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Episode Two: Our Skin, Our Armour
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Episode Two: Our Skin, Our Armour

It may be our last line of defence, but our skin can also leave us pretty vulnerable. Take it from the head nurse of a burn unit, a Tanzanian with albinism, and someone who makes bulletproof skin. They (and others) help answer the question, just how tough is our skin, really?
CBC News ·
(Illustration by Ben Shannon)
Listen to the full episode27:24

It may be our last line of defence, but our skin can also leave us pretty vulnerable. Take it from the head nurse of a burn unit, a Tanzanian with albinism, and someone who makes bulletproof skin. They (and others) help answer the question, just how tough is our skin, really?

"If you create bullet proof skin, somebody will create a better weapon, a better bullet."

                                                                                 - Jalila Essaïdi, director of BioArt Laboratories

This episode airs on Monday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 9 at 9:30 a.m. on CBC Radio One.

Guests in order of appearance:

Axe-thrower Megan Rideout (click here to see her sweary tattoo.)

Marc Meyers, Distinguished Professor of Materials Science at UC San Diego, and co-author of "On the Tear Resistance of Skin"

Writer Kathleen Hale, author of "The Human Repair Shop"

Captain Mollie Christiansen, head nurse of the Burn Progressive Care Unit at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research

Writer Carly Findlay

Writer Emily Urquhart

Activist Josephat Torner

Jalila Essaïdi, director of BioArt Laboratories

Special music thanks to Kira May for composing our theme, and to Height with Friends, Newton Balloon, and Ryan Little from the Free Music Archive. 

Illustration by Ben Shannon