Derek is joined in studio by Eanna, Niall and Richard, who start the show with a fascinating discussion about how plants and other organisms influence evolution and the very course of life on our planet, including whether trees are responsible for the fingerprints of humans, chimps and koalas!

Derek Mooney and guests explore the natural world in all its forms. Listen live every Monday at 10pm on RTÉ Radio 1.

Mooney Goes Wild

Are trees responsible for humans having fingerprints?

Dr. Megan Power from UCD joins us to tell us about her research on Greater Horseshoe Bats, and whether it's better for bats to breed earlier or later in life...

When Is The Right Time To Have A Baby Bat?

On Jan. 2nd, we broadcast a special edition of Mooney Goes Wild from Harper's Island Wetlands Nature Reserve in County Cork, where Derek, Jim Wilson, Niall Hatch and Decland Murphy took a close-up look at the remarkable world of wintering wetland birds. The programme was filmed by Donal Glackin, and you can listen to and watch the full show here: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/mooney/2026/0102/1551149-mooney-goes-wild-wetland-birds-02-01-26/

On Jan. 2nd, we broadcast a special edition of Mooney Goes Wild from Harper's Island Wetlands Nature Reserve in County Cork, where Derek, Jim Wilson, Niall Hatch and Decland Murphy took a close-up look at the remarkable world of wintering wetland birds. It was filmed by Donal Glackin, and you can watch it here https://tinyurl.com/4uza4h65.

Wetland Birds

The Natural History Museum in Dublin, known fondly as the 'Dead Zoo', is currently closed for refurbishment works.  So where have the animals and exhibits gone?  Reporter Terry Flanagan met with curator Emma Murphy to find out...

Are trees responsible for humans having fingerprints?

In 1 playlist(s)

Mooney Goes Wild

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips