Drinking a cup of coffee is how billions of people wake up every morning. But climate change is threatening this popular beverage. Over 60% of the world’s coffee species are at risk of extinction. Scientists are searching for solutions, including hunting for wild, forgotten coffee species that are more resilient to our shifting climate. Find out how the chemistry of coffee can help us brew coffee alternatives, and how coffee grounds can be part of building a sustainable future.

Guests:

Christopher Hendon – Assistant Professor of Computational Materials Chemistry, University of Oregon

Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch – Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Australia

Aaron Davis – Senior Research Leader of Crops and Global Change, Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew

Descripción en español

Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake

Originally aired April 1, 2024

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Big Picture Science is an immersive radio show and podcast that reveals the unexpected connections in science.

Our Skeptic Check episodes take a critical look at extraordinary science claims and pseudoscience.

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Seth Shostak Producer and Co-Host, Big Picture Science
Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute

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