BBC Inside Science

Episode Overview This episode will be available for the next 23 days. With the lingering memories of the 2023 El Niño’s extreme weather patterns across the Pacific basin still fresh, a new El Niño event is currently developing in 2026. Forecasters warn that this iteration may rank among the most intense on record. Climatologist Amanda Maycock from Leeds University joins host Roland Pease to explain the mechanics of this climate phenomenon and predict its global impact from October through early next year.

Ancient Life and Deep-Sea Fossils Roland also interviews Scott Evans, a researcher from the American Museum of Natural History. Scott has been investigating the Mackenzie Mountains in Canada’s Northwest Territory to uncover insights into the biology and ecology of pre-Cambrian life—specifically the Ediacara era, which preceded the Cambrian explosion of hard-shelled and boned animals. While some regions reveal ancient ocean floor ecosystems teeming with soft-bodied, unusual creatures, Scott’s work in Canada has uncovered a significant cache of these fossils located much deeper beneath the surface of those primordial seas. This discovery raises the question: did animal life originate in the deepest, darkest ocean trenches rather than in shallow coastal pools?

The Impact of Bottom Trawling More than half a billion years after those early life forms emerged, modern bottom trawling remains a prevalent but destructive fishing technique. This method involves dragging heavy nets along the seafloor, destroying everything in its path to maximize yields. To discuss the potential benefits of banning this practice, Roland speaks with Amanda Vincent, a professor at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia and the founder of the international conservation group Project Seahorse. The conversation highlights recent findings regarding a biodiversity resurgence off the coast of Scotland, an area where trawling has been prohibited for several years.

Additional Science News Science journalist Gareth Mitchell joins the program to detail how bottom trawling can negatively affect technology and other scientific endeavors. The episode also covers other notable science stories, 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: [Link]

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