Unexplainable The Amazing Extremophiles
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Feb 11, 2026 Elizabeth Hénaff, computational biologist and artist studying microbial communities, and Brad Vogel, lawyer and local canoe club volunteer with deep Gowanus knowledge. They explore toxic canal history, how sludge harbors hundreds of microbes, extremophiles that break down pollutants, microbial metal interactions, antibiotic resistance worries, and ideas for using microbes in cleanup.
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Paddling Through A Polluted Backdrop
- Byrd Pinkerton describes paddling the Gowanus Canal past industrial ruins and litter in a red canoe with Brad Vogel and a colleague.
- The scene emphasizes the canal's neglected, gritty character and sets up the story of its pollution and community caretakers.
Pollution Is A Layered Historical Problem
- Historical industrial uses concentrated toxic waste in the Gowanus, including coal tar from manufactured gas plants.
- That legacy plus modern sewage makes the canal one of the country's most contaminated waterways and a designated Superfund site.
Collecting ‘Black Mayonnaise’ In Protective Suits
- Elizabeth Hénaff joined community scientists to collect black mayonnaise sludge from the canal in protective suits using PVC coring techniques.
- Their sampling pulled up microbial-rich muck that looked hostile but contained living communities.