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Possibly Podcast

The Public's Radiothepublicsradio.org
Sick and tired of environmental gloom and doom? Want to know what you can do? Listen to Possibly, where we take on huge problems, like the future of our planet, and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. New episodes are released every Tuesday. Subscribe today wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a rating and review: it helps others find the show. Click here to learn more about Possibly or ask a question.
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Episodes

Why did I see a bunch of dead fish in the Providence River?

One Possibly listener wondered why she saw so many dead fish in the water last spring. Turns out it’s called a fish kill – which can happen when there isn’t enough oxygen in the water for fish to survive. The post Why did I see a bunch of dead fish in the Providence River? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

May 28, 20244 min

How can buses become a climate solution?

The transportation sector is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gasses in the U.S., and cars make up most of those emissions. So how can public transportation help reduce our emissions? The post How can buses become a climate solution? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

May 21, 20244 min

How will Providence make its buildings carbon neutral?

Providence has set the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. And recently, the city government passed a new ordinance to help it meet that goal. The post How will Providence make its buildings carbon neutral? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

May 14, 20249 min

Could we use a space umbrella to cool down the planet?

Literally blocking out the sun may sound extreme, but scientists are debating whether using dust particles to reflect sunlight away from the Earth could be a temporary solution if climate change gets out of control. The post Could we use a space umbrella to cool down the planet? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

May 07, 20244 min

How can I explain climate change to my friends and family?

Talking about climate change is never easy. Today, we get some tips from five experts on how to do it gracefully. The post How can I explain climate change to my friends and family? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Apr 30, 20245 min

Is it time to rethink Earth Day?

We’ve celebrated Earth Day in the United States for more than 50 years. Today, we’re taking a look at what made the first Earth Day in 1970 such a big deal, and whether the modern version needs a reboot. The post Is it time to rethink Earth Day? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Apr 23, 20244 min

Whose behavior really affects the water supply?

Last week we learned that individuals’ home water consumption doesn’t really make a dent in the water supply, and the benefit of personal water conservation is saving energy. So, who does affect the water supply? And why should they conserve water? The post Whose behavior really affects the water supply? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Apr 16, 20244 min

Why should I use less water in a wet state like Rhode Island?

Saving water might not seem all that important in a humid climate like Rhode Island. But actually, there are plenty of reasons why water conservation is always a good idea for people and the planet. The post Why should I use less water in a wet state like Rhode Island? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Apr 09, 20243 min

What’s the best way to get rid of my food scraps?

Today, we’re taking a look at how we dispose of our food. Next time you’re scraping a plate, should that food go into compost, your sink disposal, or the trash? The post What’s the best way to get rid of my food scraps? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Apr 02, 20244 min

Do bottle bills work?

Today’s question comes from a listener here in Rhode Island. They’ve been following local efforts to start a deposit recycling program for bottles and cans like some other states have, and they’re wondering, do these incentive programs really work? The post Do bottle bills work? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Mar 26, 20244 min

What does the future of natural gas look like in Massachusetts?

Natural gas is basically methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. States are looking for ways to use less of this energy source, and Massachusetts has a new plan to do just that. The post What does the future of natural gas look like in Massachusetts? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Mar 19, 20244 min

Can we harness electricity from Electric Eels?

At Possibly, we’re always thinking about ways to generate renewable energy, so when a listener wrote in asking if electric eels could be the next clean energy solution, we got curious! The post Can we harness electricity from Electric Eels? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Mar 12, 20244 min

How do I Recycle Damaged Clothes or Fabric?

With spring cleaning right around the corner, we’re looking into ways you can keep your damaged fabrics out of the landfill. The post How do I Recycle Damaged Clothes or Fabric? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Mar 05, 20244 min

What is Wilderness?

Last summer Possibly reporter Charlie Adams spent ten weeks on a conservation crew in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, a slice of northwest Montana spanning over one million acres. This got him wondering, what is “wilderness”? The post What is Wilderness? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Feb 27, 20244 min

Why are we replanting the Atlantic Forest?

Today, we’re traveling to the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, the second largest rainforest in Brazil— behind the Amazon Rainforest. Today it stands at just 10% of its original size, but hopefully that’s changing. Governments and nonprofits are working to replant trees to return it to its former size. The post Why are we replanting the Atlantic Forest? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Feb 20, 20244 min

Is cultivated meat coming to your plate?

