Sean Rameswaram

This is a promotional video from the company that made these wolves, Colossal. And in the video, you can see these gorgeous little white pups.

This is a promotional video from the company that made these wolves, Colossal. And in the video, you can see these gorgeous little white pups.

The pups, who are now more than six months old, were made by taking the DNA of a grey wolf and then tweaking 14 genes in it to make them bigger, give them lighter coats, have larger teeth and jaws than a grey wolf would have. And when folks found out about these animals, there was this huge media buzz with headlines plastered all over the place.

The pups, who are now more than six months old, were made by taking the DNA of a grey wolf and then tweaking 14 genes in it to make them bigger, give them lighter coats, have larger teeth and jaws than a grey wolf would have. And when folks found out about these animals, there was this huge media buzz with headlines plastered all over the place.

One of the wolves even made the cover of Time magazine with the line, quote, "'He's a dire wolf, the first to exist in 10,000 years. Endangered species could be changed forever.'" But is that right? Did scientists really bring back the dire wolf? What exactly is going on here? And is this a good idea? Or could it have dire consequences?

One of the wolves even made the cover of Time magazine with the line, quote, "'He's a dire wolf, the first to exist in 10,000 years. Endangered species could be changed forever.'" But is that right? Did scientists really bring back the dire wolf? What exactly is going on here? And is this a good idea? Or could it have dire consequences?

That's what our friends over at Today Explained wanted to know. So today, we're going to share their episode looking into this. After the break, co-host of Today Explained, Sean Ramaswaran, will take it from here.

That's what our friends over at Today Explained wanted to know. So today, we're going to share their episode looking into this. After the break, co-host of Today Explained, Sean Ramaswaran, will take it from here.

That animal looks like a direwolf, it will behave like a direwolf, and it is a direwolf.

That animal looks like a direwolf, it will behave like a direwolf, and it is a direwolf.

That was Today Explained, which is made by Vox. Today Explained comes out every day and digs into all sorts of stuff in the news, from direwolves to doomsday preppers, allergies to baby Botox. You can find them wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Wendy Zuckerman, and regular science besties will be back next week. I'll fact you then.

That was Today Explained, which is made by Vox. Today Explained comes out every day and digs into all sorts of stuff in the news, from direwolves to doomsday preppers, allergies to baby Botox. You can find them wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Wendy Zuckerman, and regular science besties will be back next week. I'll fact you then.

The crashes. An American Airlines flight with 64 people on board colliding midair with a Blackhawk military helicopter.

The crashes. An American Airlines flight with 64 people on board colliding midair with a Blackhawk military helicopter.

The crashes. An American Airlines flight with 64 people on board colliding midair with a Blackhawk military helicopter.

It has been nearly one year since the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 was signed into law. I was proud to co-lead that effort in the Senate. I was proud to help get it across the finish line.

It has been nearly one year since the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 was signed into law. I was proud to co-lead that effort in the Senate. I was proud to help get it across the finish line.

It has been nearly one year since the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 was signed into law. I was proud to co-lead that effort in the Senate. I was proud to help get it across the finish line.

Hello, my name is Sean Romsferum, and I'm one of the hosts of Today Explained, and I'm here to ask you for a favor. The Today Explained team is planning for the future of the show, and we want our listeners to be a part of that future. So we're asking you to help us out by filling out a brief survey.

Hello, my name is Sean Romsferum, and I'm one of the hosts of Today Explained, and I'm here to ask you for a favor. The Today Explained team is planning for the future of the show, and we want our listeners to be a part of that future. So we're asking you to help us out by filling out a brief survey.