2.5.25 Tariffs on hold, a pause on USAID funding, and studying the odor of corpse flowers

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The World and Everything In It" – Episode 2.5.25

Title: Tariffs on Hold, a Pause on USAID Funding, and Studying the Odor of Corpse Flowers
Host: WORLD Radio
Release Date: February 5, 2025

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Introduction

In episode 2.5.25 of "The World and Everything In It," WORLD Radio delves into pressing global issues, ranging from international trade tensions and foreign aid funding freezes to the unique phenomenon of corpse flowers. Hosted by Lindsay Mast and Nick Iker, the episode features insightful discussions with experts and commentators, enriched with notable quotes and analyses.

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1. International Trade and Tariffs

Key Discussions:

• US-China Trade Relations: President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods and Beijing's retaliatory tariffs on American products, including oil, coal, and natural gas.
• US-Mexico-Canada Agreements: The temporary halt of tariffs on Mexico and Canada following their commitments to enhance border security and combat fentanyl smuggling.
• Economic Implications: Experts debate the effectiveness and economic impact of using tariffs as bargaining tools, with perspectives on market reactions and long-term investment.

Notable Quotes:

• Lindsay Mast [00:05]: "President Donald Trump brings neighbors and rivals to the bargaining table and they want to make a deal."
• Eric Schaller [00:31]: "I knew it was going to smell like something. I just didn't know it was gonna smell that bad."

Expert Insights:

• Kent Covington [07:27]: Emphasizes the necessity of tariffs to curb drug smuggling and illegal immigration, stating, "We have to stop fentanyl from coming in, whether I like somebody or not."
• Leo Briseno [08:57]: Discusses the economic uncertainty caused by tariffs, noting that "Business investment may be significantly affected as companies navigate the unpredictable market conditions."

Analysis: The episode explores the strategic use of tariffs by the Trump administration as a means to enforce trade balance and address security concerns. While Mexico and Canada have temporarily paused tariffs by agreeing to increased border measures, the ongoing tariff war with China presents a complex scenario with mixed economic outcomes. Economists are divided on the long-term benefits versus the immediate costs to American consumers and businesses.

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2. USAID Funding Freeze and Its Global Impact

Key Discussions:

• Pause on Foreign Aid: The State Department's 90-day suspension of nearly all USAID funding, affecting various humanitarian and development projects worldwide.
• Impact on International Programs: Immediate cessation of critical services, including healthcare, education, and emergency response in countries like Nigeria, Ukraine, and Burma.
• Political Motivations and Consequences: The administration's accusation against USAID for funding "WOKE programs" and the broader implications for US soft power and global influence.

Notable Quotes:

• Onize Odua [14:55]: "There's a very real chance that some of the people who are receiving this assistance prior to the 90 days will not be alive by the end of it because they depend on that to live."
• Kataza Gondwe [14:55]: "The funding freeze has halted several ongoing projects and left some global aid groups uncertain of the way forward."

Expert Insights:

• Brian Mast [19:28]: Highlights the misuse of funds with statements like, "Half a million dollars to expand atheism in Nepal," underscoring concerns over the allocation of aid resources.
• Kataza Gondwe [14:55]: Details the vital role of US aid in supporting education, health systems, and small farmers, emphasizing the negative repercussions of the funding freeze.

Analysis: The funding freeze initiated by the Trump administration poses significant challenges to global aid initiatives, threatening lives and destabilizing essential services. Exemptions made for life-saving programs like PEPFAR are insufficient to mitigate the widespread disruptions. The episode underscores the tension between political agendas and humanitarian responsibilities, questioning the long-term impact on US credibility and international relations.

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3. The Curious Case of Corpse Flowers

Key Discussions:

• Biology and Behavior: An exploration of the Amorphophallus titanum, commonly known as the corpse flower, focusing on its unique blooming process and the offensive odors it emits to attract pollinators.
• Public Fascination: The cultural and scientific interest surrounding the rare and endangered plant, with thousands of enthusiasts awaiting its bloom.
• Scientific Research: Insights from molecular biologist Eric Schaller on the chemical compounds responsible for the corpse flower's smell.

