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William Shatner:
You know what?
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I've been around for a while.
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I've travelled the world,
met some interesting people,
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done some crazy things.
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So, you might just think
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there's not much
that could take me by surprise.
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You'd be wrong.
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The world is
full of stories and science
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and things that
amaze and confound me
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every single day,
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incredible mysteries
that keep me awake at night.
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Some I can answer.
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Others...
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just defy logic --
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like the
heart transplant patient
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who undergoes an uncanny
transformation,
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assuming the
personality of his donor.
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Scientists ask,
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could the story of
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
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be real?
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A weird phenomenon is
appearing in lakes and rivers --
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perfect circles of ice,
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some so big
they're visible from space.
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What are they?
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And a DNA test
that suggests the impossible --
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a mother somehow genetically
unrelated to her own children.
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Could the test be wrong,
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or is the truth
beyond reason?
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Could it be possible
for a human being
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to have more than
one set of DNA?
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Yup...
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it's a weird world.
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And I love it.
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You don't need me
to tell you
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that modern medicine
is utterly remarkable.
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The kind of procedures
that only existed
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in the realm of
science fiction 50 years ago
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are now commonplace.
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Take heart failure --
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still the world's
biggest killer,
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but these days,
if you're lucky,
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doctors can transplant
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a healthy heart
into your chest.
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Within weeks,
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you can be up and running,
with a whole new lease on life,
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thanks to the kindness
of some recently departed donor.
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Incredible!
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But as this next
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weird tale will reveal,
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transplant patients
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may be getting more
than they bargained for --
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not simply
someone else's heart
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but their personality, too.
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I had worked very hard,
and I had sold my soul
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for the greenback.
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I was a fat,
out of shape businessman,
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not taking care of himself.
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William Shatner:
Bill Wohl was obsessed
with making money,
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but when he suffered
a massive heart attack in 1999,
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his life changed forever.
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They told me
a number of times
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I was their
worst cardiac case, ever.
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William Shatner:
Bill needed a new heart,
and on February 22, 2000,
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a suitable organ
became available.
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The donor was
a Hollywood stuntman
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named Brady Michaels,
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a fit, focused,
passionate man,
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who tragically died
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doing the job he loved.
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Brady's death would ultimately
save Bill Wohl's life.
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Bill Wohl:
I remember waking up
that afternoon, very sore,
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but I had a new heart,
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and I was smiling.
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I was grinning
from ear to ear
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'cause I was
so thankful, 'cause,
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living in the hospital,
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you get to appreciate.
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And if you're smart,
you learn
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love, patience,
tolerance and understanding,
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'cause there are so many
angry people in the world.
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William Shatner:
But after his operation,
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Bill says he started acting
in strange new ways.
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Bill Wohl:
Well, the first thing
that really shocked me
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was that day,
driving to work.
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I usually listen
to classic hard rock --
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Led Zeppelin,
things like that.
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Don't ask me why,
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but, that morning,
I flipped it to,
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like,
a jazz station.
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And I'm driving to work,
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and I hear this song,
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and it was Sade,
the Kiss of Life.
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And I started crying,
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and it was like
butter going through a knife.
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And I usually don't cry.
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It takes a lot
to make me cry,
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and, uh,
here I was,
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like,
freaking out.
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William Shatner:
Bill learned later
that his heart's donor,
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Brady Michaels,
was also a jazz aficionado.
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According to Bill,
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the transplant didn't
just change his musical tastes.
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It also changed
his vocabulary.
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Bill Wohl:
And it's really funny.
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I can tell you,
as a cutthroat businessman,
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the surfer lingo and "dude"
did not fit into my character.
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William Shatner:
He also found he was copying
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Michaels' taste
for healthy food.
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Bill Wohl:
He was a health nut.
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He was very big on salads.
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In the old days,
if there weren't French fries,
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if there wasn't a steak
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or a lobster tail
or something fried,
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it wasn't gonna happen.
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Now, once in a while,
as a treat,
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I'll have something like that,
but I actually love salads.
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William Shatner:
Most astonishingly,
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Bill's new heart transformed him
from an overweight couch potato
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into a
physical fitness freak,
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just like Brady Michaels.
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Bill believes that in
taking Brady Michaels' heart,
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he has taken
some of Michaels' personality.
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I'm living with a part of him
that he's blessed me,
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and with that blessing
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has come some ideas
and thoughts and characteristics
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that have kind of melded
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and become a part
of my everyday life.
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Well, this is all very weird.
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I told you it was weird.
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A guy gets a heart transplant,
and he believes he got a bonus.
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He got the donor's
personality, too.
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And it's more
than the heart.
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Think about it.
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There are thousands of other
transplants done each year --
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lungs, kidneys, livers.
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If this guy is right,
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are those people getting
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their donor's
personalities as well?
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Is this even possible?
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Bill Wohl's remarkable story
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suggests something that
common sense says cannot be.
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Could our organs
really store
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the essence of our being?
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Can one person's body
assimilate the personality
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of someone
long since dead?
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Psychology Professor
Dr. Gary Schwartz thinks so.
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If all tissues could store
information and energy,
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then, if tissue
was removed from one person
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and was surgically
placed in another,
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there would be a transplant
not only of the matter
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but of the memory as well.
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William Shatner:
Schwartz has researched
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the transfer of memory
for 30 years
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and has tracked down
some 70 cases
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of similar donor stories.
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Gary Schwartz:
I have seen
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too many cases
of uncanny and accurate
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parallels
for me to question
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whether there's
a phenomena here.
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William Shatner:
In 1988, Claire Sylvia
received the heart and lungs
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of a young man who died
in a motorcycle accident.
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After the operation,
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she develops
a new taste for beer,
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green peppers
and chicken nuggets --
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things her former self
would never have eaten.
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The donor's parents
tell her that their son, Tim,
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loved nothing more than beer
and green peppers,
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and, chillingly,
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on the night Tim died,
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he was riding his motorcycle
with a box of chicken nuggets
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in his pocket.
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There are examples
from Bill's case
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which indicate
the specificity,
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above and beyond simple
changes in diet or exercise
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which a lot of
people might do
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because they had
a heart transplant.
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William Shatner:
Can't these personality changes
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be explained as a reaction
to a brush with death,
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or even as side effects
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of the powerful
anti-rejection drugs
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used after
transplant surgery?
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The first thing
one wants to entertain
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are conventional explanations,
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like side effects
of the drugs,
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stress of the surgery
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or just changes
in philosophy of life.
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They're given
drugs and medication
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to tame down
their immune system,
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and most of the
side effects and toxicity
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come from these
immunosuppressant drugs
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that reduce the response
of the body to the new organ.
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A side effect of a steroid
might change people's
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anxiety level,
or it might change,
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maybe,
a certain food preference,
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but it's going to be
random in relationship
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to the preferences
and personality of the donor.
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I don't think
the anti-rejection drugs,
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as toxic as they may be,
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could explain
the specific information
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that gets transferred.
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That would
have to be pure luck
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or some actual mechanism
of transference
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from the donor
to the recipient.
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William Shatner:
So, it appears to be
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too much of a coincidence
to be the drugs.
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00:09:09,333 --> 00:09:11,834
Dr. Stuart Hameroff
has a radical theory
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that suggests
something almost beyond belief.
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Can the human heart
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actually store our memories?
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♪
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William Shatner:
Bill Wohl has undergone
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a seemingly
supernatural transformation --
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a heart transplant he believes
changed his personality,
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his tastes,
even his memories
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into those of his donor,
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all-action Hollywood stuntman
Brady Michaels.
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Could something
that appears
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straight from
a horror movie
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00:09:47,567 --> 00:09:49,333
actually be real?
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00:09:49,467 --> 00:09:53,600
Dr. Stuart Hameroff has a
radical theory about how memory
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is stored
in the human body.
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It's not only the brain
that can store memory.
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We have muscle memory.
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00:10:00,767 --> 00:10:03,400
We learn to play tennis,
and there's information stored
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in the nerves
that control the muscles,
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00:10:05,700 --> 00:10:07,100
and the heart
has a lot of neurons.
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Outside the brain,
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it's one of the largest
collections of neurons
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in the body.
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The nodes that control
the beating of the heart
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and the conduction
and the synchrony of the muscles
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so the heart beats together,
synchronously,
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are a fairly
substantial complex of neurons.
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00:10:21,567 --> 00:10:24,066
William Shatner:
Neurons are specialized cells
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that transmit information
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00:10:25,900 --> 00:10:28,433
via electrical impulses
and chemical signals
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00:10:28,567 --> 00:10:32,100
throughout
the body's nervous system.
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00:10:32,233 --> 00:10:35,400
The information they carry
allows us to move, think,
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learn and feel.
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00:10:38,300 --> 00:10:40,400
Most neuroscientists
believe that long-term memories
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are stored exclusively
by neurons in the brain.
