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Bringing Back The Dead

·1 hr 2 min·5 clips
The hosts reveal that emerging technology may bring back the dead, asking if we can really leverage science for resurrection.
The episode begins with hosts Matt, Noel, and Ben introducing the theme of technology blurring lines with mythology, specifically focusing on resurrection. They reference a previous episode about technology making legends real. The hosts explain the physical process of death, including brain death and decomposition, noting humanity's extensive study through places like the University of Tennessee's Body Farm. They transition to the mystery of consciousness and the afterlife, acknowledging diverse beliefs but no scientific proof. Near-death experiences are discussed, citing expert Sam Parnia and theories about hallucinations from dying brains. The record for clinical death and revival is mentioned: Velma Thomas, dead for 17 hours. The first technological path, 'replacement', is explored through the startup R3 Bio, which aims to create brainless human clones for organ harvesting or body transplants, though technical hurdles like artificial wombs and spinal cord reattachment remain. The second path, 'recreation', involves mapping brain activity to create digital copies or using AI to simulate deceased individuals from online data, termed 'death bots'. Examples include the Synthetic Past project and a Black Mirror episode. Ethical issues are emphasized, such as consent, grieving, and legal personhood. The hosts conclude that this technology is advancing despite unresolved questions, and no deceased spirits have commented. The episode ends with listener engagement prompts and credits.

As heard by us

A measured, skeptical look at near-death experiences and what dying brains may still be doing.

Near-death experiences occupy a strange borderland between the body and whatever people hope may lie beyond it. The hosts trace familiar accounts of tunnels, welcoming light, relatives, and panoramic life reviews back to the harder question underneath: what might be happening as…

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Why you'd press play

You get a strange tour of near-death experiences, where welcoming tunnels meet a dying brain's electrical surge.

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