Join your hosts, David Carlin and Simon Messenger, as we dive deep into the fascinating and ever-evolving world of solar power. In this episode, we'll unpack the immense promise of solar energy, exploring its potential to revolutionize the global power sector and provide a sustainable future. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows; we'll also tackle some of the significant hurdles, including the complex landscape of raw material sourcing and the intricate web of geopolitical dependencies that shape the industry.Beyond the technological and resource challenges, we'll also examine the recent shifts in policy that could profoundly impact the renewables sector. Specifically, we'll shine a spotlight on the Trump administration's "Big Beautiful Bill" and discuss its anticipated effects on the trajectory of clean energy development.
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26:28
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26:28
S01E27 - Paws for thought: what can we learn from animal behaviour? - GUEST - Professor Nicky Clayton
Join hosts David Carlin and Simon Messenger today as they welcome Professor Nicky Clayton, a distinguished psychologist specializing in animal behaviour. Discover the intriguing parallels between animal and human behaviour, and gain insights into the biases that shape our perceptions and how they may be of use to policy makers.Explore how we project into the future and why distance often reduces our motivation to act. This episode promises to challenge your understanding of behaviour and inspire new ways of thinking about the world around us.
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40:19
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40:19
S01E26 - Fission Impossible: does nuclear energy have a (safe) future?
Join David Carlin and Simon Messenger as they delve into the complex role of nuclear power in tackling the climate crisis. Is it a vital tool for creating a safe, reliable baseload for the grid, or does it present unacceptable risks? We explore the real dangers and costs associated with nuclear energy, alongside the exciting potential of future technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). But the picture isn't black and white (more like fluo): we also examine the emerging physical challenges that climate change itself poses to our reliance on nuclear power and bring you on the brink of meltdowns with the usual terrible puns (thanks David).
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30:00
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30:00
S01E25: high seas, high stakes: are oceans on the brink?
Dive into the deep (boo boom) with David Carlin and Simon Messenger as they navigate the turbulent waters of ocean protection in this week's episode.With the UN Summit on Oceans in Nice drawing to a close and the crucial High Seas Treaty still hanging in the balance, we explore the critical challenges facing our oceans: from the devastating effects of warming and coral bleaching to the looming threats of deep-sea mining and destructive trawling practices, what's going on and what's realistic in terms of protecting the ocean?Join us as we unpack the urgent need to protect marine biodiversity and discuss what the future holds for our planet's largest ecosystem.
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27:02
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27:02
S01E24 - Adaptation or Mitigation: which path to a cooler future?
Join David Carlin and Simon Messenger for one very big question this week: adaptation, mitigation, or both?In this episode, we explore the crucial debate between adapting to climate change's inevitable impacts and mitigating its causes to prevent further damage. Adaptation involves adjusting our lives and infrastructure to withstand changes, while mitigation focuses on reducing emissions to slow climate change. Both strategies are vital, but where should we focus our efforts for the most effective outcome?Also, how many kitkats is too many kitkats?! That's an equally big question to discuss!
Welcome to the The Big Questions, a podcast hosted by Simon Messenger and David Carlin delving into the policies, ideas, and technologies that will shape our future.
Is there any hope in our fight again climate change? Will geoengineering save us? Is the world big enough? Are we doomed?
Ever asked yourself some big questions about climate change? We bring experts. And we bring answers, in a digestible format..
Join us for conversations that matter, insights that inspire, and solutions that could change everything.
It’s time to rethink the future.
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