140. Aphotic

Emily and Kyle plumb the depths this week—literally and linguistically—as they explore the word aphotic and the eerie world it describes beneath the ocean’s surface.

From Greek roots to Victorian bacteria reports, our hosts trace the word’s journey into scientific language, uncovering how aphotic came to define a zone of the deep sea. Emily describes the disinfectant powers of sunlight, and sheds light on bioluminescence and the glowing tricks of deep-sea predators.

And yes, we’re talking anglerfish—from glowing lures to one unexpected viral goodbye, it turns out even the darkest depths can catch the spotlight.