Ramteen Arablui

Victor Ibeez.

Victor Ibeez.

Victor Ibeez.

Fact-checking for this episode was done by Kevin Vogel.

Fact-checking for this episode was done by Kevin Vogel.

Fact-checking for this episode was done by Kevin Vogel.

Thank you to Casey Herman for his voiceover work. This episode was mixed by Andy Huther.

Thank you to Casey Herman for his voiceover work. This episode was mixed by Andy Huther.

Thank you to Casey Herman for his voiceover work. This episode was mixed by Andy Huther.

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Also, we want your voice on our show. Send us a voicemail at 872-588-8805 with your name, where you're from, and the line you're listening to ThruLine from NPR, and we'll get you on the show. That's 872-588-8805.

Also, we want your voice on our show. Send us a voicemail at 872-588-8805 with your name, where you're from, and the line you're listening to ThruLine from NPR, and we'll get you on the show. That's 872-588-8805.

Thanks for listening.

Thanks for listening.

Thanks for listening.

Around 200 BC, China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, feared death so badly that he sent an alchemist on voyages across the sea to search for a magic elixir that would give him immortality. After the alchemist disappeared at sea, the legend says the emperor took things into his own hands and died after drinking what he thought was a cure. Around 200 years later, another legend was born.

Around 200 BC, China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, feared death so badly that he sent an alchemist on voyages across the sea to search for a magic elixir that would give him immortality. After the alchemist disappeared at sea, the legend says the emperor took things into his own hands and died after drinking what he thought was a cure. Around 200 years later, another legend was born.

Around 200 BC, China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, feared death so badly that he sent an alchemist on voyages across the sea to search for a magic elixir that would give him immortality. After the alchemist disappeared at sea, the legend says the emperor took things into his own hands and died after drinking what he thought was a cure. Around 200 years later, another legend was born.

A holy grail that was thought to hold life-restoring powers for anyone who drank from it. There was the Philosopher's Stone, the Fountain of Youth. And then, in late December of 1899, a scientist named Eli Metchnikoff woke up in Paris to learn that he had done it. He had found the secret to eternal life.

A holy grail that was thought to hold life-restoring powers for anyone who drank from it. There was the Philosopher's Stone, the Fountain of Youth. And then, in late December of 1899, a scientist named Eli Metchnikoff woke up in Paris to learn that he had done it. He had found the secret to eternal life.