Wild World With Scott Solomon podcast

53:46

The Himalayas are the highest mountains in the world. They span some 1,500 miles through the heart of Asia, from Afghanistan to China. Having such enormous mountains makes much of the Himalayan region hard for people to access. But that doesn’t mean that nothing lives there. The Himalayas are home to some incredible types of wildlife that have adapted to the thin air, steep slopes, and very cold temperatures. But living in the upper slopes of the Himalayas makes these among the most difficult wild animals to catch a glimpse of– and even harder to photograph. Prasenjeet Yadav is a nature and wildlife photographer from India who specializes in capturing images of elusive creatures. Prasenjeet has a background in science, having trained in a field of biology known as molecular ecology before turning to a career as a full-time photographer. His work has taken him all over his home country of India and surrounding areas. His photographs of snow leopards from the Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh appeared in the July 2020 issue of National Geographic magazine. To see some of Prasenjeet Yadav’s photos of snow leopards and other wildlife, visit his website: https://www.prasenjeetyadav.com/. You can also follow him on Instagram: @prasen.yadav. To learn more about snow leopards and ways to help protect them, visit: Snow Leopard Trust https://snowleopard.org/ Nature Conservation Foundation https://www.ncf-india.org/ This podcast is produced by 3Wire Creative . Help support this podcast and future episodes by checking out Autio the perfect travel companion app for more engaging road trips. Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it.…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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Fossil Hunting in the Canadian Arctic with Neil Shubin 1:06:24

26 days ago1:06:24

1:06:24

The emergence of life on land was one of the most important moments in the grand saga of life’s evolutionary history. Many of the characteristics of our bodies– like our arms, legs, hips, hands, fingers, and necks– can be traced back to adaptations that occurred during the transition from fish to amphibians. But how do we know that? What evidence exists from this time that can help us piece together the sequence of events that led our ancestors out of the water and onto land? Neil Shubin is a paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and an award winning science communicator whose fieldwork in the Canadian Arctic is helping piece together some of the most important transitions in the history of life. He’s the Robert R Bensley Distinguished Service Professor of Organismal Biology and Anatomy at the University of Chicago. He’s also the author of several books, including Your Inner Fish, The Universe Within, Some Assembly Required, and a new book entitled Ends of the Earth: Journeys to the Polar Regions in Search of Life, The Cosmos, and Our Future. His team has discovered several important fossils that have helped biologists better understand how fish evolved into land animals. Neil Shubin’s Lab at the University of Chicago: https://shubinlab.uchicago.edu/ Neil Shubin’s new book, Ends of the Earth: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/692649/ends-of-the-earth-by-neil-shubin/ Interactive 3D model of Tiktaalik fossil: https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-resources/tiktaalik-fossil-body Qikiqtania - fossil fish that returned from land to water https://shubinlab.uchicago.edu/2022/07/20/meet-qikiqtania-a-fossil-fish-with-the-good-sense-to-stay-in-the-water-while-others-ventured-onto-land/ This podcast is produced by 3Wire Creative . Help support this podcast and future episodes by checking out Autio the perfect travel companion app for more engaging road trips. Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it. Mentioned in this episode: AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio Please check out our affiliate link for AUTIO! Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it. Professionally edited and narrated, the audio vignettes combine to paint a picture you’re unlikely to get from a history book or visitor’s guide. Autio…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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Sailing The Open Ocean with Grant Terrell and the Darwin200 Expedition 58:24

