Roach says, she doesn’t think so. That’s because the body itself is stunningly adaptable. And because this is a Mary Roach book, her examples are appropriately bizarre. So, yes, there are scientists asking the question: Could the human butt ever be used as a lung? Could a man’s middle finger become another certain digit once lost to cancer? What about organs — could we grow them outside the human body? And just how far have we come when it comes to false teeth? Mary Roach is joining us to answer these questions and more.
GUEST –
Mary Roach | She’s the author of the books “Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void,” “Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law” and “Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex.” Her latest is 2025’s “Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy.” It was just released in paperback.
Airdate: Sept. 2, 2026