The Accidental Discovery That Gave Us ‘Forever Chemicals’ | A Pregnancy Play Inspired By Mushroom Research

Science Friday

Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Life Sciences, Wnyc, Science, Earth Sciences, Natural Sciences, Friday

4.5 • 5.5K Ratings

🗓️ 17 December 2024

⏱️ 20 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The host of the “Hazard NJ” podcast talks about the origins of PFAS “forever chemicals” and their impact on New Jersey residents. Plus, playwrights and scientists teamed up to create plays based on scientific research. One of them explores pregnancy through fungal computing.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Listener supported, WNYC Studios.
0:11.2	You've heard about PFS chemicals, the so-called forever chemicals.
0:16.2	But just how did they come to be, well, everywhere?
0:19.4	We're finding PFAS in every blood sample in every blood bank.
0:22.9	In fact, you have to go back to the Korean War to find blood that didn't have it.
0:25.8	It's Tuesday, December 17th, and you're listening to Science Friday.
0:33.3	I'm SciFri producer Charles Berkwrest.
0:35.3	A bit later this episode, we'll hear about connections between computers, pregnancy, and mushrooms.
0:42.0	But first, a dive into the history of PFAS chemicals in New Jersey.
0:46.4	It all starts with Teflon, the stuff on the original nonstick pan.
0:51.3	Here's SciFri's Kathleen Davis.
0:53.6	And now it's time to check in on the state of science.
0:57.7	This is KER News, St. Louis Public Radio, KQMD News. Local science stories of national significance.
1:06.0	We've talked a lot on this program about the problem of PFS chemicals, the so-called forever chemicals that
1:12.5	are just about in everything in our environment. And we often say something like used in non-stick
1:19.3	coatings, flame retardants, and stain repellents. But all that traces its history back to the
1:25.6	accidental invention of one substance, Teflon.
1:29.8	Joining me now is Jordan Goss Perre, creator and host of the Hazard NJ podcast.
1:35.8	The new season looks at the history of PFS and their role in New Jersey.
1:40.7	Jordan, welcome back to Science Friday.
1:42.7	Thank you for having me, Kathleen, and I appreciate it.
1:44.9	So remind us again of what PFAS chemicals actually are. Yeah, and it's interesting that you say PFAS
	...

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