Peter Brannen

Peter Brannen, award-winning science journalist and author focused on geology and the carbon cycle. He reframes CO2 as both life-giving and climate-controlling. Short scenes cover deep-time carbon swings, Snowball Earth, mass extinctions, the Holocene’s unusual calm, and how modern emissions compare to past planetary upheavals. The conversation blends geologic wonder with precautionary urgency.

In this captivating discussion, Peter Brannen, a contributing writer at The Atlantic and author of 'The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything', dives into the crucial role of carbon dioxide in our planet's history. He explores how CO2 has shaped life on Earth, intertwined with energy dynamics and mass extinctions. Brannen highlights the transformation of coal in the industrial age and examines humanity's relationship with energy consumption and its impact on climate change, stressing the urgent need for innovative solutions in our decarbonization efforts.

Science journalist Peter Brannen and Nate Hagens delve into Earth's geologic history, discussing mass extinctions, the carbon cycle, and the impact of CO2 emissions. They explore past extinctions, the evolution of life, and the challenges of detecting and responding to these events. The podcast also touches on the complexity of the human ecosystem and the possibility of life on other planets.

Journalist Peter Brannen, an expert on deep-time Earth history, joins to explore the critical role of carbon dioxide in shaping our planet’s past and future. They delve into how CO2 has influenced mass extinctions and the emergence of complex life. Brannen discusses humanity's unprecedented impact on the carbon cycle and questions our adaptability amidst climate change. He reflects on how climate has affected agriculture and why fossil fuels transformed our energy landscape. Their conversation ultimately prompts a deeper consideration of our lasting legacy in geological history.

Join award-winning science writer Peter Brannen, who specializes in deep-time geoscience, as he explains the 4.5 billion-year saga of carbon dioxide. Discover how CO2 shaped early life and the planet's evolution through events like Snowball Earth and the Permian extinction. Hear about the role of fossil fuels in creating an oxygen-rich atmosphere and how climate shifts influenced human evolution. Brannen also dives into the significance of small CO2 changes and early human impacts on today's climate.