First Half: Author and science correspondent Matt Kaplan examines how breakthroughs often happen despite, not because of, the research community. He explores how support can be withheld from those who don’t conform or lack the right connections, and questions whether science has always functioned this way or is becoming more dysfunctional. Drawing on history, he argues that while science has never been an efficient engine of discovery, it now needs a serious tune-up.

Second Half: Specialized investigator Greg Lawson works to bridge law enforcement and the study of the unknown. He discusses his investigations of paranormal hotspots in more than 40 countries, his five books on the subject, and his broader experience researching unexplained phenomena.