logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
49m 30s

The Blurred Line Between Life and Death

NPR
About this episode
We think of life and death as clear cut — you're alive or you're not; your heart's beating or it isn't; your brain functions or it doesn't. But when you look a bit deeper, both on a biological level, and in terms of people's experiences, the border where life ends and death begins starts to look less firm, leading to questions about what comes next.

On this episode, we explore the blurred line between life and death. We hear about near-death experiences, and what researchers say about the difference between our brains and our consciousness; we discuss a pioneering approach to collecting organs that is raising questions about the definition of death; and we'll explore why some people experience sudden bursts of lucidity before death. Also, a story about a controversial contest to prove the existence of life after death.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Yesterday
Finding Focus in the Age of Distraction
We often think of digital distractions, from TikTok to newsfeeds, as a way of giving our brains a break. But in reality, they could be doing the opposite. We talk with psychologist Marc Berman about a better way of restoring our focus — spending time in nature. We also try a dopa ... Show More
49m 34s
Oct 1
The Search for the Golden Toad and Other Adventures in the Wild
Many adventurers and researchers feel the call of the wild — a force tugging them to explore, climb distant mountains, venture into faraway forests, and discover or rediscover something: a creature, a place, some new clue. On this episode: Adventures in the Wild, featuring the my ... Show More
49m 34s
Sep 24
Lessons on Weight Loss from ‘The Biggest Loser’
In its heyday, “The Biggest Loser” was one of the biggest shows on TV. But now, nine years after it went off the air, a Netflix docuseries and new book by leading obesity researcher Kevin Hall, are prompting a re-examination of the show’s tactics, and some of the surprising disco ... Show More
49m 30s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2023
Death
Written by the world-renowned spiritual guru Sadhguru, Death explains the concept of death from a spiritual standpoint, questioning the negative connotations that often surround mortality. Just like life, death is made up of three important components: biological, physical, and m ... Show More
19m 10s
Mar 2021
Life Through Death
Finding life in death is not a normal practice. The thought of death holds a negative space in our minds. Changing our perspective of death can lead us to a new journey and appreciation of life that we would not experience without the context of death.   Want more Andy? Try Heads ... Show More
5m 13s
Jun 2023
death
Thinking about death can be uncomfortable and weird. But what if we think about death from a different standpoint? Death isn't just about us, it includes the people around us, especially those whom we value most. It is when we understand the concept of death that we begin to real ... Show More
27m 50s
Dec 2021
CLASSIC: What happens when we die?
Death - the most mysterious, unknowable, and terrifying event in human experience. Some philosophers believe society is shaped, ultimately, by the fear of death. So what actually happens when you die? Is there anything after? Learn more in this classic episode. Learn more about y ... Show More
1h 11m
Jan 2021
Near-Death Experiences Pt. 2
Today, most scientists agree that, prior to dying, something likely happens inside the brain — it’s just unclear what. Perhaps souls really can glimpse into the afterlife… or maybe brains are simply processing chemical reactions to physical trauma. Learn more about your ad choice ... Show More
37m 36s
Mar 2022
Que se passe-t-il dans le cerveau au moment de la mort ?
Il est des questions qui taraudent l'esprit humain depuis le début des temps. Ainsi, l'homme s'est-il toujours demandé ce qui se passait dans son cerveau au moment de sa mort. Les chercheurs sont en mesure, aujourd'hui, d'apporter une première réponse. Un décès inopiné Le but de ... Show More
1m 53s
Jan 2021
Near-Death Experiences Pt. 1
Thanks to the marvels of modern medicine, thousands of people have returned from the brink of death. But some report having out-of-body experiences, meeting deceased loved ones, even seeing a light at the end of a tunnel. Are Near-Death Experiences the hallucinations of a dying b ... Show More
37 m
Feb 2017
20 - Buried Alive
The nineteenth century was struck by a collective panic about being buried alive, leading to a bevy of new laws, regulations, and inventions like the safety coffin.  In this episode, we explore how medical science created and fueled this fear by blurring the line between life and ... Show More
24m 10s
Apr 2022
Spiritual Death of the Heart: What Happens in Between Our Death and the Hereafter
Death isn’t the greatest loss in life, it’s the spiritual death of our hearts while we are still living.I once heard that we treat death like a mystery, when in fact, it’s the one experience all of us are guaranteed to share.As human beings living in this dunya, we tend to not se ... Show More
1h 20m