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00:10:44,300 --> 00:10:46,467
Dr. Hameroff
has a more radical theory.
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00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,100
He believes memories
can also be stored by neurons
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00:10:49,233 --> 00:10:51,600
in other parts of the body,
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00:10:51,734 --> 00:10:55,266
within a cellular structure
called a microtubule.
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00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:56,767
Microtubules seem to be
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00:10:56,900 --> 00:10:59,233
the most likely site
for memory to be housed
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because we know that
in Alzheimer's disease,
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00:11:01,467 --> 00:11:03,233
where you lose memory,
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00:11:03,367 --> 00:11:05,967
it's the microtubules in the
brain neurons that fall apart.
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00:11:06,100 --> 00:11:07,800
So, there's a number
of avenues of evidence
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00:11:07,934 --> 00:11:09,333
that lead to the fact
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00:11:09,467 --> 00:11:13,233
that the microtubules
are housing and storing memory.
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00:11:13,367 --> 00:11:15,200
But it would be
focused and more prevalent
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00:11:15,333 --> 00:11:18,000
in parts of the body
that had the most neurons,
259
00:11:18,133 --> 00:11:19,500
the most microtubules --
260
00:11:19,633 --> 00:11:22,000
namely the brain and the big
nervous ganglia like the heart.
261
00:11:22,133 --> 00:11:24,266
William Shatner:
If Dr. Hameroff is right,
262
00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,400
memories can be stored
by microtubules in the brain,
263
00:11:27,533 --> 00:11:29,367
the heart
and the spinal cord --
264
00:11:29,500 --> 00:11:32,367
or anywhere else
there are neurons.
265
00:11:32,500 --> 00:11:34,033
This could explain why,
266
00:11:34,166 --> 00:11:36,133
when Bill Wohl
got a heart transplant,
267
00:11:36,266 --> 00:11:40,133
he got
a memory transplant, too.
268
00:11:40,266 --> 00:11:44,000
Dr. Hameroff came to
his theory of memory, initially,
269
00:11:44,133 --> 00:11:46,467
by studying neurons
in anesthesia
270
00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:48,834
and then
extending that to other organs,
271
00:11:48,967 --> 00:11:50,300
particularly the heart.
272
00:11:50,433 --> 00:11:52,567
So, he's looking at
a very special case
273
00:11:52,700 --> 00:11:57,033
of how a particular component
of a cell can have memory,
274
00:11:57,166 --> 00:11:58,967
and I wouldn't
disagree with him.
275
00:11:59,100 --> 00:12:01,266
Throughout human history,
276
00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,266
poets and philosophers
have invested the heart
277
00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,033
with powers and meaning
beyond that of a simple organ.
278
00:12:07,166 --> 00:12:09,100
In Papua, New Guinea,
279
00:12:09,233 --> 00:12:11,066
victorious warrior tribes
280
00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:13,600
would consume
the hearts of the vanquished
281
00:12:13,734 --> 00:12:15,266
to absorb their qualities.
282
00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:16,767
In the arts,
283
00:12:16,900 --> 00:12:19,066
the heart
has always been seen
284
00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,600
as the source
of all love and passion.
285
00:12:21,734 --> 00:12:24,934
"Who could refrain,
that had a heart to love,
286
00:12:25,066 --> 00:12:28,200
"and in that heart,
courage to make love known?"
287
00:12:28,333 --> 00:12:29,700
That's Shakespeare.
288
00:12:29,834 --> 00:12:32,767
The heart is
central to our culture,
289
00:12:32,900 --> 00:12:35,233
and it is
our own centre.
290
00:12:35,367 --> 00:12:38,066
From the heart,
everything flows.
291
00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,066
Now,
some scientists believe
292
00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,734
the heart literally
has a mind of its own.
293
00:12:43,867 --> 00:12:47,433
But could memory
and intelligence be found
294
00:12:47,567 --> 00:12:50,266
in more than
our hearts and heads?
295
00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,100
Could it be coursing
296
00:12:53,233 --> 00:12:55,700
through our whole bodies?
297
00:12:55,834 --> 00:12:59,233
Dr. Schwartz's theory
takes things a step further.
298
00:12:59,367 --> 00:13:01,433
He thinks memory
can be stored in all cells
299
00:13:01,567 --> 00:13:02,934
throughout the body,
300
00:13:03,066 --> 00:13:04,467
not just the neurons,
301
00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:06,433
thanks to
something called...
302
00:13:06,567 --> 00:13:08,367
"feedback."
303
00:13:08,500 --> 00:13:12,467
Feedback is the essence
of learning and memory.
304
00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:16,600
Now, that same feedback process
operates at any level.
305
00:13:16,734 --> 00:13:18,567
It's what operates
within the neurons
306
00:13:18,700 --> 00:13:21,500
that allow the neurons
to learn between them.
307
00:13:21,633 --> 00:13:24,600
But that same feedback that
allows the neuron cells to learn
308
00:13:24,734 --> 00:13:26,266
is feedback
that can operate
309
00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,266
within the
interconnected network of cells
310
00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,667
in the heart
or the lungs or any other organ.
311
00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:34,934
William Shatner:
Feedback occurs
when a past event
312
00:13:35,066 --> 00:13:37,066
influences the response
to the same event
313
00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:39,433
in the present or future.
314
00:13:39,567 --> 00:13:41,266
According to Schwartz,
this loop
315
00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,467
allows individual cells
to have a sort of memory.
316
00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,333
That's another thing
about these feedback loops
317
00:13:46,467 --> 00:13:47,867
is recurrent process.
318
00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,100
Each time you repeat
the process over and over again,
319
00:13:50,233 --> 00:13:52,000
it makes
the memory stronger.
320
00:13:52,133 --> 00:13:54,667
William Shatner:
Could our individual cells
321
00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,367
have a form of memory?
322
00:13:57,500 --> 00:13:58,867
Schwartz believes they do,
323
00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:03,100
and, what's more,
he thinks he can prove it.
324
00:14:03,233 --> 00:14:06,100
We typically
think of muscle memory
325
00:14:06,233 --> 00:14:08,100
as being mostly the brain,
326
00:14:08,233 --> 00:14:09,600
but it turns out
327
00:14:09,734 --> 00:14:11,700
the muscles have
the potential to learn as well,
328
00:14:11,834 --> 00:14:13,767
because
all muscles have feedback,
329
00:14:13,900 --> 00:14:15,433
ergo feedback memory
330
00:14:15,567 --> 00:14:18,200
and muscle memory
in the muscles themselves.
331
00:14:18,333 --> 00:14:22,266
William Shatner:
Schwartz can show
this principle in action.
332
00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:24,367
A person is able
to train his muscles
333
00:14:24,500 --> 00:14:26,633
to shoot basketball hoops,
using feedback,
334
00:14:26,767 --> 00:14:28,667
so that he continues
to hit the basket
335
00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,266
even when blindfolded.
336
00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,467
According to Schwartz,
337
00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,400
it is not just groups of tissue
that can have memories.
338
00:14:36,533 --> 00:14:37,867
He thinks it is possible
339
00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,233
that every single
cell in the body
340
00:14:40,367 --> 00:14:42,934
can store information.
341
00:14:43,066 --> 00:14:44,400
Gary Schwartz:
Since feedback loops
342
00:14:44,533 --> 00:14:46,233
are operating at
every level in the body,
343
00:14:46,367 --> 00:14:47,934
at every level,
there's gonna be,
344
00:14:48,066 --> 00:14:49,600
theoretically,
memory and,
345
00:14:49,734 --> 00:14:51,066
to various degrees,
learning,
346
00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,033
at every level
in the body.
347
00:14:53,166 --> 00:14:54,567
William Shatner:
Although unproven,
348
00:14:54,700 --> 00:14:56,066
this theory
could help explain
349
00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:57,934
the cases
of transplant recipients
350
00:14:58,066 --> 00:14:59,867
who report receiving
the donor's memories,
351
00:15:00,066 --> 00:15:02,100
tastes and behaviour
352
00:15:02,233 --> 00:15:05,133
along with their new organ.
353
00:15:05,266 --> 00:15:08,066
Interesting but,
unfortunately, all theoretical.
354
00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,567
Maybe, to find
the answer to this mystery,
355
00:15:10,700 --> 00:15:12,600
we should take a look
at a different organ --
356
00:15:12,734 --> 00:15:14,100
the human brain.
357
00:15:14,233 --> 00:15:16,767
Maybe, just maybe,
358
00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:20,233
now that Bill has
his new heart and his health,
359
00:15:20,367 --> 00:15:22,600
it's gone to his head.
360
00:15:22,734 --> 00:15:24,433
Could getting
a new lease on life
361
00:15:24,567 --> 00:15:29,433
convince you that you
are a whole new person?
362
00:15:29,567 --> 00:15:33,000
Bill doesn't think
it's all that simple.
363
00:15:33,133 --> 00:15:35,000
Certainly,
just getting a transplant
364
00:15:35,133 --> 00:15:36,633
and a second chance at life
365
00:15:36,767 --> 00:15:38,967
changed me
in a major way,
366
00:15:39,100 --> 00:15:40,767
but I also totally believe
367
00:15:40,900 --> 00:15:43,400
that certain
characteristics of my donor
368
00:15:43,533 --> 00:15:45,700
have become
a basic part of my life,
369
00:15:45,834 --> 00:15:47,200
and I feel that this is
370
00:15:47,333 --> 00:15:50,200
the cellular memory
that's changed my life
371
00:15:50,333 --> 00:15:52,934
and, I honestly feel,
made me a better person,
372
00:15:53,066 --> 00:15:54,433
a happier person.
373
00:15:54,567 --> 00:15:58,500
And I actually love, now,
caring and helping and wanting
374
00:15:58,633 --> 00:16:00,066
to make a difference.
375
00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,266
William Shatner:
Most neuroscientists
remain skeptical
376
00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,033
that cellular memory
exists at all.
377
00:16:04,166 --> 00:16:06,934
Nevertheless,
Bill Wohl believes
378
00:16:07,066 --> 00:16:08,800
memories,
just like organs,
379
00:16:08,934 --> 00:16:10,667
can be transplanted.
380
00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:13,633
One thing is true.
381
00:16:13,767 --> 00:16:16,633
Bill's experiences have
definitely been...
382
00:16:16,767 --> 00:16:19,200
weird, or what.
383
00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,767
Across the planet,
384
00:16:37,900 --> 00:16:41,934
a strange phenomenon is
appearing in lakes and rivers --
385
00:16:42,066 --> 00:16:46,300
perfect circles of ice,
some so big,
386
00:16:46,433 --> 00:16:48,700
they're visible from space.
387
00:16:48,834 --> 00:16:51,200
Are these ice circles
forming naturally,
388
00:16:51,333 --> 00:16:53,867
or is this
some kind of elaborate hoax?
389
00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,333
Now, for the first time,
390
00:16:57,467 --> 00:17:00,266
scientists plan
to uncover the truth.
391
00:17:07,734 --> 00:17:09,900
♪
392
00:17:10,033 --> 00:17:11,433
Pie --
393
00:17:11,567 --> 00:17:13,633
warm, round,
394
00:17:13,767 --> 00:17:15,100
delicious.
395
00:17:15,233 --> 00:17:17,100
Simply nothing weird
at all here,
396
00:17:17,233 --> 00:17:19,133
but this got me
thinking about pi.
397
00:17:19,266 --> 00:17:21,300
No, not, not,
not this pie --
398
00:17:21,433 --> 00:17:22,934
the number pi.
399
00:17:23,066 --> 00:17:25,934
You need the number pi
to explain the simple circle.
400
00:17:26,066 --> 00:17:29,800
And just like the simple,
round, delicious pie,
401
00:17:29,934 --> 00:17:32,200
when you dig deeper,
it gets more complicated.
402
00:17:32,333 --> 00:17:33,934
Pi is a constant --
403
00:17:34,066 --> 00:17:37,300
the ratio of any circle's
circumference to its diameter.
404
00:17:37,433 --> 00:17:40,300
But that ratio
can be calculated forever
405
00:17:40,433 --> 00:17:42,333
without coming
to a final decimal.
406
00:17:42,467 --> 00:17:44,100
Circles,
407
00:17:44,233 --> 00:17:47,800
they start off
looking so simple,
408
00:17:47,934 --> 00:17:50,300
but when you
get down to it,
409
00:17:50,433 --> 00:17:52,767
they're really complicated.
410
00:17:52,900 --> 00:17:56,967
On December 13th, 2007,
411
00:17:57,100 --> 00:17:59,600
amateur photographer
Brook Tyler was walking through
412
00:17:59,734 --> 00:18:02,567
Rattray Marsh Conservation Area,
Southern Ontario.
413
00:18:02,700 --> 00:18:05,000
Brook Tyler:
Well I love to do
nature photography,
414
00:18:05,133 --> 00:18:07,467
landscapes, primarily,
415
00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:09,000
and creeks
and waterfalls
416
00:18:09,133 --> 00:18:10,834
and anything
that's sort of remote
417
00:18:10,967 --> 00:18:12,467
and off the beaten path.
418
00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,734
William Shatner:
When he got to Sheridan Creek,
419
00:18:14,867 --> 00:18:17,767
Brook saw
something bizarre, majestic
420
00:18:17,900 --> 00:18:19,767
and totally unexplained.
421
00:18:19,900 --> 00:18:21,467
Brook Tyler:
Well, I was coming down here
422
00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:22,967
to see what
the creek looked like,
423
00:18:23,100 --> 00:18:25,800
and as I was coming around
the boardwalk over there,
424
00:18:25,934 --> 00:18:27,266
I happened to see it.
425
00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,467
It was about 6',
maybe a little bit more,
426
00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,533
in diameter,
and it was turning.
427
00:18:35,266 --> 00:18:37,133
William Shatner:
Brook had stumbled upon
428
00:18:37,266 --> 00:18:40,300
a strange, beautiful
and mysterious phenomenon.
429
00:18:40,433 --> 00:18:41,867
Brook Tyler:
I was really amazed.
430
00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:43,367
It was so cool --
431
00:18:43,500 --> 00:18:45,633
a perfectly round circle,
inscribed in the ice.
432
00:18:45,767 --> 00:18:48,700
So, I set up my camera
433
00:18:48,834 --> 00:18:51,700
and started shooting.
434
00:18:51,834 --> 00:18:54,066
William Shatner:
Brook posted the photo
on the internet,
435
00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:55,834
and,
after 150,000 hits,
436
00:18:55,967 --> 00:18:57,934
he quickly learned
that ice circles
437
00:18:58,066 --> 00:18:59,667
were a global mystery,
438
00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:01,400
found across the US,
439
00:19:01,533 --> 00:19:04,000
Canada, Europe, Russia.
440
00:19:04,133 --> 00:19:06,033
But what,
441
00:19:06,166 --> 00:19:08,100
or who,
was creating them?
442
00:19:08,233 --> 00:19:10,600
To Tyler,
the similarity
443
00:19:10,734 --> 00:19:13,400
to a famous
English hoax seemed obvious.
444
00:19:13,533 --> 00:19:17,133
Brook Tyler:
Well, I entitled
my photograph Creek Circle --
445
00:19:17,266 --> 00:19:18,600
a takeoff on crop circle --
446
00:19:18,734 --> 00:19:20,600
because the crop circles
447
00:19:20,734 --> 00:19:22,633
are obviously
a little bit mysterious.
448
00:19:22,767 --> 00:19:26,133
Perfectly round circles
forming naturally in the ice --
449
00:19:26,266 --> 00:19:27,600
come on!
450
00:19:27,734 --> 00:19:29,133
It's too good
to be true, right?
451
00:19:29,266 --> 00:19:32,133
Too perfect, too weird.
452
00:19:32,266 --> 00:19:34,600
Surely,
someone is messing with us,
453
00:19:34,734 --> 00:19:36,633
creating ice circles
454
00:19:36,767 --> 00:19:39,367
like they would
create crop circles?
455
00:19:39,500 --> 00:19:42,934
For over two decades,
strange geometrical designs,
456
00:19:43,066 --> 00:19:46,066
known as crop circles,
appeared in British farmland.
457
00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:49,734
In 1991, two men admitted
they were behind the hoax.
458
00:19:49,867 --> 00:19:51,734
They created
these amazing patterns
459
00:19:51,867 --> 00:19:53,767
with little more
than a length of rope
460
00:19:53,900 --> 00:19:56,734
and a plank of wood.
461
00:19:56,867 --> 00:19:59,166
So, could the ice circles
be the handiwork
462
00:19:59,300 --> 00:20:00,700
of human hoaxers,
463
00:20:00,834 --> 00:20:02,400
just like
many crop circles
464
00:20:02,533 --> 00:20:04,567
turned out to be?
465
00:20:04,700 --> 00:20:08,300
It's impossible for somebody
to generate these circles.
466
00:20:08,433 --> 00:20:10,467
Uh, the ice is very,
very thin,
467
00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:12,967
very delicate,
very, very fragile,
468
00:20:13,100 --> 00:20:14,800
and you try and put
any sort of thing
469
00:20:14,934 --> 00:20:16,266
to cut the ice,
470
00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:17,734
you're gonna
leave evidence of it,
471
00:20:17,867 --> 00:20:19,934
or you're gonna have to
somehow be standing in the ice,
472
00:20:20,066 --> 00:20:21,433
or standing in the water,
473
00:20:21,567 --> 00:20:23,300
to be able
to hold whatever tool
474
00:20:23,433 --> 00:20:25,133
that you have
to cut the circle.