6 weeks ago58:24

58:24

The 3-masted topsail schooner Oosterschelde is on a two-year journey around the world, following the route taken by Charles Darwin aboard the HMS Beagle nearly 200 years earlier. The voyage is known as the Darwin200 expedition. It’s the brainchild of Stewart McPherson , a British naturalist and science communicator. McPherson and his colleagues organized conservation projects and educational outreach led by young researchers known as Darwin Leaders in each location. Thanks to The Explorers Club , Scott had the opportunity to join the Darwin200 expedition in in December 2023 as it sailed from Uruguay to Argentina. During the journey, he sat down with Grant Terrell , an ornithologist serving as the ship’s naturalist who is collecting data about seabirds along the two-year, worldwide journey. Learn more about the Darwin200 project, and follow the Oosterschelde on its global journey: https://darwin200.com/ Follow the expedition on social media: https://www.facebook.com/darwin2002021/ https://www.instagram.com/darwin200_ https://x.com/darwin200_ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUTGh9MgZjuBFQE8i8Bn8Ag There are also free educational activities and resources shared live each week that are designed to to inspire children’s curiosity and passion for learning: https://worldsmostexcitingclassroom.com/ This podcast is produced by 3Wire Creative . Help support this podcast and future episodes by checking out Autio the perfect travel companion app for more engaging road trips. Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it. Mentioned in this episode: AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio Please check out our affiliate link for AUTIO! Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it. Professionally edited and narrated, the audio vignettes combine to paint a picture you’re unlikely to get from a history book or visitor’s guide. Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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Protecting Madagascar's Lemurs with Jonah Ratsimbazafy 1:05:32

8 weeks ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Madagascar is home to some incredible wildlife. Many of the animals in Madagascar occur nowhere else on Earth. Among them are lemurs– a group of primates that resemble monkeys but are in fact their own distinct group. But, unfortunately, these remarkable animals are facing enormous challenges. Dr. Jonah Ratsimbazafyis a primatologist who is from Madagascar and is considered one of the world’s experts on lemurs and is helping lead the fight to protect them. He is the President of the International Primatological Society and was a Co-founder and President of the Madagascar Primate Study and Research Group at the University of Antananarivo, or GERP. He is a member of the African Academy of Sciences and a National Geographic Explorer. He also works with the Houston Zoo as Director of their in-country Madagascar program. Madagascar Primate Study and Research Group: https://www.association-gerp.org/ International Primatological Society: https://internationalprimatologicalsociety.org/ Houston Zoo’s Madagascar program: https://www.houstonzoo.org/conservation/african-wildlife/#:~:text=The%20Zoo%20is%20committed%20to,primates%20de%20Madagascar%20(GERP) . World Lemur Festival: https://www.lemurreserve.org/world-lemur-festival/ Thanks to Eric Wuesthoff and Amy Dunham for lemur audio and video. This podcast is produced by 3Wire Creative Help support this podcast and future episodes by checking out Autio the perfect travel companion app for more engaging road trips. Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it. Mentioned in this episode: Please check out our affiliate link for AUTIO! Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it. Professionally edited and narrated, the audio vignettes combine to paint a picture you’re unlikely to get from a history book or visitor’s guide. Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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Australia's Lesser Known Wildlife with Mark Moffett 59:26

10 weeks ago59:26

59:26

Australia is famous for its strange creatures. And rightfully so. They’ve got kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, and of course one of the wackiest animals anywhere– the platypus! But it’s also home to equally weird and wonderful creatures of a different sort. They just tend to be a little smaller. Ecologist storyteller Mark Moffett specializes in finding these small wonders– and sharing their stories with the world. To learn more about Mark Moffett’s incredible career as an ecologist storyteller, check out his website: doctorbugs.com . You can also learn about his most recent project on the life and death of societies at the Templeton Foundation’s website: https://www.templeton.org/grant/the-life-and-death-of-societies-investigating-the-societies-of-animals-to-understand-our-own You can read some of Mark Moffett’s recent articles here: https://bigthink.com/the-well/human-ability-to-coexist-coffee-shop/ https://thesunmagazine.org/issues/532/one-of-us-issue-532 His latest book “The Human Swarm: How Our Societies Arise, Thrive, and Fall” is available from Basic Books ( https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/mark-w-moffett/the-human-swarm/9781549195082/?lens=basic-books ) and wherever books are sold. This podcast is produced by 3Wire Creative Help support this podcast and future episodes by checking out Autio the perfect travel companion app for more engaging road trips. Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it. Mentioned in this episode: Please check out our affiliate link for AUTIO! Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it. Professionally edited and narrated, the audio vignettes combine to paint a picture you’re unlikely to get from a history book or visitor’s guide. Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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Digging Up Bones in Olduvai Gorge with Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo 1:09:51

