Colossal Biosciences made headlines around the world this month with a breakthrough that’s as fascinating as it is adorable: the creation of a woolly mouse with mammoth traits. These long-haired rodents aren’t just irresistibly cute—they represent a historic leap forward in gene editing and a major milestone on the path to bringing back the extinct woolly mammoth.

But as I discovered in my conversation with Ben Lamm, Co-Founder and CEO of Colossal, this story goes far beyond resurrecting an Ice Age giant. The company is also on the verge of reviving the Thylacine—better known as the Tasmanian tiger—and with 50% of all biodiversity set to go extinct in the next 25 years, its cutting-edge technology is poised to play a critical role in addressing one of the greatest challenges of our time.

It’s bold, controversial, and undeniably visionary. Here’s my conversation with Ben Lamm.