Notable Quotes:

• Eric Schaller [23:25]: "Back in New Hampshire's Dartmouth University, the corpse flower plant grows from an underground potato-like corm to a 6-foot tall spadix hugged by a large pleated green spathe."
• Janie B. Cheney [28:29]: "As a caretaker of an Alzheimer's spouse, my life is pretty boring right now as I miss out on lots of things. But it's an opportunity for you to step in, right?"

Expert Insights:

• Eric Schaller [26:37]: Shares his firsthand experience: "I knew it was going to smell like something. I just didn't know it was gonna smell that bad," highlighting the intense odors during the bloom.
• Amy Lewis [28:03]: Describes public reactions: "Hoard of curious people lining up to see these huge, scarce, short-lived, stinky, heat-producing plants."

Analysis: The corpse flower serves as a fascinating case study in plant biology and human curiosity. Its rare and brief blooming period, accompanied by potent odors, attracts a diverse crowd eager to experience the spectacle. Schaller's research sheds light on the molecular basis of the flower's smell, contributing to our understanding of plant-pollinator interactions. The episode juxtaposes scientific inquiry with the public's enduring intrigue, illustrating how nature's marvels continue to captivate and educate.

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4. Commentary on Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

Key Discussions:

• Understanding FOMO: Janie B. Cheney delves into the psychological underpinnings of FOMO, tracing its origins and its pervasive impact in the digital age.
• Personal Reflections: Cheney shares her personal experiences with FOMO, relating it to her role as a caretaker and finding solace in faith.
• Spiritual Antidotes: The discussion emphasizes grounding oneself in meaningful relationships and spiritual beliefs to combat the anxieties of missing out.

Notable Quotes:

• Janie B. Cheney [28:29]: "The more connected and informed the Internet makes us, the more disconnected and uninformed we can feel."
• Ephesians 2:10 [28:35]: "We are God's workmanship, created to walk in good works that he has appointed for us."

Expert Insights:

• Cheney's Personal Story [28:29]: Reflects on her struggle with FOMO during her youth and how social media exacerbates feelings of exclusion and envy.
• Spiritual Guidance [28:35]: Cheney draws on biblical passages to provide a counter-narrative to the societal pressures of FOMO, encouraging listeners to focus on their divine purpose and community.

Analysis: The segment on FOMO offers a contemplative look at modern anxieties stemming from constant connectivity and societal expectations. By intertwining psychological insights with personal anecdotes and spiritual wisdom, Cheney presents a holistic approach to overcoming the fear of missing out. The discussion underscores the importance of intentional living and faith-based coping mechanisms in a world inundated with information and social comparison.

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5. Brief Economic Updates: Egg Prices

Key Discussions:

• Rising Egg Prices: A light-hearted segment on the surge in egg prices, with reports from local shoppers and supermarket owners.
• Economic Indicators: The mention of the "Waffle House Index" as a quirky metric to gauge economic health based on the availability of everyday goods.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Vickers [21:51]: "It's the first time in my life that I've ever had to be kind of embarrassed on what I'm selling eggs for."
• Nick Iker [22:19]: "The dead whale smells worse."

Analysis: Amidst serious discussions on trade and foreign aid, the episode includes a snapshot of everyday economic challenges, such as rising consumer goods prices. This segment provides a relatable touch, highlighting how macroeconomic policies trickle down to affect ordinary citizens' daily lives.

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Conclusion

Episode 2.5.25 of "The World and Everything In It" offers a comprehensive overview of significant global issues, blending hard-hitting political analysis with intriguing scientific explorations and personal reflections. From the complexities of international trade wars and the ramifications of halting foreign aid to the mesmerizing allure of corpse flowers and the psychological impacts of FOMO, the episode delivers a multifaceted perspective on the forces shaping our world. Listeners are left with a deeper understanding of these diverse topics, presented through engaging narratives and expert commentary.

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Notable Contributors:

• Hosts: Lindsay Mast, Nick Iker
• Reporters & Experts: Kent Covington, Eric Schaller, Leo Briseno, Onize Odua, Amy Lewis, Janie B. Cheney

Listeners Support: This podcast is a product of listener-supported WORLD Radio, committed to providing sound journalism grounded in God's Word.

