Up From Dust
af KCUR Studios
Seneste episode
The enemies of ticks are our friends
The enemies of ticks are our friends
Om denne podcast
Trees are swallowing prairies. Rivers are losing their fish. And stars are disappearing from view. Humans broke the environment — but we can heal some of the damage. Up From Dust is a podcast about the price of trying to shape the world around our needs, and how to live more sustainably. Host Celia Llopis-Jepsen brings you the stories of people across the Midwest and Great Plains who are working to fix our generational mistakes. From Harvest Public Media, KCUR Studios and the NPR Network.
Episoder
De nyeste 20 af 28 episoder
- The enemies of ticks are our friends · 34 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 28Some parts of the U.S. have far more ticks than they used to, including species that can make us really sick. Humans have changed our landscapes in ways that made life easier for…
- Your personal tick survival guide · 37 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 27You know that moment of panic when you find a tick on yourself? Well, we assembled a crack team of tick scientists to tell us exactly what to do when that happens — and better…
- Getting more comfortable with 'sneks' and creepy-crawlies · 27 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 26Justin was terrified of snakes – until he learned they’re scared of him, too. Tay’s fear was soothed after discovering the Internet’s affection for “nope ropes” and “danger…
- A nature lover confronts her fear of spiders · 26 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 25How do you stop being so afraid? Tracy Twombly had such a strong phobia of spiders, it was messing with her life — stressing her out while she was working at her native plant…
- Why you should kill your lawn · 21 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 24All summer long, we run mowers over our lawns to keep them the perfect height – and run sprinklers to keep them emerald green. Add fertilizer and weedkillers into the mix, and…
- Spying on box turtles · 29 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 23Box 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 are complex…
- Between land and water: Tribal relocation and resistance · 35 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 22Climate change is altering the land we live on, and Indigenous communities are on the frontline. In this episode, we bring you to Alaska, where rapid permafrost thaw is…
- The bat scientist and the pecan farmer · 29 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 21A 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 insecticides…
- Stargazers, unite for science! · 21 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 20Astronomers 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 Orion. For 20…
- Our changing Midwest · 19 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 19As 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, stay tuned for…
- A river’s return from the brink of disaster · 27 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 18In 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 signs that…
- One man's quest for a rare shellfish · 24 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 17Trevor 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 populations…
- Prairie islands are popping up in a sea of corn and soybeans · 29 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 16The 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 interrupt the…
- Why a prairie scientist spent years photographing a single square meter of land · 30 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 15Have 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 years…
- A sticky solution for microplastics · 19 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 14Microplastics 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 particles are…
- Kayakers vs. river pollution · 28 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 13For decades, the world’s longest prairie river was treated as a convenient dumping ground by cities and industries. Government regulation dramatically improved water quality here…
- Say no to skyglow: Smarter lighting can help save the stars · 29 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 12We have inadvertently filled our world with poorly designed outdoor lighting. The price? We’re losing our starry skies, hurting our health, killing pollinators, wasting billions…
- Less lawn, more wildlife! Here’s how to ditch turf for native plants · 24 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 11So 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 start? Master…
- Those soil health products may be a waste of money · 26 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 10Symbiotic 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 a…
- Can we save millions of migrating birds? · 26 min. · Sæson 1 Episode 9In 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 countless…
