Pollen comes up in 4 chapters across 4 episodes of The Higherside Chats Free Show, from May 2014 to June 2022.
Tennessee Allergies and the Local Honey Cure
Tony Merkel discusses his struggle with severe allergies since moving to East Tennessee, which he attributes to disturbing pollen while weed-whacking his property. Greg Carlwood compares this to "Cedar Fever" in the Texas Hill Country. They discuss the folk remedy of consuming local honey to build immunity to regional allergens.
Savannah Ecosystems, Grassland Maintenance and Soil Health
Savannahs are distinct ecosystems characterized by a continuous cover of perennial grasses with scattered trees, preventing the shade-out that occurs in closed-canopy forests. Grass roots are essential for holding soil in place and preventing erosion during heavy rainfall. The appearance of oak and grass pollen in the geological record 8,000 years ago indicates that humans were actively preventing forest succession to maintain these productive landscapes.
Arctic Anomalies, Warming Trends and Freshwater Ice Mystery
Historical reports from 19th-century Arctic explorers like Fridtjof Nansen describe anomalous warming near the North Pole, where temperatures reportedly rose enough for explorers to remove outer coats. Observations include the presence of mammals, clouds of pollen, and the discovery of drinkable freshwater pools in the middle of the salt-water Arctic Ocean.
Satellite Imagery and Arctic Environmental Anomalies
Satellite clips from agencies like AMSA show a persistent circular white disk above Greenland, which researchers interpret as fog formed by warm air escaping the inner earth. This area is also associated with anomalies such as northward-migrating animals, warm winter winds, and mysterious clouds of orange pollen.
