Branch Out

By Botanic Gardens of Sydney

What's Branch Out about?

From catching killers to making medicine - discover the surprising world of plants with your host, Vanessa Fuchs, as you hear from passionate experts from around the world protecting flora and our future.

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Branch Out episodes:

04.11.2024
Branch Out trailer
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
12.09.2022
Curating plant-love at The Calyx
Go behind the scenes with Senior Horticulturist Terra-Nova Sadowski at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to discover what it takes to curate and care for the incredible display of over 20,000 plants inside The Calyx. The latest immersive horticulture display...
10.21.2022
Fast Flora Facts: Machete-wielding plant
Discover how the creator of the machete-wielding philodendron turned this harmless houseplant into armed greenery in this 'fast flora facts' edition of Branch Out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
10.10.2022
Tree detective at the pub
Branch Out host Vanessa Fuchs went to the Pint of Science event at the Keg & Brew in Surry Hills, Sydney to hear an awesome presentation from Dr Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez - a researcher from Western Sydney University known as the...
09.15.2022
Fast Flora Facts: is loving nature in your dna?
An experiment in the 90's by two Russian artists revealed that people from various countries around the world all like the same kind of painting. Discover why and what the results of a new study using twins says about our...
08.11.2022
Predicting seed germination under climate change
To help protect plant species from the impacts of climate change, scientists from the Australian Institute of Botanical Science and UNSW created a cutting-edge data framework for predicting seed germination using a thermogradient plate. Learn more about your ad choices....
08.04.2022
Fast Flora Facts: Famous friendship plant
Throughout human history, the gifting and trading of plants has been a way for people to connect. Discover the story behind the Instagram-famous 'friendship plant' that used to be impossible to find, and how you can grow one at home. Learn...
07.28.2022
Saving orchids from extinction
Orchids are found on every continent, except Antarctica, growing everywhere from hot swamps to cold mountain tops. Unfortunately, a large proportion of Aussie native orchids are threatened or endangered. From isolating the fungi needed to germinate their seeds to studying...
07.21.2022
Fast Flora Facts: Tulip mania
During the era of the Dutch golden age in 1637, it’s said that one tulip bulb could of bought you a beautiful house on the canal in Amsterdam. Discover how the obsession with these unique flowers allegedly caused the first...
07.07.2022
Zero Waste Hacks
From the 'great pacific garbage patch' to 'wet wipe island' - pollution is out of control. But in 2021, Gary Moran went viral for not needing to put out his red council bin for 3 years and 4 months. Discover...
06.30.2022
Fast Flora Facts: Forensic Botany
Microscopic hairs of a leaf clinging to a murder suspect's jacket is all a forensic botanist needs to crack the case. Discover how two high-profile kidnapping-murder cases in America and Australia were solved using forensic botany and how the field...
06.23.2022
Witchcraft revival & the power of plants
#WitchTok videos are clocking up billions of views. Discover why witchcraft is on the rise and the important role plants and nature have to play in its resurgence amongst young people in this magical episode featuring Christina Oakley-Harrington - a...
06.16.2022
Fast Flora Facts: Photosynthesis
Learn how photosynthesis was uncovered by scientists, how this amazing set of biochemical reactions might help find aliens, and meet a cunning species of bacteria that's evolved with stolen photosynthesizing technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
06.09.2022
Solving the waratah's genetic puzzle
Imagine trying to put together a puzzle with over 900 million pieces without the picture on the box... That's how PhD candidate Stephanie Chen describes her world-first research assembling the complete genome of the iconic waratah species. Learn more about your...
06.02.2022
Fast Flora Facts: Trees
From M. Night Shyamalan to the Bible - this debut episode of our Fast Flora Facts edition of Branch Out covers all sorts of amazing bite-sized facts, stories and research about the biggest group in the plant kingdom - trees. Learn...
05.26.2022
We’re back with bonus content
We're back and shaking things up this year so you can discover the surprising world of plants with WEEKLY episodes. Hit subscribe to get the first 'fast flora facts' episode on June 3 and join the new Branch Out community...
08.13.2021
Talking About Plants
Science communication is a lot like story telling. Hear from Laura Skates, Renee Cawthorne and Dr Karl about the importance of talking on behalf of plants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
08.03.2021
Extreme Botany
Extreme plants call for extreme botany. Explore the dangerous world of cliff faces, low rainfall and challenging temperatures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
07.28.2021
Tree Change
We know a lot of our listeners, like us, are stuck in lockdown - so we've got a special delivery for you! A bonus episode of Branch Out to celebrate National Tree Day. Tune in to hear a casual chat...
07.05.2021
Heal Country
The theme for NAIDOC week this year is Heal Country. But what does it mean? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
06.24.2021
Starting in Science
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...
05.20.2021
The Plant World Economy
Find out what photosynthesis has to do with economics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
03.23.2021
Introducing the Australian Institute of Botanical Science
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
11.05.2020
Let's talk about plant sex
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
10.06.2020
Poisonous plants
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
09.08.2020
Battling a plant disease pandemic
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...
08.11.2020
Plants that heal
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...
07.14.2020
Bushfire impacts, recovery & outlook
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...
11.28.2019
Amazing plant-based inventions
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...
10.30.2019
No Plants No Wine
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...
09.26.2019
Banking our bush foods
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...
08.28.2019
Climate change & future-proofing plants
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...
07.30.2019
Deceptive and dangerous stingers
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...
06.26.2019
Going Off Track
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...
05.28.2019
Plants in Space
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...
05.14.2019
Unlocking the power of plant data
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...
04.30.2019
Plant vs Human Intelligence
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...
04.16.2019
No Plants No Chocolate
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
01.22.2019
Exploring Aboriginal culture in Sydney
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...
12.13.2018
Mistletoe: a festive & freaky parasite
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...
11.29.2018
Nature play keeps the doctor away
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...
11.15.2018
Bizarre BEE-haviour & snotty gobbles
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,...
11.02.2018
Cow paddock to biggest botanic garden
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...
10.19.2018
Branch Out season 3 sneak peak
Check out what's coming up in the next season of Branch Out. Hit subscribe to make sure the fortnightly episodes appear in your podcast app.
10.18.2018
Branch Out season 3 sneak peek
Check out what's coming up in the next season of Branch Out. Hit subscribe to make sure the fortnightly episodes appear in your podcast app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
10.05.2018
Plants with Bite: sticky, sneaky & freaky
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
09.21.2018
What's a herbarium?
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...
09.06.2018
Growing communities with gardens
Some communities can't access green space, depriving them of the physical, mental and social benefits that nature brings. Discover how the Community Greening program is changing the health and wellbeing of communities one garden at a time. Learn more about your...
08.23.2018
Detective botany & DNA with Barbara Briggs
Dr Barbara Briggs is one of Australia’s leading botanists and police used her skills in the 1960’s to assist a kidnapping-murder case. But over the course of her 59 years of research at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, she’s been...
08.10.2018
Botany, bryophytes and a bizarre discovery
They're among the first types of land plants to appear on Earth about 470 million years ago, but bryophtes are easy to overlook - unless you're Matt or Trevor. On a field trip to the very tip of Far North...

