Are trees the answer to solving climate change?

This episode of Inside Science covers a range of scientific topics, beginning with a discussion on the role of trees in offsetting carbon emissions, featuring Professor Mark Maslin who emphasizes that reforestation is not the primary solution to climate change but is important for local environments and offsetting difficult-to-eliminate emissions. Science writer Carl Zimmer discusses his book on aerobiology, highlighting the history of understanding airborne life and its implications for disease spread and potential weaponization, and recommends using carbon dioxide monitors to assess ventilation. The show also explores the decline in house sparrow populations in the UK, identifying factors such as insect decline, noise pollution, and habitat loss, while offering solutions for individuals and communities to help increase sparrow numbers. Finally, the podcast touches on the centenary of quantum mechanics, the correlation between Earth's magnetic field and oxygen levels, and the impact of stress on sleep and memory.