On todays Modern Notion Daily, our guest is Helen Scales, author of Spirals in Time: The Secret Life and Curious Afterlife of Seashells (Bloomsbury, July 2015). A marine biologist, Scales decided to explore the science of shells (theyre made from calcium carbonate) and their symbolism throughout human history.

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“wherever” by Jahzzar, from the album Sketches

“Superconductivity” by Jahzzar, from the album Kuddelmuddel