12 weeks ago1:09:51

1:09:51

Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo is a Visiting Professor of Anthropology at Rice . His research focus is paleoanthropology and the archaeology of human origins, with methodological expertise in zooarchaeology, vertebrate taphonomy, and the application of artificial intelligence tools to paleoanthropology. He co-directs the Institute of Evolution in Africa (IDEA, Madrid, Spain) and is Professor of Prehistory at the University of Alcalá in Spain. Since the 1990s, he has co-directed multiple paleoanthropological and archaeological projects in Tanzania, including at Peninj (Lake Natron), Lake Eyasi, and, currently, Olduvai Gorge, where he co-directs TOPPP (The Olduvai Paleoanthropology and Paleoecology Project). He has also conducted research at the paleoanthropological sites of Gona (Ethiopia). He has been a visiting scholar and visiting professor at Harvard University, Rutgers University, and University of Missouri at St. Louis. This podcast is produced by 3Wire Creative Help support this podcast and future episodes by checking out Autio the perfect travel companion app for more engaging road trips. Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it. Mentioned in this episode: AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio Please check out our affiliate link for AUTIO! Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it. Professionally edited and narrated, the audio vignettes combine to paint a picture you’re unlikely to get from a history book or visitor’s guide. Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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They Might Be Giants In The Pantanal with Dr. Arnaud Desbiez 59:02

14 weeks ago59:02

59:02

At more than 42 million acres, the Pantanal is the world's largest tropical wetland. It spans parts of three countries, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil. If you visit the Pantanal, depending on the time of year, you may find open plains dotted with small green patches of forest, with water found mostly in the rivers that wind their way through the area. But when the rains come, those rivers spill out over the plains, covering them in water. It is the perfect place for biologists to come and study the remarkable creatures that live here. Dr. Arnaud Desbiez is a biologist who's originally from France but has lived in Brazil for more than 15 years where he works to study and protect animals in the Pantanal. He's the founder of the Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres (ICAS) Houston Zoo 's South America’s Pantanal allows guests to explore the tropical wetlands of Brazil. The lush habitat highlights animals they are protecting in the wild, including giant anteaters, tapirs, and more. Partnered with on-the-ground conservationists, the Zoo offers visitors the chance to see these animals in an immersive and engaging trail. This podcast is produced by 3Wire Creative Help support this podcast and future episodes by checking out Autio the perfect travel companion app for more engaging road trips. Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it. Mentioned in this episode: AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio Please check out our affiliate link for AUTIO! Autio is a network of stories, told by master storytellers like Kevin Costner, Phil Jackson, and John Lithgow, with the power to bring the landscape, its people, and its history alive as you pass through it. Professionally edited and narrated, the audio vignettes combine to paint a picture you’re unlikely to get from a history book or visitor’s guide. Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio AUTIO SHOW NOTE LINK Autio…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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Special Wild World Announcement 0:48

16 weeks ago0:48

0:48

Wild World live broadcast from Antarctica! Saturday, December 14 at 1 pm ET Scott will be traveling with the Rice University Traveling Owls aboard the National Geographic Explorer . They will be somewhere along the Danco Coast of the West Antarctic Peninsula. The broadcast will be live streamed from our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@wildworldpodcast). Link to live event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJnU3khcV8c Subscribe to @wildworldpodcast on YouTube @wildworldshow on X, Instagram, and Bluesky for updates and notifications!…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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Bonus episode - The Future of Galapagos 8:29

2 years ago8:29

8:29

Before signing off on our first season, we wanted to share a little more of the conversation Scott had with nature and wildlife photographer Tui De Roy. Tui has lived in the Galapagos Islands since her family moved there in 1955 when she was just 2 years old. Her unique perspective as a local and as a photographer has given her both a keen eye for detail and the opportunity to observe how the islands and its wildlife have changed over the last half century. Scott asked Tui what she thinks about the future of Galapagos, and how what she sees in Galapagos might be relevant for wild places throughout the world. You can hear the rest of Scott's conversation with Tui in Episode 3 - Experiencing Galapagos with Tui De Roy and Lee Ehmke. Learn more about Tui and see some of her outstanding photography at https://www.galapagosconsultant.com/ This season of Wild World was produced by 3WireCreative. If you’d like a T-shirt, poster, or coffee mug with the Wild World logo, check out the Wild World merch shop run by Alltheus.com: https://alltheus.com/collections/wild-world/SSolomon+Wild-World Join us next season as we explore even more of our wild world!…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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Wild World Presents "WCS Wild Audio" 10:12

2 years ago10:12

10:12

We’re stepping away from our regular podcast this week to bring you an episode from our friends at WCS Wild Audio—a podcast of the Wildlife Conservation Society . WCS Wild Audio brings you the latest news and newsmakers from WCS’s global field sites and its five wildlife parks in New York City, including the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium. In today’s episode, Wild Audio’s Hannah Kaplan talks to Inaoyom Imong, Director of Cross River Landscapes for the WCS Nigeria program. The Cross River gorilla is one of the most elusive and critically endangered subspecies of gorilla in the world. Found exclusively in the densely forested jungles between Nigeria and Cameroon, it is thought that there are as few as 300 animals left in the wild. But despite the persistent threats of habitat loss, gene fragmentation, and poaching, there is hope, says Imong. We hope you enjoy the episode. If you like what you hear, follow “WCS Wild Audio" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app. And tell them we sent you! WCS Wild Audio: https://www.wcs.org/wcs-wild-audio…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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Searching for Meteorites in Antarctica with Mini Wadhwa 54:53

2 years ago54:53

54:53

Antarctica is famous for gigantic ice sheets and charismatic animals, but Antarctica is also one of the best places to search for meteorites– rocks that have traveled through space and survived passing through Earth’s atmosphere. Mini Wadhwa is a planetary scientist who studies meteorites to learn about the formation of our universe and what conditions are like in other parts of our solar system. She is the Director of the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University and the Principal Scientist for the Mars Sample Return Mission at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Dr. Wadhwa discusses what it’s like to work in Antarctica, an accident that nearly killed her while on a field expedition, and why representation matters as a woman of color in science. Learn more about Mini Wadhwa at https://search.asu.edu/profile/957644 Watch her TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iukJJ2u0vlo McMurdo Antarctic Research Station: https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/support/mcmurdo.jsp This episode of Wild World was produced with support from: Lindblad Expeditions: https://www.expeditions.com The Rice University Traveling Owls: https://alumni.rice.edu/travelingowls Mentioned in this episode: Lindblad Expeditions Today’s episode of Wild World is sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions. Discovery is in the Lindblad DNA. Visit expeditions.com to see where in our wild world you’d like to explore next. Antarctica 2023-25 JOURNEY TO ANTARCTICA: THE WHITE CONTINENT 14 DAYS | FROM $15,840 Scan QR code for itinerary details and current rates or visit expeditions.com/antarctic Aboard National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Endurance, & National Geographic Resolution EXPEDITION DETAILS DATES National Geographic Explorer: 2023-2024 January, February, November, December 2025 January National Geographic Endurance: 2023-2024 November, December 2025 January National Geographic Resolution: 2023 January, February, December 2024 January, November, December 2025 February National Geographic Resolution departures route via Santiago instead of Buenos Aires. Lindblad Expeditions Lindblad Expeditions…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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Launching to Space with Scott Parazynski 55:44

2 years ago55:44

55:44

We can learn a lot by exploring the edges of the biosphere, where conditions can just barely support even the most hardy organisms. And by venturing beyond the biosphere– by leaving Earth and traveling into space– we can really test the limits of what our bodies are capable of. Scott Parazynski is a former NASA astronaut who has flown on five missions to space and completed seven spacewalks. He is also an emergency medical doctor who has climbed some of the highest mountains on Earth, including Everest, a scuba diver, pilot, rock climber, and luge athlete. Scott describes what it’s like to live and work in space, his journey toward becoming an astronaut, and what being in space and other extreme environments has taught him about Earth and about the limits of the human body. To learn more about Scott Parazynski, check out his book “The Sky Below” and his website: https://parazynski.com/ You can learn more about space science and exploration at https://www.nasa.gov/ Mentioned in this episode: Lindblad Expeditions The Rice Alumni Traveling Owls program offers exciting intellectual itineraries to destinations across the globe. Traveling Owls trips serve as a catalyst for lifelong learning and strengthen bonds between Rice University alumni and friends. You don’t have to be a Rice alum to participate in Traveling Owls programs. Visit alumni.rice.edu/travelingowls to see a list of upcoming trips. Rice Traveling Owls Lindblad Expeditions…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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The Silent Forests of Guam with Haldre Rogers 1:05:06

2 years ago1:05:06

1:05:06

Around the world, wildlife is in decline. We know that animals play important roles in their environments, but it’s often difficult to know how exactly the natural world would change if any particular type of wildlife no longer existed. In this episode, Scott speaks with Dr. Haldre Rogers, an ecologist working on the island of Guam, where invasive snakes have eliminated nearly all of the island’s native birds. By comparing the forests on Guam with forests on nearby islands that still have birds, Dr. Rogers’ work is helping reveal the importance of birds in the Mariana Islands and elsewhere. Dr. Rogers is also an avid rugby player who helped establish Guam’s first female rugby team. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech University. Learn more about Haldre Rogers’ research at https://www.haldre.org To see photos and hear records of the calls of the native forest birds of Guam and the Mariana Islands, visit: https://www.guampedia.com/a-native-forest-birds-of-guam This episode of Wild World was produced by 3WireCreative. Mentioned in this episode: Lindblad Expeditions The Rice Alumni Traveling Owls program offers exciting intellectual itineraries to destinations across the globe. Traveling Owls trips serve as a catalyst for lifelong learning and strengthen bonds between Rice University alumni and friends. You don’t have to be a Rice alum to participate in Traveling Owls programs. Visit alumni.rice.edu/travelingowls to see a list of upcoming trips. Rice Traveling Owls Lindblad Expeditions…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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Digging for Ants in the Brazilian Cerrado with Ted Schultz 58:26

2 years ago58:26

58:26

Brazil is one of the most biologically diverse nations on Earth. In the center of Brazil, between the Amazon Rainforest and the Atlantic Coast Rainforest is an ecosystem found nowhere else on Earth– a savanna known as the Cerrado. The Brazilian Cerrado is home to more than 11,000 species of plants, 800 species of birds, and 200 species of mammals, and an unknown number of insects. Yet, much of the biological diversity of the cerrado is hidden underground. In this episode, Scott speaks with his former research advisor Dr. Ted Schultz, Curator of Entomology at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Dr. Schultz describes his lifelong fascination with ants, particularly a group of ants that live in the Cerrado and engage in a form of agriculture by cultivating fungi deep underground. To study these fascinating ants– which have been living as farmers for 66 million years– Scott and Ted share stories of their expeditions to the Brazilian Cerrado. But finding the ants is only half the battle. To learn about their underground farming practices, they have to dig deep pits while carefully tracing the ant’s narrow tunnels– all in the sweltering, tropical heat. But, with much of the Cerrado being lost to agriculture and urban development, it’s a race against time to learn about these species before they disappear. Smithsonian Ant Lab website: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/entomology/collections-overview/hymenoptera/antlab More about the Brazilian cerrado: www.worldwildlife.org/places/cerrado Follow Wild World on social media: @wildworldshow This episode of Wild World was produced by 3WireCreative Mentioned in this episode: Lindblad Expeditions The Rice Alumni Traveling Owls program offers exciting intellectual itineraries to destinations across the globe. Traveling Owls trips serve as a catalyst for lifelong learning and strengthen bonds between Rice University alumni and friends. You don’t have to be a Rice alum to participate in Traveling Owls programs. Visit alumni.rice.edu/travelingowls to see a list of upcoming trips. Rice Traveling Owls Lindblad Expeditions…

Wild World with Scott Solomon

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Investigating Moorea's Coral Reefs with Adrienne Correa 45:15

2 years ago45:15