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The final episode of the Undark Podcast was published in August, 2022, capping nearly five years of audio journalism and discussion. We appreciate your interest in exploring the intersection of science and society with us during that time, and hope you’ll continue to visit undark.org, where you’ll find our rich mix of in-depth investigations, news features, essays, op-eds, and multimedia journalism.
Episodes
Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
Ep. 63: For Deep Ocean Mining, Questions Abound
Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
This month: Some regions of the deep ocean contain vast amounts of key minerals, like cobalt and nickel, that are needed to power clean energy technologies. But some scientists warn that mining them could have tremendous consequences, not just for underwater ecosystems, but for the planet as a whole.
Wednesday Jun 29, 2022
Ep. 62: Restoring Landscapes and Livelihoods in Western Bosnia
Wednesday Jun 29, 2022
Wednesday Jun 29, 2022
This month: Twenty-six years after the end of the Bosnian War, farmers in Livno are once again making cheese the traditional way, grazing herds of sheep on the wide-open plains. The animals' return is restoring natural wetlands, leading to cascading impacts on the environment and the economy.
Tuesday May 31, 2022
Ep. 61: When Accents Speak Louder Than Words
Tuesday May 31, 2022
Tuesday May 31, 2022
For scientists who come from abroad to live and work in America, accents can be personal. It's discouraging to be misunderstood, even when they think they’re speaking clearly. Sometimes, it could even be a career liability. Is the problem the accent, or those on the receiving end?
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
Ep. 60: Cascading Effects of Pollution in Lebanon’s Litani River
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
Residents of Lebanon's Beqaa Valley say pollution in the Litani River is responsible for a host of chronic health problems. While a causal link is hard to prove, cleanup efforts are precarious amid the country's economic crisis and shifting blame between refugees and government inaction.
Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
Ep. 59: Water Cremation Ignites Debate Over Dignified Death
Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
Alkaline hydrolysis is an end-of-life option that’s gaining popularity in Canada and the U.S. It’s marketed as a greener form of cremation — a way to still end up with ashes, but without sending harmful emissions into the air. But getting the technology approved by lawmakers has proven difficult.
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Ep. 58: When an Intellectual Disability Means Life or Death
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
When Pervis Payne was sentenced to death more than three decades ago, it was permissible to execute someone with an intellectual disability. A Supreme Court decision changed that in 2002, but Payne's disability was acknowledged only last year. Why did it take so long to remove him from The Row?
Monday Dec 06, 2021
Ep. 57: In Lagos, Vulnerable Communities Buried by Urbanization
Monday Dec 06, 2021
Monday Dec 06, 2021
Urbanization in Lagos, Nigeria, is moving at a rapid clip — burying mangrove forests and wetlands under mounds of sand to make way for wealthy subdivisions. Without strong regulations around how that sand is harvested, the social, economic, and environmental consequences are vast.
Thursday Jul 01, 2021
Ep. 56: Understanding a Terrorist's Brain
Thursday Jul 01, 2021
Thursday Jul 01, 2021
Scientists and counterterrorism experts believe understanding the underlying motivations of radical extremists will help them deradicalize people. Now, one group has studied the brain activity of active extremists after asking them to contemplate the values they are willing to fight and die for.
Monday May 31, 2021
Ep. 55: In Pursuit of Climate-Friendly Refrigerants
Monday May 31, 2021
Monday May 31, 2021
In December of last year, Congress passed legislation that gives the Environmental Protection Agency authority to phase out most hydrofluorocarbons — potent greenhouse gases that keep refrigerators cool — over the next 15 years. But there's no perfect alternative to replace them.
Wednesday Mar 31, 2021
Ep. 54: Translating Portugal’s Approach to Drugs and Addiction
Wednesday Mar 31, 2021
Wednesday Mar 31, 2021
Twenty years ago Portugal decriminalized all drugs as part of a bigger national strategy to fight addiction. Last month Oregon became the first U.S. state to do the same, in a policy modeled off Portugal’s approach — but many questions about how success may translate remain unanswered.