This episode explores the unexpected journey of a seemingly insignificant scientific discovery and its profound impact on various fields. The story begins with Hudson Freeze's early research in Yellowstone National Park, where he and his team discovered *Thermus aquaticus*, a bacterium thriving in extremely hot water, defying established scientific understanding. Against the backdrop of this discovery, the discussion pivots to the late 1970s and the work of Kary Mullis at Cetus Corporation, who, inspired by a unique vision, developed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique using the heat-resistant enzyme from *Thermus aquaticus*. More significantly, PCR revolutionized DNA analysis, leading to breakthroughs in genetic disease diagnosis, forensics, ancestry research, and pandemic response, as exemplified by its crucial role in COVID-19 testing. The episode highlights the importance of basic scientific research, even when its immediate applications are unclear, as exemplified by the Golden Goose Award given to Freeze and Brock for their work. In contrast, the narrative concludes with a sobering discussion on the current climate of funding cuts to publicly funded science, raising concerns about the potential loss of future discoveries and the United States' standing in scientific innovation.