Transcript

[Lindsay Mast]

Good morning. President Donald Trump brings neighbors and rivals to the bargaining table and they want.

[Kent Covington]

To make a deal. Let me tell you, in all cases, they all want to make deals.

[Nick Iker]

Trade wars and rumors of trade wars ahead on Washington Wednesday. Also today, how is the government funding freeze affecting international aid programs? A world tour special report. And the curious corpse flowers. Smells like it sounds and some people can't get enough apparently.

[Eric Schaller]

I knew it was going to smell like something. I just didn't know it was gonna smell that bad.

[Nick Iker]

And commentator Janie B. Cheney on FOMO.

[Lindsay Mast]

It's Wednesday, February 5th. This is the world and everything in it from listener Supported World Radio. I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Nick Iker]

And I'm Nick Iker. Good morning.

[Lindsay Mast]

Up next, Kent Covington with today's news.

[Kent Covington]

Thank you very much. Reporters packed the East Room on Tuesday for a joint press conference centered on challenges facing the Middle East. Prime Minister Netanyahu said to secure his country's future and bring peace to the region. Israel has three goals in Gaza, destroy Hamas military and governing capabilities, secure the release of all of our hostages, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel. For his part, President Trump surprised many at the White House by proposing that in his words, to break the cycle of death and destruction in Gaza, the United States should take ownership of the Gaza Strip to rebuild and develop the territory. This was not a decision made lightly. Everybody I've spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent. Trump said he had discussed the idea with leaders from Middle Eastern countries who responded positively. And Netanyahu said he believes it is worth exploring. The president also announced that the US Is withdrawing from what he called the, quote, anti semitic Human Rights Council. And he said the US Is ending support for the UN Palestinian relief agency, known as unra. Trump said the group had funneled money to Hamas. President Trump on Tuesday also announced today, I also took action to restore our maximum pressure policy on the Iranian regime and we will once again enforce the most aggressive possible sanctions. Trump repeatedly said that he hated to do it, adding that he hopes concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions can be resolved diplomatically. But he said whatever it takes, he will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. The White House is reacting to news that Beijing is hitting US Imports with tariffs in retaliation for new tariffs on Chinese goods. White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt said the US Is standing up to Beijing over the flow of fentanyl from China.

[Onize Odua]

Fentanyl is the leading cause of death amongst young people in this country aged.

[Kent Covington]

18 to 34, and it is the president's utmost responsibility to protect American lives. That's why he implemented the 10% tariff on China. President Trump also once again decried US trade deficits with China and said he's not worried about the retaliatory tariffs. Among other measures, Beijing will levy a 15% tax on U.S. coal and liquefied natural gas and a 10% tariff on crude oil and agricultural machinery. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Tuesday in El Salvador with President Nair Bukele, who offered to take in and jail hardened criminal illegal immigrants in the US Regardless of their nationality. It's a very generous offer. No one's ever made an offer like that and to outsource at a fraction of the cost at least some of the most dangerous and violent criminals that we have in the United States. The White House says it is exploring whether it can legally accept that offer. One day earlier, Rubio met with leaders in Panama who agreed to key concessions regarding the Panama Canal. Those include waiving fees for American vessels and reducing China's influence in the operation of the canal. The Senate has confirmed Pam Bondi as US Attorney General. On this vote, the yeas are 54, the nays are 46. The nomination is confirmed. Bondi is a former Florida attorney general. She is expected to oversee a reshaping of a Justice Department that Bondi said had become politicized and weaponized under the prior administration. Democrats in the Senate, though, reject that view, and many expressed fears that Bondi would weaponize the department on President Trump's behalf and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Will likely become the nation's next health secretary. Mr. Chairman, the final tower is 14 ayes, 13 nays.

[Nick Iker]

The vote was 14 13. The nomination is reported favorably, the Senate.

[Kent Covington]

Finance Committee voting to advance his nomination on Tuesday. That came after Kennedy won the crucial swing vote of Republican Senator and Dr. Bill Cassidy, who was a gastroenterologist. The nominee agreed to a number of measures to assuage concerns over his past remarks about vaccines. The senator said that Kennedy and the Trump administration committed to a close working relationship with Cassidy. Aside from he and I meeting regularly, he will come before the HELP Committee on a quarterly basis if requested. He committed that the HELP Committee chair, whether it's me or someone else, may choose a representative on any board or commission formed to review vaccine safety. Meantime, the Senate Intelligence Committee voted behind closed doors to advance the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be director of National Intelligence. That was another party line vote, 9 to 8. Her final confirmation on the Senate floor is expected, but not assured. Several Republicans have voiced concerns. I'm Kent Covington. And straight ahead, using tariffs as bargaining chips. Plus how international aid programs are responding to the U.S. funding freeze. This is the World and Everything in it.

[Lindsay Mast]

It's Wednesday, the 5th of February. Glad to have you along for today's edition of the World and Everything In It. Good morning. I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Nick Iker]

And I'm Nick Iker. Well, Lindsay, two days in a row now for corrections. Yesterday, I, I guess I was in a Texas state of mind because my brain and my tongue were just going separate ways. I misspoke about Governor Sam Brownback's faithful service. It was not to Texas, as I said inexplicably, but of course to Kansas. Brownback served as governor of Kansas and before that represented Kansas in the U.S. senate. I knew this. My mouth apparently, though, did not get the memo. So my apologies to him and a reminder to myself to double check the itinerary before sending my word on the next road trip.

[Lindsay Mast]

Well, let's road trip now to D.C. it's time for Washington Wednesday. Over the weekend, President Trump ordered the US Government to impose tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico.

[Kent Covington]

We've had good relationships, but we have to stop fentanyl from coming in, whether I like somebody or not. And we have to stop the illegal aliens from coming in. I think.

[Nick Iker]

The tariffs were set to go into effect on Tuesday, but by Monday night, Mexico and Canada both had made deals with the US to put them on pause for a month. So what did America's neighbors put on the table to satisfy the dealmaker in chief? Washington bureau reporter Leo Briseno has our story.

[Leo Briseno]

The tariffs Trump unveiled on Saturday would have slapped goods made in Mexico and Canada with duties of 25%, driving up the price of everything from cars to lumber. Both countries promised to retaliate with their own tariffs on products made in America. But then Trump announced a pause right after Mexico promised to increase its border security measures.

[Kent Covington]

And they've agreed to put in 10,000 soldiers permanently, like forever, 10,000 soldiers at their side of the border and stop fentanyl and illegal aliens from coming into our country. They have a big incentive to do.

[Leo Briseno]

Meanwhile, Canada has pledged to implement a $1.3 billion border plan, send 10,000 personnel to the border, and create a new fentanyl czar position. In return, President Trump granted both countries a one month pause to implementing the tariffs. What's unclear is how much in the deals is new versus what Mexico and Canada were already working on. Erica York is vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation.

[Lindsay Mast]

We've seen the deals that have been announced that were already mostly announced back in December.

[Leo Briseno]

For example, Mexico already increased the number of National Guard troops stationed at the border, and then up north.

[Lindsay Mast]

Canada has maybe agreed to create, like, one new position for border czar. Is the threat of a trade war really what was necessary to get, you know, one more incremental change in border policy? Could that have been done with a phone call that doesn't come with all of these economic downsides? I think, you know, the tool is not right for the policy goal here.

[Leo Briseno]

President Trump has said the tariffs could go into effect in March if Mexico and Canada fail to take more steps to prevent illegal immigration and drug smuggling. So how does this uncertainty around tariffs affect the economy? Markets took a small hit, but rebounded once the deals were announced. York is watching to see what happens to business investment.

[Lindsay Mast]

So we've got studies from the last time we saw Trump try this back in 2018 and 2019. And while uncertainty isn't as harmful as the actual tariff itself, uncertainty does have an economic cost.

[Leo Briseno]

She says that when businesses don't know what's going to happen next, they tend to freeze.

[Lindsay Mast]

And that's why we see investment fall and GDP fall, even if the tariffs don't take effect. You can see some of that pause, some of that slowdown. It has a really chilling effect.

