You're used to hearing my voice on the world, bringing you interviews from around the globe.

And you hear me reporting environment and climate news. I'm Carolyn Beeler.

And I'm Marco Werman. We're now with you hosting the world together. More global journalism with a fresh new sound.

Listen to the world on your local public radio station and wherever you find your podcasts.

Welcome to the Quanta Audio Edition.

In each of these bi-weekly episodes, we bring you a story direct from the Quanta website about

developments in basic science and mathematics.

I'm Susan Vallett.

For decades, ecologists have puzzled over a mystery.

Why do some natural habitats get overrun by invasive species while others seem to repel outside threats?

Now, by simulating ecological networks with microbes, researchers have revealed properties that

may make natural communities susceptible to invasion. That's next.

Check out this feed every Tuesday for the Quanta podcast.

That's where editor-in-chief Samir Patel talks to our writers and editors about more of Quanta's most popular, interesting, and thought-provoking stories.

Thank you. popular, interesting, and thought-provoking stories. In a classic 1958 book on the subject, ecologist Charles Elton argued that an ecosystem with

more species should be more resilient. He wrote that in a diverse ecosystem, so many

species are already divvying up the available resources that little remains for a potential

interloper looking to gain a foothold. Elton also posited that simpler food webs are more vulnerable,

while more complex ones often contain predators or parasites

that can control possible invaders. Since Elton's time, ecologists have scoured forests,

grasslands, lakes, and oceans to see if his predictions hold up. It's been a tough road.

Determining which of the many variables in nature

...