Episodes 63
Avg. Duration 53m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.7 (16)
Since Jan 2024
Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
29%
Hosting
podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk

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About This Podcast

Environmental journalist Tom Heap and physicist Helen Czerski tackle major stories about our environment and wildlife, celebrate the wonder of nature and meet the people determined to keep it wonderful.

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Recent Episodes

Hotter Than Hell

Jun 12, 2026 52m

How can Britain- and the world- prepare itself for extreme heat? Tom Heap and Helen Czerski hear from the experts and from the people facing up to the hottest temperatures on the planet.David…

Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog

Jun 05, 2026 52m

Amphibians are the most threatened type of vertebrates on the planet since the dinosaurs- and some of the most fascinating. Tom Heap and Helen Czerski are joined by a panel of amphibi-fans to…

Leaving Fossil Fuels Behind

May 30, 2026 52m

Is the conflict in Iran, with its knock-on effect on oil supplies, accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels? Tom Heap and Helen Czerski debate the issues with a panel of experts: Josh Gabbatiss…

World of Flowers

May 22, 2026 52m

Tom and Helen explore why the evolution of flowers created the world we know today, uncover some of the fascinating ways flowers use shape, colour and scent to bewitch pollinators, and dig into how…

The Joy of Soil

Apr 03, 2026 52m

Beneath our feet is a world wide web that keeps us all alive. Estimated to be the origin of about 97% of the calories we eat, soil is fundamental to life. But it's a whole living world of its own.…

Hot Sport

Mar 27, 2026 53m

The 2026 World Cup is expected to be the most environmentally costly yet. But are there alternative models that provide sporting thrills without the carbon cost?Helen Czerski and Qasa Alom consider…

America and the Planet

Mar 20, 2026 52m

President Trump has been very clear in his views on climate change but how much of his rhetoric will have real impacts on the environment in the US and worldwide? Tom Heap and Helen Czerski are…

Lakes, Lochs and Loughs

Mar 13, 2026 53m

Plunge into the chilly embrace of the UK's lakes and you enter troubled waters. They're a place for recreation and an inspiration for our greatest poets but they're also on the frontline in the…

Should we still have zoos?

Mar 06, 2026 53m

This year London Zoological Society marks its 200th anniversary. Established in 1826, today it has around 8000 animals and claims to be "the original scientific zoo". In this programme, Helen Czerski…

Ocean Explorers

Feb 27, 2026 53m

150 years ago the British research ship Challenger returned from a three and a half year voyage that changed the world. Plucking species from every ocean, at depths never explored before, the…

Love of a Cold Climate

Dec 19, 2025 52m

What does the arrival of winter mean for plants and animals? In this programme Tom Heap and Helen Czerski find out how wildlife survives the freezing temperatures and short days of the winter months.…

City Transport: Faster, Cheaper, Greener

Dec 12, 2025 52m

How we get around town has never been more political, with controversies over low traffic neighbourhoods and 15 minute cities, and rows about congestion charging and public transport breaking out all…

Hiding in Plain Sight

Dec 05, 2025 53m

We tend to think of wildlife as something which exists in the countryside or in nature reserves, but in fact there are plenty of plants and animals which thrive in an urban environment. In this…

The Evolution of Evolution

Dec 01, 2025 52m

190 years ago Charles Darwin stepped ashore in Falmouth at the end of a five year voyage that would transform the way in which we all think about nature. But how does his work and that of his fellow…

Fashioning the Future

Nov 21, 2025 52m

Whether you love to express yourself through fashion, or find getting dressed a chore, clothing isn’t optional - and every choice has an impact. So how do our fashion choices affect the environment?…

COP30: A New Hope?

Nov 14, 2025 52m

For thirty years world leaders have been gathering to negotiate the planet's route away from climate disaster. For thirty years carbon emissions have been rising and hopes have been fading. Is it…

Trains on Trial

Sep 26, 2025 53m

It's 200 years since the first passenger rail journey saw George Stephenson’s Locomotion No.1 travel 26 miles between Shildon, Darlington and Stockton. Environmentalists love trains - making a…

Great Migrations

Sep 19, 2025 53m

New technology gives fresh insights into the great animal migrations. Tom Heap and Helen Czerski discuss the great spectacles of the bird, mammal and insect worlds and consider how they're changing…

World of Steel

Sep 12, 2025 52m

The modern world is built on steel but can it ever be green? Tom Heap and Helen Czerski search for the holy grail of environmentally friendly steel.Panellists: Ed Conway – Sky Economics & Data…

Engineering the Planet

Sep 05, 2025 52m

Efforts to reduce our carbon emissions are falling far short of what’s necessary to keep our temperature rise below 2 degrees centigrade. Is it time to seriously consider another option- using…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Rare Earth have?

Rare Earth has published 63 episodes since January 2024, covering topics in Earth Sciences, Science.

Is Rare Earth still active?

Rare Earth is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 53m.

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Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Rare Earth, including email and social media links.

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