[Leo Briseno]

Other economists push back.

[Kent Covington]

The purpose of the tariff is to handicap the imports, to allow the domestic sector to grow. And domestically, you get more jobs, more investment, and greater productivity.

[Leo Briseno]

That's Jeff Ferry, chief economist emeritus at the Coalition for a Prosperous America. He supports the use of tariffs and not merely as a bargaining chip, but as a tool to force companies with a foot in two world to plant themselves squarely in the United States.

[Kent Covington]

The problem is we import too much, we consume too much. We need to get that under control. We need our economy to focus more on production and less on consumption.

[Leo Briseno]

The challenge is that while the US Imports a lot of consumer goods, the majority of imports are goods used for production, meaning that products labeled Made in America would also be affected by tariffs. But some consumers seem willing to watch and see, at least for now. Tyler Evans, a shopper in Pennsylvania, says he's open to seeing what kinds of returns the country can get on its gamble.

[Kent Covington]

Initially, right now, you know, like Canada and Mexico, the tariffs on them are basically so that they can help us out with some of the fentanyl and some of the problems that are coming through. But I don't think, I don't think the tariffs will be too bad.

[Leo Briseno]

Whether tariffs help more than they hurt, there's a very real political cost, and that's something that worries at least some Republicans who have spoken out about their disagreements with the administration. Here's former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on 60 Minutes this week.

[Kent Covington]

It will drive the cost of everything up. In other words, it'll be paid for by American consumers.

[Nick Iker]

I mean, why would you want to.

[Kent Covington]

Get in a fight with your allies over there?

[Leo Briseno]

Economists are divided on what President Trump's tariff war with China cost the United States during his first term, but Ferry believes it was small enough to calm fears about a new round of tariffs.

[Kent Covington]

What we know from studies that were done of the tariffs levied in 2018 and 2019 is that the price increases were very small in specific sectors of 20% tariff led to about a 2% increase in price in that specific good. And overall inflation did not rise in 2019. It actually fell slightly after Donald Trump levied what were the largest tariff increases since the 1930s.

[Leo Briseno]

While trade with Mexico and Canada is in the clear for now, a new tariff war with China got underway yesterday. The US imposed 10% duties on all Chinese goods and Beijing responded with the 10% tariff on American oil plus a 15% tariff on coal and natural gas. Reporters asked the president if China would make a deal to end the tariffs.

[Kent Covington]

We'll have some good meetings with China. We have meetings planned and we'll see what happens. But that was just an opening salvo. If we can't make a deal with China, then the tariffs will be very, very substantial.

[Leo Briseno]

Reporting for world, I'm Leo Brasano.

[Kent Covington]

Additional support comes from Ridge Haven Camp and Retreat centers in Brevard, North Carolina, and Cono, Iowa. Camp and year round retreat [e-mail] from Dort University offering thoughtful reflections on engaging with the modern world through a Christian lens. Dort eduinallthings and from Pensacola Christian College, Academic Excellence Biblical Worldview Affordable Cost. Go pcci. Edu World.

[Nick Iker]

Coming up next on THE WORLD and everything in at a World Tour special report. Days after President Donald Trump assumed office, the State Department froze U.S. funding for nearly all foreign aid programs.

[Lindsay Mast]

The 90 day pause has halted several ongoing projects and left some global aid groups uncertain of the way forward. Here's World's Africa reporter Onize Adua with the story.

[Onize Odua]

Late in December, Adeboro Odungami started researching for her upcoming gig as a research consultant. The project involved studying how human rights are respected online across dozens of countries and then pushing for policy changes to address the issues. Adunlami's part of the project focused on Nigeria. Even though I hadn't signed a contract, I already started gathering my data gathering, doing my research like underground based research. If I started following the news more closely to gather data on what I will impute in the research. But shortly after she formally began in January, Adon Lami received a stop work notice last week. I think my element of shock might have come from not knowing that this organization that I was working with was actually maybe like had been US funded. The US is the world's single largest provider of foreign aid and development assistance. The US disbursed $72 billion in foreign aid support in 2023. The funding freeze had a nearly immediate impact on ongoing global projects, from Adulami's research to a crisis hotline supporting veterans in Ukraine. Seven refugee hospitals in the conflict hit Burma have also closed down, citing the freeze. There's a very real chance that some of the people who are receiving this assistance prior to the 90 days will not be alive by the end of it because they depend on that to live. Kataza Gondwe is the team lead for Africa and the Middle east at Christian Solidarity Worldwide. I'm also aware that the money from the US and particularly usaid, which seems to be in the crosshairs of this, has helped to pay for school lunches, it supported girls education and has strengthened health systems as I said earlier, and it also helps small farmers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later announced some exceptions to the funding freeze. It excludes some life saving aid and eventually extended to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS relief, or PEPFAR. The program is credited with saving some 25 million people globally across 55 countries. Some aid groups have said the exemptions don't extend to funding for clean water, sanitation and health care. Last week, an early warning system for predicting famine globally also went offline. Gondwe said a crucial part of the US funds include its global soft power influence when programs for not just hiv, et cetera, but also human rights and religious freedom and democracy are imperiled. This actually undermines the US's security itself and even as sort of bad actors continue to be bad actors and continue possibly to repress even more than they did before. And also the bad actors are gaining ground in countries where they would not have ordinarily had an influence because they're stepping in to fill a void that the US would be leaving. President Donald Trump said the suspension will allow his administration time to review all the humanitarian, education, development and security programs that the US Funds. The current administration has also accused the US Agency for International Development, or usaid, of funding so called WOKE programs globally. The waivers also don't extend to programs that cover abortion, family planning or diversity, equity and inclusion. The future of USAID is still uncertain beyond the 90 day pause. The agency's website went offline over the weekend. Employees also received orders to stay out of the Washington headquarters on Monday. Meanwhile, the State Department is also under the spotlight for alleged waste. US Republican Representative Brian Mast chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which provides oversight of the State Department. He says less than 30 cents of every dollar earmarked for aid through the State Department actually goes towards aid like food and medicine. He appeared this weekend on CBS's Face the Nation.

[Kent Covington]

Let's list them off.

[Nick Iker]

Half a million dollars to expand atheism in Nepal.

[Kent Covington]

$50,000 to do let's see a transgender opera in Colombia.

[Leo Briseno]

$47,000 to do an LGBTQ trans comic book in Peru. $20,000 a pop to do drag shows in Ecuador.

[Onize Odua]

Back in Nigeria, State Minister for Health Dr. Isiak Salakor said the paused aid serves as a wake up call for the country to restrategize. He said authorities plan to increase domestic funding for the country's health sector. Adunami agrees everybody should sit up at the end of the day. We have a government that is supposed to take care of the HIV patients and all the other things that UK Aid, usaid, Canada aid are doing. I also think that the Global south should see. Countries in the Global south, especially in Africa, should see and begin to prioritize their own people as well. It's still uncertain whether many of the programs might return after the 90 days. In the meantime, Adulami sees this season as providing a challenge for Christians in Nigeria. If you consider yourself a good person in the land to take these foreign policy changes as an opportunity, not as something to always just like complain about and lament over. But it's an opportunity for you to step in right? A gap has been created and you can step in at like the most local level. Reporting for World I'm Onize Odua in Abuja, Nigeria.

[Nick Iker]

The federal government has a rule of thumb known as the Waffle House Index to gauge the severity of local disasters. Waffle Houses are famously always open. So just to rehash if the Waffle House is open, all good. If it's closed, yikes. So looking to Waffle House, we have egg price news with the breakfast giant tacking on a temporary 50 cent per egg surcharge. You may have noticed how much you have to shell out these days. Mike Vickers runs a supermarket in Minneapolis.

[Kent Covington]

It's the first time in my life that I've ever had to be kind of embarrassed on what I'm selling eggs for.

[Nick Iker]

Prices are not quite, quite as high as they were last year around this time, but the US city average has cracked $4 a dozen.

[Onize Odua]

I even said to myself, I'm like, this is blasphemy. It's just robbery.

[Kent Covington]

You know, it's really expensive.

[Nick Iker]

Yeah, only if you worship them, so don't do that. But when economic problems show up on the Waffle House menu, it's time to scramble for alternatives.

[Lindsay Mast]

Ugh. Extra bad yolks.

[Nick Iker]

It's the world and everything in it. Today is Wednesday, February 5th. Thank you for turning to world radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Nick Iger.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. Coming next on the World and everything in it, the smell of death. The Amorphophallus titanum, known much more commonly as the corpse flower, is considered endangered. There are only about 1,000 of the stinky plants plants left. They're on display in botanical gardens around the world. And each time one blooms, thousands of people wait in line for hours for a whiff, demanding an answer. Why? World correspondent Amy Lewis talked with a biologist who has studied the phenomenon.

[Nick Iker]

If you put your hand up against basically feels like body temperature. So it is fairly feels animal like.

[Eric Schaller]

In that respect, molecular biologist and weird horror fiction author Eric Schaller is no stranger to death.

[Nick Iker]

My dad's a wildlife biologist. I grew up around dead animals. I mean things he would collect so that was there would be skulls on the roof of our house.

[Eric Schaller]

In other countries, Schaller works with plants instead of animals. But he's been fascinated with the corpse flower since he studied one nine years ago at New Hampshire's Dartmouth University. Besides heating up to body temperature, the corpse flower plant grows from an underground potato like Corm to a 6 foot tall Spadix hugged by a large pleated green Spathe. In just two weeks. Then for only 24 hours, the Spathe turns a deep meaty red and unfurls. The whole thing warms up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and exudes a deathlike stench that attracts carrion, beetles, flies and scientists.

[Nick Iker]

There's been a fair amount of analysis of what the gas composition was that is emitted to mimic rotting odor smells.

[Eric Schaller]

But Schaller couldn't find any studies on the molecular biology of the plant, basically how it stinks. So he jumped at the chance to study it when a corpse flower corm in the greenhouse at Dartmouth showed signs of blooming.

[Nick Iker]

So I got there around midnight and had liquid nitrogen containers, collected tissue samples from various parts of the inflorescence and was saving those. And then I went back over several more nights to collect further samples.

[Eric Schaller]

For the next few years, Schaller collected samples every time one of the university's corpse flowers bloomed. But spending even a little time in a greenhouse with a plant that exudes putrid smells has unintended consequences.

[Nick Iker]

When I'm up there, there's a shirt that gets rank with odor. But then if I'm trying to sleep for an hour or two, then I have a separate set of shirts for that. And when I go home, basically my wife says, yeah, I have to get rid of all my clothes. I put them on.

[Eric Schaller]

The smell doesn't stop hoards of curious people from lining up to see these huge, scarce, short lived, stinky, heat producing plants.

[Nick Iker]

Kids get drawn, I mean things that smell bad, you bring your friends over and say this really stinks sort of thing. So it's an extreme sensation and we want to see a little bit more what it's like.

[Eric Schaller]

That was Certainly true for 12 year old Hudson Manzaris from Geelong, Australia. He walked to the Botanic Gardens after school to see their specimen late last.

[Onize Odua]

Year because we seen on the Internet that it smells like corpse and stuff and we wanted to see if it was blooming or not.

[Eric Schaller]

Todd Coleman visited the greenhouse after work. He used to live in a funeral home where he sometimes smelled what the flower is named for. He's curious if the corpse flower will live up to its name.

[Nick Iker]

I would assume not a lot of people would want to experience because it smells terrible. But that's why I want to experience.

[Kent Covington]

It because it's so different and unique.

[Eric Schaller]

For the next 24 hours, 20,000 people wait in a line that snakes past a pond, out the gates and around a parking lot. From grandparents with walkers to parents pushing babies in strollers, everyone slowly files past to see smell and take a selfie with this odoriferous phenomenon. I knew it was going to smell like something, I just didn't know it was going to smell that bad.

[Onize Odua]

The dead whale smells worse.

[Leo Briseno]

It smells like kangaroo. That's like I was going to say, you know.

[Eric Schaller]

Conversations dwindle as the visitors finally enter the greenhouse doors to file past the corpse flower. The time of visitation has finally come. This is so exciting.

[Onize Odua]

It's like a revolution.

[Eric Schaller]

Back in New Hampshire. Schaller's team proved and recently published their hypotheses about the amino acid methionine and putrescine, the bad smell that decomposing bodies produce.

[Nick Iker]

The novel discovery was really putrescine as being a component of the odor. Putrescine had not been previously identified because it tends to break down.

[Eric Schaller]

His discoveries don't change anything. For the crowd waiting to see the corpse flower. They want to see and smell something macabre and have a unique experience.

[Kent Covington]

Just that little moment. I mean, I mean now we can.

[Onize Odua]

Say like, hey, I saw a cauliflower.

[Leo Briseno]

In bloom and it'll waft of hot air and then a smell.

[Eric Schaller]

And even if they have to stand in line for a really long time. Reporting for world, I'm Amy Lewis in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

[Nick Iker]

Today is Wednesday, February 5th. Good morning, this is the World and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Nick Iker.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. Ephesians 2:10 says, we are God's workmanship, created to walk in good works that he has appointed for us. World commentator Janie B. Cheney says, when we walk those paths, we need not fear Missing out.

[Janie B. Cheney]

The first time I heard of fomo, I thought, ah, yes, I know that feeling. FOMO stands for Fear of Missing out, defined by Merriam Webster as fear of not being included in something, such as an interesting or enjoyable activity that others are experiencing. The term dates from 2004, coined by author Patrick J. McGinnis in an article published by Harbis, the Journal of Harvard Business School. The concept was identified in 1996, defined by Dr. Dan Herman, a PhD in psychology and a marketing strategist who conducts business seminars on how to use FOMO in supposedly positive ways. That's the origin of the term and the concept, but the thing itself probably goes back to the beginning of time. The serpent seemed to leverage the fear of missing out to great effect while tempting Eve. But here's another example a bit closer to home, a snapshot from my youth. During my junior year in high school, I was adopted by a group of gal pals for the first time. Up until then, I was shy and insular at school, living mostly in my own head with these girls. I could hang out at Pizza Inn, pretendingly tending to smoke, harmonize with Dionne Warwick on the radio, laugh at private jokes, and struggle to stay awake during sleepovers. But one sunny afternoon, I was leaving my house when a familiar mercury cougar sped by and didn't stop. The four girls inside waved and shouted greetings they were going somewhere fun without me. I was going somewhere with my mother. The FOMO cut deep. Friends. Decades later, I opened a Facebook account when Facebook was still cool. That old feeling came back from time to time when one of my 300 plus friends would post about their anniversary trip to Italy or the authors get together. I should have been invited to social media. As anyone could have guessed, exacerbates the anxiety for obsessive YouTube, Instagram or TikTok users. Ironically, the more connected and informed the Internet makes us, the more disconnected and uninformed we can feel. And maybe a bit envious too. Why can't I have some of that great life they're having? There's an antidote to that poison. As caretaker of an Alzheimer's spouse, my life is pretty boring right now as I miss out on lots of things. The question what's new? Gets the same answer most of the time, not much. Help my husband get dressed, empty his catheter, cook breakfast, throw something together for lunch. Keep an eye on him while he wanders around the house. Track down the things he moved. Same old, same old, waiting for the next step down in the inevitable decline. But sometimes, while drying him off after a shower, I remember Jesus washing feet. Sometimes while paying bills and calculating expenses, I think of the eternal inheritance waiting for me. Sometimes missing family members I can't get away to visit. Hebrews 5:11 comes to mind. As the NIV puts it, both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family, so Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. How can a member of Christ's family be missing out on anything that matters? I'm Janie Buccane.

[Nick Iker]

Tomorrow, a conversation with Paul Vaughn, one of the pro life advocates recently pardoned by President Trump. And we'll meet some Mississippi pro lifers who decided to do something about abandoned babies in their state. That and more tomorrow. I'm Nick Icar.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires the Bible records a scribe asking Jesus, which commandment is the most important of all? Jesus answered, the most important is Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Part of verse 28 through 31 of Mark, chapter 2012 go now in grace and peace.