About this episode

The episode discusses the possibility and ethical implications of resurrecting extinct species like the moa and woolly mammoth.

Episode 371 The moa was a giant flightless bird from New Zealand that died out around 500 years ago. Are we about to see it brought back from extinction? Colossal Biosciences say they have made an artificial egg shell that is a step towards recreating the massive eggs of moas (and dodos). This is huge news… if it works. Is this really enough to bring them back to life - and should we even be trying? We discuss the news and wider ethical implications of de-extinction - including Colossal’s headline goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth to assist in the climate crisis. Rowan Hooper is joined by New Scientist’s Michael Le Page and palaeontologist Victoria Herridge. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Rowan Hooper

Guests: Michael Le Page, Victoria Herridge

Topics covered

• de-extinction
• ethics
• palaeontology
• climate crisis
• scientific advancements

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Colossal Biosciences

Products: artificial egg shell, woolly mammoth

Places: New Zealand

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