Perhaps the most expensive liquid on the planet is the blue blood that comes from horseshoe crabs. Researchers realized that horseshoe crab blood could indicate the presence of pathogens and the massive, ongoing horseshoe crab harvest began.
This episode of Stuff You Should Know dives into the fascinating world of horseshoe crabs, ancient creatures that have remained virtually unchanged for 450 million years and are now crucial to modern medicine. Josh and Chuck explore how these bizarre-looking animals produce incredibly valuable blue blood containing a clotting agent called LAL that's used to test vaccines, medical devices, and drugs for harmful bacteria, making it worth about $15,000 a quart. The hosts discuss the ethical implications and environmental impact of harvesting horseshoe crab blood, including the troubling death rates and extinction risks in Asia, while also highlighting the promise of synthetic alternatives that could eventually save these old souls from exploitation.
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