Best Sam Illingworth Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 302: Crowsight 5:45

1d ago5:45

5:45

This episode explores new research, which has found that carrion crows can spontaneously detect geometric regularity - like right angles and symmetry - just like humans. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Crows in a Strong Wind’ by Cornelius Eady here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Fo…

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Episode 301: The Cost of Crypto 6:08

8d ago6:08

6:08

This episode explores new research, which has found that US Bitcoin mining uses more electricity than Los Angeles, mostly from fossil fuels. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read 'Air' by W.S. Merwin here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions …

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Episode 300: Drying the Spine 5:16

15d ago5:16

5:16

This episode explores new research, which has found a permanent global decline in terrestrial water storage, especially soil moisture. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read ‘Water Table’ by Eliza Griswold here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: https://linktr.…

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Episode 299: Truing the Sun 6:06

22d ago6:06

6:06

This episode explores new research, which has found that insect brains might calculate the sun’s position using internal clocks and trigonometric circuits. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Insect’ by Annie Finch here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send…

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Episode 298: A Bitter Leaf Against the Fire 6:18

29d ago6:18

6:18

This episode explores new research, which has found that which has found that matcha green tea reduces DNA damage and oxidative stress in bone marrow after gamma radiation exposure. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Green Tea’ by Dale Ritterbusch here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- F…

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Episode 297: Where Resistance Grows 6:35

1M ago6:35

6:35

This episode explores new research, which has found that decaying jellyfish blooms create hotspots for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Moon Jellyfish’ by Jennifer Martelli here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any …

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Episode 296: Held in the Blood 6:00

1M ago6:00

6:00

This episode explores new research, which found war-related trauma changes DNA in Syrian refugee families, affecting children and grandchildren. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Origins of Violence’ by Jenny George here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and s…

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Episode 295: Greening the Fairway 6:30

2M ago6:30

6:30

This episode explores new research, which has found that countries like the US and UK use more land for golf courses than for wind or solar energy. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Seaside Golf’ by John Betjeman here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send…

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Episode 294: Burned to Earth 6:07

2M ago6:07

6:07

This episode explores new research, which has found that wildfire suppressants contain toxic metals. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Smothered Fires’ by Georgia Douglas Johnson here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for …

1
Episode 293: Preserved in Scent 7:28

2M ago7:28

7:28

This episode explores new research, which has found that Ancient Egyptian mummies still smell nice. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Egyptian Tomb of Emily Dickinson’ by Alexandria Peary here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or …

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Episode 292: Ruin’s Vermin 6:59

2M ago6:59

6:59

This episode explores new research, which has found that urban rat populations are increasing in most major cities - driven by climate warming and urbanisation. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Rats’ by Pierre Martory here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social medi…

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Episode 291: Leavings 7:16

3M ago7:16

7:16

This episode explores new research, which has investigated bacteria that can eat forever chemicals. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Triple Moments of Light and Industry’ by Brenda Hillman here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or co…

1
Episode 290: Frost’s Defeat 5:54

3M ago5:54

5:54

This episode explores new research, which has investigated the key risks from Arctic permafrost thaw. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Undoing’ by Khadijah Queen here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: htt…

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Episode 289: Beneath the Hunter’s Gaze 6:04

3M ago6:04

6:04

This episode explores new research, which has found that barn owls have evolved to camouflage themselves by moonlight. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Owl’ by Arthur Sze here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the…

1
Episode 288: Burning Seas 6:27

3M ago6:27

6:27

This episode explores new research, which has found that sea surface temperatures and deeper water temperatures reached a new record high in 2024. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Sea Chews Things Up’ by Cleopatra Mathis here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social m…

1
Episode 287: Tangled Currents 5:55

4M ago5:55

5:55

This episode explores new research, which has found microplastic hotspots across the Southern Ocean. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read 'If the ocean had a mouth' by Marie-Elizabeth Mali here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comment…

