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Large parts of Europe are experiencing severe drought, with water shortages and dry conditions affecting ecosystems, agriculture and soil health. According to the UK Met Office, last week was the driest July on record in the United Kingdom. Katie Field, Professor of Plant-Soil Processes at the University of Sheffield, explains the impact of prolonged drought on soil and plant life and discusses how our struggling landscapes can recover.
Next week, a dramatic solar eclipse will pass across the Atlantic. Historically, solar eclipses have helped astronomers study the Sun and explore the outer reaches of the solar system. Today, scientists can create eclipses on demand using spacecraft. Esther Bastida-Pertegaz, Project Engineer at the European Space Agency, discusses the Proba-3 mission, an innovative flying formation designed to study the Sun’s corona.
Highly pathogenic bird flu has arrived in Australia, posing a serious threat to native wildlife. Every continent is now affected by avian influenza, and the potential impact on bird populations and mammals could be devastating. Thijs Kuiken, virologist at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, provides the latest updates on the global bird flu outbreak, its spread and the risks to wildlife.
Lizzie Gibney of Nature Magazine also joins us to discuss the week’s biggest science news stories.
Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Clare Salisbury, Tabitha Taylor-Buck, Keiran Manetta-Jones
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
Programme Website
Source: www.bbc.co.uk