Stranger Genes

Did you know some people are literally born without the ability to feel pain, and it's actually terrifying? ...We looked into it.Welcome to Valid Source? the podcast where we investigate the internet myths, viral claims, and trending gossip you've been thinking about but haven't had time to research. We're not experts. We're just two friends willing to do the extra digging.This episode: Ashley comes back from a conference with a lot of new information and a lot of feelings about public speaking, Harley has been keeping a low profile because half her friend group decided to get married or have babies at the same time, and then we go full science class in the best way. Ashley breaks down real human genetic mutations that give people honest-to-goodness superpowers: Sherpas who evolved to use oxygen more efficiently at altitude, the Bajau sea nomads who can free dive for four minutes on one breath, a muscle-growth gene that some people are just born without, bones so dense X-rays can barely read them, and a color vision mutation that lets certain women see 100 million colors, which Ashley may or may not personally have, based on knowing what kelly green is. Then we get into the stuff people claim is a superpower: fake magnetism, breatharianism (which became a cult faster than either of us expected), and the scientific consensus that adult photographic memory basically doesn't exist. Ashley covers the world record breath hold and explains why the urge to breathe has nothing to do with oxygen. And then we close out with the ones that are genuinely hard to explain: past life memories studied by the University of Virginia across 2,500 cases, Project Stargate, and children with birthmarks that correspond exactly to wounds of the person they claim to have been. Because of course we did.Valid Source? verdict on human superpowers: the genetic ones are real and deeply unfair, the fake ones are mostly dry skin and vibes, and the paranormal ones are either the scariest thing we've ever researched or the most comforting, depending on your afternoon.linktr.ee/validsourcepod | [email protected] | (720) 593-1668Opinions expressed are solely those of the hosts and do not reflect any affiliated companies, employers, or sponsors. Valid Source? is for entertainment purposes only, nothing here constitutes professional legal, medical, or financial advice, and should not be acted on as such. We actively welcome listener feedback, corrections, and differing perspectives. We reserve the right to change our minds, that's kind of the whole point.