-making … or his?Content warning: This program contains stories where animals are punished as if they are criminals. Some listeners may find this confronting.Featuring:Professor Katy Barnett, Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne, and co-author of Guilty PigsDr Michelle Granden, psychologistStuart Drummond, former Mayor of Hartlepool UKProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Join What the Duck?! at a science comedy debate called Sci Fight.Sci Fight brings scientists and comedians together to examine serious topics in a silly way.The topic up for debate is that nature doesn't care where an animal is from.Featuring:Alanta Colley, science communicator, host and founder of Sci FightAffirmative:Aaron Agostini, biologist and researcher at the University of MelbourneRose Bishop, stand-up comedian and writerLukian Adams, aquatic ecologist and PhD student at the University of MelbourneNegative:Trish Koh, fish ecologist at the University of MelbourneRowan Thambar, stand-up comedian and writerAdam McKenzie, actor, writer, and comedianProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerWith thanks to Richard Girvan and Luke WoollettThis episode of What the Duck?! was recorded and produced on the land of the Kulin Nation.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Bush rats are not black rats — that's the first thing you need to know.Ann Jones is joined by ABC Top 5 scientist Dr Patrick Finnerty to understand why researchers are going around sniffing bush rats — and how it might help reintroduce them to Sydney's nature reserves.Find out more about the Top 5 science media residency here.Featuring:Dr Patrick Finnerty, conservation ecologist at the University of SydneyProfessor Peter Banks, conservation ecologist at the University of SydneyAssociate Professor Thomas Newsome, conservation ecologist at the University of SydneyMareshell Wauchope, PhD student at University of SydneyProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Eora and Kulin Nations.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Last up from Spoken Label (Our Spoken Word / Writer Podcast) features Part 2 of our extended chat with the Environmental Poetry collection ‘I am Nature', this time an extended chat with the wonderful Andrew Sumner andPatricia (Pat) Sumner. Andrew Sumner grew up near Stroud in Gloucestershire,surrounded by deep woods and floriferous meadows thronged with butterflies. These places he explored with his mother, father and younger sister. Sadly, all that rich nature has since gone under the plough and the conifer. Later, his father's work took the family south to Somerset and the new and differentlandscapes of the Somerset Levels, the Quantock Hills and the Mendip Hills.Andrew's poems have been published in group anthologies and poetry collections, including ‘Travelling with the Saints' (Y Lofa, 2013) and ‘Both Sides of the Border – An Anthology of Writing on the Welsh Border Region (Gwasg Carreg Gfwlach, 1998). He has illustrated a children's book written by hiswife, Pat and enjoys walking, gardening, turning wood, drawing, painting, and researching family history. *Patricia Sumner (Pat) grew up on the Isle of Anglesey and nowlives in the Vale of Clwyd. She has loved creative writing ever since she was very young. As an adult, she studied under the poet and author Dr Gladys Mary Coles,namong other writers. It was at these Creative writing classes in Chester that she met her husband, Andrew.As a poet, she has had two collections published. Her pamphlet ‘Beyond the Glass' came first in a national poetry competition run by Thynks Publications. Pat's second collection of poems and readings, ‘The Promise of Dawn: Rites of Passage for all Beliefs', is published by Veneficia Publications.Pat has won awards for some of her poems and plays, and her poetry has appeared in magazines and anthologies. Pat has a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Philosophy, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education.  This book (which is recommended) can be found here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Am-Nature-Environmental-Poetry-ebook/dp/B0FH7PRW78/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SAZ97SPX6WAQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.boHw9Hvv-eiwk0u6a82ZqWgjmK5G_sB28inaUJj0xhnHDE2LARcrHr8SrLCATjQSwE33nT3rAzsmfAznxsyx5IGxWZdQS_e_hS0b6ZwycAw.ulpWQy3YfH1rRkpCS96xbDozvPLa_m20qWAIz00uIUc&dib_tag=se&keywords=andrew+sumner&qid=1771620249&s=books&sprefix=andrew+sumner%2Cstripbooks%2C591&sr=1-1

Marion Anstis pursued her love of tadpoles and frogs on afternoons and weekends, writing papers for scientific journals despite not studying zoology at university.When she retired from her job as a music teacher, she finally had the time to pack her campervan and travel the country, chasing wet seasons and documenting the frogs she found.The result of that fastidious research venture is her PhD and the froggy bible, Tadpoles and Frogs of Australia.In 2022 her contribution to the field was recognised with the genus Anstisia named after her, a group of frogs that lay their eggs on the ground.Featuring:Dr Marion Anstis, herpetologist and authorProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

A third of the food Americans produce goes to waste, and a shocking amount of that waste happens in our own homes. But reducing food waste is possible, if we make a few simple changes. In this episode, which comes to REAP/SOW courtesy of Second Nature, reporter Katelan Cunnigham talks to plastic-free, low-waste chef Anne-Marie Bonneau about how she limits food waste. Surprise: food delivery isn't as bad as you thought when it comes to waste.

From the rolling hills of country Ireland to rolling waves beneath her boat docked in Hobart, Dr Diane Purcell has explored the most extreme places algae survive.She's also explored the prospect of its survival away from Earth when she worked at NASA studying extremophiles.Some of Diane's earliest research was looking at algae behaviour when it's kind of sleep deprived, and algae that will eat so much it will literally explode!She's also dealt with the ebb and flow of research work by moving to Darwin and working as a high school science teacher.Featuring:Dr Diane Purcell, Project Manager of the Remediation Section, Science and Technical Branch, at the Environment Protection AuthorityProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Peter Menkhorst is the mammalogist who wrote the birding bible, The Australian Bird Guide.As a boy, Peter would go birdwatching with his dad, setting up in a hide before dawn to observe malleefowl tending their mounds — and ignoring ongoing attacks from mosquitoes!His professional work ranged from surveying mammals and developing National Parks, to ecological research and managing over-abundant koalas, while also leading conservation work to protect the orange-bellied parrot, the regent honeyeater and the helmeted honeyeater.Peter still keeps a list of the birds he sees, in the hardcover notebook his grandmother gave him when he was 11.Featuring:Peter Menkhorst, zoologist and authorProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Welcome back to Birds of a Feather Talk Together—and welcome to our first new episode of 2026! After wrapping up our deep dive into ducks, we're kicking off the new year by doing something a little different: each of us brings a favorite science story from 2025 to the table, along with a look ahead at what we're most excited about in 2026.Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Pole for a wide-ranging conversation. We talk about juncos, robots in science, and how new research is shaping the way we study birds and understand the natural world.This episode also features a meaningful and candid update from Shannon on her cochlear implant surgery—how hearing restoration technology has impacted her daily life, her work as a scientist, and the way she experiences sound in her every day life. If you're a cochlear implant recipient, hearing-aid user, audiology professional, or someone interested in accessibility in science, this conversation offers a personal and insightful perspective you won't want to miss.As always, there's plenty of bird talk, thoughtful science discussion, and a sense of curiosity about where the next year will take us—both personally and professionally.Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky

Every superhero has their origin story, and a superhero of science is no different…From watching slater bugs and catching non-venomous snakes in her garden just outside Toronto in Canada, to harnessing lizards with palm fronds in the Caribbean, Tanya Latty was always going to study animals.But it wasn't until an invertebrate zoology class that her "mind exploded" and her passion for entomology became clear.She went to the Rocky Mountains to study mountain pine beetles for her PhD — where she also accidentally studied bears and cougars up close.These days Tanya is based in Australia and raises awareness and understanding of invertebrates after bushfires.This is the origin story of Associate Professor Tanya Latty.Featuring:Associate Professor Tanya Latty, entomologist and insect ecologist at the University of SydneyProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

First of a two part Podcast today from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features discussing 'I am nature' an Environmental Poetry book with two of their poets, Leaf Pettit and Diana Sanders.Leaf Pettit lives in the vale of Clwyd with her husband and three children.Rural north ales has been her home since she was three years old and she has developed a deep connection with its landscape and environment, choosing to raise and home-educate her children.Leaf has been active in caring for local green spaces and has played a leading role in a community project to develop a green space at the heart of her village, including planting native hedging to forma wildlife corridor and wildflower areas.Leaf has a BA (Hons) in Literature Life and thought and imaginative writing and an MA in Creative Writing.Leaf's work has also appeared in the writer's wheel magazine and a couple of local publications, including the 'stillness' pamphlet produced from the Wellbeing Weekend at Saint Eidan Pilgrim Church in 2023.Diana Sanders is a composer and award winning poet. She is the composer of six published works for flute and has curated several events that combine music and poetry, some of which have been on podcasts and local radio.Her poetry publisjed has been published in magazines and anthologies in the UK, USA and India and her poem 'Birth' was third in the Welsh Poetry Competition in 2016. She has a BA from Nottingham Trent Creative University in Creative Arts (Music and Drama), In partnership with her friend, Pat Sumner, she runs a monthly writing group. She is the editor of the local Friends of the Earth magazine and is passionate about caring for the environment.More about this book can be read here: https://www.veneficiapublications.com/product-page/i-am-nature

Nineties kids didn't dawdle on the way home from school in the afternoon. This was the age of appointment television, and that appointment was with Totally Wild.From 1992 it was beloved afternoon viewing for almost 30 years, hosted with a massive smile (and a decent fringe) by Ranger Stacey.Every superhero has their origin story, and a superhero of environmental education is no different…From the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service, to holding her own with cranky carpet-faced puppet Agro, and then hosting her own TV show for 29 years.This is the origin story of Ranger Stacey Thomson.Featuring:Ranger Stacey Thomson, environmental educator, Redland City CouncilProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're diving back into one of our all-time favorite duck episodes—spotlighting the unforgettable harlequin duck, one of the most striking and resilient waterfowl in North America.Known for nesting along fast-flowing mountain streams and spending winters on rugged, wave-battered coastlines, the harlequin duck is a true marvel of adaptation. From its bold plumage to its extreme habitat choices, this species never fails to amaze birders, ornithologists, and nature lovers alike.Joining the conversation are married ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett, curators of birds at the Field Museum, along with RJ and Amanda—enthusiastic bird fans who love asking the questions you're probably thinking.While we're gearing up for brand-new episodes, we hope you enjoy this look back at one of our most popular and fascinating duck deep dives. Whether you're a seasoned birder or just discovering the joy of birds, this episode is packed with insight, wonder, and a deep appreciation for one of nature's most adventurous ducks.

This is the story of the domesticated animal that feralised itself.Where did dingoes come from and when?Where does a wild dog stop and a dingo begin?How much can genetics really tell us about Australia's only native dog — and how long do you have to live somewhere to be 'native'?Featuring:Professor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityDr Angela Perri, zooarchaeologist, Chronicle HeritageKelly Ann Blake, Wadawurrung woman, and Jack the DingoProfessor Greger Larson, evolutionary genomics at the University of OxfordProfessor Euan Ritchie, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Deakin UniversityProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerJacinta Bowler, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive ProducerThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2025 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

We're kicking off the year with a fun, laughter-filled episode all about our favorite birding movie of last year — LISTERS. If you love birding, birders, and the wonderfully obsessive world of listing, this film is a must-watch. We had an absolute blast talking about it, laughed pretty much the entire time, and highly recommend you watch along with us. Even better? LISTERS is free to watch on YouTube, so it's easy to queue up and join the fun.In addition to our movie discussion, we're diving into listener questions — and fair warning, some of them get a little intense. From unforgettable field stories to Shannon's up-close (and slightly horrifying) experience with a bot fly, this episode has a bit of everything: bird science, real-life birding moments, and plenty of laughs along the way.Whether you're a seasoned birder, a movie lover, or just here for wild nature stories, this episode is a perfect way to start the year. Hit play, follow along with LISTERS, and join us for another entertaining and informative conversation about birds and the people who love them.Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky

