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.
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.
The Red Dye 3 Ban and its Implications
The recent FDA ban on Red Dye 3, a common food coloring linked to cancer in animal studies, has sparked discussions on food safety regulations. Although the dye is already banned in many countries, including those in Europe, its usage in the U.S. will continue until the law takes effect in 2027 for food products. This ban is largely influenced by the Delaney Clause, which prohibits any food additive associated with cancer risk in animal studies, regardless of the evidence's relevance to human health. Contrastingly, Canada allows its use due to different regulatory interpretations, highlighting the global variances in food safety policies.
Extremophiles and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Astrobiologist Dr. Lynn Rothschild focuses on extremophiles, organisms that thrive in extreme environments, to inform the search for life beyond Earth. She emphasizes that the adaptability of these organisms can provide insights into potential life forms existing on other planets, as they highlight life's resilience in harsh conditions. Research into synthetic biology aims to create new organisms that could survive on celestial bodies like Mars by engineering them to withstand radiation and other extreme factors. This research is essential for future human space exploration, as it may facilitate the development of biological infrastructure needed for long-term habitation.
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, today our host Dr. Samantha Yammine digs into the science behind what really causes butterflies in your stomach when you’re experiencing infatuation. Then, astrobiologist Dr. Lynn Rothschild joins us to discuss extremophiles and what they can tell us about potential life on other planets. And finally, we discuss the ins and outs of the FDA’s recent ban of Red Dye 3.
Red Dye 3
“FDA bans red dye No. 3 from foods, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.” by JoNel Aleccia. 2025