Northern Philadelphia, 1989. FBI agent Judy Tyler is on the hunt. Her target? A local entrepreneur with a lucrative side hustle as a cocaine kingpin. From wiretaps to polygraphs to secret cameras, Judy has the Bureau's entire arsenal of tradecraft tricks at her disposal—but can she get her man before someone gets hurt?
By the end of the 1980s, it had been about 20 years since President Richard Nixon declared open season on the narcotics trade. But politics aren't on the mind of one young man weaving his way through this tight-knit Philly neighborhood. As an FBI informant he's got enough to worry about—including several criminal charges of his own.
His mission? To spend taxpayer dollars on Philadelphia's most affordable wrap of cocaine! The Bureau needs hard evidence of drug trafficking in the North Eighth Street neighborhood, and this sting is how they plan to get it. To ensure everything goes smoothly, the agency has hidden a recorder on their man and a surveillance van waits nearby.
As the bugged informant approaches the meeting point, Judy Tyler anxiously waits from her desk inside the William J. Green Federal Building. If things go south on North Eighth Street, her neck will be on the line.
Will his cover be blown? Join Judy Tyler in this week's podcast selection, 'The Philadelphia Wire', to find out!
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Art
A Museum You Can Hear
Is this architecture an instrument?
The Audeum (Audio Museum) in Seoul’s Gangnam district, designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates, presents sound as something you can see, touch, and feel! Constructed as an “architectural instrument,” the museum immerses visitors in a world where sound interacts with the senses, offering a multisensory audio journey.
Its striking exterior is wrapped in 20,000 aluminum louvers, creating shifting patterns of light and shadow that mimic the dappled glow of sunlight through trees. The structure harmonizes natural disorder and order, changing with the weather, time of day, and seasons. The design embraces the randomness of urban and natural landscapes and transforms how visitors perceive space and sound. More than just a space to listen, the Audeum is filled with sonic experiences, blending architecture, music, and sensory perception.
Image Credit: Kengo Kuma & Associates/Audeum
Science
A Hidden Arsenal
Is a key to fighting superbugs hiding in our cells?
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown part of the immune system. A potential goldmine for new antibiotics. The breakthrough centers on the proteasome, a structure in every cell that typically recycles old proteins. But researchers have uncovered a secret function: when bacteria infect a cell, the proteasome shifts roles, producing bacteria-killing compounds. The study, published in Nature, reveals that instead of simply breaking down proteins, the proteasome can transform them into tiny weapons that tear through bacterial defenses! This finding could open up new possibilities for tackling antibiotic-resistant superbugs, a growing threat to global health, and reshape our understanding of immunity.
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Could this new material help fight plastic pollution?
Scientists in Japan recently developed a new plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours, eliminating the risk of long-lasting microplastics. Created by researchers from RIKEN and the University of Tokyo, the innovative material breaks down into harmless natural monomers, unlike conventional plastics that persist for centuries.
Despite its rapid degradation, this plastic remains as strong and versatile as traditional materials, making it a viable alternative for everyday use. Not only could oceans benefit, but when buried in soil, the plastic decomposes within ten days, releasing phosphorus and nitrogen that enrich the earth—tackling pollution while supporting sustainable agriculture! If scaled up, the breakthrough could mark a significant step forward in reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste.
Image Credit: RIKEN
Technology
AI Vs. Rare Diseases
Can AI identify treatments for rare diseases?
Doctors had exhausted available treatments for a patient with Castleman disease, a rare disorder that causes extreme lymph node swelling and can lead to organ failure. With hospice care looming, a Penn Medicine immunologist turned to artificial intelligence in a last-ditch effort.
The AI tool, designed to match rare diseases with existing medications, analyzed the patient’s medical history and lab work. It identified a potential treatment: a TNF inhibitor, a drug typically used for rheumatoid arthritis. The results, detailed in the New England Journal of Medicine by Penn associate professor David Fajgenbaum, were surprising—the patient is in remission two and a half years later!
Image Credit: Shutterstock/ZinetroN
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