1
Episode 286: Infusions 5:52

4M ago5:52

5:52

This episode explores new research, which explores the emerging archaeological record of Mars. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Tea-Strainer’ by Joyelle McSweeney here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: ht…

1
Episode 285: The Bones of Mars 6:35

4M ago6:35

6:35

This episode explores new research, which explores the emerging archaeological record of Mars. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Here's Mars’ by William H. Dickey here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: htt…

1
Episode 284: Shrouds of Ash 6:46

4M ago6:46

6:46

This episode explores new research, which has found that air pollution in India is linked to millions of deaths. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Air Smelled Dirty’ by Marge Piercy here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or commen…

1
Episode 283: Drunken Forests 6:30

4M ago6:30

6:30

This episode explores new research, which has shown climate warming destabilises boreal forests. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Forest of Dead Trees’ by Mark Turbyfill here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the …

1
Episode 282: Footprints in Deep Time 6:03

5M ago6:03

6:03

This episode explores new research, which has found 1.5-million-year-old footprints of two different species of human ancestors at the same spot. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Footsteps’ by Fanny Howe here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any …

1
Episode 281: Shifting Horizons 6:39

5M ago6:39

6:39

This episode explores new research, which has found that more snow could protect glaciers from melt – but only if we curb greenhouse gas emissions soon. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Eating the Glacier’ by Lauren Winchester here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social…

1
Episode 280: Roots of Renewal 6:51

5M ago6:51

6:51

This episode explores new research, which has found that rainforest protection reduces the number of respiratory diseases. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Rainforest’ by Teresa Mei Chuc here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comm…

1
Episode 279: Beneath the Shelf’s Skin 6:51

5M ago6:51

6:51

This episode explores new research, which has observed warm ocean water moving beneath the Ross Ice Shelf of Antarctica, where it contributes to ice melting. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read 'Ice' by Gail Mazur here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send i…

1
Episode 278: A Map of Echoes 6:08

6M ago6:08

6:08

This episode explores new research, which has found that bats use an acoustic cognitive map for navigation. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Bats' by Luke Hathaway here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: E…

1
Episode 277 – Colour Shift 6:28

6M ago6:28

6:28

This episode explores new research, which has found that human actions cause insect colour change. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Insect’ by Annie Finch here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: Email: sam…

1
Episode 276: Tethered by Moonglow 6:43

6M ago6:43

6:43

This episode explores new research, which has found that tropical mammals react to changes in lunar light. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Moonlight’ by Paul Verlaine here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcas…

1
Episode 275: The Volatility of Life 6:48

6M ago6:48

6:48

This episode explores new research, which has used the chemical fingerprints of zinc contained in meteorites to determine the origin of volatile elements on Earth. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Near-Earth Object’ by John Shoptaw here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on s…

1
Episode 274: Where Migration Ends 7:11

7M ago7:11

7:11

This episode explores new research, which has found that drier winter habitat impacts songbirds’ ability to survive migration. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Migration’ by Ira Sadoff here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or commen…

1
Episode 273: Wood Vaulting 6:18

7M ago6:18

6:18

This episode explores new research, which has found that burying wood in the right environmental conditions can stop its decomposition and help curb carbon dioxide emissions. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Wood’ by Richard Brautigan here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam o…

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Episode 272: The Forge of the Sea 7:01

7M ago7:01

7:01

This episode explores new research, which has found that the long-range transport of dust enhances oceanic life. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Dust’ by Dorianne Laux here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podca…

1
Episode 271: Painting Petals 6:07

7M ago6:07

6:07

This episode explores new research, which has found that flowers use adjustable petal designs to attract pollinators. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Flowers’ by Wendy Videlock here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for …

1
Episode 270: Lost in the Night Light 6:38

8M ago6:38

6:38

This episode explores new research, which has found that excessive light pollution may increase risk of Alzheimer's. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read “Alzheimer’s” by William J. Harris here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comment…

1
Episode 269: Monster Galaxies 6:21

8M ago6:21

6:21

This episode explores new research, which has observed a pair of galaxies in the act of merging 12.8 billion years ago. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Universe’ by Steven Schnur here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments fo…

1
Episode 268: Under Wandering Light 6:43

8M ago6:43

6:43

This episode explores new research, which has found that meteor showers shed light on where comets formed in the early solar system. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Meteorite’ by Randall Jarrell here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any ques…

1
Episode 267: Echoes in the Earth 6:48

8M ago6:48

6:48

This episode explores new research which has found that underground acoustics amplify soil health. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘This Soil’ by Alice Corbin Henderson here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podca…

1
Episode 266: The Nature of the Selfie 6:42

8M ago6:42

6:42

This episode explores new research, which has found that nature is at risk in the hunt for the perfect selfie. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Manifesto of the Lyric Selfie’ by Becca Klaver here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or …

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Episode 265: The Earth Rises to Meet the Sea 6:41

9M ago6:41

6:41

This episode explores new research, which has studied how the rising earth in Antarctica will impact future sea level rise. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Way to Keep Going in Antarctica’ by Bernadette Mayer here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and se…

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Episode 264: Chromatic Change 6:09

9M ago6:09

6:09

This episode explores new research, which has investigated the iridescent evolution of birds. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read 'Birdsong' by Joanie Mackowski here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: Email: s…

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Episode 263: Renewal in Green 7:22

9M ago7:22

7:22

This episode explores new research, which has found that even 10 minutes of nature exposure is likely to yield benefits for adults with mental illness. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Wildlife Management III’ by James Galvin here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social …

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Episode 262: At the Edge of the Lakes 6:27

9M ago6:27

6:27

This episode explores new research, which has found that unprecedented warming threatens earth’s lakes and their ecosystems. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Lake Cycle’ by Jessica Nelson North here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions …

1
Episode 261: Cool Roofs in the City 6:19

10M ago6:19

6:19

This episode explores new research, which has found that painting roofs white is effective at cooling cities at scale. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read 'Heat' by John Gould Fletcher here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments f…

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Episode 260: The Red Crater Clock 6:32

10M ago6:32

6:32

This episode explores new research, which has found that meteorite impact rate on Mars can help date planetary surfaces. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Meteorite’ by Randall Jarrell here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or com…

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Episode 259: The Blackest Wind 6:48

10M ago6:48

6:48

This episode explores new research, which has found that dense, swirling winds help supermassive black holes grow. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Effects’ by Nick Laird here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the…

1
Episode 258: Rats and Restoration 8:15

10M ago8:15

8:15

This episode explores new research, which has found that restored rat-free islands could support hundreds of thousands more breeding seabirds --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Baiting Bush Rats’ by Anthony Lawrence here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and se…

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Episode 257: A Promise of Lavender 5:51

11M ago5:51

5:51

This episode explores new research, which has identified the gene that enhances some of the properties of lavender. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read 'Lavender' by Mary Enslow here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the …

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Episode 256: Wated Mussels 7:47

11M ago7:47

7:47

This episode explores new research, which has found that mussels downstream of wastewater treatment plants contain radium. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Merrymakers in a Mussel Shell’ by Holly Corfield Carr here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send i…

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Episode 255: Wobbling Stars and Super Earths 7:01

11M ago7:01

7:01

This episode explores new research, which has used wobbling stars to find new exoplanets. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘In the Planetarium’ by James Doyle here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: Email: …

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Episode 254: Shadows in the Sea 7:41

11M ago7:41

7:41

This episode explores new research, which has investigated how heatwaves are affecting Arctic phytoplankton. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Invitation’ by Aimee Nezhukumatathil here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for…

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Episode 253: Seismic Snow 6:45

11M ago6:45

6:45

This episode explores new research, which has found that heavy snowfall and rain may contribute to some earthquakes. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read 'Snowfall' by Ravi Shankar here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for th…

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Sam Illingworth Podcasts

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