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Curiosity Weekly

Red Dye 3, Extremophiles, Butterflies

Feb 12, 2025
Dr. Lynn Rothschild is an astrobiologist who specializes in extremophiles—organisms thriving in extreme environments. She shares fascinating insights into how these resilient life forms can inform our search for extraterrestrial life. The discussion also includes the FDA's recent ban on Red Dye 3 due to cancer risks and the contrasting regulatory standards in the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, the episode explores the science behind feeling 'butterflies in your stomach' during moments of infatuation, connecting it to our body's stress response.
29:49

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The physiological feeling of butterflies in the stomach during attraction is linked to adrenaline's influence on gut movement and blood flow.
  • Research on extremophiles reveals their adaptability could provide insights into potential extraterrestrial life and inform synthetic biology for space exploration.

Deep dives

The Science of Attraction and Butterflies

The feeling of butterflies in the stomach during moments of attraction is a physiological response linked to stress and anxiety. When anticipating a romantic encounter, the body activates a fight or flight response, releasing adrenaline and diverting blood flow from the gut. This change reduces gut movement, leading to the fluttery sensations often associated with infatuation. Over time, if a relationship develops, hormones like oxytocin replace the initial adrenaline-driven reactions, stabilizing the feelings of attachment.

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