475
00:20:25,266 --> 00:20:26,600
So, I wouldn't--
476
00:20:26,734 --> 00:20:28,100
It's not--
477
00:20:28,233 --> 00:20:29,767
It's Mother Nature
doing her finest.
478
00:20:29,900 --> 00:20:32,867
William Shatner:
Len Zabilansky is an engineer
479
00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,600
at the Cold Regions Research
and Engineering Laboratory
480
00:20:35,734 --> 00:20:37,300
in New Hampshire.
481
00:20:37,433 --> 00:20:39,266
Their research
helps the US military
482
00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,266
operate in cold climates.
483
00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:42,734
Ice is nice.
484
00:20:42,867 --> 00:20:44,467
This is what we do,
day in and day out.
485
00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:46,700
We have three facilities here
that we replicate
486
00:20:46,834 --> 00:20:48,233
the different processes,
487
00:20:48,367 --> 00:20:50,367
the ice processes,
in different phases.
488
00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:53,500
We're in the test basin,
where we do flat ice, sheet ice.
489
00:20:53,633 --> 00:20:57,700
We have another facility where
we bring a river system inside,
490
00:20:57,834 --> 00:21:00,066
and then we have a large
general research area.
491
00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:03,166
William Shatner:
Len sees a fundamental problem
492
00:21:03,300 --> 00:21:06,767
facing people
wanting to hoax an ice circle.
493
00:21:06,900 --> 00:21:08,600
Because ice floats on top
494
00:21:08,734 --> 00:21:12,767
of the flowing river,
there's no support below.
495
00:21:12,900 --> 00:21:15,834
Len Zabilansky:
The ice has no strength,
and so, he has to basically
496
00:21:15,967 --> 00:21:19,467
stand in mid-air
to be able to do this,
497
00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:21,467
and that's
physically impossible.
498
00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,967
William Shatner:
Zabilansky believes these
perfect ice circles are formed
499
00:21:25,100 --> 00:21:28,367
by a unique combination
of natural processes,
500
00:21:28,500 --> 00:21:30,333
and,
for the first time,
501
00:21:30,467 --> 00:21:32,633
using a unique experiment,
he intends to prove it.
502
00:21:32,767 --> 00:21:36,600
Len Zabilansky:
The way the ice circle's formed
is basically in a back eddy.
503
00:21:36,734 --> 00:21:38,300
The ice will
follow the water,
504
00:21:38,433 --> 00:21:39,967
and if the water
goes in a circle,
505
00:21:40,100 --> 00:21:41,467
so will the ice.
506
00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:43,767
Back eddies can be found
on bends in rivers
507
00:21:43,900 --> 00:21:45,633
where a constriction
508
00:21:45,767 --> 00:21:48,100
forces some of the water
to flow back on itself,
509
00:21:48,233 --> 00:21:50,934
creating a rotating pool.
510
00:21:51,066 --> 00:21:53,400
So, the theory goes
that in the winter,
511
00:21:53,533 --> 00:21:55,400
when ice flows
into an eddy,
512
00:21:55,533 --> 00:21:57,233
it too becomes
a part of the rotation
513
00:21:57,367 --> 00:21:59,200
and begins to
grow and grow outward,
514
00:21:59,333 --> 00:22:02,633
until it grinds against
the surrounding static ice,
515
00:22:02,767 --> 00:22:04,100
like a gristmill,
516
00:22:04,233 --> 00:22:07,567
creating the perfect,
beautiful ice circle.
517
00:22:07,700 --> 00:22:10,133
And what happens
in the winter environment --
518
00:22:10,266 --> 00:22:11,734
ice that's coming down
519
00:22:11,867 --> 00:22:14,800
into this backwater area,
520
00:22:14,934 --> 00:22:16,767
actually
goes around as well,
521
00:22:16,900 --> 00:22:19,400
and, as the ice is contributing
into this background,
522
00:22:19,533 --> 00:22:21,633
it continues to grow
in a larger and larger circle.
523
00:22:21,767 --> 00:22:24,633
If you look at ice circles
that we've had pictures of,
524
00:22:24,767 --> 00:22:26,600
it looks like
a vinyl record,
525
00:22:26,734 --> 00:22:29,133
because everything
is all very circular
526
00:22:29,266 --> 00:22:30,800
with different
little ridges around.
527
00:22:30,934 --> 00:22:32,800
So, what's happening
is the ice is coming down,
528
00:22:32,934 --> 00:22:35,800
bangs into the circle,
and it just sort of squashes in,
529
00:22:35,934 --> 00:22:37,300
and you get
a little ridge,
530
00:22:37,433 --> 00:22:39,133
and that ridge just keeps
building up in time
531
00:22:39,266 --> 00:22:40,633
and getting
larger and larger
532
00:22:40,767 --> 00:22:42,333
and larger and larger,
in diameter.
533
00:22:42,467 --> 00:22:44,133
William Shatner:
Like a gristmill,
534
00:22:44,266 --> 00:22:46,400
the rotating ice circles
535
00:22:46,533 --> 00:22:48,133
grind against
the surrounding ice,
536
00:22:48,266 --> 00:22:50,467
creating a
perfectly round circle
537
00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:52,300
and its mirror image.
538
00:22:52,433 --> 00:22:55,066
Len Zabilansky:
The two pieces will sort of
nest together with a little bit
539
00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:56,567
of open water between them.
540
00:22:56,700 --> 00:22:59,567
You can see
there's a very narrow gap,
541
00:22:59,700 --> 00:23:01,633
but you can actually see
the milling process
542
00:23:01,767 --> 00:23:03,300
actually taking place.
543
00:23:03,433 --> 00:23:06,734
William Shatner:
Len believes this is
exactly what happened to create
544
00:23:06,867 --> 00:23:08,967
the ice circle
in Brook Tyler's photo.
545
00:23:09,100 --> 00:23:10,467
This is more--
546
00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:12,000
This is the
kind of ice circle
547
00:23:12,133 --> 00:23:13,767
that we're
going to duplicate today.
548
00:23:13,900 --> 00:23:16,266
William Shatner:
What are these
mysterious circles of ice?
549
00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:18,900
Are they
a natural process of nature?
550
00:23:19,033 --> 00:23:21,133
Can they be
recreated in a lab,
551
00:23:21,266 --> 00:23:23,633
or does the answer
to this bizarre mystery
552
00:23:23,767 --> 00:23:25,700
lie beyond our planet?
553
00:23:32,300 --> 00:23:33,867
♪
554
00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,767
William Shatner:
A weird phenomenon is
appearing in lakes and rivers --
555
00:23:36,900 --> 00:23:38,467
perfect circles of ice.
556
00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,700
Some so big,
they're visible from space.
557
00:23:41,834 --> 00:23:43,400
What are they?
558
00:23:43,533 --> 00:23:45,000
At the Cold Regions
559
00:23:45,133 --> 00:23:47,300
Research and Engineering
Laboratory in New Hampshire,
560
00:23:47,433 --> 00:23:50,433
engineer Len Zabilansky
intends to find out,
561
00:23:50,567 --> 00:23:53,600
with an experiment that has
never been attempted before --
562
00:23:53,734 --> 00:23:55,734
recreating the conditions
563
00:23:55,867 --> 00:23:59,000
that he believes will lead to
the creation of an ice circle.
564
00:23:59,133 --> 00:24:02,233
Len Zabilansky:
What we've created here
565
00:24:02,367 --> 00:24:04,266
is the river process
that would be--
566
00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:08,266
That would contribute to
the formation of an ice circle.
567
00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:10,500
William Shatner:
In a temperature-controlled
laboratory,
568
00:24:10,633 --> 00:24:12,934
Len has recreated
the prevailing
569
00:24:13,066 --> 00:24:15,100
physical and environmental
conditions that existed
570
00:24:15,233 --> 00:24:18,200
when Brook Tyler
photographed the ice circle.
571
00:24:18,333 --> 00:24:21,200
The water is coming from
our upstream reach of the river.
572
00:24:21,333 --> 00:24:23,767
It's coming down,
past where we have
573
00:24:23,900 --> 00:24:26,066
more water coming into
this section of the river
574
00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,033
than we can
actually allow to leave,
575
00:24:29,166 --> 00:24:30,567
to sort of create
a backwater eddy.
576
00:24:30,700 --> 00:24:32,834
What happens is
the water coming into our eddy,
577
00:24:32,967 --> 00:24:34,800
our hydraulic section,
578
00:24:34,934 --> 00:24:38,500
is less than the water
that we're allowing to release
579
00:24:38,633 --> 00:24:40,500
from our control section,
580
00:24:40,633 --> 00:24:42,166
so we're
continually recirculating.
581
00:24:42,300 --> 00:24:43,800
That's the
recirculating section.
582
00:24:43,934 --> 00:24:45,767
And so, a little bit
of the water will come out,
583
00:24:45,900 --> 00:24:47,233
but the ice
will actually stay in
584
00:24:47,367 --> 00:24:48,767
and continue to circulate.
585
00:24:48,900 --> 00:24:51,734
William Shatner:
The back eddy is
a rotating pool of water
586
00:24:51,867 --> 00:24:55,233
Len believes is needed to
trap and grow ice into a circle.
587
00:24:55,367 --> 00:24:57,100
Len Zabilansky:
We're generating
588
00:24:57,233 --> 00:25:01,700
small snow crystals that are
settling on the water surface,
589
00:25:01,834 --> 00:25:04,333
and that's what
we're using to initiate ice.
590
00:25:04,467 --> 00:25:07,633
And as the ice forms and creates
and circulates around,
591
00:25:07,767 --> 00:25:11,600
we're controlling the amount
of ice that we're generating,
592
00:25:11,734 --> 00:25:13,633
so we're not
plugging up the system.
593
00:25:13,767 --> 00:25:17,100
William Shatner:
The snow acts like a seed
and helps ice crystals
594
00:25:17,233 --> 00:25:20,100
to form
in the flowing water.
595
00:25:20,233 --> 00:25:22,433
Len Zabilansky:
And one submersible pump,
596
00:25:22,567 --> 00:25:23,900
and as
the water comes around,
597
00:25:24,033 --> 00:25:27,200
it just shoots it forward,
along with the ice,
598
00:25:27,333 --> 00:25:30,233
down into our eddy section.
599
00:25:30,367 --> 00:25:32,967
William Shatner:
The experiment begins.
600
00:25:33,100 --> 00:25:36,100
Will Len's river
form an elusive ice circle?
601
00:25:37,633 --> 00:25:39,467
Len Zabilansky:
See, there's a piece of ice
602
00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:41,600
that just started
spinning around in our circle.
603
00:25:41,734 --> 00:25:45,433
It will continue to build,
and as it continues to rotate,
604
00:25:45,567 --> 00:25:48,900
ice that's coming from upstream
may accumulate on the edge,
605
00:25:49,033 --> 00:25:52,033
and that's why you're gonna
start seeing these ridges.
606
00:25:53,867 --> 00:25:56,467
At first, the ice in the
back eddy grows as predicted,
607
00:25:56,600 --> 00:26:00,133
but it isn't forming
as a uniform disc.
608
00:26:00,266 --> 00:26:03,166
It's ice but nowhere near
the perfect ice circles
609
00:26:03,300 --> 00:26:05,367
he is trying to recreate.
610
00:26:05,500 --> 00:26:08,333
We just jammed it!
611
00:26:08,467 --> 00:26:10,300
William Shatner:
Joe Desloges
612
00:26:10,433 --> 00:26:14,633
is a fluvial geomorphologist,
or river expert.
613
00:26:14,767 --> 00:26:16,467
He believes
he has a better theory
614
00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,033
to explain
this weird quirk of nature.
615
00:26:19,166 --> 00:26:21,333
Let's not assume
the most wild, to start with,
616
00:26:21,467 --> 00:26:25,500
and let's start thinking
about the true explanations
617
00:26:25,633 --> 00:26:27,333
that really help
understand these.
618
00:26:27,467 --> 00:26:28,867
And that is the science.
619
00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,300
William Shatner:
But can science explain
620
00:26:31,433 --> 00:26:35,500
the three-mile wide ice circle
in Russia's Lake Baikal?
621
00:26:35,633 --> 00:26:38,500
Joe Desloges: Features,
from space, look fantastic,
622
00:26:38,633 --> 00:26:40,166
but when you're
actually on the ground,
623
00:26:40,300 --> 00:26:41,667
you get a better sense
624
00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:43,333
of what's likely
to be controlling them --
625
00:26:43,467 --> 00:26:44,834
and probably
a different perception,
626
00:26:44,967 --> 00:26:46,834
entirely, about what
the composition of them are
627
00:26:46,967 --> 00:26:48,333
and what they're made of.
628
00:26:48,467 --> 00:26:49,900
So, the best science
really requires you
629
00:26:50,033 --> 00:26:51,367
to be out in the field.
630
00:26:51,500 --> 00:26:53,200
William Shatner:
Joe has spent years
631
00:26:53,333 --> 00:26:55,500
studying how rivers
behave in cold regions
632
00:26:55,633 --> 00:26:57,900
like Canada and Scandinavia.
633
00:26:58,033 --> 00:27:00,166
Well,
cold climates are fantastic,
634
00:27:00,300 --> 00:27:03,166
in terms of water
and the way water freezes.
635
00:27:03,300 --> 00:27:06,166
Uh, you can see
a whole range of shapes,
636
00:27:06,300 --> 00:27:08,200
but one of
the most common is circular.
637
00:27:08,333 --> 00:27:11,200
William Shatner:
Joe believes there's
another natural process
638
00:27:11,333 --> 00:27:13,667
that forms
frozen circles on a river.
639
00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:16,166
It's called frazil ice.
640
00:27:16,300 --> 00:27:19,567
Joe Desloges:
Frazil ice forms in rivers
when the water cools
641
00:27:19,700 --> 00:27:22,800
to a point where you begin
forming these ice crystals,
642
00:27:22,934 --> 00:27:24,300
or we call them ice nuclei.
643
00:27:24,433 --> 00:27:27,300
The process
is called supercooling,
644
00:27:27,433 --> 00:27:28,834
when water is just slightly
645
00:27:28,967 --> 00:27:32,667
below the freezing temperature
and these nuclei begin to form.
646
00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:34,800
As the tiny ice crystals
start to collide,
647
00:27:34,934 --> 00:27:38,133
they grow into
larger clumps of frazil ice.
648
00:27:38,266 --> 00:27:40,133
Ice is lighter than water,
649
00:27:40,266 --> 00:27:43,467
so, as the clumps grow,
the more buoyant they become.
650
00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:45,734
Joe Desloges:
And as they
float to the surface,
651
00:27:45,867 --> 00:27:49,066
they tend to form
these nice, circular ice pans.
652
00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:51,567
So, they actually look like
a rather weird phenomenon
653
00:27:51,700 --> 00:27:53,200
on a river's surface.
654
00:27:55,100 --> 00:27:57,533
William Shatner:
It's a promising theory,
but Joe's ice pans
655
00:27:57,667 --> 00:28:00,066
don't look like the spinning,
perfect ice circles
656
00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:03,367
Brook Tyler
photographed in Ontario.
657
00:28:03,500 --> 00:28:04,867
Back at the US Army
658
00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,567
Cold Regions Research
and Engineering Laboratory,
659
00:28:07,700 --> 00:28:09,633
Len Zabilansky
is still having difficulty
660
00:28:09,767 --> 00:28:11,734
creating an ice circle
in the lab.
661
00:28:13,300 --> 00:28:15,133
It's possible the rate
of freezing is too slow,
662
00:28:15,266 --> 00:28:16,600
meaning new ice
663
00:28:16,734 --> 00:28:19,400
isn't filling in the gaps
to make a circular shape.
664
00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,867
So, that just shows you
how delicate this process is,
665
00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:26,934
when Mother Nature's
generating these ice circles.
666
00:28:27,066 --> 00:28:30,166
William Shatner:
Len decides to drop
the ambient temperature.
667
00:28:30,300 --> 00:28:33,166
Len Zabilansky:
We've just dropped
the temperature two degrees,
668
00:28:33,300 --> 00:28:36,300
and we're generating more ice,
and it's freezing faster.
669
00:28:36,433 --> 00:28:39,133
William Shatner:
The experiment begins again.
670
00:28:39,266 --> 00:28:40,667
This time,
671
00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,000
the colder temperature
is helping build the ice
672
00:28:43,133 --> 00:28:46,066
as quickly as it is
melted or eroded away.
673
00:28:49,033 --> 00:28:50,934
Len Zabilansky:
You can see that
some of the ice
674
00:28:51,066 --> 00:28:52,734
is starting to freeze
into a circle.
675
00:28:52,867 --> 00:28:55,000
William Shatner:
As Len predicted,
the ice is growing,
676
00:28:55,133 --> 00:28:58,333
thanks to new ice crystals
joining from upstream
677
00:28:58,467 --> 00:29:01,834
and sheet ice growing
out from the circle itself.
678
00:29:01,967 --> 00:29:04,333
If we let this run
for another six to 12 hours,
679
00:29:04,467 --> 00:29:06,400
that ice will become
very, very strong.
680
00:29:10,467 --> 00:29:13,000
William Shatner:
Allowing his man-made river
to flow for hours,
681
00:29:13,133 --> 00:29:14,500
Len hopes his experiment
682
00:29:14,633 --> 00:29:16,834
will produce
a genuine ice circle.
683
00:29:16,967 --> 00:29:19,166
The results are remarkable.
684
00:29:19,300 --> 00:29:21,467
Len Zabilansky:
This is the first time
we've created
685
00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,500
an ice circle
of this quality in the lab.
