Across Indiana

Hydroponic farming was developed with space in mind, but its Earth-bound potential is almost limitless. Advancing technologies can help farmers grow leafy greens and herbs all year round - indoors! With little to no worry over seasonal changes or extreme weather, hydroponics offers Hoosiers nutritious and delicious leafy greens while saving water and limiting CO2 emissions.

The kids of today will bear the weight of our climate's future, but have we ever really stopped to get their point of view on the matter? Dreamland is a post-apocalyptic dreamscape of a play devised and performed by teenagers who are suffering from an 'Eco-Anxiety' that asks why their generation should care if adults don't seem to.

Take a hike through Wesselman Woods, an ancient forest in the heart of Evansville, IN. Some of these trees are older than our state. Being left to its own devices for that long allows a forest like this to play home to an incredible level of biodiversity among the trees, birds and other species that call it home. That diversity is Wesselman's secret weapon as it adapts to a changing climate.

The Grand Kankakee Marshland was once a vast ecosystem and home to the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi. Settlers took over most of the area and transformed the land to focus on Agriculture. Today the Potawatomi Nation and a team of scientists are bringing back the wetlands, and it's working.

For years the importance of Spay/Neutering has been stressed by Bob Barker on TV. Sterilizing cat populations is more important than ever. As bird populations drop, ornithologists, birders and cat lovers are looking for ways to reduce the staggering number of bird deaths by cat. Experts say the efforts are helping, but more needs to be done.

As spring arrives, mosquitoes find their way into every Hoosier's life. However, researchers in South Bend work year-round to mitigate their impact on communities. By modifying baking yeast, they've crafted an eco-friendly, remarkably effective mosquito control method. Join us in this episode of Across Indiana as we delve into the realm of mosquitoes and the ongoing effort to manage them.

Climate change is directly impacting Indiana farms. The growing season in Indiana is getting harder to evaluate. The data, going in some cases back to 1895, show clear trends, and there are no signs of them stopping or reversing. Indiana will continue to warm, more precipitation will fall, and extremely hot days will be common in many parts of the state.

Each September, Bristol, Indiana hosts its annual corn dog festival. The town has been called “The Corn Dog Capital of the World” and with good reason. Bristol’s Monogram Foods manufacturers 80% of the world's corn dogs, creating millions of the deep-fried treats every day. Join Across Indiana for all the dusting, dipping, and frying that leads to a beloved summertime staple.

Discover the Sculpture Trails, an outdoor museum in Solsberry, IN, featuring over 180 cast iron sculptures. Founder Gerry Masse shares his passion for the art of metal casting at the annual "Fire@Nite" event where artists showcase the process. Explore the creativity and community spirit driving this unique destination in this episode of Across Indiana.

In Indiana, climate change is making the difficult job of farming even tougher. Black farmers are especially vulnerable. Once nearly a million strong in the early 1900s, only 40,000 Black farmers remain in the U.S. today. Will climate change shrink that number further? We visited farmers in Ellettsville and Lyles Station to find out.

Bloomington High School South students are diving into the new Indiana state educational requirements that make climate change lessons a must in Indiana science classrooms. Teachers are working with Indiana University climate scientists to develop the curriculum. Students are coming up with some impressive ideas.

Cruise control was invented in Hagerstown, Indiana by a blind engineer named Ralph Teetor. He lost his sight at the age of 5 due to an injury. He came up with the idea after riding with someone who would speed up and slow down a lot. Ralph developed the Speed-o-Stat, that would later become what we call cruise control, to solve this problem.

The Central Indiana Grotto is a group of cavers who meet monthly in Indianapolis. Each year they host an event called "Cave Capers" where several grottos unite for a weekend of caving, camping, and connection. With over 40 planned trips, this is the closest thing to a caving convention there is. Join us as we venture into one of these caves, and see what lies beneath the surface!

The Indianapolis riders have been taking over the streets for nearly a decade. From professionals to families with kids, Bike Party draws large crowds of bicycle enthusiasts. Many describe this ride as a public disruption. Bike Party founders disagree "We're just a group of friends going on a bike ride." The Across Indiana team joined in on the 2024 Major Taylor Ride to the Velodrome.

We meet the man known as the Brush Master; his hand painted signs are approaching Legendary status in Indianapolis. We investigate Indiana’s state insect, the Say's firefly, in New Harmony. And finally, we hear the story of a family that escaped danger and found a safe home in Indiana.

On this episode of Across Indiana from Cataract Falls, we celebrate the work being done in Indiana in the field of conservation. Featuring the work being done in the Kankakee Wetlands by the Potowatomi Nation, Hoosier farmers in Lyles Station, and concerned Bird and Cat lovers.

In 1893, Chicago was hoping to make an attraction that would surpass the Eiffel Tower's success at the Paris World's Fair. George Ferris designed the very first Ferris Wheel, and Hoosier Luther Rice built it. Legend claims that pieces of that original Ferris Wheel were used to create a bridge in northern Indiana. We investigate this tall tale with expertise from the Chicago History Museum.