Are puppy dog eyes really a sign of love, or does Fido just want a lil snack?Can dogs really "speak" by pressing talking buttons, or do they just make great content for TikTok?There's more to canine communication than howls and growls — and a wagging tail could be telling you more than you think.Featuring:Dr. Mia Cobb, Chaser Innovation Research Fellow (Canine Welfare Science), Animal Welfare Science Centre at the University of MelbourneProfessor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityAssociate professor Federico Rossano director of the comparative cognition lab at the University of California San DiegoProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive ProducerThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2025 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

What happens when you plant a forest where nothing should grow?In this bonus, end-of-season episode, I'm joined by Adrian Wong of SUGi inside a dense pocket forest tucked into London's Southbank Centre—surrounded by brutalist concrete, cultural landmarks, and constant city noise.Just two years ago, this space was solid concrete. Today, it's six metres tall, alive with insects, birds, bats, and its own cooling microclimate.Recorded entirely on location, we talk about:how a 130 m² pocket forest transformed one of London's hardest urban landscapesurban acupuncture and why small interventions can have outsized ecological impactthe Miyawaki method and forest succession at speedecoacoustics and what sound can tell us about biodiversity returningwhat this forest proves about nature's ability to rebound when given space—above and below groundYou'll hear drilling, footsteps, and the city all around us—because this forest doesn't exist outside the city, but right in the middle of it.A reflective bonus episode to close out a beautiful Season 6 of the Internet of Nature Podcast.Follow SUGi's work at @sugiproject on Instagram.

'Man's best friend' sure sounds better than 'obligatory symbiont', but what are the true dynamics at play?There's no denying the bond people feel and the attachment dogs have for their humans, but if we put that beautiful relationship under scientific scrutiny, does it hold up?Can any dog go 'full Lassie' if you (or Timmy) get stuck down a well?Will your dog save you?Featuring:Professor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityDr. Mia Cobb, Chaser Innovation Research Fellow (Canine Welfare Science), Animal Welfare Science Centre at the University of MelbourneProfessor Chris Johnson, the University of TasmaniaDr. Annika Bremhorst, founder of Dogs and Science, and canine scientist at the University of BernFurther reading:Importance of a species' socioecology: Wolves outperform dogs in a conspecific cooperation taskPet dogs release their trapped and distressed owners: Individual variation and evidence of emotional contagionGood dog! Using livestock guardian dogs to protect livestock from predators in Australia's extensive grazing systemsProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive ProducerThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in May and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