What's Branch Out about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Branch Out episodes:

Branch Out trailer

Curating plant-love at The Calyx

Fast Flora Facts: Machete-wielding plant

Tree detective at the pub

Fast Flora Facts: is loving nature in your dna?

Predicting seed germination under climate change

Fast Flora Facts: Famous friendship plant

Saving orchids from extinction

Fast Flora Facts: Tulip mania

Zero Waste Hacks

Fast Flora Facts: Forensic Botany

Witchcraft revival & the power of plants

Fast Flora Facts: Photosynthesis

Solving the waratah's genetic puzzle

Fast Flora Facts: Trees

We’re back with bonus content

Talking About Plants

Extreme Botany

Tree Change

Heal Country

Starting in Science

The Plant World Economy

Introducing the Australian Institute of Botanical Science

Let's talk about plant sex

Poisonous plants

Battling a plant disease pandemic

Plants that heal

Bushfire impacts, recovery & outlook

Amazing plant-based inventions

No Plants No Wine

Banking our bush foods

Climate change & future-proofing plants

Deceptive and dangerous stingers

Going Off Track

Plants in Space

Unlocking the power of plant data

Plant vs Human Intelligence

No Plants No Chocolate

Exploring Aboriginal culture in Sydney

Mistletoe: a festive & freaky parasite

Nature play keeps the doctor away

Bizarre BEE-haviour & snotty gobbles

Cow paddock to biggest botanic garden

Branch Out season 3 sneak peak

Branch Out season 3 sneak peek

Plants with Bite: sticky, sneaky & freaky

What's a herbarium?

Growing communities with gardens

Detective botany & DNA with Barbara Briggs

Botany, bryophytes and a bizarre discovery