Tonight’s episode of the Perpetual Notion Machine looks into the radical notion of soil health. To some, soil might be just a “dirty” word. But new and extraordinary research at UW-Madison studies the simple and complex chemical processes breaking down organic matter that can contribute to soil health. PNM’er Kase Wheatley talks with two grad students and research assistants in agroecology, Alden Dirks and Greg Richardson. Alden talks about his interest in mycorrhizal fungi and its benefit to the soil. They both discuss how the carbon processes in the soil can keep the plants above ground thriving. Also, they discuss the impacts of climate change on soil health.

Alden is also President of the Madison Mycological Society. Check out their website.