The Age of Aquaticus
25 April 2025 - 43 minsFor years, scientists thought nothing could live above 73℃/163℉. At that temperature, everything boiled to death. But scientists Tom Brock and Hudson Freeze weren’t convinced. What began as their simple quest to trawl for life in some of the hottest natural springs on Earth would, decades later, change the trajectory of biological science forever, saving millions of lives—possibly even yours.
This seismic, totally unpredictable discovery, was funded by the U.S. government. This week, as the Trump administration slashes scientific research budgets en masse, we tell one story, a parable about the unforeseeable miracles that basic research can yield. After that, a familiar voice raises some e...
Series Episodes
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A neurologist issues a dare to a ragtime piano player and a famous conductor, then the impossible happens.
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23 Weeks 6 Days
A tiny baby, born at 23 Weeks and 6 days—roughly halfway to full term. And a whole universe of medical and moral questions.
1 hour 3 mins
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60 Words
It’s been 25 years since 9/11. Today we talk about the 60 words that ushered in everything that came after.
58 mins
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