The Environmental Review

Welcome back to The Environmental Review Podcast. Today, we’re heading to Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal—a waterway better known for its century-old industrial sludge than for anything alive. But beneath its murky surface, scientists have found something remarkable: a thriving community of microbes that have evolved an arsenal of pollution-fighting genes.

A new study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology shows these microbes can break down petroleum products, PCBs, heavy metals, and more—offering clues to cleaner, more sustainable ways to restore polluted waterways. This genetic toolkit could become the basis for bioremediation methods that are cheaper, faster, and far less disruptive than massive dredging operations.

Joining me today is Caroline Chou, a researcher on the project whose work bridges cutting-edge DNA analysis and environmental restoration.

Today, we’re exploring the quiet but powerful link between forests and your faucet. A new study from North Carolina State University, published in PLOS Water, reveals how the way we use land—particularly forests near rivers—can have profound, long-term effects on drinking water quality.

Using models to project out to 2070, the research shows that converting forests to urban or agricultural land near water sources leads to more sediment, more nitrogen, and more filtration costs—raising both environmental and financial concerns.

Joining us today to unpack the science and the stakes is Dr Elly T. Gay, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the San Diego State Univeristy.

The Study A new study led by Penn State has modeled the devastating agricultural consequences of a nuclear winter. Using the Cycles agroecosystem model, researchers simulated six scenarios of soot released into the atmosphere after nuclear war, showing global corn production could fall by as much as 87% due to blocked sunlight, cooler temperatures, and heightened UV-B radiation. Even a smaller regional conflict could cut production by 7%, destabilizing global food supply chains. The team also proposed a survival strategy: “agricultural resilience kits” containing fast-growing, cold-tolerant crop seeds that could sustain food systems not only after nuclear war, but also volcanic eruptions or other catastrophic disruptions. Their findings reveal both the fragility of global agriculture and the urgent need for preparedness. We’re joined by Dr. Yuning Shi, associate research professor in Penn State’s Department of Plant Science and first author of the study, and Dr. Armen Kemanian, professor of production systems and modeling at Penn State and lead developer of the Cycles agroecosystem model. Together, they combine expertise in crop modeling, atmospheric science, and agricultural adaptation to explore how humanity can prepare food systems for the unthinkable.

Tropical forests are among the planet’s most powerful naturl climate solutions—but what if their ability to grow back depends on something hidden beneath the soil?

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Sarah Batterman, a scientist at the Carys Institute of Ecosystem Studies and University of Leeds with a PhD from Princeton University, about new research showing that tropical forests can recover up to twice as fast after deforestation when their soils contain enough nitrogen. Based on one of the largest and longest forest experiments ever conducted across Central America, the study reveals how underground nutrients quietly control tree growth, carbon capture, and the pace of climate recovery.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about something deeply human — our instinctive connection to nature. It turns out, you don’t need a biology degree to tell when a forest is full of life.

New research published in People and Nature suggests that ordinary people can accurately sense biodiversity just by looking at forest images or listening to nature sounds. And these gut feelings closely align with what scientists measure on the ground.

To help us explore this remarkable link between perception, ecology, and mental health, I’m joined by Kevin Rozario, lead author of the study and researcher at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research. His work is helping bridge the gap between conservation science and the way we experience wild places.

In today’s episode, we’re examining a hidden but increasingly deadly force in the world’s tropical forests: thunderstorms. While heat and drought have long been blamed for rainforest tree deaths, new research reveals that short, intense storms—amplified by climate change—may be toppling trees at alarming rates.

To help us understand this overlooked driver of ecosystem change, I’m joined by Dr. Evan Gora, forest ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and lead author of a recent paper in Ecology Letters. His team’s work shows that storms may account for up to 60% of tropical tree deaths, fundamentally reshaping how we think about forest health and carbon storage.

In today’s episode, we’re taking a closer look at the hidden allies keeping our food systems — and brunch menus — alive: native plants and insect pollinators. A new study out of Curtin University reveals that preserving strips of native vegetation beside avocado orchards provides a vital lifeline for pollinators, especially when crops aren’t in bloom.

To help us unpack the science, I’m joined by Dr. Joshua Kestel, lead author of the study and expert in environmental DNA and agroecology. His research shows that native vegetation more than doubles the foraging diversity of pollinating insects — with big implications for global food security and sustainable farming.

When we think about fossil fuel pollution, we usually picture oil wells or smoke pouring out of power plants. But a new study shows that the most widespread exposure may come from places most people never notice.

In today’s episode of The Environmental Review Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Jonathan Buonocore and Dr. Mary Willis from Boston University, whose research reveals that nearly 47 million Americans live within a mile of fossil fuel infrastructure — including hidden parts of the supply chain like storage facilities and transport hubs. Their work reframes fossil fuels not as isolated sites, but as a vast, embedded system shaping where and how people live.

Today, we’re diving into an invisible threat that’s all around us — air pollution. We know it affects our lungs, but what if I told you it might also be quietly scarring your heart, even if you feel completely fine?Joining me to unpack this groundbreaking research is Dr. Kate Hanneman — a trailblazer at the intersection of environmental health and cardiac imaging. She’s a cardiac radiologist, an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, and Vice Chair of Research in Medical Imaging. Having studied at the likes of Harvard, Stanford, and other prestigious institutions, she’s using her expertise in advanced cardiac MRI to reveal just how deeply air pollution—specifically PM2.5—can affect our hearts over time.

Today we’re joined by Dr. Mike Gardner, an Professor at Flinders University and leading expert in biodiversity and conservation genetics, and PhD candidate Dee Trewartha, who together have been researching the endangered pygmy bluetongue skink. Together, they’re part of a groundbreaking project exploring how climate change is affecting this tiny, burrow-dwelling reptile—and whether moving it to cooler habitats could help it survive. Their findings could shape the future of conservation as the planet warms.