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From orcas to water shortages: Nature in a changing climate

26:04

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February 6, 2026

Orcas are attacking sailboats near Gibraltar and Portugal. They're damaging rudders, and have sunk boats. But why are they doing this? Also: islands cutting waste, shrinking snow in the Alps, and the carbon cycle.

Climate change is straining Europe’s natural systems, from oceans to mountains. This episode looks at shifting ecosystems and how people respond. We start at sea, where orcas are repeatedly ramming sailboats off the Iberian Peninsula—damaging rudders, sinking boats, and puzzling scientists. On the Greek island of Tilos, residents have remade daily life as the world’s first zero waste community. In the Alps, researchers warn that rising temperatures, declining snowfall, and reduced rainfall threaten Europe’s water supply. In Switzerland, a farmer tests keylines to use water more efficiently, while in Germany, conservationists restore a drained moor, reviving native plants and cutting emissions. Finally, we explain the carbon cycle and why Earth’s systems are struggling to absorb rising CO2.

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Tomorrow Today — The Science Show

Dive in to the fascinating world of science with Tomorrow Today. Your weekly dose of science knowledge. A show for everyone who's curious -- about our cosmos and how it works.

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