The fascinating world of protists – Professor Anna Karnkowska on Radio Naukowe

11 08 2026

What exactly are protists, and why are they so important for life on Earth? In the popular science podcast Radio Naukowe, Professor Anna Karnkowska from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, guides listeners through the extraordinary world of these organisms.

The episode explores, among other topics, what protists have to do with sushi, why the familiar paramecium deserves greater appreciation, and whether Toxoplasma gondii can influence human behaviour. Professor Karnkowska also discusses the remarkable abilities of the slime mould Physarum polycephalum, the cellular “origami” of the ciliate Lacrymaria olor, and the history of endosymbiosis, which played a crucial role in the evolution of life.

Listen to the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNvMdYnTBRA