From tracking elusive animals to protecting some of the world’s most endangered species, the latest episode of Physics World Stories explores how cutting-edge robotics, drones and ecological science are coming together on the front lines of global wildlife conservation.

You’ll hear from Blair Costelloe, leader and principal investigator of the EU-funded WildDrone and WildBotics doctoral training networks, and director of research and conservation at Kenya’s Mara Elephant Project. Costelloe explains how drones, machine learning and other physics-based technologies are opening new possibilities for conservationists, from monitoring animals across large areas to collecting data that would be difficult to obtain on the ground.

Show host Andrew Glester also catches up with Camille Rondeau Saint-Jean, a PhD researcher at the University of Southern Denmark. She is developing and operating drones to track animal body data in real time, offering new insights into population dynamics and conservation. It’s the latest chapter in a career that has already taken her from musicology to drone piloting and conservation biology.

Finally, William Njoroge of Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy discusses how drones are being integrated with more traditional conservation methods, as well as the practical challenges involved, from technical constraints to regulatory requirements. Set against the backdrop of Mount Kenya, Ol Pejeta is an integrated conservation site and home to the world’s remaining two northern white rhinos.

The episode highlights the fascinating science that can emerge from collaborations across disciplines and cultures, united by a common goal: protecting wildlife.

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The UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) recently announced funding cuts to a range of physics and astronomy projects as it seeks to reduce costs. One of the most high-profile casualties is e-MERLIN, a network of seven radio telescopes spread across the UK, including the iconic Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank.

To discover what the cuts could mean for UK science and the livelihoods of those affected, podcast host Andrew Glester caught up with two astronomers at Jodrell Bank: Simon Garrington, e-MERLIN director, and David Williams-Baldwin, an e-MERLIN research support scientist.

They discuss why the cuts have caused such alarm among scientists, how the UK astronomy community is mobilizing in opposition, and why the consequences could extend far beyond Jodrell Bank.

e-MERLIN combines signals from its telescopes to produce sharp radio images of the Universe – with a resolution comparable to that of the Hubble Space Telescope. As things stand, funding for the telescope array will run out in March 2028, putting the future of the network and scientific operations at Jodrell Bank in doubt.

It’s an uncertain time for an observatory that was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in July 2019 for its historical contributions and its technical and scientific ingenuity since the 1940s.

An STFC spokesperson emphasises that Jodrell Bank is “not closing” and “will continue to play an important role in UK science”. This includes the Square Kilometre Array Observatory that has its headquarters at Jodrell Bank as well as other radio astronomy research projects in the UK and elsewhere.

“We recognise the strength of feeling about Jodrell Bank and the e-MERLIN network, and the contribution they have made to UK science. The achievements of the scientists, engineers and staff who have supported e-MERLIN over many years are widely respected across the research community,” they add. “We are focusing on the next generation of radio astronomy to ensure UK researchers continue to be at the forefront of the field. Rising cost pressures mean that we have had to make difficult choices about STFC funding to make sure we are able to fund world class research sustainably into the future.”

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“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious,” wrote Albert Einstein. “It is the source of all true art and science.” It is a reminder that wonder – particularly in the natural world – lies at the heart of both disciplines. When it comes to an issue as multifaceted and emotive as climate change, it feels only natural to turn to art as well as science to make sense of what is happening around us.

The latest episode of Physics World Stories brings together two artists doing exactly that. Host Andrew Glester speaks first with Tom Bailey, a performance and environmental artist from Bristol-based creative company Mechanimal. Bailey has recently returned from an extraordinary 600 kilometre journey through the Arctic borderlands — spanning Norway, Finland and Sweden — travelling by ski, sledge, foot and boat, and occasionally dressed as a reindeer.

Travelling between festival performances, Bailey immersed himself in a region undergoing dramatic change: shifting weather patterns, transforming landscapes, and growing international interest in its mineral resources, raising urgent questions about governance and access. Central to his vision is a “more-than-human” perspective, advocating for nature to have formal representation in international decision-making, not merely as a resource to be managed, but as a presence with its own legitimate interests.

A climate video game with beautiful music

Composer Naomi Hart approaches the crisis from a different angle. After a conversation with her daughter about fears for the future left her saddened but resolute, she channelled that emotion into Save Progress – a short video game exploring how human connection can help us to think about the world and the choices ahead. In the podcast, Hart talks about her creative choices; the game combines an intentionally old-school design with specially composed synthesizer music. Save Progress takes around 10 minutes to play: give it a try.

• To keep track of how physicists are investigating climate change and developing solutions, visit the Environment and Energy section of the Physics World website.

The post Beyond the data: art meets climate at the edge of the world appeared first on Physics World.