00:40 What a trove of potato genomes reveals about the humble spudResearchers have created a ‘pangenome' containing the genomes of multiple potato types, something they believe can help make it easier to breed and sequence new varieties. The potato's complicated genetics has made it difficult to sequence the plant's genome, but improvements in technology have allowed the team to combine sequences, allowing them to look for subtle differences in between varieties.Nature Podcast: 16 April 2025Research Article: Sun et al.10:28 Hundreds of physicists on a remote island: we visit the ultimate quantum partyAccording to legend, physicist Werner Heisenberg formulated the mathematics behind quantum mechanics in 1925 while on a restorative trip to the remote North Sea island of Heligoland.To celebrate the centenary of this event, several hundred researchers have descended on the island to take part in a conference on all things quantum physics. Nature reporter Lizzie Gibney was also in attendance, and joined us to give an inside track on the meeting.Nature Podcast: ​​​​​​​13 June 202519:54 Research HighlightsA minuscule robot that can manipulate liquid droplets, and the discovery of ancient puppets on the remains of a large pyramid offers a glimpse into rituals in Mesoamerica.Research Highlight: This tiny robot moves mini-droplets with easeResearch Highlight: Ancient puppets that smile or scowl hint at shared rituals23:03 These malaria drugs treat the mosquitoes — not the peopleResearchers have developed two compounds that can kill malaria-causing parasites within mosquitoes, an approach they hope could help reduce transmission of the disease. The team showed that these compounds can be embedded into the plastics used to make bed nets, providing an alternative to insecticide-based malaria-control measures, which are losing efficacy in the face of increased resistance.Nature Podcast: ​​​​​​​21 May 2025Research article: ​​​​​​​Probst et al.33:49 Briefing ChatThe first skeletal evidence that Roman gladiators fought lions.BBC News: Bites on gladiator bones prove combat with lionSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's designer clothes, but they have nothing on designer dogs!They come in a huge range of shapes and colours and sizes, from the tiny Chihuahua to the Great Dane.In the animal world this much variation usually means different species, but not for dogs — so where did they all come from?And what role did Victorian-era rats play in the development of 'breed standards'?Featuring:Joyce Sullivan, papillon breederWayne Douglas OAM, Afghan Hound breederEsther Joseph, all breeds judgeMichael Worboys emeritus professor the University of ManchesterProfessor Greger Larson, evolutionary genomics at the University of OxfordDr Angela Perri, zooarchaeologist, Chronicle HeritageDr. Elaine Ostrander, geneticist at National Institutes of Health (US)Dr Heidi Parker, geneticist at National Institutes of Health (US)Further reading:Canine Genomics and Genetics: Running with the PackThe invention of the basset hound: breed, blood and the late Victorian dog fancyProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive ProducerThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in May and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

00:46 The gifts that sparked a love of scienceNature put a call out for readers to tell us about memorable presents that first got them interested in science, or mementos of their life in research. These include telescopes, yeast-themed wedding rings, and... cows' eyes.Nature: The gift that shaped my career in science08:12 “I am the Very Model of a Miniature Tyrannosaur”In the first of our annual festive songs celebrating the science of the past year, we tell the story of a diminutive dinosaur that turned out to be its own species.Nature Podcast: Meet the ‘Wee-rex'. Tiny tyrannosaur is its own speciesNature Video: Hotly debated dinosaur is not a tiny T. rex after all11:43 A very scientific quizAn all-star cast competes for the glory or being the winner of the Nature Podcast's 2025 festive quiz.Nature: Meet the ‘Wee-rex'. Tiny tyrannosaur is its own speciesNature: This company claimed to ‘de-extinct' dire wolves. Then the fighting startedNature Podcast: 3D-printed fake wasps help explain bad animal mimicryNature Video: ‘Aqua tweezers' manipulate particles with water wavesNature Podcast: Sapphire anvils squeeze metals atomically-thinNature Video: Vesuvius volcano turned this brain to glassNature Podcast: Ancient viral DNA helps human embryos developNature Video: Magnetic fibres give this robot a soft gripNature: These contact lenses give people infrared vision — even with their eyes shutNature Video: Is this really the world's largest mirror? Researchers put it to the testNature Podcast: World's tiniest pacemaker could revolutionize heart surgeryNature Podcast: Earth's deepest ecosystem discovered six miles below the seaNature Podcast: Nature goes inside the world's largest ‘mosquito factory' — here's the buzzNature Podcast: Apocalypse then: how cataclysms shaped human societiesNature Podcast: Honey, I ate the kids: how hunger and hormones make mice aggressive25:21 “Hard the Hydrogel is Stuck”Our second festive song is an ode to a rubber duck that was stuck to a rock, thanks to a newly designed, super-adhesive hydrogel.Nature Podcast: Underwater glue shows its sticking power in rubber duck testNature Video: Why did researchers stick a duck to a rock? To show off their super glue28:42 Nature's 10Each year, Nature's 10 highlights some of the people who have helped shape science over the past 12 months. We hear about a few of the people who made the 2025 list, including: a civil servant who stood up for evidence-based public-health policy; the science sleuth who revealed a retraction crisis at Indian universities; and the baby whose life was saved by the first personalized CRISPR therapy.Nature: Nature's 10Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The relationship between humans and big scary wolves has come a long way to give us tiny fluffy lap dogs with very discerning tastes in expensive food.Whose idea was it? Was it the wolves who wanted the warmth of the fire, or the humans who wanted protection from the other scary carnivores?And take a look at the first archaeological evidence of a beloved family pet preserved with its human family for almost 15,000 years!Featuring:Luc Janssens, Specialist in small animal surgery and archaeologistProfessor Greger Larson, evolutionary genomics at the University of OxfordDr Angela Perri, zooarchaeologist, Chronicle HeritageProfessor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityFurther reading:A new look at an old dog : Bonn-Oberkassel reconsideredIdentification of genomic variants putatively targeted by selection during dog domesticationDog domestication and the dual dispersal of people and dogs into the AmericasProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive ProducerThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in May and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Nematodes are found in every environment on Earth and can survive in some seriously extreme conditions.They will come back to life after being frozen for 40 thousand years! WHAT THE DUCK?!There's so much more to these creatures than a chocolate square for an itchy rear end…Sign up here for the nematode appreciation society.Featuring:Dr Mike Hodda, senior principal research scientist, National Research Collections Australia, CSIROBethany Perry, PhD student at the ARC Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity, University of Canberra and CSIROProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was recorded and produced on the land of the Ngunnawal, Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Nadina Galle is an ecological engineer and technologist dedicated to working with urban ecologists and planners to apply current and developing technologies to improve urban ecosystems for future generations. Best known for her pioneering work on the "Internet of Nature" (IoN), a global movement that harnesses emerging technologies to create nature-rich communities, she is also the author of the book The Nature of Our Cities. On this episode of Nature Revisited, Nadina discusses how her cross-cultural background informed her passion for nature and career pursuits, as well as some of the ways innovators from around the world are integrating urban nature with emerging technologies to protect our cities from the effects of climate change, while raising awareness and a sense of stewardship of nature within the population. [Originally published June 24th 2024, Ep 124] The Internet of Nature Podcast: https://www.nadinagalle.com/podcast Nadina's book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/nature-of-our-cities-the-nadina-galle?variant=42737818140706 Listen to Nature Revisited on your favorite podcast apps or at https://noordenproductions.com Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bdz4s9d7 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/5n7yx28t Subscribe on Youtube Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/bddd55v9 Podlink: https://pod.link/1456657951 Support Nature Revisited https://noordenproductions.com/support Nature Revisited is produced by Stefan Van Norden and Charles Geoghegan. We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions - contact us at https://noordenproductions.com/contact

