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EPISODE · Oct 17, 2021 · 24 MIN

A series of unfortunate events

from The Documentary Podcast · host BBC World Service

Justin Rowlatt discovers how phosphorus may have held evolution back for a billion years. How plants first colonised the land - precipitating an ice age in the process. And why volcanoes have both rescued and almost wiped out life on the planet, thanks to the carbon dioxide they emit. Anjali Goswami of the Natural History Museum takes Justin on a tour of the big five mass extinction events in the fossil record over the last half billion years.

What this episode covers

Justin Rowlatt discovers how phosphorus may have held evolution back for a billion years. How plants first colonised the land - precipitating an ice age in the process. And why volcanoes have both rescued and almost wiped out life on the planet, thanks to the carbon dioxide they emit. Anjali Goswami of the Natural History Museum takes Justin on a tour of the big five mass extinction events in the fossil record over the last half billion years.

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A series of unfortunate events

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Documentary Podcast?

This episode is 24 minutes long.

When was this The Documentary Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on October 17, 2021.

What is this episode about?

Justin Rowlatt discovers how phosphorus may have held evolution back for a billion years. How plants first colonised the land - precipitating an ice age in the process. And why volcanoes have both rescued and almost wiped out life on the planet,...

Can I download this The Documentary Podcast episode?

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