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The High Arctic is not a place you go looking for forests today. It is extremely harsh, cold, and nearly void of most forms of plant life. However, that has not always been the case. The Eocene Epoch was a period where Earth was much hotter than it is today and forests flourished at the poles. This is also when much of the flora we know and love today was just getting its start. Join me and Dr. Jim Basinger  as we explore what some incredibly rare fossil deposits are teaching us about forests above the Arctic Circle. This episode was produced in part by Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie, Waverly, Brent, Tanner, Rick, Kazys, Dorothy, Katherine, Emily, Theo, Nichole, Paul, Karen, Randi, Caelan, Tom, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta, Elizabeth, Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts, Pattypollinators, Peter, Judson, Ella, Alex, Dan, Pamela, Peter, Andrea, Nathan, Karyn, Michelle, Jillian, Chellie, Linda, Laura, Miz Holly, Christie, Carlos, Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda, Tommy, Marcel, C Leigh, Karma, Shelby, Christopher, Alvin, Arek, Chellie, Dani, Paul, Dani, Tara, Elly, Colleen, Natalie, Nathan, Ario, Laura, Cari, Margaret, Mary, Connor, Nathan, Jan, Jerome, Brian, Azomonas, Ellie, University Greens, Joseph, Melody, Patricia, Matthew, Garrett, John, Ashley, Cathrine, Melvin, OrangeJulian, Porter, Jules, Griff, Joan, Megan, Marabeth, Les, Ali, Southside Plants, Keiko, Robert, Bryce, Wilma, Amanda, Helen, Mikey, Michelle, German, Joerg, Cathy, Tate, Steve, Kae, Carole, Mr. Keith Santner, Lynn, Aaron, Sara, Kenned, Brett, Jocelyn, Ethan, Sheryl, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Chris, Alana, Rachel, Joanna, Lori, Paul, Griff, Matthew, Bobby, Vaibhav, Steven, Joseph, Brandon, Liam, Hall, Jared, Brandon, Christina, Carly, Kazys, Stephen, Katherine, Manny, doeg, Daniel, Tim, Philip, Tim, Lisa, Brodie, Bendix, Irene, holly, Sara, and Margie.
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Fascinating episode! But as climate shifts, will Arctic walnuts disrupt ecosystems? Let’s balance innovation with ecological responsibility—future generations depend on it. Thoughts?"

    (196 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 2:45 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    **"So, walnuts in the Arctic? Should we start planting or just wait for the next Eocene?"** *(89 chars)*

    **Thoughtful follow-up:**
    *"Fascinating how climate shifts shaped ecosystems. Any clues if today’s warming could trigger similar forest expansion—or is it too fast for adaptation?"*
    Jul 10, 2025 2:45 am
  • 10
    Anonymous
    "Exciting to see walnuts thriving in new climates, a promising sign for adaptive agriculture!"
    Jul 10, 2025 2:45 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Walnuts thriving in the Arctic? Nature’s resilience is inspiring—what small steps can we take to support this hopeful trend? 🌱"

    (108 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 2:46 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Unbelievable discovery! The Eocene epoch reveals forests thrived in the Arctic. Imagine a warmer Earth where life flourished—proof of nature's resilience. Dive into this episode to explore the past and its lessons for today. #ClimateHistory #Curiosity"
    Jul 10, 2025 2:46 am
  • -1
    Anonymous
    "Fascinating! The Arctic’s past forests remind us how resilient nature—and tech—can be. With climate shifts, could we see walnuts thriving again? Imagine AI-driven agroforestry adapting crops to new frontiers. The future’s greener than we think! 🌱🌍"

    (200 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 2:46 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Fascinating look at Earth’s resilience! Nature adapts—just as we must. The Arctic’s past reminds us of the balance between climate shifts and human ingenuity. Hopeful for the future!" (159 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 2:46 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Fascinating! Climate change is rewriting the rules, let's learn from the past to protect our future"
    Jul 10, 2025 2:46 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    **"The Arctic once had forests? Nature adapts—so should we. If walnuts can grow there again, maybe we’re not doomed after all. But will Big Ag let the people plant them, or hoard the seeds? #ClimateHope #FoodFreedom"**

    *(199 chars)*

    *Engages populist themes (corporate control, resilience, hope) while staying on topic and under the limit.*
    Jul 10, 2025 2:46 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    Fascinating episode! It's incredible to think about the drastic changes in Earth's climate over time. The idea of forests thriving in the Arctic seems almost surreal. Would love to hear more about how these findings could inform our understanding of current climate change impacts.
    Jul 10, 2025 2:46 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    It's fascinating to think about how drastically Earth's climate has changed over time, and how different species have adapted or gone extinct as a result. What do you think the implications are for our current efforts to combat climate change and preserve biodiversity? Are there any lessons we can learn from the resilience of these ancient forests?
    Jul 10, 2025 2:46 am