>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": WITH COVID SPREADING FASTER THAN EVER IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD AND DEMAND FOR VACCINES FALLING HERE IN THE U.S., WILL WE EVER BE ABLE TO PUT THE VIRUS BEHIND US?

TWO INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERTS, MASS GENERAL'S DR. LOUISE IVERS AND BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER'S DR. NAHID BHADELIA, JOIN ME.

THEN, LATER, ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE TO EVER TRAVEL TO THE DEEPEST POINT OF THE OCEAN, WAYLAND RESIDENT ROB McCALLUM, JOINS ME, BACK FROM HIS TRIP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MARIANA TRENCH, SEVEN MILES DOWN.

AND, FINALLY, A LOOK AT THE MAIN STREET IN WEST SPRINGFIELD, THE INTERSECTION OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, ALL IN PURSUIT OF THEIR OWN AMERICAN DREAM.

>>> INDIA IS NOW THE COUNTRY HARDEST HIT BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, AFTER BEATING THE RECORD THIS COUNTRY SET FOR THE HIGHEST SINGLE-DAY JUMP IN COVID INFECTIONS.

AND IMAGES LIKE THESE, OF CREMATORIUMS IN NEW DEHLI OVERWHELMED WITH BODIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED OF COVID, HAVE PUT INCREASED PRESSURE ON WORLD LEADERS TO HELP.

INCLUDING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS PARTIALLY LIFTED A BAN ON THE EXPORT OF VACCINE RAW MATERIALS, VENTILATORS, P.P.E., AND OTHER ASSISTANCE YESTERDAY.

>> WE DO TAKE THE VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION THAT INDIA IS GOING THROUGH VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.

THE UNITED STATES AND INDIA ARE TWO COUNTRIES NOW THAT HAVE SUFFERED THE MOST.

A GLOBAL PANDEMIC REQUIRES A GLOBAL RESPONSE.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE AND OTHER RICH COUNTRIES HAVE TO EXERT WHAT I THINK IS OUR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THE REST OF THE WORLD GET THIS UNDER CONTROL.

>> Braude: TWO COUNTRIES LED BY DEMOGOGUES, TRUMP AND MODI, WHOSE ANTI-SCIENCE BELIEFS LED TO THE DEATHS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

HERE IN THE U.S., NEARLY THREE IN 10 AMERICANS ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND MORE THAN 40% HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

BUT SO FAR, THE C.D.C.

HAS REPORTED 8% OF PEOPLE WHO GOT ONE DOSE OF THE TWO-SHOT MODERNA AND PFIZER VACCINES HAVE MISSED THEIR SECOND DOSES.

AND IN SOME STATES, DEMAND FOR VACCINES IS FALLING SO LOW THAT OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN ASKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE, OR HOLD OFF, ON SHIPPING NEW DOSES ALL TOGETHER.

AND WHILE DEMAND IS STILL HIGH IN THIS STATE, WHERE MORE THAN HALF OF ALL ADULTS HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST ONE DOSE SO FAR, WITH RELATIVELY FEW MISSED SECOND DOSES.

OF COURSE, WE CAN'T END THE PANDEMIC ON OUR OWN.

JOINING ME TO DISCUSS THIS ARE DR. LOUISE IVERS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MASS GENERAL'S CENTER FOR GLOBAL HEALTH, M.G.H.

'S INTERIM CHIEF OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND PROFESSOR AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL, AND DR. NAHID BHADELIA, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE SPECIAL PATHOGENS UNIT AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER.

>> Braude: DOCTORS, IT IS VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, JIM.

>> Braude: DR. NAHID, HOW BAD ARE THINGS IN INDIA?

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT 350,000 CASES A DAY, AND A COUPLE THOUSAND DEATHS, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT IS AN UNDERCOUNT BECAUSE I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, HAVE FAMILY IN INDIA, AND WHAT YOU'RE HEARING, AS WELL AS WHAT YOU'RE HEARING ON THE NEWS, THE CAPACITY IS OERWHELMED, AND SO PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING SICK ARE NOT GETTING TESTED.

IN FACT, MANY HOSPITALS IN HARD-HIT DEHLI ARE NOT TESTING PEOPLE UNLESS THEY COME IN WITH A POSITIVE TEST FOR COVID.

SO IF YOU'RE AT HOME AND YOU DIE OF COVID AND YOU DON'T GET TESTED, IT IS NOT COUNTED.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH EXPONENTIAL GROWTH.

