Our Broken Planet

Surveys show that most of us are really worried about climate change and we want something to be done. But what? This series, we've explored many ways in which nature is changing in response to human activity and the dangers posed to people and planet as a result. In this final episode, Tori and Khalil explore how people are taking action in the face of the planetary emergency. Along the way, you'...

A more sustainable future lies within reach. One where human societies are powered by wind and solar energy, leaving behind dirty, climate-changing fossil fuels in the past. Sounds good right?   But with many tonnes of rare earth metals needed to manufacture just one wind turbine, switching to this greener way of life likely means more mining – and lots of it – at least in the short term. But wher...

Nigeria has some of the highest levels of unhealthy air across the African continent – a leading cause of inflammatory illness and premature death. Could its huge and growing cohort of young people have the solution? Tori & Khalil head to the "Giant of Africa" to find out how one of the world's fastest growing nations – by economy and population – is dealing with rapidly accelerating energy demand...

As modern human societies have tried to dominate and organise nature, we have been interacting with other species in some dangerous ways. From encroaching on the territory of wild creatures, to industrially farming other species in unnaturally cramped conditions, human actions are increasing the likelihood of animal nasties jumping the species barrier to infect us. Tori & Khalil ask whether our ex...

What's brainless, heartless, eyeless and thrives in a warming ocean? Hint: it's wobbly and it could be coming to a dinner plate near you. Tori & Khalil investigate the effects of rising sea temperatures, from changing food sources to the perilous state of coral reefs – home to one quarter of all marine species. They're joined by scientists and campaigners to help explain the changes we're seeing a...

  Breathe in. Breathe out. The oxygen flowing through your body is the result of photosynthesis: the natural process through which living things convert sunlight into energy. About 30% of land-based photosynthesis happens in tropical rainforests: the lungs of the earth. Rainforests are also great at sucking up excess carbon from the atmosphere- something we know we've got to do more of. But in rec...

We all know that plastic isn't great for our planet. But how much do scientists really know about how it's affecting nature - including our own species? Tori and Khalil try to get their noodles around 'nurdles', the tiny plastic pellets that are used to manufacture all manner of everyday objects, discovering that millions are ending up in our oceans, with unknown long-term consequences. Plus, join...

What is a glacier? And what happens when they melt? Glacier ice is the world's largest freshwater reservoir. About 1 in 5 people depend on them as their main source of drinking water, as do countless animals and plants. As they melt, it's a boom time for nature, with plenty of water to go around. But what happens if glaciers disappear completely and the water stops flowing ? To investigate the pas...

How much are sea levels rising by? What does it mean for us and for the generations to come? And what can we do about it?    Take your ears on a round-the-world trip, from the icy polar north to the lush tropical paradise of the Marshall Islands, to find out how we got here and ways to fix it.     Along the way, we'll ask:  -Is Greenland turning into Swiss cheese?  -Who is most at risk from rising...

Are we living in a new age of fire? What would that mean for people, plants and animals?    Take a trip back in time to find out how our planet's history has been shaped by fire, and peer into the future as we ask how nature will adapt to a new era shaped by flame. Tori and Khalil search for answers from nature, science and activism.     Along the way, we'll ask:  -How did a fire in Australia set...

Welcome to Our Broken Planet, a new podcast series from the Natural History Museum in London. Each week, tune in for stories from the front line of the planetary emergency. Along the way, we'll unpack how we got here and discover solutions from science and nature that could fix the problems facing our world. Join presenters Tori & Khalil as they transport you around the globe to hear from leading...

Wildlife crime affects us all. Illegal trade happens in every corner of the planet, and its effects can be catastrophic for some animals and plants. But the tragedy goes beyond the loss of single species. It's clear our relationship with nature needs to change.   What can we do about wildlife crime? In this episode of Wild Crimes, we look to the future. What impact is wildlife crime having on natu...

In the aftermath of wildlife crime, victims can pile up quickly. In this episode of Wild Crimes, we examine the fallout of southern white rhino poaching. One of the victims is clear - the white rhino - but others can go unremarked on. However, dung beetles and tiny rhino botflies are suffering too. Rhinos are considered a keystone species, because their existence helps sculpt and shape landscapes...

Bushmeat, meat from wild animals, is an important source of protein for communities across the world. But in some parts of the globe it has become an illegal or luxury item - and that's posing a problem, threatening ecosystems and human health simultaneously. Five million tonnes of wild meat is extracted annually from the Congo basin, including critically endangered primates. Demand for meat from...

The UK's birds of prey regularly fall victim to criminal behaviour, with dozens found poisoned, trapped and shot every single year. There are 15 raptor species native to the UK, with varying conservation statuses. Some of them are severely threatened, so every lost bird becomes a threat to the survival of the species. That means raptor persecution is a big problem. Killing protected birds is a cri...

In 2020, the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold was acquired by a private investor for £24.7m. Anybody with money can now get their hands on a T.rex or Stegosaurus - and when big fossils come with million dollar price tags, breaking the law can be lucrative busineess. In this episode of Wild Crimes, find out why the commercial trade in dinosaur fossils is such a big issue for science. Join M...

Billions of orchids are bought and sold around the world every year. Most of this trade is legal and made up of artificially grown flowers. However, alongside the regulated trade, thousands of orchids are illegally harvested from the wild - and it's causing big problems for some of the most coveted species. In this episode of Wild Crimes, we'll find out why no other plant has captured our imaginat...

Elephants are the poster child for the illegal wildlife trade. It is estimated that on average, 55 African elephants per day are killed for their ivory tusks. Humans have coveted ivory for thousands of years, and demand eventually pushed elephants to the brink. International trade in their tusks is now banned, but a new product on the global market could be fuelling the flames for elephants: mammo...

Europe is at the centre of an illegal wildlife trade operation worth billions of pounds. Gangs are thought to be smuggling up to 350 million live eels from Europe and shipping them to Asia every single year. Once at their destination, the young eels are farmed to full size and redistributed across the world. But why is the European eel such a valuable commodity? Why has the trade of glass eels bee...

Pangolins are solitary, elusive and shy creatures native to Africa and Asia - there is nothing else like them on Earth. However, they're facing extinction because their keratin scales are traded by the tonne in many countries. In this episode of Wild Crimes we're uncovering the pangolin trade. Why is a single pangolin worth risking your life for? How have they become the world's most trafficked ma...

The global trade in exotic pets sees wild animals illegally caught and distributed around the world. Animals are often forced to trade in their homes in tropical jungles for cramped living quarters in towns and cities. In this episode of Wild Crimes we explore reptile smuggling in Tanzania, a country with a diverse range of magnificent animals, endemic to only tiny pockets of rainforest. Tanzania...

Introducing Wild Crimes, a Natural History Museum podcast launching 1 July 2021. Visit nhm.ac.uk/wildcrimes for more information.