Not Impossible

In this episode of the Not Impossible Podcast, host and Not Impossible Labs founder Mick Ebeling sits down with Dr. Bruce Rittmann, one of the world’s most influential environmental engineers, to explore a growing global problem hiding in plain sight: forever chemicals. Also known as PFAS, these man-made compounds are used in everyday products like non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and stain-resistant materials. They are designed to last, but that same durability means they do not naturally break down, allowing them to accumulate in water, food, and the human body. Dr. Rittmann explains how microorganisms, often overlooked by humans, can become powerful partners in addressing this challenge. By delivering electrons in the right way and using catalytic materials like palladium, his team has developed a process that does more than filter pollution or move it elsewhere. It chemically transforms some of the most persistent contaminants on Earth into compounds that can finally be broken down safely. Together, Mick and Dr. Rittmann unpack the science behind forever chemicals, the breakthrough moment that made this approach possible, and what it would take to scale this technology in real-world water treatment systems. From contaminated sites to drinking water facilities, this conversation explores how a problem once thought permanent may no longer be forever. TOPICS COVERED What forever chemicals are and why they are so difficult to break down How PFAS ended up in everyday products and the environment The role microorganisms play in transforming harmful pollutants What scaling this technology looks like in real-world water treatment systems

In this episode of the Not Impossible Podcast, host and Not Impossible Labs founder Mick Ebeling sits down with Dr. Warren Booth and Dr. Brenna Levine, the researchers who documented the first-ever confirmed virgin birth in a crocodile — a discovery that challenges one of the oldest assumptions we have about how life begins. Their work reveals a biological phenomenon called parthenogenesis, where a female animal reproduces without a male — a process found across reptiles, birds, sharks, and even entire species that no longer have males at all. This conversation unpacks how parthenogenesis works, why it evolves, and what this surprising crocodile case tells us about nature’s flexibility, resilience, and refusal to stay inside our human expectations. Topics Covered What parthenogenesis is (and why it’s not as rare as we think) How the team confirmed a virgin birth in an American crocodile Why the animal kingdom regularly breaks our “status quo” assumptions What this discovery means for evolution, genetics, and survival Subscribe for more episodes with world-changing thinkers, inventors, and doers. https://www.youtube.com/@notimpossiblelabs?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Not Impossible Labs: Website: https://www.notimpossible.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notimpossible  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/not-impossible Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notimpossiblelabs/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notimpossiblelabs_  Follow Mick Ebeling: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickebeling_  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickebeling  Book Mick to Speak: https://www.notimpossible.com/mickebeling Contact Mick’s team: [email protected]  About Not Impossible Labs: Not Impossible Labs is a multi-award-winning innovation lab and production company on a mission to create technology for the sake of humanity. Founded by Mick Ebeling, Not Impossible tackles seemingly impossible challenges - from creating eye-tracking devices for ALS patients to 3D-printing prosthetic arms in war zones. Our philosophy: Help One, Help Many.

In this episode of the Not Impossible Podcast, host and Not Impossible Labs founder Mick Ebeling sits down with Dr. Kimberly Budil, Director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, who oversaw the first-ever net positive nuclear fusion reaction, a milestone comparable to the Wright brothers’ first flight. Fusion has long lived in the realm of “someday science.” But as Dr. Budil explains, that someday is suddenly feeling a lot closer. Together, Mick and Dr. Budil unpack how 192 synchronized lasers, a gold cylinder, a diamond fuel capsule, and a tiny peppercorn-sized ball of hydrogen created one of the most important scientific achievements of our generation. This conversation dives deep into the physics, the story, and the future of fusion energy — and explores what it will take to turn this breakthrough into a real path toward limitless, clean, sustainable power. Topics Covered How the National Ignition Facility achieved the first net-positive fusion reaction Why fusion is “easy”… but sustained fusion is one of science’s hardest challenges The difference between laser fusion and magnetic fusion What it means to build an “X-ray oven” with gold, diamonds, and 192 laser beams How public-private partnerships could accelerate fusion from lab milestone to global energy source Why this moment is the “Wright Brothers flight” of clean energy

In this episode of the Not Impossible Podcast, host and Not Impossible Labs founder Mick Ebeling sits down with members of the SETI research team, who are exploring one of the most ambitious questions in science: How do you communicate with a mind that isn’t human? Their work begins here on Earth, decoding the complex songs, social structures, and communication systems of whales. They hope to uncover patterns that might help us someday recognize and understand intelligent life beyond our planet. This conversation dives into the intersection of biology, linguistics, technology, and imagination, revealing how studying the language of another species could become a blueprint for how humanity reaches out into the cosmos. Topics Covered How scientists capture and decode the communication patterns of whales What whale societies reveal about non-human intelligence How interspecies communication research informs the search for extraterrestrial life

In this episode of the Not Impossible Podcast, host and Not Impossible Labs founder Mick Ebeling sits down with Dr. Jaimie Henderson, a neurosurgeon and researcher at Stanford, whose work focuses on restoring brain function for people living with neurological conditions. This conversation explores how the brain learns, adapts, remembers, and sometimes rebuilds pathways once thought gone forever. Topics Covered The early history of neurostimulation (including the torpedo fish!) How brain-computer interfaces decode intention The emotional impact of restoring agency and independence The future of neurorehabilitation and motor recovery