What If We Could Shrink Humans?

from Flash Forward · host Rose Eveleth

Today’s episode is about a future where humans learn how to shrink ourselves. What are the ethics of making someone smaller against their will? Would we keep all our fingers and toes? Would we even be considered humans anymore?Guests: Dr. Fei Chen, an assistant professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard. Dr. Jonathan Payne, a professor of geological sciences at Stanford. Dr. Sebastian Alvarado, an assistant professor of biology at Queens College, CUNY. Dr. Joyce Lee, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Michigan. Silvia Yee, a senior staff attorney at the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. Micah Perks, an author and director of creative writing at UC Santa Cruz. Voice Actors: Parvus Employee #1: Henry Alexander Kelly Parvus Employee #2: Ashley Kellem Harry Purvis — Brett Tubbs Parvis Tour Guide — Chelsey B. Coombs → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Mattie Lubchansky.Get in touch: Twitter // Facebook // Reddit // [email protected] the show: Patreon // DonorboxSubscribe: iTunes // Soundcloud // Spotify Episode Sponsors: BetterHelp: Affordable, private online counseling. Anytime, anywhere. Flash Forward listeners: get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/flashforward BirdNote Daily: BirdNote Daily is a short, two-minute podcast that answers all of your burning bird-related questions — like, how do birds stay perched in a tree when they’re asleep? What’s the difference between a raven and crow? What’s the biggest bird that’s ever lived? Find our on Bird Note Daily, wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What this episode covers

Today’s episode is about a future where humans learn how to shrink ourselves. What are the ethics of making someone smaller against their will? Would we keep all our fingers and toes? Would we even be considered humans anymore? Guests: Dr. Fei Chen, an assistant professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard. Dr. Jonathan Payne, a professor of geological sciences at Stanford. Dr. Sebastian Alvarado, an assistant professor of biology at Queens College, CUNY. Dr. Joyce Lee, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Michigan. Silvia Yee, a senior staff attorney at the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. Micah Perks, an author and director of creative writing at UC Santa Cruz. Voice Actors: Parvus Employee #1: Henry Alexander Kelly Parvus Employee #2: Ashley Kellem Harry Purvis — Brett Tubbs Parvis Tour Guide — Chelsey B. Coombs → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Mattie Lubchansky. Get in touch: Twitter // Facebook // Reddit // [email protected] Support the show: Patreon // Donorbox Subscribe: iTunes // Soundcloud // Spotify Episode Sponsors: BetterHelp: Affordable, private online counseling. Anytime, anywhere. Flash Forward listeners: get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/flashforward BirdNote Daily: BirdNote Daily is a short, two-minute podcast that answers all of your burning bird-related questions — like, how do birds stay perched in a tree when they’re asleep? What’s the difference between a raven and crow? What’s the biggest bird that’s ever lived? Find our on Bird Note Daily, wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices