Branch Out

Hear from students, recent graduates and trainees who are just starting out in their careers as plant scientists. A big thank you to everyone who participated in this episode; Adam Pigott, Piret May, Ryan P. O'Donnell, Ruby E. Stevens, Melanie O'Donovan, Philippa Alvarez, Yasmin Assar, Justin Collette and Lyndle Hardstaff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find out what photosynthesis has to do with economics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You are invited to join us for the global launch of the Australian Institute of Botanical Science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prepare to blush as we explore the unusual, ingenious and sometimes even deceptive ways plants are gettin' it on for the survival of their species. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plants have developed an array of deadly defences and chemical compounds can turn an innocent looking ornamental into a deadly assassin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we hear 'pandemic' we immediately think of COVID-19. But there's a deadly plant disease pandemic called 'myrtle rust' tearing through Australia that arrived long before COVID-19. Discover the cutting-edge science that is our best bet for saving our plant species. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're in the middle of once-in-a-century pandemic and coming into peak flu-season in the southern hemisphere. Medicine is on our minds and surprisingly, many developed in the last century were derived from naturally occurring molecules found in plants, bacteria, and fungi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Australia is a no doubt a sunburnt country and the unique landscape shares a long and important relationship with fire. But even the most fire-adapted plants were devastated by the intense summer bushfires. While new growth is emerging and cutting-edge science is saving species - there's still a long road to recovery for the flora that went up in flames. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

Plants are the source of so many amazing past and new inventions we need in our lives. Discover how scientists are utilising the waste material from banana plants and cashew nut shells to create more environmentally friendly products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though Australia is new to the wine-making world stage it has produced really iconic drops and inventions such as cask wine and screw caps for bottles. But how did grape vines get here? Discover the art, history and science of wine-making and how it all started down under. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Australian plants have been used by Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years and now people all over the world are finding a connection to country through cooking with bush foods. Unfortunately, some of these plants are endangered and scientists are collecting and banking seeds to protect their future both on our forks and in the wild. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...

Climate change is the defining issue of our time and 47% of Australia's vegetation could be impacted by an increase in mean annual temperature by 2070. Three passionate scientists share how they are trying to understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change on flora and our future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world's most painful stinging trees call Australia home. Explore this amazing example of plant defence as a range of scientists share their stinging experience and what they’re doing to protect the future of these surprisingly important rainforest plants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready to pick Persoonias from emu poo as Branch Out features an episode from ABC’s dedicated nature program - Off Track. Persoonias are an endangered group of plants that need complex processes to germinate. Could the mystery lynchpin to save them be found in an emu's guts? Go Off Track and join Presenter Ann Jones to find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Longer space missions and sustaining human life on other planets depends on space horticulture. So grab your spacesuit and get ready to lift off with NASA astronaut Dr Gregory Chamitoff and scientists from the Australian PlantBank and CSIRO to explore the future of plants in space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The largest herbarium imaging project in the southern hemisphere is underway at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney with over 1 million botanical specimens becoming high-definition digital images. Discover how the images will protect the valuable collection and help researchers around the world make new discoveries to advance science and conservation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

Do you need a brain to sense the world around you, remember or learn? Apparently not. Dive into the marvellous work of evolutionary ecologist Dr Monica Gagliano whose pioneering experiments are proving plants are learning behaviour in ways we never thought possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is your golden ticket into the sweet and serious side of chocolate making. You'll also discover how plant diseases are threatening the future supply of the world's chocolate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover over 60,000 years of culture, plant uses and personal stories from Aboriginal people in Sydney, Australia. You'll also hear from a proud Dharawal elder and his daughter who are keeping their unique Sydney culture alive through storytelling, advocacy, art and research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mistletoe is in love potions, ancient medicines to ward off epilepsy and ulcers and even a Justin Bieber Christmas song and Australia is the true home of mistletoe with about 90 different sap-sucking species. Discover why so many people throughout the ages are fascinated by the mystery and magic of these paradoxical parasites. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who do you think spends the least amount of time outdoors: Chickens, inmates or kids? Discover the growing movement of nature play at various forest schools and kindergartens around the world, including one right here in the heart of Sydney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bees predate the dinosaurs and they've been doing some crazy and complex things inside the hive. From using a 'waggle dance' to communicate where food is, to making 'bee bread' using pollen. It's a short and sweet life for most, but be warned, there are a couple of gruesome ways to die... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How was a cow paddock in Western Sydney transformed into the biggest botanic garden in Australia? And what's the difference between a park and a botanic garden anyway? Join the legendary Graham Ross and the Garden's Curator John Siemon as they share the incredible story of the Australian Botanic Garden and its best features. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a plant a killer? Join one of Australia's foremost experts on carnivorous plants, and discover the different tactics these murderous munchers use to lure, trap and trick their prey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might think the National Herbarium of NSW is where we keep our finest coriander, mint and basil. Actually, this vital facility contains over 1 million plant specimens used for scientific research, and some are almost 250 years old! Walk through the corridors of this 165-year-old building and discover this historical hub and heart of plant sciences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...