
About this episode
Misha Glenny and guests discuss the discovery and significance of the Mariana Trench.
Misha Glenny and guests discuss one of the wonders of the natural world. In 1875 in the western Pacific, the crew of HMS Challenger discovered the Mariana Trench which turned out to be deeper than Everest is high, by two kilometres. Trenches like Mariana form when one tectonic plate slips under another and heads down and there are around fifty of them globally. While at one time some thought it was too dark and deep for life there and others wildly imagined monsters, the truth has turned out to be much more surprising.
People in this episode
Host: Misha Glenny
Topics covered
- Mariana Trench
- oceanography
- tectonic plates
- natural wonders
- marine life
Keywords
- Mariana Trench
- HMS Challenger
- ocean depth
- tectonic plates
- marine life
- natural wonders
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: HMS Challenger
Places: Mariana Trench, western Pacific, Everest
More episodes of Documentaries
- Trine Hahnemann: mixing cookery and hygge · June 8, 2026 · 31 min
- Introducing: The Food Chain - Rethinking the potato · June 7, 2026 · 31 min
- Finding soldier Tom · June 6, 2026 · 30 min
- Injured during childbirth · June 6, 2026 · 28 min
- The Missionary Soldier · June 5, 2026 · 30 min
- The Black Power Station: I rap what I like · June 4, 2026 · 33 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Documentaries podcast page.