The Spark of Life
19 September 2025 - 36 minsIn the 1920s, a Russian biologist studying onion roots made a surprising discovery: underground, down in the darkness, it seemed like the cells inside the onion roots were making their own … light.
The “onion root experiment” went on to become something of a cult classic in science, and eventually the biologically-made light was dubbed “biophotons.” In the ensuing century, biophoton discoveries moved from onion roots to bacteria, frog embryos, and humans. Today, scientist Nirosha Murugan is on a career-defining journey to learn more about the light. As she and her colleagues study this mysterious phenomenon, they find themselves racing from question to question, wondering what gives off li...
Series Episodes
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A tiny baby, born at 23 Weeks and 6 days—roughly halfway to full term. And a whole universe of medical and moral questions.
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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.
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Dolly Parton's America: Sad Ass Songs
We will always love you, Dolly.
1 hour 4 mins
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