Sailing on an Alien Sea - Ellen Stofan

“I've got three children, and this mission became my fourth child.”

Photo by Jason Falchook

Sailing on an Alien Sea

--- This episode is available on your local radio station, on PRX and below via The Moth Player. It will be published on iTunes | Spotify | RadioPublic | RSS on 5/17/2022

In this hour we explore stories relating to STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering and MATH): we travel from the laboratories of the Antarctic to the icy seas of Saturn’s moon Titan - we learn that predisposition does not mean predestined and sometimes A is larger than C. This episode is hosted by Jay Allison. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.

James McClintock a scientist researching at McMurdo Station, Antartica makes an interesting discovery. 

Lone Frank deep dives into personal genomics.

Dhaya Lakshminarayanan gets entangled in the language of math.

Ellen Stofan sets her sights on exploring an alien sea.

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Stories in this Episode

09:30
Butterflies Beneath the Ice

by James McClintock

James McClintock, a scientist researching at McMurdo Station, Antartica makes an interesting discovery. 

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13:30
My Genes, My Selves

by Lone Frank

Lone Frank deep dives into personal genomics.

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12:41
To Sail on an Alien Sea

by Ellen Stofan

Ellen Stofan sets her sights on exploring an alien sea.

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06:39
Mother of Nerds

by Dhaya Lakshminarayanan

Dhaya Lakshminarayanan gets entangled in the language of math.

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Extras From This Episode

Sailing on an Alien Sea

Jim McClintock

Jim McClintock MRH 1806 Extra 1

Dr. James McClintock (circa 1986) wearing a dry suit prepares to dive below the sea ice in to a -1.8 degree C sea near McMurdo Station, Ross Sea, Antarctica. Visibility under water has been measured up to 500 feet.

Jim McClintock MRH 1806 Extra 2

Adelie Penguin rookery near Palmer Station, Antarctica.

Jim McClintock MRH 1806 Extra 3

Leopard seal. Photo by Christopher Srigley.

Jim McClintock MRH 1806 Extra 4

Sunset in the Lemaire Channel south of U.S. Lemaire Channel. Sometimes called Kodak Alley - one of the most scenic regions of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Jim McClintock MRH 1806 Extra 5

Two nesting chinstrap penguins on the South Shetland Islands off the northwest coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Jim McClintock MRH 1806 Extra 6

Dr. James McClintock standing in front of 'ghost rookery' (former Adelie colony site near Palmer Station essentially wiped out by rapid climate change).

Jim McClintock MRH 1806 Extra 7

Gentoo penguin rookery on the western Antarctic Peninsula.

Jim McClintock MRH 1806 Extra 8

One of the many islands that make up the south Shetland islands along the northwest coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Jim McClintock MRH 1806 Extra 9

Dr. James McClintock on one of the many South Shetland Islands off the northwest coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Lone Frank

Lone Frank Mrh 1806 Extra 2

Lone Frank.

The trailer to Genetic Me


Visit Lone's website.

Lone Frank's new Book, The Pleasure Shock, is available now.

Ellen Stofan

Ellen Stofan Mrh 1806 Extra 1

Ellen Stofan.

Ellen Stofan Mrh 1806 Extra 2

Saturn's largest moon, Titan.

Dhaya Lakshminarayanan

Dhaya Lakshminarayan MRH 1806 Extra 3

1-year-old Dhaya and her mother. Dhaya's mother writes: “This is the proudest day of my life. My baby's very first birthday!! “

Dhaya Lakshminarayan MRH 1806 Extra 2

Dhaya and her mother enjoying a swing ride in the Fall. Dhaya's mother writes: “Wherever Dhaya sees a swing set, we have to stop immediately. So this is one of the parks that she decided to use the swing set.”

Dhaya Lakshminarayanan MRH 1806 Extra 1

Dhaya and her Mom attending a cousin's wedding.

The music in this story

  • Ludovico Einaudi - Elegy for the Arctic
    Find it on: Spotify
  • Bill Frisell - Lift Off
    Find it on: Spotify
  • Duke Levine - Soft Lick