Branch Out

In this bonus episode of Branch Out, host Bec Davis chats to Jarryd Kelly, Curator Manager of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, about the highly-anticipated bloom of the Corpse Flower. Jarryd takes us behind the scenes as this exotic plant, which only flowers for 24 hours and creates an infamously pungent odour, has been years in the making. Watch the livestream on YouTube so you can see the Corpse Flower bloom in real time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrylcCAEIT8&ab_channel=BotanicGardensofSydney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Australia has seen deadly cases of mushroom poisonings this past year, with some making world headlines. In this episode of Branch Out, Hannah Izzard chats to Professor Brett Summerall, Chief Scientist from Botanic Gardens of Sydney, on the fascinating powers of the fungi kingdom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Branch Out, we investigate the massive issue of plastic waste in our environment. You’ll hear from scientist Dr Denise Hardesty and business owner Mitchell Taylor on new technologies like machine learning and engineering products transforming the way we use and think about plastic waste. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roughly 70% of all Australian species of plants, animals, fungi and other organisms have yet to be discovered, named and classified. In this episode of Branch Out we’re featuring an episode from The Business of Biodiversity podcast: Taxonomy – the benefits of naming nature. You’ll learn about the fascinating and important field of taxonomy and how it's potentially worth billions of dollars to the Australian economy. The Business of Biodiversity Podcast is produced by the Grow Love Project and Saving our Species program at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Attention true crime junkies, you’re about to learn about one of the biggest unsolved mysteries in the botanical world… as we continue to uncover the global phenomenon of stealing rare and exotic plants. In this episode you'll hear from Richard Barley, Director of Gardens at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London, about the eerie disappearance of the African water lily - one of Earth’s rarest plants stolen from the biggest botanic garden in the world. You'll also hear from John Siemon, Director of Horticulture and Living collections at Botanic Gardens of Sydney, about why plant theft is a massive problem plaguing Botanic Gardens. John recalls some of the desperate measures avid plant collectors have resorted to over the years and explains why these green-fingered thieves are threatening the survival of many endangered species. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a series of heists in Mexico, to law enforcement agents infiltrating a smuggling ring in South Korea... Get ready to explore the explosive illegal trade of succulents and cacti and learn why scientists are scrambling to discover new and rare species before poachers find them. In this episode you'll hear from Jared Margulies, an assistant professor of political ecology at the University of Alabama and the author of The Cactus Hunters. Jared ventured across seven countries and four continents to uncover a complex world where conservation and criminology crossover, discovering that sometimes, the smuggler and the conservationist are the same person. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Go behind the scenes with Senior Horticulturist Terra-Nova Sadowski at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to discover what it takes to curate and care for the incredible display of over 20,000 plants inside The Calyx. The latest immersive horticulture display is called Love Your Nature. It celebrates and showcases the colourful, diverse, and fascinating world of plant reproduction and diversity. You'll learn about prehistoric plants that use clones, spores, and seeds to reproduce, and flowering plants that employ colours, shapes, and scents to attract animals. The Calyx is open daily from 10am to 4pm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover how the creator of the machete-wielding philodendron turned this harmless houseplant into armed greenery in this 'fast flora facts' edition of Branch Out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Branch Out host Vanessa Fuchs went to the Pint of Science event at the Keg & Brew in Surry Hills, Sydney to hear an awesome presentation from Dr Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez - a researcher from Western Sydney University known as the “tree detective.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An experiment in the 90's by two Russian artists revealed that people from various countries around the world all like the same kind of painting. Discover why and what the results of a new study using twins says about our love for nature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To help protect plant species from the impacts of climate change, scientists from the Australian Institute of Botanical Science and UNSW created a cutting-edge data framework for predicting seed germination using a thermogradient plate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout human history, the gifting and trading of plants has been a way for people to connect. Discover the story behind the Instagram-famous 'friendship plant' that used to be impossible to find, and how you can grow one at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Orchids are found on every continent, except Antarctica, growing everywhere from hot swamps to cold mountain tops. Unfortunately, a large proportion of Aussie native orchids are threatened or endangered. From isolating the fungi needed to germinate their seeds to studying their pollinators - discover how scientists like Jessica Wait at the Australian Institute of Botanical Science are using science to help save orchids from extinction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the era of the Dutch golden age in 1637, it’s said that one tulip bulb could of bought you a beautiful house on the canal in Amsterdam. Discover how the obsession with these unique flowers allegedly caused the first and most famous market bubble crashes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the 'great pacific garbage patch' to 'wet wipe island' - pollution is out of control. But in 2021, Gary Moran went viral for not needing to put out his red council bin for 3 years and 4 months. Discover his simple hacks to reduce your household waste as we feature an episode from the Plants Grow Here podcast by Daniel Fuller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microscopic hairs of a leaf clinging to a murder suspect's jacket is all a forensic botanist needs to crack the case. Discover how two high-profile kidnapping-murder cases in America and Australia were solved using forensic botany and how the field has continued to evolve. You'll also learn the truth behind why the world's most famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, knows so much about poisonous plants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#WitchTok videos are clocking up billions of views. Discover why witchcraft is on the rise and the important role plants and nature have to play in its resurgence amongst young people in this magical episode featuring Christina Oakley-Harrington - a modern witch and founder of Treadwells, a famous London bookstore dedicated to the occult. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn how photosynthesis was uncovered by scientists, how this amazing set of biochemical reactions might help find aliens, and meet a cunning species of bacteria that's evolved with stolen photosynthesizing technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine trying to put together a puzzle with over 900 million pieces without the picture on the box... That's how PhD candidate Stephanie Chen describes her world-first research assembling the complete genome of the iconic waratah species. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From M. Night Shyamalan to the Bible - this debut episode of our Fast Flora Facts edition of Branch Out covers all sorts of amazing bite-sized facts, stories and research about the biggest group in the plant kingdom - trees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Science communication is a lot like story telling. Hear from Laura Skates, Renee Cawthorne and Dr Karl about the importance of talking on behalf of plants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Extreme plants call for extreme botany. Explore the dangerous world of cliff faces, low rainfall and challenging temperatures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know a lot of our listeners, like us, are stuck in lockdown - so we've got a special delivery for you! A bonus episode of Branch Out to celebrate National Tree Day. Tune in to hear a casual chat with Andy Leigh, Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney who is studying the effects of climate change on trees and the ecosystems they exist in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The theme for NAIDOC week this year is Heal Country. But what does it mean? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear from students, recent graduates and trainees who are just starting out in their careers as plant scientists. A big thank you to everyone who participated in this episode; Adam Pigott, Piret May, Ryan P. O'Donnell, Ruby E. Stevens, Melanie O'Donovan, Philippa Alvarez, Yasmin Assar, Justin Collette and Lyndle Hardstaff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find out what photosynthesis has to do with economics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You are invited to join us for the global launch of the Australian Institute of Botanical Science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prepare to blush as we explore the unusual, ingenious and sometimes even deceptive ways plants are gettin' it on for the survival of their species. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plants have developed an array of deadly defences and chemical compounds can turn an innocent looking ornamental into a deadly assassin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we hear 'pandemic' we immediately think of COVID-19. But there's a deadly plant disease pandemic called 'myrtle rust' tearing through Australia that arrived long before COVID-19. Discover the cutting-edge science that is our best bet for saving our plant species. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're in the middle of once-in-a-century pandemic and coming into peak flu-season in the southern hemisphere. Medicine is on our minds and surprisingly, many developed in the last century were derived from naturally occurring molecules found in plants, bacteria, and fungi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Australia is a no doubt a sunburnt country and the unique landscape shares a long and important relationship with fire. But even the most fire-adapted plants were devastated by the intense summer bushfires. While new growth is emerging and cutting-edge science is saving species - there's still a long road to recovery for the flora that went up in flames. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plants are the source of so many amazing past and new inventions we need in our lives. Discover how scientists are utilising the waste material from banana plants and cashew nut shells to create more environmentally friendly products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though Australia is new to the wine-making world stage it has produced really iconic drops and inventions such as cask wine and screw caps for bottles. But how did grape vines get here? Discover the art, history and science of wine-making and how it all started down under. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Australian plants have been used by Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years and now people all over the world are finding a connection to country through cooking with bush foods. Unfortunately, some of these plants are endangered and scientists are collecting and banking seeds to protect their future both on our forks and in the wild. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Climate change is the defining issue of our time and 47% of Australia's vegetation could be impacted by an increase in mean annual temperature by 2070. Three passionate scientists share how they are trying to understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change on flora and our future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world's most painful stinging trees call Australia home. Explore this amazing example of plant defence as a range of scientists share their stinging experience and what they’re doing to protect the future of these surprisingly important rainforest plants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready to pick Persoonias from emu poo as Branch Out features an episode from ABC’s dedicated nature program - Off Track. Persoonias are an endangered group of plants that need complex processes to germinate. Could the mystery lynchpin to save them be found in an emu's guts? Go Off Track and join Presenter Ann Jones to find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Longer space missions and sustaining human life on other planets depends on space horticulture. So grab your spacesuit and get ready to lift off with NASA astronaut Dr Gregory Chamitoff and scientists from the Australian PlantBank and CSIRO to explore the future of plants in space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The largest herbarium imaging project in the southern hemisphere is underway at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney with over 1 million botanical specimens becoming high-definition digital images. Discover how the images will protect the valuable collection and help researchers around the world make new discoveries to advance science and conservation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you need a brain to sense the world around you, remember or learn? Apparently not. Dive into the marvellous work of evolutionary ecologist Dr Monica Gagliano whose pioneering experiments are proving plants are learning behaviour in ways we never thought possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is your golden ticket into the sweet and serious side of chocolate making. You'll also discover how plant diseases are threatening the future supply of the world's chocolate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover over 60,000 years of culture, plant uses and personal stories from Aboriginal people in Sydney, Australia. You'll also hear from a proud Dharawal elder and his daughter who are keeping their unique Sydney culture alive through storytelling, advocacy, art and research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mistletoe is in love potions, ancient medicines to ward off epilepsy and ulcers and even a Justin Bieber Christmas song and Australia is the true home of mistletoe with about 90 different sap-sucking species. Discover why so many people throughout the ages are fascinated by the mystery and magic of these paradoxical parasites. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who do you think spends the least amount of time outdoors: Chickens, inmates or kids? Discover the growing movement of nature play at various forest schools and kindergartens around the world, including one right here in the heart of Sydney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bees predate the dinosaurs and they've been doing some crazy and complex things inside the hive. From using a 'waggle dance' to communicate where food is, to making 'bee bread' using pollen. It's a short and sweet life for most, but be warned, there are a couple of gruesome ways to die... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How was a cow paddock in Western Sydney transformed into the biggest botanic garden in Australia? And what's the difference between a park and a botanic garden anyway? Join the legendary Graham Ross and the Garden's Curator John Siemon as they share the incredible story of the Australian Botanic Garden and its best features. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a plant a killer? Join one of Australia's foremost experts on carnivorous plants, and discover the different tactics these murderous munchers use to lure, trap and trick their prey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might think the National Herbarium of NSW is where we keep our finest coriander, mint and basil. Actually, this vital facility contains over 1 million plant specimens used for scientific research, and some are almost 250 years old! Walk through the corridors of this 165-year-old building and discover this historical hub and heart of plant sciences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices