17. The Golden Spike
Buried under a small lake in Canada, a scientist unearths evidence that the planet is entering a distinctive and dangerous new period.
At a conference in Mexico, one scientist’s outburst launches a global quest.
Hannah Fry follows a group of researchers on the hunt for a ‘golden spike’: the boundary, marking a shift into a dramatic new geological period dominated, not by volcanoes and asteroids, but the influence of humans.
From plastics and concrete to nuclear fallout, the data they uncover reveals a planet profoundly changed. But can these scientists persuade their colleagues - and the world?
Producer: Ilan Goodman
Sound Designer: Jon Nicholls
Story Editor: John Yorke
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Broadcasts
- Tue 17 Sep 2024 13:45ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4
- Fri 29 Aug 2025 14:45ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4
- Sat 30 Aug 2025 05:45ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4
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Uncharted with Hannah Fry
Hannah Fry shares thrilling tales of data and discovery.