Near death experiences can be profound and even life changing. People describe seeing bright lights, staring into the abyss, or meeting dead relatives. Many believe these experiences to be proof of an afterlife. But now, scientists are studying these strange events and gaining insights into the brain and consciousness itself. Will we uncover the scientific underpinning of these near-death events? 

Guests:

Steve Paulson – executive producer of To the Best of Our Knowledge for Wisconsin Public Radio

Sebastian Junger – journalist, filmmaker and author of “The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea” 

Christoph Koch – neuroscientist at the Allen Institute in Seattle and chief scientist of the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation in Santa Monica California 

Daniel Kondziella – neuroscientist in the Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Copenhagen

Descripción en español

Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake

Originally aired September 25, 2023

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2026 Webby Award Nominee
for our three part series on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Big Picture Science is an immersive radio show and podcast that reveals the unexpected connections in science.

Our Skeptic Check episodes take a critical look at extraordinary science claims and pseudoscience.

Don’t settle for a science snapshot. Get the big picture. 

Hosted By

Molly Bentley Executive Producer and Co-Host, Big Picture Science  

Seth Shostak Producer and Co-Host, Big Picture Science
Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute

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