The climate is changing. So are we. On What On Earth, you’ll explore a world of solutions with host Laura Lynch and our team of journalists. In 1970, 20 million people showed up to fight for the environment on the first Earth Day. More than five decades later, is it time for this much tamer global event to return to its radical roots? OG organizer Denis Hayes recounts how – amidst other counterculture movements at the time – his team persuaded roughly one in ten Americans to take to the streets. As he approaches 80, Denis offers his singular piece of advice to the next generation of climate leaders. Then, environmental warriors Maria Blancas and Axcelle Campana share ideas on what a reinspired Earth Day could look like – including making it a public holiday.More episodes of What On Earth are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/fHfXfjAJWe love to hear from our listeners and regularly feature them on the show. Have a question or idea? Email [email protected]

The feeling of belonging is a core, human drive. And feeling excluded is painful. But has our desire to belong—and how we try to achieve that—changed in digital culture?

Now that generative AI is shaking up songwriting, have we crossed a new threshold where the distinctively human talent for music is no longer ours alone?

There's been an explosion of mental health content on social media, both by licensed professionals and influencers. Is that a welcome step in destigmatizing mental illness, or is it fostering a culture of misinformed self-diagnosis?

From the phonograph to field recordings to the cultural impact of mixtapes — a look at how recorded sound gives us access to history, fantasy, joy, and moments of genuine awe from around the world.

The impact of the camera — from its technical evolution, to the changed way we see ourselves and historic events.

How the ability to create cold on demand changed our relationship with food forever.

The enormous impact of the birth control pill on our culture, society, and human rights.

The lasting influence of the compass and the evolution and future of navigation technology.

How the 6,000-year-old invention has come to shape how we keep our valuables safe — physically and digitally.

The surprisingly long history and bright future of the light-emitting diode, or LED.

How the Sony Walkman paved the way for the iPod and streaming a million songs, TV shows and movies from our smartphones.

The evolution of the battery, and how the need for stored energy became one of the biggest demands of our time.

How the integrated chip changed the world, powering nearly every device we use, from toasters to Telecasters.

Data centres are enormous facilities that store and give us access to our digital lives. But as the amount of digital data we produce soars, so does the energy data centres demand. This week, an updated episode from November 2022.

From the sophisticated, social squeaks of bats, to the ability of plants to 'hear' where water is, digital technology allows researchers to listen in on the extraordinary sounds of animal and plant life and may hold the key to protecting biodiversity. This week, an updated episode from October 2022