Series 1 Episode 5 : The World Before Us

UCD have created six “weather chambers” which can be used to simulate climate environments from millions of years ago into the future. It’s the only place in the world where we can look at how measuring the responses of living plants to controlled changes in experimental environments (CO2, SO2 and O2 levels) can help us make more sense of the fossil record from previous mass extinctions, and possibly identify ways in which we could help mitigate the effects of climate change now.

Ireland’s relationship with the potato has been a long and complex one. It is fitting perhaps that 2 Irish researchers featured strongly on the international team which mapped the complete potato genome – the results of which made the front cover of Nature magazine. Dan Milbourne is mining this invaluable genetic information to help develop new blight resistant varieties which could help greatly in preventing disease and assist in the ever worsening global food shortage problem.

Peter Gallagher from TCD has recently secured part-funding for the development of a project to build a huge radio telescope called LOFAR in the grounds of Birr Castle. The telescope will form part of a wider network of European radio telescope which will allow us to study a huge range of objects in the Universe, from exploding stars, to colliding galaxies, to the early evolution of the Universe.

Along with air, water is the most essential element in our daily lives. We look at Irish efforts to develop and test sensor devices and networks for real time water quality monitoring, and speak to scientists at DCU who are working with industry to develop new products and services to enhance and manage our marine resources.