The Environmental Review

Welcome back to The Environmental Review Podcast . Today, we’re heading to Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal —a waterway better known for its century-old industrial sludge than for anything alive. But beneath its murky surface, scientists have found something remarkable: a thriving community of microbes that have evolved an arsenal of pollution-fighting genes . A new study published in the Journal of Appli...

Today, we’re exploring the quiet but powerful link between forests and your faucet. A new study from North Carolina State University , published in PLOS Water , reveals how the way we use land—particularly forests near rivers—can have profound, long-term effects on drinking water quality . Using models to project out to 2070, the research shows that converting forests to urban or agricultural land...

The Study A new study led by Penn State has modeled the devastating agricultural consequences of a nuclear winter. Using the Cycles agroecosystem model, researchers simulated six scenarios of soot released into the atmosphere after nuclear war, showing global corn production could fall by as much as 87% due to blocked sunlight, cooler temperatures, and heightened UV-B radiation. Even a smaller reg...

Tropical forests are among the planet’s most powerful naturl climate solutions—but what if their ability to grow back depends on something hidden beneath the soil? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Sarah Batterman, a scientist at the Carys Institute of Ecosystem Studies and University of Leeds with a PhD from Princeton University, about new research showing that tropical forests can recover up to...

In today’s episode, we’re talking about something deeply human — our instinctive connection to nature. It turns out, you don’t need a biology degree to tell when a forest is full of life. New research published in People and Nature suggests that ordinary people can accurately sense biodiversity just by looking at forest images or listening to nature sounds. And these gut feelings closely align wit...

In today’s episode, we’re examining a hidden but increasingly deadly force in the world’s tropical forests: thunderstorms. While heat and drought have long been blamed for rainforest tree deaths, new research reveals that short, intense storms—amplified by climate change—may be toppling trees at alarming rates. To help us understand this overlooked driver of ecosystem change, I’m joined by Dr. Eva...

In today’s episode, we’re taking a closer look at the hidden allies keeping our food systems — and brunch menus — alive: native plants and insect pollinators. A new study out of Curtin University reveals that preserving strips of native vegetation beside avocado orchards provides a vital lifeline for pollinators, especially when crops aren’t in bloom. To help us unpack the science, I’m joined by D...

When we think about fossil fuel pollution, we usually picture oil wells or smoke pouring out of power plants. But a new study shows that the most widespread exposure may come from places most people never notice. In today’s episode of The Environmental Review Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Jonathan Buonocore and Dr. Mary Willis from Boston University, whose research reveals that nearly 47 million Am...

Today, we’re diving into an invisible threat that’s all around us — air pollution. We know it affects our lungs, but what if I told you it might also be quietly scarring your heart , even if you feel completely fine? Joining me to unpack this groundbreaking research is Dr. Kate Hanneman — a trailblazer at the intersection of environmental health and cardiac imaging. She’s a cardiac radiologist , a...

Today we’re joined by Dr. Mike Gardner, an Professor at Flinders University and leading expert in biodiversity and conservation genetics, and PhD candidate Dee Trewartha, who together have been researching the endangered pygmy bluetongue skink. Together, they’re part of a groundbreaking project exploring how climate change is affecting this tiny, burrow-dwelling reptile—and whether moving it to co...

In the hottest place on Earth, one plant doesn’t just survive — it grows faster. In this episode of The Environmental Review Podcast, we speak with Karine Prado, Research Specialist at Michigan State University’s Plant Resilience Institute, about a desert plant that rewrites what we thought was biologically possible. Honey sweet, native to Death Valley, can rapidly reconfigure its cells, genes, an...

For years, we’ve been told that Earth is plunging into a sixth mass extinction — that species are disappearing faster than ever before. But what if that story is more complicated than we think? In this episode of The Environmental Review Podcast, we’re joined by Kristen Saban and Professor John Wiens from the University of Arizona to unpack a surprising new study that challenges one of the most wi...

Today’s episode is about breaking something scientists once thought was unbreakable. Teflon — the plastic in non-stick pans and industrial coatings — is famous for being chemically indestructible. But a new study suggests that assumption might be wrong. I’m joined by two researchers who turned that myth upside down: Dr. Dominik Kubicki, who used advanced spectroscopy to prove the chemistry is trul...

Welcome back to The Environmental Review Podcast. I’m today’s episode, we’re diving into one of the biggest questions facing the future of clean energy: Where will all the lithium come from? To help us unpack this pressing question, I’m joined by Dr. Alissa Kendall — a leading voice in environmental engineering and sustainability. She’s the Ray B. Krone Endowed Professor at University of Californi...

Today, we’re diving into one of the most iconic and critically endangered species in the world: the axolotl. These amphibians, native only to Mexico’s Lake Xochimilco, are facing increasing threats from pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. But today, we’ll be exploring an innovative and hopeful approach: combining restored native wetlands and artificial habitats to help bring axolotls back...

Welcome back to The Environmental Review Podcast. In today’s episode, we’re diving into a fascinating intersection of fluid dynamics, biomimicry, and robotic design. New research from the University of Michigan introduces a golf-ball-inspired prototype with dynamically adjustable dimples that can drastically reduce drag and even steer itself—no fins, no rudders, just smart surface control. To unpa...

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Andrea Loayza, a leading Chilean ecologist and Associate Professor at the University of La Serena. Her research focuses on plant–animal interactions, seed dispersal, and biodiversity in arid ecosystems. From desert rodents to extinct megafauna, her work uncovers how life adapts in some of Earth’s harshest environments.

Welcome to the environmental review, where we bring environmental research and policy to light. Today we’re joined by one of the most respected voices in forest and fire ecology—Dr. Hugh D. Safford. With decades of experience leading research across the Sierra Nevada and beyond, Dr. Safford has shaped how we understand wildfire, climate change, and the role of traditional ecological knowledge in l...

Today’s episode is all about rain — but not the kind that ruins your beach day. Instead, we’re looking at how raindrops themselves could become tiny power plants. A 2025 study from the National University of Singapore, published in ACS Central Science , has shown that water droplets can be used to generate clean, renewable electricity using a brand-new method. It's called plug flow , and it mi...

I’m your host, and today we’re talking about a new study that brings together two things we all encounter daily— air pollution and city lights —and links them to something unexpected and alarming: thyroid cancer in children . This study, titled “Perinatal Exposures to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Outdoor Artificial Light at Night and Risk of Pediatric Papillary Thyroid Cancer,” was just pub...

Today, we’re diving into one of the most exciting breakthroughs in genetic science—an expansion of the CRISPR-Cas9 toolbox that could change medicine, agriculture, and environmental protection. CRISPR is a gene editing technology that can edit humans, plants and more. It might just be the key in our fight against the warming climate. Scientists from Duke University, led by Gabriel L. Butterfield,...

Today, we’re diving into a breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology—one that could bring us closer to a future powered by clean, limitless energy. This breakthrough comes from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, where physicists have developed a new computer code called QUADCOIL. This innovation could simplify and reduce the costs of stellarators, a promising type of fusion reactor. We’ll break...

Welcome to The Environmental Review! Today, we’re joined by Dr. Andrea Grottoli, a leading marine scientist and professor at The Ohio State University. A global expert in coral resilience and climate change, she has led groundbreaking research on coral bleaching and ecosystem adaptation. She also developed UZELA, an innovative technology that enhances coral feeding to support reef restoration. As...

Coral reefs, often considered the rainforests of the sea, are among the most diverse and vital ecosystems on our planet. They provide habitat for approximately 25% of all marine species and offer critical ecosystem services, including coastal protection, fisheries, and tourism, with an estimated global economic value of nearly $10 trillion USD. However, these invaluable ecosystems face unprecedent...

As humanity’s ventures into space become more ambitious, an unexpected challenge has emerged: the increasing risk posed by re-entering space debris to our planet’s busy airspaces. This episode explores a groundbreaking study that sheds light on this issue, examining its findings and discussing the broader implications for aviation safety and environmental policy. Contact: Gmail: theenvironmentalre...