CSIRO's National Research Collection in Canberra is where millions of dead things bring life to Australian science.The specimens, collected over many decades, have just been very carefully moved into a new purpose-built facility named Diversity.The What the Duck?! team had a "sticky beak" inside to find DNA extraction robots, extinct birds, predatory flies, and a few thousand slides containing insect genitalia.This episode was recorded in September, before recent announcements were made about CSIRO funding.Featuring:Dr Alicia Grealy, research projects officer, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRODr Keith Bayless, research scientist, National Research Collections Australia, CSIROAndrea Wild, science communicator, CSIRODr Anna Kearns, research scientist, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRODr Olivia Evangelista de Souza, curator and digital data manager, National Research Collections Australia, CSIROWith thanks to Thea Williams and Ian Dewar at CSIROProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?!  was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

After receiving a heartbreaking email, Ann goes on a mission to prove that 'girls DO like spiders, frogs and all things nature'.'Featuring:Lyra and Julie Gould from CanadaDr. Jodi Rowley- Australian Museum and University of NSWProfessor Maydianne Andrade- University of TorontoDr. Amber Beavis- Office of the Chief Veterinary OfficerAssociate Professor Tanya Latty- Sydney UniversityPlus excerpts from videos to Lyra from:Dr Federica TurcoDr Juanita RodriguezDr Kate UmbersDr Perry Beasley-HallDr Jessica FenkerJosie StylesYing LuoPlus extra sounds from:Christopher MacGregor, ABC Radio National listener with an excellent frog chorus from Bayswater in Perth, WAFrank Lambert, with a Spot-throated Babbler recording from Thailand, via xeno canto XC200877 (CC BY-NC 4.0)Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerJoel Werner, Script EditingThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Filmmaker and N8RLND founder Pieter van den Braak joins the Internet of Nature Podcast for a walk through Eindhoven's Philips de Jonghpark—a city park dense enough to feel like a pocket forest. Pieter shares how, during a period of feeling unmoored in his early twenties, nature became the one place that offered clarity, calm, and a sense of belonging he couldn't find anywhere else.We talk about the quiet drift into burnout, why awe can reset an overwhelmed mind, and how “microdosing nature” for five minutes a day can shift the tone of an entire morning. Pieter explains how this personal turning point led him to build N8RLND, a media platform designed to counter doomscroll culture with films and stories that reconnect people to the living world.Along the way, we explore why solitude in nature feels different from loneliness, how simple outdoor rituals can anchor mental health, and why, as Pieter puts it, “you don't need to know anything about nature to feel part of it.”

It's like a classic horror film.There are huge fangs, a segmented body, a remote location, the ocean bashing against cliffs, you're all alone and there's no one to help.The first bodies that turn up are of the children… of petrels.Featuring:Luke Halpin, PhD Researcher, Monash UniversityProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerJoel Werner, Script EditingThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Turns out centipedes versus millipedes isn't as simple as a numbers game.But here at What the Duck?! we never skip leg day.Featuring:Dr Juanita Rodriguez, Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO.Dr Bruno Alves Buzatto, Flinders University.Luis Villazon, Science Educator UK.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Angela Grant.This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

John Tweddle joins the Internet of Nature Podcast to share how the Natural History Museum in London turned five acres of ornamental lawn into a living laboratory for the future of urban nature.From eDNA that uncovers invisible life to bioacoustic microphones that map the city's soundscape, John and his team are reimagining what a museum can be: not just a keeper of fossils, but a sensor-rich, public-facing experiment in coexistence. We talk about the 2,000 species found in a single acre of soil, why “data alone will not help nature recover,” and how machine learning and citizen science can work hand in hand to monitor—and mend—the living city.Along the way, we explore what it means to listen to landscapes, how five million visitors a year unknowingly become research participants, and why, as John says, “the Internet of Nature isn't about more data, but connected data that works for nature.”

Can animals create, or even enjoy music?Ann rips through the animal kingdom to check out the musical talent of some likely and unlikely performers.Featuring:Dr. Stuart Watson, University of Zurich.Dr. Chiara De Gregorio, University of Torino.Assistant Professor Adena Schachner, University of California.David Teie, Musician and composer, Music for Cats.Associate Professor Cameron Webb, University of Sydney and NSW Health Pathology.Featured sounds:Musical Stimuli for Parrots by Adena Schachner, Fostog's Touch by David Teie (music for cats) and Marlene McCohen (YouTube) and her Amazon parrot Lucy.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.For more about bird song and music click here.This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2023 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

That echoing, haunting call drifting across a northern lake at dusk — few sounds in nature are as unforgettable as the common loon. In this listener-requested episode, RJ, John, Shannon, and Amanda dive into the world of these striking waterbirds. From their red eyes and black-and-white plumage to their incredible diving and parenting skills, loons are true masters of life on the water.Grab a cup of coffee, settle in lakeside, and join us for a relaxing, fact-filled conversation about one of North America's most iconic birds.

Recorded in the heart of Tilburg—a Dutch city that has transformed from one of Europe's hottest urban heat islands into a showcase of regreening—this episode explores the hidden worlds that decide whether city trees live or die. Arborist and Senior Advisor Erwin van Herwijnen of New Urban Standard joins the Internet of Nature Podcast to talk about why soils matter more than species, and how climate-adaptive growing places can turn trees into the new sewer system.We discuss why most city trees never make it past adolescence, why climate-ready trees won't save us without climate-ready soils, and how stormwater makes or breaks survival. Erwin explains why tree professionals can't afford to be “softies,” why spreadsheets might be the Lorax's greatest ally, and how making civil engineers happy is the secret to long-lived urban forests.Plus: the tragedy of cutting down trees before they reach maturity, what it takes to plant for 80 years instead of election cycles, and why, for Erwin, the city only truly comes alive when its people can sit in the shade of a tree.

