Up From Dust
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S1E23 Spying on box turtles
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)Box turtles are cute and an absolute delight to spot while walking in the Midwest or Great Plains. But scientist Benjamin Reed wants us to know that these creatures…
S1E22 Between land and water: Tribal relocation and resistance
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)Climate change is altering the land, and Indigenous communities are on the frontline. This episode takes you to Alaska, where rapid permafrost thaw is threatening the…
S1E21 The bat scientist and the pecan farmer
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)A Texas pecan farmer spent years rethinking whether he needed so many chemicals to grow food. He cut back on things like weedkillers, but when it came to ditching…
S1E20 Stargazers, unite for science!
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)Astronomers need your help! And you don’t have to be an expert, because it’s as easy as stepping outside your home and taking a good look at a constellation like…
S1E19 Our changing Midwest
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)As we embark on our third year of Up From Dust, we discuss why we started an environmental podcast in the Midwest — and what we’ve learned along the way. In 2026,…
S1E18 A river’s return from the brink of disaster
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)In one long-polluted Ozark river, the little fish darting through the water and the rare mussels hiding on the pebbly bottom tell a story worth celebrating. They’re…
S1E17 One man's quest for a rare shellfish
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)Trevor Starks is on a mission. He wants to help the humble but powerful creatures that clean the waters of the Neosho River: freshwater mussels. For decades, their…
S1E16 Prairie islands are popping up in a sea of corn and soybeans
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)The Midwest has a reputation for vast fields of corn and soybeans that stretch to the horizon. But on some farms, strips of wildflowers and little bluestem now…
S1E15 Why a prairie scientist spent years photographing a single square meter of land
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)Have you ever wondered how much life a tiny patch of land can hold? Nebraska scientist Chris Helzer photographed one square meter of prairie from every angle for two…
S1E14 A sticky solution for microplastics
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)Microplastics are everywhere. They’re in the air we breathe, the clothes we wear, even the food we eat. Scientists are still trying to understand what these tiny…
S1E13 Kayakers vs. river pollution
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)For decades, the world’s longest prairie river was treated as a convenient dumping ground by cities and industries. Government regulation dramatically improved water…
S1E12 Say no to skyglow: Smarter lighting can help save the stars
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)We have inadvertently filled our world with poorly designed outdoor lighting. The price? We’re losing our starry skies, hurting our health, killing pollinators,…
S1E11 Less lawn, more wildlife! Here’s how to ditch turf for native plants
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)So you’ve been thinking about getting rid of your lawn, or at least having less. You’ll attract birds and bees and you won’t have to mow as much. Nice! But where to…
S1E10 Those soil health products may be a waste of money
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)Symbiotic fungi are all the rage right now. Farmers want them in their fields, gardeners want them in veggie patches and flowerbeds. The excitement has given rise to…
S1E9 Can we save millions of migrating birds?
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)In 1978, a young scientist “brazenly trespassed” around a Chicago building in search of dead birds. He unwittingly began a 40-year journey that could help save…
S1E8 The case of the disappearing lake
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)During times of drought, when the rains fail, man-made lakes come to the rescue of our cities and towns. Except the reservoirs we’ve come to depend on for drinking…
S1E7 What's better for the environment: Tea or coffee?
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)Have you ever wondered about the eco-story behind your daily brew? Join us as we spill the beans on the environmental impact of tea & coffee, from cultivation to…
S1E6 Dry times on the High Plains
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)Ancient waters that lie deep beneath the dry High Plains helped to turn western Kansas into an agricultural powerhouse. But the Ogallala Aquifer’s wells have begun to…
S1E5 Healing the ground we broke
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)After Europeans colonized America, their descendants plowed their way across the continent, seeking prosperity through farming. But breaking up the soil – that had…
S1E4 For the love of dung beetles
(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)It’s easy to advocate for saving pandas and elephants, but bugs are a harder sell. Look closer, though, and you’ll find tiny superheroes propping up entire ecosystems…
Frequently Asked Questions
Up From Dust has published 23 episodes since April 2024, covering topics in Earth Sciences, Nature.
Up From Dust is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 30m.
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