Forever Chemicals in Tap Water, Dinosaur Fossils Smuggling, Moon Age Update, and Longevity Insights | Inside Science

Summary

In this episode of BBC Inside Science, Victoria Gill investigates forever chemicals in tap water, including how PFAS persist in the environment, how they may affect health, and what regulators consider when setting safe limits. The segment also covers a high-profile dinosaur bones smuggling case in Utah, discussing why such fossils matter for science and public display. A new dating study suggests the Moon is about 40 million years older than previously thought, based on zircon crystals analyzed with atom probe tomography. The show then delves into longevity in the animal kingdom, highlighting non-aging lobster growth patterns, jellyfish that can reverse their life cycle, and other long-lived species, with insights into how these findings could inform human aging. The mystery creature revealed is the lobster.

Introduction and Forever Chemicals in Water

The program opens by highlighting a large class of substances known as forever chemicals or PFAS that appear in food packaging, furniture, cookware, and clothing. The host explains their persistence in the environment and potential health risks, including liver and thyroid effects, immune system impacts, and some cancers. The segment describes how these chemicals contaminate tap water and why tighter regulatory limits are being proposed.

"The current sort of acceptable concentration of these chemicals in water is set at about 100 nanograms per liter." - Professor Crispin Halsall

The scientist, Crispin Halsall of Lancaster University, details the chemistry: long carbon chains with fluorinated backbones and functional heads that make PFAS both water-repellent and grease-resistant, explaining why they resist degradation and bioaccumulate through food webs. Removal technologies such as granulated activated carbon and membranes are discussed, along with the regulatory gap between the UK and other European nations. The onus for reducing exposure is placed on water suppliers and, in the longer term, on consumer choices and policy shifts toward alternatives to fluoro-polymers in everyday products.

Dinosaur Fossils Smuggling and Its Impact on Science

The programme then covers a high-profile case from Utah in which four people face charges over a million-dollar fossil-smuggling operation. Paleontologist Steve Brusatte explains that the case involves thousands of bones from public land and a global market for both pristine skeletons and smaller specimens carved into jewelry. The discussion centers on how legal collection rules vary by country and land ownership, and why fossils seized from or bought by private collectors can be lost to science when access is restricted to researchers and museums. Brusatte argues that irreplaceable fossils deserve to be conserved and displayed for public education, and he warns about the broader implications of fossils leaving public institutions for private vaults.

Moon Age Update and Lunar Geology

Next, Sarah Russell discusses a study pushing back the Moon’s minimum formation age by about 40 million years, based on zircon crystals from Apollo 17 samples. Zircon’s durability and uranium-lead dating make it a reliable timekeeper, and the research uses atom probe tomography to map lead distribution in zircon, supporting more accurate dating. The revised age suggests a more prolonged geological history for the Moon with volcanic activity and impacts shaping its early surface. The discussion also touches on Artemis missions and the Moon as a platform for human spaceflight and astronomy, underscoring its continued scientific value and the potential to learn about space environments and human health in lunar settings.

Longevity and Aging Across the Animal Kingdom

The final segment explores extraordinary aging patterns, starting with lobsters, which continue to grow larger and more fertile as they age, challenging the idea that age inevitably brings decline. The conversation then turns to jellyfish that can reverse their life cycle from adult to polyp, offering a potential model for longevity studies. The Greenland shark is highlighted for its remarkable lifespan estimates, possibly several centuries. The host and guests discuss hormesis, the idea that short bursts of stress can trigger beneficial aging responses, and how practices like exercise, sauna use, and even blood donation may contribute to healthspan. The segment concludes with practical tips such as the health relevance of dental flossing in reducing chronic inflammation, tying together curiosity about longevity with everyday actions.

Mystery Creature Reveal and Closing

As a capstone, the program reveals that the mystery creature discussed earlier is the lobster, a species that defies human aging expectations. The episode closes with reflections on the implications of these biological insights for science and society, and a tease of upcoming topics in future episodes.