Branch Out

This episode explores the real-world field of forensic botany, inspired by Sherlock Holmes' use of poisonous plants in solving crimes and Conan Doyle's botanical studies.

Bruce Tyrrell recounts tasting an extraordinary 1865 Chateau Lafitte port that had been stored for over a century, describing its unparalleled flavor and the memorable experience of sharing it with others.

This episode describes the intense pain and symptoms caused by the shiny leaf stinging tree (Dendrocnide photonephilla), a dangerous plant found in Australian rainforests.

This episode explores why some fungi species are deadly to humans through recent poisoning cases in Australia and discusses their potential health benefits.

This episode explores a Pint of Science pub event where Dr.

This episode explores the theft of the rare African water lily from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, delving into the broader issue of stealing exotic plants and its impact on conservation.

This episode explores the history and modern popularity of the Pilea peperomioides, or friendship plant, from its origins in China to its viral status on social media.

This episode explores the People's Choice Project, where artists surveyed global preferences to create the 'most wanted painting,' revealing surprising similarities in taste across cultures.

This episode explores the historical phenomenon of tulip mania in 1637, where tulip bulbs became so valuable they could buy houses, and examines the flower's origins, symbolism, and cultural impact.

This episode introduces early career researchers in plant science who share their academic backgrounds and research interests in botanical studies.

NASA astronaut Dr.

This episode features an Off Track segment exploring the conservation challenges of endangered Australian plants called persunias, including their unique germination process involving emus.

This episode explores photosynthesis, covering its discovery by scientists, how bacteria have evolved with stolen photosynthetic technology, and its potential use in finding aliens.

This episode explores the revival of witchcraft, debunking historical stereotypes and discussing its modern resurgence on platforms like TikTok, featuring an interview with Christina Oakley-Harrington, a modern witch and founder of Treadwells bookshop.

This episode explores the Norse mythological origins of the Christmas tradition of kissing under mistletoe, tracing it back to the story of Frigg, Odin, and Loki.

This episode discusses shocking examples of plastic pollution like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and Wet Wipe Island, then introduces a zero-waste lifestyle through Gary Moran's story of not putting out rubbish for over three years.

This episode features an interview with Jessica Waite, a technical officer at the Australian Institute of Botanical Science, discussing her work to save native Australian orchid species from extinction through conservation research.

This episode explores how researchers developed a data framework using a thermogradient plate to predict seed germination under climate change, featuring an interview with Dr.

This episode explores artist David Bowen's 'Plant Machete' project, where a philodendron plant uses electrical signals to control a robotic arm wielding a machete, blending art, science, and technology.

This episode explores the Love Your Nature exhibition at the Calyx in Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden, featuring an interview with horticulturalist Tara Sadowski about the massive living green wall.

This episode explores the illegal trade of succulents and cacti, examining the demand, smuggling practices, and the complex relationship between conservationists and traffickers.

This episode explores how taxonomy, the science of classifying organisms, connects First Nations knowledge with Western systems and reveals the significant economic value of biodiversity for Australia.

This episode explores the role of science communication in botanic gardens and its impact on public understanding of environmental issues like climate change and extinction.

This episode explores how plants adapt to survive in extreme environments like deserts and cliffs, focusing on succulents and their unique cam photosynthesis.

This episode explores the fascinating world of plant reproduction, including various methods plants use to pass on their genes and scientific efforts to help endangered species survive.

This episode explores deadly plants through the historical case of Georgi Markov's assassination with ricin, contrasting with healing plants discussed previously.

This episode explores the devastating impact of the myrtle rust plant disease pandemic in Australia and the scientific efforts to combat it.

This episode explores medicinal plants, focusing on cannabis research, traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and tips for growing healing plants at home.

This episode explores the origins and environmental consequences of plastics, detailing how petroleum-based polymers are manufactured and their long-lasting impact on marine ecosystems.

This episode explores Aboriginal identity and connection to country through the perspective of an Arakor Bundjalung man discussing how location defines cultural knowledge, language, and environmental relationships.

This episode discusses a groundbreaking project to digitize over a million plant specimens at Australia's National Herbarium, creating an online database of high-definition images and associated data.

This bonus episode explores the rare corpse flower's imminent bloom at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, featuring an interview with curator Jared Kelly about the delicate process of moving this large, smelly, and endangered plant.

This episode explores groundbreaking research on plant intelligence, memory, and consciousness through the work of evolutionary ecologist Monica Gagliano, while also touching on ethical considerations in animal research.

This episode explores how scientists are using AI to track plastic pollution in oceans, highlighting the severity of the crisis through research findings on nanoplastics in bottled water and ocean waste estimates.

This episode features John Foster, a Dharawal elder, sharing personal stories about growing up on a mission in La Perouse and experiencing discrimination as an Aboriginal child in Sydney.

This episode examines the unprecedented scale and impacts of Australia's recent bushfire disaster, exploring its causes and the looming threat of future fire seasons on ecosystems.

This episode explores fascinating facts about trees, including the oldest living species, ancient fungal giants, and record-breaking heights.

This episode explores how climate change is already affecting global food resources like wine, chocolate, and coffee, featuring insights from climate scientist Dr.

This episode explores how Australian plants from extreme environments cope with temperature swings through a collaborative research project called Living on the Edge, featuring an interview with plant ecology expert Andy Lee.

Branch Out host Rose Kerr interviews field ecophysiologist Andrea Westerband about how plants regulate photosynthesis across Australia’s dry, fertile, and nutrient-poor environments.

This episode features an interview with researcher Stephanie Chen about her PhD work assembling the genome of the New South Wales waratah species to understand its genetics for conservation purposes.

This episode explores the art of chocolate-making with artisan Jessica Pedermont, featuring a tasting and insights into her expertise and experiences in France.

This episode honors NAIDOC Week by interviewing Clarence Lockie about his Bundjalung heritage, connection to land, and the meaning of the 'Heal Country' theme.

This episode explores nature deficit disorder, revealing that many children spend less time outdoors than prisoners and linking this to rising childhood obesity.

This episode explores the critical decline of bees and their vital role as pollinators, featuring an interview with Doug Purdy who explains the fascinating waggle dance used by bees to communicate flower locations.

This episode explores the transformation of a raw landscape into the Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan, featuring insights from Graham Ross on its community impact and John Seaman on the scientific curation that distinguishes it from a park.

Branch Out host Vanessa Fuchs visits the Plants with Bite exhibition at the Calix in Sydney and Greg Burke’s collection of roughly 300 carnivorous plant species.