It's All Elementary: Part 1 – Nitrogen

It's All Elementary: Part 1 – Nitrogen

From Sea Change by WWNO & WRKF

June 5, 2026 · 26 min

About this episode

The episode explores the dual nature of nitrogen and its impact on the environment.

In this three-part series, we’re giving some of the most misunderstood characters on the periodic table a fuller story. We dive into the fascinating double lives of these elements that are both the makers and unmakers of our world. In part one, reporter Olga Loginova travels to Cape Cod to meet nitrogen. In this episode: we trudge through the marsh, avoid great white sharks, and find out how we harnessed the power of nitrogen, why that power turned against us, and what we can do about it. CREDITS This episode was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun and Olga Loginova. Olga also reported the story. This story was edited by Jack Rodolico. Editing help from me, Eve Abrams, and Michael McEwan. The episode was fact-checked by Philip Kiefer. Sound design by Dennis Funk, and our theme music is by John Batiste. I'm the executive producer. Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We're a part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX. And to help others find our podcast, hit subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. WWNO's Coastal Desk is supported by…

People in this episode

Hosts: Carlyle Calhoun, Olga Loginova

Topics covered

  • nitrogen
  • elements
  • environment
  • science
  • Cape Cod
  • marshes

Keywords

  • nitrogen
  • periodic table
  • Cape Cod
  • environmental impact
  • marsh
  • great white sharks

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sea Change, WWNO, WRKF, NPR Podcast Network, PRX, Walton Family Foundation, Meraux Foundation, Greater New Orleans Foundation

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