We'll all go to trouble to get a good meal, but some animals take it to the extreme.Some build architectural masterpieces to entrap their prey, or use body parts as lures.But what is your cat doing when it makes the 'ek ek ek ek?' Is it trying to bewitch the birds?Featuring:Professor Kris Helgen, Australian Museum.Julia Henning, PhD candidate, University of Adelaide.Associate Professor Inon Scharf, Tel Aviv University.Dr David Merritt, Entomologist.Associate Professor Ajay Narendra, Macquarie University.Extra audio: Cat Ek ek ek by @thiscatisdumpling.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter/Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Belinda Smith, Producer.Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri. This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Tim Christophersen joins the Internet of Nature Podcast to talk about his new book, Generation Restoration, and why nature isn't a luxury—it's our only home. From his first steps in the forest with his forester grandfather to leading the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and now as VP of Climate Action at Salesforce, Tim shares why waiting for perfection paralyzes companies, what greenwashing gets wrong, and how corporate pledges can move from CSR to true business resilience.We explore why our ecological crisis is rooted in a 300-year-old worldview, how oyster reefs once filtered New York Harbor daily (and could again), and why AI might help “make us all ecologists,” from smallholder farmers in Colombia to city dwellers identifying birdsong. Plus: the role of imagination in rewriting our relationship with nature, the personal challenge of writing a book with Jane Goodall's final foreword, and why, as Tim says, “Nature is waiting. It's time to come home.”

Fungi are already hard at work helping trees survive drought, recycling fallen logs, rotting away carcases, and helping human digestive systems, but could they do more?Is our future made of fungi?Research has shown the fungi's potential to make medicine, clothing, and cheap fire-retardant housing, but trying to isolate and harness just one species is not an easy task given they get into pretty much everything.Featuring:Dr. Tien Huynh, associate professor at the School of Sciences, RMITGrace Boxshall, PhD student at the University of Melbourne and visiting junior research fellow at the University of New South Wales.Georgina Hold, professor of gut health at the School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South WalesDr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, fungal and plant ecologist at the University of New EnglandAlistair McTaggart, mycologist and researcher at Psymbiotika LabJustin Beardsley, researcher at the University of Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute and physician at Westmead HospitalProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Thomas Crowther returns to the Internet of Nature Podcast to open Season 6 with a simple provocation: don't maximize carbon—maximize life. We revisit the whirlwind after the “trillion trees” paper, the shift from monoculture planting to restoring Indigenous-led, locally stewarded ecosystems, and why climate action should feel joyful, not joyless. Tom shows how Restor lets anyone map a garden, pocket park, or farm—and why tens of thousands of urban projects already do. Plus: Costa Rica's national bioacoustics study (soundscapes ~86% back toward intact forest), music that echoes nature, health links, policy lessons, and an update on his new Branch Foundation.

Mushrooms were once lumped in with plants, and they stayed there well after science knew better.But if a fungus is not a plant… is it a closer relative of yours than you might've thought?With millions of species on Earth, and many that live inside you, it seems important to know about the kingdom of fungi.Featuring:Tom May, senior principal research scientist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria; and co-author of Planet Fungi Grace Boxshall, PhD student at the University of Melbourne and visiting junior research fellow at the University of New South WalesGeorgina Hold, Professor of Gut Health at the School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South WalesDr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, fungal and plant ecologist at the University of New EnglandProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Send us a textSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.In this final Swarms Minisode of the season, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole lose their minds (in the best way) over the most chaotic, moon-synced crab love party on Earth: the migration of Christmas Island red crabs.We're talking: