Main content

Our Geological Junk

Waste from building, mining and other industrial activities is changing the geological structure of the planet.

The junk and geology of the Anthropocene, how mankind鈥檚 influence of the planet is now producing more erosion than natural forces, and how the materials we鈥檝e used for mining and building in the past provides a snapshot of our geological influence of the planet.

Finland鈥檚 Water shortage: Even in places where water is seemingly plentiful there can be issues, particularly caused by growing populations. In Finland to try balance the needs of rural and urban communities, authorities have introduced an online publicly accessible system of monitoring underwater aquifers, so everyone can see in real time how much water is being used and by whom.

What do rats forget? And how will that help with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder? Researchers have discovered striking similarities between the way rats and human forget things.

Space fountains and black holes: A fountain of material, largely gasses coming from a black hole has been detected. It is as large as our own galaxy and thought to represent a way in which planets and stars could be formed. The forces involve produce stability, which slows the pace at which the material moves allowing it to cool and condense into solid masses.

(Picture: Human impact on the environment now causes more erosion than natural processes.
Credit: Getty images)

Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Julian Siddle

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Mon 12 Nov 2018 01:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 8 Nov 2018 20:32GMT
  • Thu 8 Nov 2018 21:32GMT
  • Fri 9 Nov 2018 05:32GMT
  • Fri 9 Nov 2018 06:32GMT
  • Fri 9 Nov 2018 07:32GMT
  • Fri 9 Nov 2018 11:32GMT
  • Fri 9 Nov 2018 14:32GMT
  • Fri 9 Nov 2018 18:32GMT
  • Mon 12 Nov 2018 01:32GMT

Podcast