How are species are evolving in response to climate change, ecosystem loss and humanity as a whole? On this episode we speak with evolutionary biologist Shane Campbell-Staton about microevolution, animals responding to urban environments, and the effect of nuclear radiation on ecosystems like Chernobyl.

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Giant Leap is a podcast hosted by nuclear physicist Taylor Wilson and journalist Joey Lovato. Shot in Taylor's lab, the show digs into hard science, big ideas and possible futures by speaking with the people making those futures reality.

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Keywords graph: This episode explores evolution and evolutionary biology through real examples of biodiversity, natural selection, and rapid evolution happening around the world today. We look at how urban ecology and human impact on nature drive species adaptation and microevolution, from tuskless elephants shaped by poaching to Chernobyl wildlife thriving in unexpected ways. The conversation dives into apex predators, invasive species, genetic adaptation, ecological resilience, and the growing challenges of climate change as ecosystems transform. Through stories of wildlife adapting to cities, evolutionary responses to pollution, and the complex pressures driving conservation, we uncover how human-caused evolutionary change influences species extinction, environmental pressures, and the future of life on Earth.

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