Episodes
-
Those Lion Eyes
Scientists in Botswana are painting intimidating eyes onto the rumps of cattle that graze near wildlife areas to prevent them from being preyed upon by lions. The idea is that the eyes will trick the lions into thinking they’ve been …
[more] -
A Growing Smile
A team of scientists from the University of Nottingham and Harvard University have developed a method of regrowing damaged teeth using a filling-like material seeded from stem cells. The new approach would greatly reduce the need for uncomfortable dental drilling. …
[more] -
Skin Vogue
Tina Gorjanc has sourced the late designer Alexander McQueen’s DNA to harvest into skin tissue, which she’ll then tan and turn into human leather. In turn, she’ll fashion this leather into an already-designed collection – dubbed “The Pure Human” – …
[more] -
Plate and Switch
A new book called Real Food Fake Food: Why You Don’t Know What You’re Eating and What You Can Do About It, by Larry Olmsted, has caught Anthony’s eye. When we buy fish and beef and olive oil, are we …
[more] -
Me Grow Horny
With Rhinos on the brink of extinction, some bioengineers are 3D printing horns to flood the market with fakes, in an attempt to stop the decline. Jeff and Anthony debate the merits of this plan, and what it might lead …
[more] -
Animal Magnetism
A researcher in US thinks he might have finally found evidence of humanity’s sixth sense – the ability to detect, in some subconscious way, Earth’s magnetic field. Jeff and Anthony consider whether this might in fact be a thing. Can …
[more] -
Manifestingray
Scientists have built a robotic stingray made of heart muscle cells from a rat, a skeleton of gold, plastic fins, and light-activated algae proteins. The tiny, 16-millimeter-long robots take about a week to make and can be controlled with light. …
[more] -
Fire Walk With Me
More than 30 people were treated for burns in Dallas after walking on hot coals at an event hosted by self-help guru Tony Robbins. Jeff and Anthony talk about whether they buy into the self-help subculture. Does mind over matter …
[more] -
Drain Dead
A Canadian funeral business is offering “green” funerals by dissolving the dead and pouring them into town sewers. Anthony and Jeff consider if this practice should cause alarm, or if they might one day prefer it to cremation or burial …
[more]
Do NOT join our secret society. You’ll just wind up with a bunch of cool stuff. It’s gross.