Life Is Way Harder to Kill Than We Thought episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 17, 2026 · 59 MIN

Life Is Way Harder to Kill Than We Thought

from Curiosity Theory · host Dr. Dakotah Tyler & Justin Shaifer

This week on Questionable Content, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer explore new findings from NASA clean rooms that reveal microbes capable of surviving extreme sterilization, raising important questions about planetary protection and the resilience of life.The conversation expands into food preservation, gut health, and why people often report feeling healthier in Europe compared to the U.S. They examine how capitalism and regulation shape food systems, health outcomes, and everyday choices without relying on conspiracy thinking.Later, they critically assess recent microplastics research, discussing whether current detection methods justify the alarming claims being made. The episode wraps with a discussion of Apple, Google, Gemini, OpenAI, and how big tech navigates innovation, risk, and AI competition.It’s an honest, wide-ranging conversation about science, health, systems, and curiosity.Visit our Merch Store https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merchJoin our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/CuriosityTheoryFollow the show @curiositytheorypodHosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin ShaiferStay curious.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 17, 2026

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This week on Questionable Content, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer explore new findings from NASA clean rooms that reveal microbes capable of surviving extreme sterilization, raising important questions about planetary protection and the resilience of life. The conversation expands into food preservation, gut health, and why people often report feeling healthier in Europe compared to the U.S. They examine how capitalism and regulation shape food systems, health outcomes, and everyday cho...

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Life Is Way Harder to Kill Than We Thought

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