Nana Banana
The central focus of this episode revolved around the significant transformation of American science in 2025, marked by a series of directives from President Trump’s administration. A particularly impactful announcement came from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), confirming the controversial decision to dismantle the prestigious National Climate Research Center (NCRC). This move, described as a major reorganization, sent shockwaves through the scientific community, signalling a clear shift in federal priorities and a potentially unprecedented restructuring of how climate science is conducted and funded in the USA. Veteran science journalist Roland Pease, a long-time observer of scientific policy in Washington D.C., joined Victoria Gill to dissect the immediate and anticipated long-term impacts of these changes.
Pease detailed a year that has brought a relentless wave of reorganizations and funding cuts across various federal science agencies. He explained that beyond the NCRC, other key institutions, including divisions within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have seen their mandates narrowed, their budgets slashed, and their research agendas reoriented. The stated rationale from the administration often cited a need for greater efficiency, a focus on "America First" practical applications, and a re-evaluation of long-term, foundational research deemed less immediately relevant to economic growth. However, many scientists and policy analysts, including Pease, voiced concerns that these actions represented a deliberate de-emphasis on climate change research, environmental protection, and basic scientific inquiry that might not yield immediate commercial returns.
The breaking up of the NCRC, in particular, was highlighted as a symbolic and practical blow. This centre, renowned for its global climate modelling, atmospheric research, and predictive capabilities, had been a cornerstone of international efforts to understand and mitigate climate change. Pease suggested that its dismantling would likely lead to a fragmentation of expertise, a loss of institutional memory, and a significant brain drain as top scientists sought more stable and supportive environments for their work, potentially moving to academic institutions or even abroad. He cautioned that the long-term impacts could include a reduced capacity for the U.S. to contribute to global climate assessments, a weakening of its leadership in environmental science, and an increased vulnerability to the effects of climate change due to diminished early warning and mitigation research. The episode explored whether these actions were genuinely reshaping the ways science is done in the USA, moving away from federally-funded, independent research towards a model more reliant on private sector initiatives or politically aligned priorities. Pease concluded that while the full ramifications would unfold over years, 2025 undoubtedly marked a pivotal moment in the politicization and transformation of American science.
Shifting from policy debates to a tangible scientific achievement, Victoria Gill took listeners on a remarkable subterranean tour of Finland’s new nuclear waste disposal facility. Finland, as the first country in the world to successfully implement such a long-term solution for high-level radioactive waste, has set a precedent that many nations, including the UK, are keenly observing. The facility, known colloquially as Onkalo (Finnish for "cavity" or "hiding place"), is an engineering marvel, burrowed deep into the ancient, stable bedrock of the Olkiluoto island. Gill’s report described the labyrinthine tunnels descending hundreds of metres below the surface, designed to safely contain spent nuclear fuel for tens of thousands of years, far beyond human timescales.
The design of the Finnish repository relies on a multi-barrier safety system. Firstly, the spent fuel is encased in robust cast iron inserts, which are then sealed inside corrosion-resistant copper canisters. These canisters are subsequently placed into boreholes drilled into the granite bedrock within the repository tunnels. Finally, the boreholes are backfilled with bentonite clay, a material that swells when wet, forming a highly impermeable barrier against groundwater. The natural geological stability of the Finnish bedrock, formed billions of years ago, provides the ultimate long-term containment. Gill emphasised the immense scientific and engineering challenges overcome in designing and constructing such a facility, from understanding deep geological formations and groundwater movements to developing materials that can withstand extreme conditions for millennia.
The UK’s significant interest in the Finnish model stems from its own pressing challenge of managing a growing inventory of high-level radioactive waste. With a legacy of nuclear power generation and reprocessing, the UK is actively seeking a safe, permanent geological disposal facility. Gill explained that UK experts have been closely collaborating with their Finnish counterparts, learning from their extensive research, public engagement strategies, and regulatory processes. The Finnish approach, which has involved decades of scientific study, site characterization, and transparent public consultation, offers a blueprint for how to navigate the complex technical, social, and political hurdles inherent in such projects. Joining Gill to discuss this and other scientific breakthroughs was science journalist Caroline Steel, who highlighted the critical importance of these long-term solutions for sustainable energy futures and the need for international cooperation in addressing global challenges like nuclear waste management. Steel noted that while Finland has led the way, other countries like Sweden and Canada are also making significant progress in developing their own deep geological repositories, signalling a growing global consensus on this method for waste disposal.
The episode then transitioned to a poignant look back, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the murder of Dian Fossey, the renowned American primatologist who dedicated decades of her life to studying mountain gorillas in the remote Virunga Mountains of Rwanda. Fossey, whose tireless work and passionate advocacy were immortalized in the book and film "Gorillas in the Mist," was tragically killed at her research camp on December 26, 1985. Gilly Forrester, Professor of Comparative Cognition at the University of Sussex, joined Victoria Gill to discuss why the vast trove of data collected from Fossey’s beloved "gorillas in the mist" continues to shape science today.
Professor Forrester explained that Fossey’s pioneering methodology involved an unprecedented level of immersion and direct observation, allowing her to gain the trust of the highly endangered mountain gorillas and document their complex social structures, individual behaviours, communication patterns, and ecological interactions with remarkable detail. Before Fossey, much of the understanding of gorillas was based on anecdotal evidence or studies of captive animals. Her work provided the first in-depth, long-term ethnographic study of wild gorillas, revealing them not as aggressive beasts, but as intelligent, gentle, and highly social creatures.
The data Fossey collected, spanning nearly two decades, forms an invaluable baseline for current primatological and conservation research. Forrester highlighted several ways this legacy continues to influence science:
- Long-term Behavioural Ecology: Fossey’s meticulous records of individual gorillas’ life histories, reproductive cycles, and social dynamics provide crucial context for understanding population trends and the impacts of environmental change on these species over generations.
- Conservation Biology: Her work was instrumental in bringing the plight of mountain gorillas to international attention, directly contributing to the establishment of conservation efforts that have seen their population slowly recover from the brink of extinction. The data helps inform current anti-poaching strategies and habitat protection.
- Comparative Cognition: Insights into gorilla tool use, communication, and problem-solving, though sometimes controversial in their interpretation, continue to fuel research into primate intelligence and the evolutionary roots of human cognition.
- Ecological Understanding: Fossey’s observations of gorilla feeding habits, ranging patterns, and interactions with other species provide vital information about their role in the Virunga ecosystem.
- Methodological Inspiration: Her dedication to long-term, intensive fieldwork continues to inspire new generations of primatologists and conservationists, emphasizing the importance of patience, persistence, and ethical engagement with wild animal populations.
Professor Forrester concluded that while Fossey’s life ended tragically, her scientific legacy is vibrant and enduring, proving that even data collected decades ago, when meticulously gathered and thoughtfully interpreted, can continue to illuminate our understanding of the natural world and drive critical conservation action.
For listeners eager to delve deeper into these fascinating scientific topics, the episode encouraged them to visit bbc.co.uk, search for "BBC Inside Science," and follow the links to additional content provided in collaboration with The Open University. The breadth of topics covered in this single episode – from the geopolitical implications of science policy to the deep-time solutions for nuclear waste and the lasting impact of a pioneering conservationist – underscored the BBC Inside Science programme’s commitment to bringing complex scientific issues to a broad audience, fostering understanding and critical engagement with the world of discovery.
atisusanti
George Anjay