686
00:29:24,633 --> 00:29:26,133
Sometimes,
we've been able to kick out.
687
00:29:26,266 --> 00:29:28,166
Sometimes,
we almost had it,
688
00:29:28,300 --> 00:29:29,667
but this is
the first one
689
00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:31,500
that's actually
starting to become circular,
690
00:29:31,633 --> 00:29:33,667
because it's
starting to be mature.
691
00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:36,333
William Shatner:
For the first time,
692
00:29:36,467 --> 00:29:40,100
Zabilansky has shown
one way ice circles can form.
693
00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:46,467
But many of these
beautiful natural phenomena
694
00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:48,667
remain mysterious,
and not just on earth.
695
00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:50,166
In 2010,
696
00:29:50,300 --> 00:29:52,166
NASA discovered
circular grooves,
697
00:29:52,300 --> 00:29:53,667
hundreds of miles wide,
698
00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:55,667
etched into
the surface of Europa,
699
00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,000
Jupiter's ice-bound moon.
700
00:29:58,133 --> 00:29:59,967
And that, for now,
701
00:30:00,100 --> 00:30:04,100
will remain
weird, or what?
702
00:30:19,433 --> 00:30:22,667
A mother undergoes
a routine DNA test.
703
00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,633
The results are
seemingly beyond reason.
704
00:30:25,767 --> 00:30:28,834
She has two sets of DNA.
705
00:30:28,967 --> 00:30:30,600
Is it a cruel mistake,
706
00:30:30,734 --> 00:30:33,066
or is it possible
for the genetic information
707
00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:36,967
of two different people
to exist in the same body?
708
00:30:37,100 --> 00:30:39,400
Weird, or what?
709
00:30:45,934 --> 00:30:47,667
♪
710
00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:50,266
Four unremarkable letters --
711
00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:52,967
A, T, G and C --
712
00:30:53,100 --> 00:30:55,934
that's all there are
in our DNA alphabet.
713
00:30:56,066 --> 00:30:58,100
Take these four letters,
multiply them by billions
714
00:30:58,233 --> 00:31:00,200
and arrange them
in a unique sequence
715
00:31:00,333 --> 00:31:02,867
long enough to fill hundreds
of telephone directories,
716
00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:06,200
and you have
one strand of DNA --
717
00:31:06,333 --> 00:31:10,300
the source of the information
that makes you you and me me.
718
00:31:11,834 --> 00:31:15,166
But what if
someone examined your DNA
719
00:31:15,300 --> 00:31:19,033
and revealed that you were not
who you thought you were
720
00:31:19,166 --> 00:31:20,533
and, in fact,
721
00:31:20,667 --> 00:31:23,000
you were sharing your body
with someone else?
722
00:31:23,133 --> 00:31:26,367
In 2002,
Lydia Fairchild,
723
00:31:26,500 --> 00:31:28,900
mother to four children
fathered by her partner,
724
00:31:29,033 --> 00:31:30,400
Jamie Townsend,
725
00:31:30,533 --> 00:31:32,934
applied for state benefits
to help raise
726
00:31:33,066 --> 00:31:35,033
her young family.
727
00:31:35,166 --> 00:31:37,000
In accordance with state law,
728
00:31:37,133 --> 00:31:39,367
Lydia and her children
had DNA tests
729
00:31:39,500 --> 00:31:40,867
to prove parentage.
730
00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:42,834
At conception,
we inherit
731
00:31:42,967 --> 00:31:46,266
half our DNA from our mother
and half from our father.
732
00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:49,800
When all is normal,
every child will have
733
00:31:49,934 --> 00:31:51,800
a genetic inheritance
that can be easily traced
734
00:31:51,934 --> 00:31:53,800
to both parents.
735
00:31:53,934 --> 00:31:55,767
But Lydia's DNA results
736
00:31:55,900 --> 00:31:58,667
would prove to be
far from normal.
737
00:32:00,066 --> 00:32:01,433
Lydia Fairchild:
I got a call,
738
00:32:01,567 --> 00:32:03,033
and the prosecutor
739
00:32:03,166 --> 00:32:06,600
had asked
that I come up to the office.
740
00:32:06,734 --> 00:32:09,266
He started asking, like,
741
00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:11,233
was I trying to do fraud
742
00:32:11,367 --> 00:32:12,734
by getting help
from the state,
743
00:32:12,867 --> 00:32:14,266
"because these kids
aren't yours,"
744
00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,266
and I stopped him
for a minute.
745
00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:19,233
I was like, "What do you mean
these kids aren't mine?"
746
00:32:19,367 --> 00:32:21,033
And he says,
"Well, the tests came back.
747
00:32:21,166 --> 00:32:23,533
"Jamie is the father
of all the kids,
748
00:32:23,667 --> 00:32:26,367
"but you are not the mother."
749
00:32:26,500 --> 00:32:29,367
William Shatner:
The tests were
repeated twice more,
750
00:32:29,500 --> 00:32:32,100
but, both times,
the results were the same.
751
00:32:33,867 --> 00:32:35,233
Jamie was the father.
752
00:32:35,367 --> 00:32:38,700
None of the four children
appeared to be related to Lydia.
753
00:32:38,834 --> 00:32:39,867
I was so scared.
754
00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:42,333
They said that they were
gonna take it to court
755
00:32:42,467 --> 00:32:45,200
because they didn't find
that I was telling the truth.
756
00:32:45,333 --> 00:32:47,100
They thought I was lying.
757
00:32:47,233 --> 00:32:49,967
William Shatner:
The state prosecutor
started an investigation,
758
00:32:50,100 --> 00:32:52,433
and Lydia found herself
in front of a judge.
759
00:32:52,567 --> 00:32:54,133
Lydia Fairchild:
The judge looked at me,
760
00:32:54,266 --> 00:32:55,934
and he says,
"Are these your children?"
761
00:32:56,066 --> 00:32:57,467
And I said,
"Yes, they are.
762
00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:58,967
"You know,
I got pregnant.
763
00:32:59,100 --> 00:33:00,633
"I carried them;
I delivered them.
764
00:33:00,767 --> 00:33:03,400
"The doctor has ultrasounds
of them being in my stomach."
765
00:33:03,533 --> 00:33:05,333
The judge said,
"You opened a big can of worms."
766
00:33:05,467 --> 00:33:07,233
He's like, "We don't know
what's going on here,
767
00:33:07,367 --> 00:33:08,700
"but we're gonna
figure it out."
768
00:33:08,834 --> 00:33:12,700
Despite overwhelming evidence
supporting Lydia's claim,
769
00:33:12,834 --> 00:33:16,867
four DNA tests show that
she is not the biological mother
770
00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:19,033
of the children
she gave birth to.
771
00:33:19,166 --> 00:33:20,533
But why?
772
00:33:20,667 --> 00:33:23,533
First and most obvious
reason to be explored --
773
00:33:23,667 --> 00:33:26,533
the possibility
that the DNA tests
774
00:33:26,667 --> 00:33:28,500
could be wrong.
775
00:33:28,633 --> 00:33:31,533
To be told that DNA
is essentially foolproof
776
00:33:31,667 --> 00:33:33,100
is very problematic.
777
00:33:33,233 --> 00:33:34,967
William Shatner:
Dr. Kerry Bowman
778
00:33:35,100 --> 00:33:37,900
specializes
in the ethics of medicine.
779
00:33:38,033 --> 00:33:39,767
Kerry Bowman:
Many people in medicine,
780
00:33:39,900 --> 00:33:41,266
and I'm one of them,
781
00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:43,467
would say nothing in medicine
is a hundred percent.
782
00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:45,867
It can get close to it,
but it's not a hundred percent.
783
00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:48,834
The talk, though, with DNA,
is that there's an exception
784
00:33:48,967 --> 00:33:53,867
and that DNA is virtually
foolproof as a testing strategy,
785
00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,433
when, in fact,
they may be rare,
786
00:33:56,567 --> 00:33:58,467
but there are
exceptions to that.
787
00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:00,200
So, in fact,
did Lydia
788
00:34:00,333 --> 00:34:02,100
really have
a fair consent process?
789
00:34:02,233 --> 00:34:03,567
I would say not.
790
00:34:03,700 --> 00:34:05,800
William Shatner:
Parental DNA tests themselves
791
00:34:05,934 --> 00:34:08,000
are more than 99% accurate,
792
00:34:08,133 --> 00:34:11,734
but humans can
and do make mistakes.
793
00:34:11,867 --> 00:34:14,867
Had this happened
to Lydia's tests?
794
00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,000
Perhaps, somehow,
the samples got screwed up.
795
00:34:17,133 --> 00:34:20,500
Maybe they mixed up her DNA
samples with some other woman's,
796
00:34:20,633 --> 00:34:22,834
and then,
when they tested it,
797
00:34:22,967 --> 00:34:25,500
of course, it would show
that it wasn't her kid.
