Possibly Podcast

Every winter, thousands of New England boats are sealed in single-use shrink wrap. Almost all of that plastic will end up in a landfill by the end of the year. Could reusable boat covers be a more sustainable solution? The post Is there a more sustainable way to cover boats? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

This week on Possibly we’re talking to reporter Juliana Merullo about what it’s like living in Uruguay, a country with an electric grid run almost completely on renewable energy. The post What is it like to live in a country with a fully renewable electric grid? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

This week on Possibly we’re talking to Ramón Mendez Galain, a physicist who helped the small South American country transition its electric grid to renewable energy almost overnight. The post How did Uruguay transition to a fully renewable electric grid? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Climate change makes a lot of us feel anxious, overwhelmed, or helpless. This week on Possibly we travel north, to a place where people can unpack all of these feelings. The post What is a Climate Cafe? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

With cold weather and snow coating our roofs, you might wonder if solar panels are still effective this time of year. So this week on Possibly we’re answering your snowy solar panel questions. The post When do solar panels work? When don’t they? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

As we head into a new year, the Possibly team decided to think about all of our episodes, and how they might inspire our resolutions for 2026. Here’s what some of us had to say. The post Our resolutions for 2026 appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Literally blocking out the sun may sound extreme, but scientists are debating whether using dust particles to reflect sunlight away from the Earth could be a temporary solution if climate change gets out of control. The post Could we use a space umbrella to cool down the planet? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Last week in California, UC Irvine opened the nation’s first all-electric hospital, part of an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the medical sector. This week on Possibly we talked to someone who helped build it. The post How do you build an all-electric hospital? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Only about a third of the glass used in the U.S. gets recycled. That’s much lower than Europe, where some countries have recycling rates above 90%. So what gives? And what can we do about it? The post Why is the US glass recycling rate so low? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

If you’re planning to deck your house with lights this holiday season, you have a choice to make: stick with incandescent lightbulbs, or go for LEDs. This week on Possibly we break down what each option means for the planet, and your electric bill. The post What kind of holiday lights should I buy? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Turkeys are more than just a Thanksgiving meal, they're a part of forest ecosystems across the country. In this episode of Possibly, we take a look at how they made a major comeback in New England after being driven to local extinction. The post Wild turkeys were locally extinct for decades. How did they come back? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Spotted lanternflies, Japanese barberry, Oriental bittersweet – When plants and animals like these invade our environment, they can disrupt other organisms that are native to the region. But can we stop these species? And should we? The post What should we do about invasive species, and should we do anything at all? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Red seaweed has been washing up on Rhode Island beaches for years, but what is it? This week on Possibly we explain what’s causing this red seaweed to appear, how it’s different from harmful “red tides” and how it might help the planet. The post Should we be concerned about red seaweed washing up on Rhode Island’s beaches? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Believe it or not, there can be pretty significant carbon emissions from your pet’s food. This week on Possibly, we explain why, and show some easy ways to reduce your pet’s carbon “pawprint.” The post What’s the environmental impact of feeding our pets? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

The R/V Endeavor, which spent the last 49 years operating out of URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus, was retired last month. Possibly took a tour of the vessel before it’s decommissioned. The post The oldest research vessel in the country was just retired. What does it mean for Rhode Island scientists? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Spotted lanternflies have been hopping around Rhode Island this year. Maybe you’ve been told to squish them when you see them. But why? This week on Possibly we’re taking a closer look at our new insect neighbors. The post What should you do when you see spotted lanternflies? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

You’ve probably seen pictures of tree-lined rooftops on skyscrapers and new buildings. But are these green roofs just for show? Or do they have real benefits? This week on Possibly we take a look. The post What’s the deal with green roofs? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

On Possibly we're always thinking about the most effective way to talk about climate change. So we turned to Potential Energy, a marketing firm for planet earth, for some tips. The post How should we talk about climate change? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Science has a communication problem. This week on Possibly we’re taking a look at an audio-storytelling organization, called Transom, that’s trying to help fix it. The post How can we help scientists tell their stories? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

The Seine River in Paris has been closed to public swimming for more than 100 years, but it reopened to swimmers this summer. We talked to two people who took a dip. The post Is the Seine River really safe for swimming? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

The biggest city in the country has taken a proactive approach to protect its residents from extreme heat. Programs have tried to make cooling centers, pools, and air conditioners more easily available to people. The post How is New York City keeping its residents cool?  appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Last month the Department of the Interior stopped construction on a Rhode Island wind farm that was 80% complete. This week on Possibly we break down what the order means for clean energy, jobs, and your utility bill. The post What does the stop-work order on Revolution Wind mean for Rhode Islanders? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management works with brewers to develop tailor-made plans to reduce the amount of harmful wastewater coming out of their breweries. On this episode of Possibly we visit Buttonwoods Brewery in Providence to understand what’s going on. The post Brewing craft beer poses challenges for our water treatment system. How is RIDEM working to reduce these impacts?...

Apps that connect customers to discounted leftovers that would otherwise be thrown out, are a great way to reduce food waste, but when you zoom out and look at the data, how much do these apps actually help the environment? The post Do food-sharing apps reduce waste? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

President Trump’s tax bill is about to end a number of tax credits for homeowners who install clean energy appliances. But some people are racing to beat the deadline. The post What does the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ mean for homeowners? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .