Mirror cells could threaten life on Earth. Why are we building them?

2026-08-10 · 14 min · 15 entities

episode page audio

Asserted relationships

→ appeared on Short Wave podcast

0.63

evidence rules-v5
Mirror cells could threaten life on Earth. Why are we building them?
→ discusses News concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: News
→ discusses Science concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Science
→ hosted by NPR company

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: NPR
→ discusses Life Sciences concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Life Sciences
→ discusses Daily News concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Daily News
→ discusses Nature concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Nature
→ discusses Astronomy concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Astronomy

Entities found in this episode

concepts 11

mentioned Science concept

0.50

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Science
mentioned Life Sciences concept

0.50

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Life Sciences
mentioned Daily News concept

0.50

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Daily News
mentioned Nature concept

0.50

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Nature
mentioned Astronomy concept

0.50

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Astronomy
discusses News concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: News
discusses Science concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Science
discusses Life Sciences concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Life Sciences
discusses Daily News concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Daily News
discusses Nature concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Nature
discusses Astronomy concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Astronomy

companys 2

mentioned NPR company

0.70

evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: NPR
hosted by NPR company

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: NPR

persons 1

mentioned Mirror cells could threaten life person

0.66

evidence rules-v5
Mirror cells could threaten life on Earth. Why are we building them?

podcasts 1

appeared on Short Wave podcast

0.63

evidence rules-v5
Mirror cells could threaten life on Earth. Why are we building them?

Episode description as stored

For people with two hands, one is usually dominant. On a molecular level, earthly life takes this to the extreme. All of the DNA in living things twists to the right, whereas the protein building blocks favor a kind of left-handed chemistry. The rules of life are based on this chemistry. In recent years, scientists have worked toward a kind of mirror version of life. Currently, the technology doesn't exist to make mirror life at the cellular level — and likely won't for at least a decade. Still, a group of scientists is concerned enough about the possibility that they've published a 299-page technical report calling for a stop to the science. In this encore episode for our Tech Camp series, host Regina Barber talks to Carl Zimmer , a science reporter at The New York Times, about his reporting on mirror cells — and why creating them could lead to devastating consequences for life on Earth. Check out Carl's full article . Curious about other controversial research? Email us at shortwave@npr.org . Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy