This week on the BBC Earth Podcast, we are sharing stories of unity. Hear the story behind the international mission of 20 African countries to hold back the desert and plant trees to reclaim the once lush oasis of oasis and greenery. We also discover the unique relationship between a toad and tarantula who choose to be roommates as well as a migration miracle: a three-thousand mile oceanic journey across the Sargasso Sea is made by a transparent animal half the width of a pencil.

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This week we're travelling to a place that is different for all of us, but one we all hold close to our hearts: Home.

Listen to the heart-warming story of a keeper in Ohio who built an unbreakable bond with a baby Sumatran rhino named Harapan. Sumatran Rhinos are facing extinction and Harapan was the last remaining in the Western Hemisphere, kept in captivity at Cincinnati Zoo. To give the species the best chance of survival in the wild, Harapan was to fly across the world and return to the home of his ancestors – Sumatra, Indonesia. We also visit the man who keeps a flock of homing pigeons in his back garden in London and two young women who tracked down the symbol of their heritage – the American Bison of Banff National Park.

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Welcome to the third series of the BBC Earth Podcast. This time, we’re taking you behind the scenes and sharing untold stories from our latest landmark series, Seven Worlds One Planet, from the perspective of camera crew, producers, researchers and scientists alike. Alongside these stories, you’ll hear tales from people all over the planet, exploring the huge array of environments on our planet, from the beauty of vast sand dunes to the eerie deep sea floor; unveiling the harsh reality of disappearing species and miraculous rediscoveries of animals thought to be nearing extinction.

In this first episode we hear about the dramatic journey the crew of Seven Worlds One Planet took to reach Antarctica, from Executive Producer Jonny Keeling. They travelled through hell and (very) high waters to film leopard seals hunting penguins for five weeks and it was no mean feat. If you've ever wondered who is responsible for naming newly discovered species - look no further; Quentin Wheeler lets us into the world of taxonomy and he's got some words of warning concerning the disappearance of many thousands of species. You'll also hear the story of the couple who lost everything... and the 600 mile walk that gave them their life back, as well as the re-wilding of a bog land in Hawaii which was taken over by invasive species as a result of human activity.

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The BBC Earth Podcast is back from Thursday 31st October. This series, we're taking you behind the scenes and sharing untold stories from our latest television series, Seven Worlds One Planet. Alongside these stories, you'll hear tales from all over the planet, from vast sand dunes, to the eerie deep sea floor.

It's time to close your eyes, open your ears and subscribe so you never miss an episode.

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Welcome to the final episode of the BBC Earth Podcast, Series 2. This series we've told stories about the amazing animals that live among us, and discovered the amazing technology that helps us get close to them; we've looked down on the wonder of our planet from above, and met the people who are working hard to take better care of it. For our final journey, we're looking beyond Earth, out through our thinning atmosphere to the stars and the depths of space.

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Sometimes we need to look at our planet from a different perspective to really appreciate its splendour and realise how small we really are, when sailing the seas or staring into the sky. This week join us in discovering the magical, the unexpected and the awe-inspiring.

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Ever wondered what it would be like to fly into the heart of a storm? For the pilots of the 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron it’s just another day on the job monitoring and collecting data on weather systems. These ‘Hurricane Hunters’ share what it’s really like when you reach the eye of a storm. But it’s not just weather on Earth that captures our imagination; we’re travelling about 63 light years from our world to experience weather on other planets. Wind speeds of 5,400mph, dust storms and a Giant Red Spot which has raged on uninterrupted for the last 400 years. Buckle up, we’re in for a bumpy, but thrilling, ride.

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This week we turn our attention to the technology that enables us to soar above the clouds to and zoom in close to our natural world. We meet Sacha, who conquered a debilitating fear of flying to fly alongside and study the decline of swans. Prepare to be amazed by the complex world of bio-inspired robotics and the intelligent engineers behind them. These robots go where humans can’t, places that are inaccessible or dangerous, collecting samples, making measurements and deliveries to aid human innovation. And for all the wonders of the world drones have enabled us to see, sometimes their very presence can pose a threat to the animals they are hoping to film. How can we get in close while keeping our distance at the same time? We know, we can almost hear the cogs turning in your brain too.

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This week, we tackle one of the biggest questions that has puzzled scientists and philosophers for centuries – the concept of ‘forever’.

First, we look to the future where advances in science could give the species we thought lost forever a second chance at life and wonder what the archaeologists of the future (human or otherwise) will learn about our civilisation from the items we leave behind. Will plastic be humanity's lasting legacy on this planet and what will happen to Earth’s great cities once we are no more?

Finally, we attempt to find the edge of the universe and ask if it too has an ending. While occasionally overwhelming and uncertain, our future near and far is impossibly intriguing.

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Never has the saying 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' been more true, than in nature. This week, we ponder a question: who really decides what is beautiful? It is the creatures who do not fit our conventional beauty standards that are taking centre stage. We discover The Ugly Animal Preservation Society (yes, it exists!) and its weird yet wonderful looking members. While a little more aesthetically challenged, some of these animals are just as endangered as their cute, cuddly and beautiful neighbours, and deserve equal recognition. We're going to get to the root of how our beauty standards came to be, as we investigate the science of beauty and finally meet the man who is pioneering innovation to reduce fashion's huge and detrimental impact on the planet.

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