Red meat creates a lot of greenhouse gas emissions. But, if you haven’t given up hamburgers, you’re not alone. So scientists are trying another approach - lab-grown meat. The post Is cultivated meat coming to your plate? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Feb 13, 20244 min

Why are we still worried about lead?

Lead paint and leaded gasoline haven’t been used in American homes or cars in nearly 30 years. But the impact of using these pollutants can still be felt today. The post Why are we still worried about lead? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Feb 06, 20244 min

How can oyster shells be recycled?

Oyster shells can be more than just a waste product! States up and down the East Coast have begun to develop programs to recycle oyster shells, putting them back into the water to develop sustainable wild reefs. The post How can oyster shells be recycled? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Jan 30, 20243 min

Can I trust the solar panel companies that knock on my door?

Recently, I’ve had a lot of people knocking on my door, trying to sell me solar panels. It happened just last week! I wanted to find out if they are legit. The post Can I trust the solar panel companies that knock on my door? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Jan 23, 20244 min

How do we convince people to make climate-conscious decisions?

I’ve learned so many great sustainability tips during my time at Possibly! But often I find it hard to convince my friends to change their habits, and even I sometimes end up forgetting to unplug my electronics or leaving my reusable grocery bags at home. So I was wondering, are there research-based ways to boost sustainable behaviors? The post How do we convince people to make climate-conscious decisions? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Jan 09, 20244 min

Our resolutions for 2024

Megan Hall: Welcome to Possibly where we take on huge problems like the future of our planet and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. I’m Megan Hall. As we head into a new year, our Possibly team decided to think about all of our episodes, and how they might inspire our resolutions […] The post Our resolutions for 2024 appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Jan 02, 20244 min

Can we use the ocean as an energy source?

At the beach, we’re supposed to watch out for strong tides. Our oceans are powerful places. Could they also be power sources? The post Can we use the ocean as an energy source? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Dec 26, 20234 min

Should I wrap my presents in fabric or paper?

Today, we have a question from a listener named Susan. She wants to know about gift wrapping: “Is it better for the environment to wrap Christmas gifts in fabric you can use over again rather than paper?” The post Should I wrap my presents in fabric or paper? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Dec 19, 20233 min

What does the future of natural gas look like in Rhode Island? Part 2

Megan Hall: Welcome to Possibly, where we take on huge problems like the future of our planet and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. I’m Megan Hall. Today, we’re continuing our coverage of the future of energy in Rhode Island. Since the state burns too much natural gas to reach net-zero by […] The post What does the future of natural gas look like in Rhode Island? Part 2 appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Dec 12, 20234 min

What does the Future of Natural Gas Look Like in Rhode Island? Part 1

It’s getting colder, and a lot of people are turning on their furnaces. Many of those run on “natural” gas, which is basically methane, a potent greenhouse gas. So, what do we do about these emissions? The post What does the Future of Natural Gas Look Like in Rhode Island? Part 1 appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Dec 06, 20231 min

What’s happening at the world’s largest climate conference this year?

The world’s largest annual climate conference will be happening for the 28th time in Dubai from the end of November to mid December. We break down what the conference has accomplished thus far, some issues it often faces, and what’s on the docket for this winter. The post What’s happening at the world’s largest climate conference this year? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Nov 28, 20231 min

What’s it like at an electric car race?

What happens when a car racing fan and the host of Possibly try to find an event that appeals to both of them? Enter Formula E. The post What’s it like at an electric car race? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Nov 21, 20231 min

Should I be worried about microplastics in Narragansett Bay?

Today, we’re talking about a new study from the University of Rhode Island about microplastics in the Narragansett Bay. We look into what the findings mean for Rhode Islanders and the Bay. The post Should I be worried about microplastics in Narragansett Bay? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Nov 14, 202359 sec

Meet one of the students who sued Montana to address climate change and won

We got to talk to one of the youth plaintiffs from the constitutional climate case in Montana, to hear about her experience with the case, how our generation can keep fighting the climate crisis, and how it feels to have that responsibility on our shoulders. The post Meet one of the students who sued Montana to address climate change and won appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Nov 07, 20231 min
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