BBC Inside Science

Episode Summary

This episode is available for the next 23 days. With the lingering effects of the 2023 El Niño still fresh in people's memories, the Pacific Ocean is once again experiencing this recurring extreme weather pattern. However, forecasts indicate that the El Niño emerging in 2026 could be one of the most powerful on record. Climatologist Amanda Maycock from Leeds University joins host Roland Pease to explain the mechanics of this climate phenomenon and its potential global impacts between October and early next year.

In a segment exploring deep time, Scott Evans of the American Museum of Natural History shares findings from his expedition into the Mackenzie mountains of Canada’s Northwest Territory. His research aims to uncover the biology and ecology of Earth’s earliest life forms, predating the Cambrian explosion of hard-shelled and boned animals. In specific global locations, ancient ocean floor rocks expose ecosystems teeming with soft-bodied, unusual creatures. Evans has discovered a significant new collection of these fossils in Canada, located far deeper beneath the surface of those primordial seas than previously known sites. This raises the question: Did animal life originate in the dark depths rather than in coastal shallows?

Turning to modern environmental issues, the program examines bottom trawling, a prevalent fishing technique that drags heavy nets across the seabed. This method is widely criticized for its destructive nature, destroying habitats to maximize yields. Professor Amanda Vincent, head of the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia and founder of Project Seahorse, discusses the efficacy of banning bottom trawling. Her insights are informed by recent studies showing a biodiversity resurgence in Scottish waters, where trawling has been prohibited for several years.

Additionally, science journalist Gareth Mitchell details how bottom trawling can interfere with technological operations and other scientific endeavors. The episode concludes with a roundup of other science news, including updates on solar storm activity and reports on a shortage of robotic wolves in Japan.

Credits * Presenter: Roland Pease * Producers: Alex Mansfield and Dan Welsh * Editor: Martin Smith * Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth * Programme Website

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-21 20:00:00 UTC