798
00:34:25,633 --> 00:34:29,000
And my first goal was
I was gonna ask the court
799
00:34:29,133 --> 00:34:32,033
to order a whole new set of
DNA tests that were separate --
800
00:34:32,166 --> 00:34:33,533
a new laboratory to do it --
801
00:34:33,667 --> 00:34:35,166
to see if
the second laboratory
802
00:34:35,300 --> 00:34:37,300
came back
with the same problem.
803
00:34:37,433 --> 00:34:39,800
William Shatner:
Medical mix-ups do happen.
804
00:34:39,934 --> 00:34:43,800
In 2002, Linda McDougal
from Woodville, Wisconsin,
805
00:34:43,934 --> 00:34:45,800
was diagnosed
with breast cancer
806
00:34:45,934 --> 00:34:47,367
and underwent
a double mastectomy.
807
00:34:47,500 --> 00:34:49,734
However,
two days after the operation,
808
00:34:49,867 --> 00:34:52,166
doctors told Linda
it had all been a mistake.
809
00:34:52,300 --> 00:34:53,667
Her biopsy results
810
00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:56,033
had been accidentally switched
with another patient's.
811
00:34:56,166 --> 00:34:58,433
Linda never had cancer,
812
00:34:58,567 --> 00:35:01,166
and so, the surgery
had been completely unnecessary.
813
00:35:01,300 --> 00:35:06,233
Did a similar human error
skew Lydia's DNA results,
814
00:35:06,367 --> 00:35:08,667
or is the real answer
to this mystery
815
00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:12,967
beyond anything medical science
has ever imagined?
816
00:35:13,100 --> 00:35:15,000
So, what is going on?
817
00:35:15,133 --> 00:35:16,467
Another theory suggests
818
00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:18,734
that Lydia could have
given birth to her children
819
00:35:18,867 --> 00:35:20,967
and yet not have been
their biological mother.
820
00:35:21,100 --> 00:35:23,166
It is speculated
821
00:35:23,300 --> 00:35:27,667
that Lydia
was an IVF surrogate.
822
00:35:27,800 --> 00:35:30,166
So, what a
surrogate pregnancy is
823
00:35:30,300 --> 00:35:32,500
is what used to be called
test tube babies --
824
00:35:32,633 --> 00:35:34,533
when egg and sperm
825
00:35:34,667 --> 00:35:37,333
are introduced
outside the womb,
826
00:35:37,467 --> 00:35:39,266
in a lab condition.
827
00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:41,100
Put together,
they create an embryo,
828
00:35:41,233 --> 00:35:43,100
and that embryo
is then put into
829
00:35:43,233 --> 00:35:46,433
the uterus
of a surrogate mother.
830
00:35:46,567 --> 00:35:49,433
So, this woman has no biological
relationship to the child
831
00:35:49,567 --> 00:35:51,767
that she is carrying
and will eventually bear.
832
00:35:51,900 --> 00:35:54,834
William Shatner:
But why would Lydia
have carried the fertilized eggs
833
00:35:54,967 --> 00:35:56,900
of another woman
four times over?
834
00:35:57,033 --> 00:35:59,433
It certainly
wouldn't benefit fraud.
835
00:35:59,567 --> 00:36:01,000
Kerry Bowman:
IVF itself
836
00:36:01,133 --> 00:36:02,867
is extremely expensive,
837
00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:04,367
and to speak
in American dollars,
838
00:36:04,500 --> 00:36:05,867
you could
easily be talking about
839
00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,233
$30,000 or $50,000.
840
00:36:08,367 --> 00:36:10,667
And how someone
like Lydia Fairchild
841
00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:13,533
would want
or could possibly do this
842
00:36:13,667 --> 00:36:15,867
to create
some kind of welfare scam,
843
00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:18,200
I can't even imagine
how that would work.
844
00:36:18,333 --> 00:36:22,200
The costs simply don't line up
to whatever benefits, um,
845
00:36:22,333 --> 00:36:25,367
someone could pull from this,
in terms of a welfare scam.
846
00:36:25,500 --> 00:36:27,233
It doesn't make any sense.
847
00:36:27,367 --> 00:36:29,333
William Shatner:
And as Dr. Chitayat explains,
848
00:36:29,467 --> 00:36:32,200
IVF is not something
that can be done at home.
849
00:36:32,333 --> 00:36:34,333
David Chitayat:
It's impossible
to do in your kitchen,
850
00:36:34,467 --> 00:36:35,834
in-vitro fertilization.
851
00:36:35,967 --> 00:36:38,467
You have to stimulate
the ovary of the mother,
852
00:36:38,600 --> 00:36:42,100
and you have to make sure
that you don't over-stimulate,
853
00:36:42,233 --> 00:36:44,800
because then it will produce
huge cysts in the ovary
854
00:36:44,934 --> 00:36:48,467
and can cause her to have
dehydration and even death.
855
00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:51,133
So, it has to be
monitored very carefully
856
00:36:51,266 --> 00:36:52,934
by expert in this field.
857
00:36:53,066 --> 00:36:56,400
William Shatner:
There's an even bigger
problem with this theory.
858
00:36:56,533 --> 00:36:58,633
The father of all four
of Lydia's children
859
00:36:58,767 --> 00:37:00,700
had been confirmed
as her partner,
860
00:37:00,834 --> 00:37:02,200
Jamie Townsend.
861
00:37:02,333 --> 00:37:03,700
Alan Tindell:
It wasn't logical
862
00:37:03,834 --> 00:37:05,934
that somebody would hire Lydia
to carry a surrogacy
863
00:37:06,066 --> 00:37:08,700
and then have them all
fathered by Jamie Townsend.
864
00:37:08,834 --> 00:37:10,166
Why would they pick him?
865
00:37:10,300 --> 00:37:12,133
And besides that,
the children didn't go off
866
00:37:12,266 --> 00:37:14,133
to live with
the contracting people
867
00:37:14,266 --> 00:37:16,000
who had hired Lydia
to be a surrogate.
868
00:37:16,133 --> 00:37:17,533
It was just illogical.
869
00:37:17,667 --> 00:37:20,200
I mean, it could have been
an explanation that she was a--
870
00:37:20,333 --> 00:37:22,333
That she was
a surrogate parent,
871
00:37:22,467 --> 00:37:23,867
but I'd asked her,
872
00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:25,367
"Was there
any surrogacy contract
873
00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:26,834
"between you
and anybody else?"
874
00:37:26,967 --> 00:37:28,367
"No."
875
00:37:28,500 --> 00:37:30,967
She was adamant she was not
a surrogate parent for anybody.
876
00:37:31,100 --> 00:37:35,166
William Shatner:
The obvious answers
were exhausted.
877
00:37:35,300 --> 00:37:37,567
Here was a case
that made no sense to anyone.
878
00:37:39,133 --> 00:37:41,433
But a new theory
was about to emerge --
879
00:37:41,567 --> 00:37:44,266
an explanation
for Lydia's DNA results
880
00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:46,200
as fantastically rare
881
00:37:46,333 --> 00:37:49,066
as it was
biologically extraordinary.
882
00:37:55,967 --> 00:37:58,166
♪
883
00:37:58,300 --> 00:38:01,166
William Shatner:
Lydia Fairchild is
a biological marvel.
884
00:38:01,300 --> 00:38:04,000
In 2002,
routine DNA tests
885
00:38:04,133 --> 00:38:06,467
taken for an application
for US state benefits
886
00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:08,000
revealed she is
887
00:38:08,133 --> 00:38:12,133
genetically unrelated
to her own children.
888
00:38:12,266 --> 00:38:13,967
This outcome
was so incredible that,
889
00:38:14,100 --> 00:38:16,633
at first, it was
believed to have been a mistake,
890
00:38:16,767 --> 00:38:18,867
or that she was
somehow involved
891
00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:20,834
in an elaborate fraud.
892
00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:24,567
None of the theories
seemed plausible,
893
00:38:24,700 --> 00:38:26,533
and the case seemed destined
894
00:38:26,667 --> 00:38:29,300
to remain as mysterious
as it was bizarre,
895
00:38:29,433 --> 00:38:31,300
until Lydia's attorney
discovered something
896
00:38:31,433 --> 00:38:34,166
almost too weird
to be believed --
897
00:38:34,300 --> 00:38:36,166
a description
in a medical journal
898
00:38:36,300 --> 00:38:39,166
of a rare and almost
unheard of genetic condition
899
00:38:39,300 --> 00:38:40,667
only known to affect
900
00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:44,300
around 40 people
in the whole world,
901
00:38:44,433 --> 00:38:47,600
something called
tetragametic chimerism.
902
00:38:49,133 --> 00:38:51,667
He was doing a little
903
00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:53,300
trolling on the internet,
904
00:38:53,433 --> 00:38:56,834
and he wondered if maybe
it fit our scenario.
905
00:38:56,967 --> 00:38:58,333
So, I read it,
906
00:38:58,467 --> 00:38:59,900
as much of it
as I could understand,
907
00:39:00,100 --> 00:39:02,200
but it sounded very much
like what we were dealing with.
908
00:39:02,333 --> 00:39:05,867
So, I contacted
Doctor Kruskall,
909
00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:07,700
who was one of
the authors of the paper --
910
00:39:07,834 --> 00:39:09,734
she's now deceased --
911
00:39:09,867 --> 00:39:12,767
and, um, introduced myself
on the phone and said,
912
00:39:12,900 --> 00:39:14,734
I think,
"I read your article.
913
00:39:14,867 --> 00:39:17,033
"I think I have
a case very much like it."
914
00:39:17,166 --> 00:39:19,400
Of course,
they were intrigued about it.
915
00:39:19,533 --> 00:39:21,934
I said, "Could I send you
the test results we have,
916
00:39:22,066 --> 00:39:23,734
"and maybe you can
give us some insight
917
00:39:23,867 --> 00:39:25,233
"into what's happening here?"
918
00:39:25,367 --> 00:39:27,367
William Shatner:
One way a chimera can form
919
00:39:27,500 --> 00:39:30,066
is when two separate eggs
are fertilized by two sperm
920
00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:32,033
and then merge
to form a single embryo.
921
00:39:32,166 --> 00:39:35,033
Put simply,
it's two non-identical twins,
922
00:39:35,166 --> 00:39:37,533
merging,
very early on in pregnancy.
923
00:39:37,667 --> 00:39:40,734
Their two sets of DNA
are then intermingled
924
00:39:40,867 --> 00:39:43,767
throughout the body.
925
00:39:43,900 --> 00:39:46,533
If Lydia Fairchild
was a chimera,
926
00:39:46,667 --> 00:39:49,200
it could explain
how her biological children
927
00:39:49,333 --> 00:39:51,734
have different DNA.
928
00:39:51,867 --> 00:39:54,066
They would have
inherited one set of DNA
929
00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:56,133
from one area
of her body,
930
00:39:56,266 --> 00:39:58,367
while the
laboratory sampled
931
00:39:58,500 --> 00:40:00,300
other areas
that contained a completely
932
00:40:00,433 --> 00:40:02,266
different set of DNA.
933
00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:05,400
The problem with chimerism
is that you have to actually
934
00:40:05,533 --> 00:40:07,767
do biopsies
from different body organs --
935
00:40:07,900 --> 00:40:10,467
liver, kidney,
intestine, perhaps --
936
00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:14,000
and find out
if all of them contain
937
00:40:14,133 --> 00:40:16,900
the same genetic material
as we check in the blood.
938
00:40:17,033 --> 00:40:20,600
William Shatner:
Lydia was sent back
for more DNA tests.
939
00:40:20,734 --> 00:40:23,133
This time, they took samples
from all over her body.
940
00:40:25,266 --> 00:40:28,500
And my hair,
blood and swabs from my cheek
941
00:40:28,633 --> 00:40:30,467
came back
as the same DNA,
942
00:40:30,600 --> 00:40:33,467
but my cervical smear
came back as a different DNA,
943
00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:36,233
and it was actually the DNA
that matched my children.
944
00:40:38,033 --> 00:40:39,800
The chimera theory
was confirmed.
945
00:40:39,934 --> 00:40:41,333
Incredibly,
946
00:40:41,467 --> 00:40:44,500
Lydia Fairchild
has two sets of DNA,
947
00:40:44,633 --> 00:40:48,333
the DNA in Lydia's ovaries
being completely different
948
00:40:48,467 --> 00:40:52,100
from the DNA found
in the rest of her body.
949
00:40:52,233 --> 00:40:54,567
David Chitayat:
Lydia Fairchild shows
950
00:40:54,700 --> 00:40:56,033
that DNA testing,
951
00:40:56,166 --> 00:40:58,567
fingerprinting,
may not be perfect.
952
00:40:58,700 --> 00:41:00,800
So, what happened in her
953
00:41:00,934 --> 00:41:04,600
was that
the ovaries were produced
954
00:41:04,734 --> 00:41:08,133
by different cells
than the cells that produced
955
00:41:08,266 --> 00:41:10,967
the white blood cells
and the platelets in her blood.
956
00:41:11,100 --> 00:41:14,066
Lydia Fairchild:
And your ovaries are
what holds your eggs.
957
00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:16,700
So, when your egg comes down
and then you get pregnant,
958
00:41:16,834 --> 00:41:20,033
your child is gonna carry
the DNA that's in your ovaries.
959
00:41:20,166 --> 00:41:22,500
William Shatner:
Amazingly, Lydia's children
960
00:41:22,633 --> 00:41:24,633
had inherited their DNA
961
00:41:24,767 --> 00:41:28,734
from the non-identical twin
that Lydia's embryo fused with
962
00:41:28,867 --> 00:41:31,433
just after
Lydia was conceived.
963
00:41:31,567 --> 00:41:34,600
There was
a final court hearing,
964
00:41:34,734 --> 00:41:36,934
and the judge,
965
00:41:37,066 --> 00:41:38,433
he granted me my children,
966
00:41:38,567 --> 00:41:40,000
that I am
the biological mom of my kids,
967
00:41:40,133 --> 00:41:42,500
and I remember crying
so bad that I finally won,
968
00:41:42,633 --> 00:41:44,000
after all that
fighting I did.
969
00:41:44,133 --> 00:41:46,533
I believe it was two-and-a-half
years I fought for my kids
970
00:41:46,667 --> 00:41:48,266
to keep them in my life.
971
00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:50,767
William Shatner:
Lydia's world
had been changed forever.
972
00:41:50,900 --> 00:41:54,500
She is one of only
about 40 people on the planet
973
00:41:54,633 --> 00:41:56,633
known to be a chimera.
974
00:41:56,767 --> 00:41:58,500
Lydia Fairchild:
If I never did that DNA test
975
00:41:58,633 --> 00:42:00,200
to determine if he was
the father or not,
976
00:42:00,333 --> 00:42:02,333
I would never have known today
that I was chimera.
977
00:42:02,467 --> 00:42:03,834
I mean,
I would never know.
978
00:42:03,967 --> 00:42:07,100
William Shatner:
Doctors believe
there are many more, as yet,
979
00:42:07,233 --> 00:42:09,000
unidentified
chimeras out there.
980
00:42:09,133 --> 00:42:11,400
Could someone you know
981
00:42:11,533 --> 00:42:13,367
have an extra set of DNA
982
00:42:13,500 --> 00:42:15,400
they got from
their own embryonic twin
983
00:42:15,533 --> 00:42:17,166
without them even knowing it?
984
00:42:18,700 --> 00:42:20,633
Weird, or what?
985
00:42:34,934 --> 00:42:36,300
So, there we have it --
986
00:42:36,433 --> 00:42:38,333
three weird stories,
987
00:42:38,467 --> 00:42:41,266
each with
several competing theories.
988
00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:43,867
A man undergoes a life-saving
heart transplant procedure
989
00:42:44,000 --> 00:42:46,033
but gets more
than he bargained for --
990
00:42:46,166 --> 00:42:47,533
a new organ
991
00:42:47,667 --> 00:42:50,967
and a new personality.
992
00:42:51,100 --> 00:42:53,500
Is this simply psychological
or the side effects
993
00:42:53,633 --> 00:42:55,533
of medicinal drugs?
994
00:42:55,667 --> 00:42:59,567
Or can the heart or even
individual human cells
995
00:42:59,700 --> 00:43:01,633
store a person's memories
996
00:43:01,767 --> 00:43:03,400
and characteristics?
997
00:43:03,533 --> 00:43:05,800
Around the world,
998
00:43:05,934 --> 00:43:07,467
perfect, beautiful,
spinning circles of ice
999
00:43:07,600 --> 00:43:10,734
forming in
lakes and rivers --
1000
00:43:10,867 --> 00:43:14,567
are they the winter cousins
of the infamous crop circle?
1001
00:43:14,700 --> 00:43:17,066
Or does science
have the answers?
1002
00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:18,967
A mother is revealed to be
1003
00:43:19,100 --> 00:43:21,166
genetically unrelated
to her own children.
1004
00:43:21,300 --> 00:43:23,734
Is she trying
to commit fraud,
1005
00:43:23,867 --> 00:43:27,066
or is she the victim
of a series of DNA mix-ups,
1006
00:43:27,200 --> 00:43:31,166
or are we
dealing with a rare
1007
00:43:31,300 --> 00:43:33,734
and extraordinary
genetic oddity?
1008
00:43:35,734 --> 00:43:38,166
Join me next time
for more stories
1009
00:43:38,300 --> 00:43:40,266
that will undoubtedly be...
1010
00:43:43,467 --> 00:43:45,433
weird, or what?
73599
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