FT Edit presents: Global sperm counts are falling. This scientist believes she knows why

Life and Art from FT Weekend

Forhecz Topher

Tv & Film, Arts, Society & Culture

4.6 • 601 Ratings

🗓️ 9 August 2023

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Shanna Swan is a scientist who has spent decades chasing a mystery: why global sperm counts have seemingly dropped significantly since the 1930s. At its heart, this story is simply a brilliant yarn. It has got all the elements of a Hollywood movie: this heroic dog-with-a-bone scientist, recalcitrant big business in the role of the baddie, and the looming threat of a global fertility crisis caused by harmful chemicals in everyday plastics such as baby bottles, garden hoses, and

that Tupperware you use to heat up your lunch.

You can also find this story in FT Edit, an iPhone app that gives you a taste of the very best of FT journalism. After a month’s free trial, it is 99p or 99 cents a month for the next six months. Try it out if you want the best global politics, analysis and opinion pieces.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm Hannah Rock, Deputy Editor of FT Edit.
0:05.2	This is a special episode, bringing you one of the most popular articles from the FT Edit app.
0:11.1	At its heart, this story is simply a brilliant yarn.
0:14.1	It's got all the elements of a Hollywood movie, this heroic dog-with-a-bone scientist,
0:19.2	recalcitrant big business in the role of the baddy,
0:21.8	and the looming threat of a global fertility crisis
0:24.4	caused by harmful chemicals in everyday plastics,
0:27.3	like baby bottles, garden hoses,
0:30.0	that Tupperware you heat your lunch up in.
0:32.3	If that sounds terrifying, well, that's because it is.
0:35.7	But like all the stories you'll find on FTE Edit, it's also
0:38.5	illuminating, thought-provoking, and shines a light on a subject that you probably haven't
0:43.6	seen covered elsewhere. We designed FT Edit to help you get beyond doom scrolling and to read more
0:49.1	deeply. There are no ads, no distractions, just a perfect mix of the very best of FG journalism,
0:56.3	from business and global news to opinion from our top columnists
0:59.7	and features by award-winning writers delivered straight to your iPhone or iPad throughout the week.
1:05.8	Download it now from the App Store and get a month's free trial,
1:09.1	then it's just 99P or 99 cents for the next six months.
1:13.3	Now, enjoy the story.
1:18.2	Global sperm counts are falling.
1:20.6	Shauna Swan wanted to find out why.
1:23.0	Written by Sarah Neville and narrated by NOAA.
	...

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