What happens when aerospace scientists trading in NASA-level technology pivot from mapping the surface of Mars to analyzing a 14th-century religious relic? This episode of pplpod takes a deep dive into the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STIRP)—a high-stakes, 120-hour scientific stakeout that remains one of the most debated forensic investigations in history.

We unpack the journey from the 1976 discovery of 3D-encoded data within the cloth to the 1981 final report that claimed the image was "not the product of an artist." Explore the fascinating use of VP8 image analyzers, x-ray fluorescence, and specialized mylar sticky tape used to extract microscopic fibers for chemical analysis.

But beyond the hemoglobin ...