Can weeds help us find answers to the world’s problems? Yes, those pesky plants with the flimsy leaves that always seem to be growing out the cracks of footpaths. A weed is defined simply as a plant in the wrong place, and as climate change drives up temperatures, more plants are being forced to move to cooler climates in order to live. Non-native plant species have wreaked absolute havoc on so many of the world's precious ecosystems, because they’re trying to make the best of a situation they never should have been exposed to. So can we really blame weeds for just trying to survive? Scientist Zoe Xirocostas has some secrets to share about our pre-conceptions on weeds. 

A UNSW Centre for Ideas project, with podcast editing and music composition by Bryce Halliday.

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