AND THE MODELS CURRENTLY SHOW BY MID-MAY, YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT 4,000, 5,000 DEATHS A DAY IN INDIA.

IT IS DEVASTATING.

>> Braude: DR. IVERS, I THINK WE KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT IS ON COUNTRIES, AND WE'RE EXPORTING VACCINES TO INDIA, WHICH HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD BUT WHAT DOES THE CAPACITY IN INDIA MEAN FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD?

>> FIRST, I THINK IT IS JUST DEVASTATION FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE WHAT WE COULD HAVE PREDICTED IN TERMS OF NOT HAVING HEALTH SYSTEMS, NOT EVEN BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK WHO REQUIRE OXYGEN.

IT IS JUST AMPLIFYING WHAT THAT PROBLEM IS.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT KIND OF HUMANITARIAN CONCERN, WE WILL SEE CONTINUED SPREAD OF VARIANTS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE GLOBE.

I MEAN, INDIA, AS YOU MENTIONED, A BIG PRODUCER OF VACCINES FOR THE AFRICAN CONTINENTS.

A LOT OF HOPE IS BEING PUT INTO INDIAN VACCINE PRODUCERS TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE THE BILLIONS OF DOSES OF VACCINES THAT WE'LL NEED FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.

AT THE MOMENT, THEY HAVE TO BE REALLY FOCUSED FOR HAVING TO SCALE UP PRODUCTION AT HOME.

>> Braude: DR. IVERS, THE THING I READ, AND MY NUMBERS MAY BE OFF, BUT NOT BY MUCH, BUT LESS THAN 82% OF THE VACCINES HAVE BEEN TO UPPER MIDDLE INCOME, OR WEALTHY NATIONS, AND FEWER THAN 1% TO POOREST NATIONS.

ARE EFFORTS LIKE COVAX, THIS INTERNATIONAL EFFORT, ARE THEY MAKING A DENT OR IS IT MORE INTENT RATHER THAN EFFECT?

>> WELL, THEY CERTAINLY HAVE THE RIGHT INTENT, AND THEY ARE MAKING SOME IMPACT.

BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT RICH COUNTRIES JUST HEDGE THEIR BETS.

SO THEY MADE CONTRIBUTIONS TO COVAX, BUT THEY MADE SEPARATE NEGOTIATIONS WITH PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES EVEN BEFORE VACCINES HAD GONE INTO TRIALS, AND PURCHASED MOST OF THE DOSES.

SO THE U.S., FOR EXAMPLE, WAS PREDICTED TO HAVE ABOUT 300 MILLION DOSES IN EXCESS OF OUR OWN NEEDS BY JULY.

NOW, RECOGNIZING YESTERDAY THE WHITE HOUSE TALKED ABOUT DONATING ASTRAZENECA VACCINES TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.

THEY DIDN'T SAY EXACTLY IF THEY'RE ALL GOING TO GO TO INDIA, BUT THAT IS A LOT OF EXCESS VACCINES TO HAVE.

AND THEY INCLUDED VACCINATIONS OF YOUNGER PEOPLE AND CHILDREN.

>> Braude: DR. BADHALIA, WHAT SORT OF RESPONSIBILITY DOES THE UNITED STATES HAVE?

EVEN THOUGH JOE BIDEN HAS SHOWN WANTING TO HELP PARTICULARLY WITH THE PROBLEMS IN INDIA, BUT HIS POSITION IS MY FIRST RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THEN WE'LL THINK ABOUT HELPING CITIZENS OF THE WORLD.

WHAT IS OUR ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY, IN YOUR ESTIMATION?

>> WELL, I THINK THE ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY IS VERY MUCH TIED INTO OUR OWN SURVIVAL.

OUR DESTINY IS TIED WITH THE DESTINY OF THE REST OF THE WORLD AS WE GET OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC, RIGHT?

IT IS GREAT TO SEE THAT THE U.S. IS IMMEDIATELY PROVIDING THINGS, AS DR. IVERS SAID, THE P.P.E., AND THE VENTILATORS, AND THEY HAVE ALSO LOOSENED THE EXPORT OF THE RAW MATERIALS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR VACCINES, BUT WE NEED TO GO FURTHER.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THE U.S. IS BEING ASKED TO DO IS TO HELP BUILD VACCINE MANUFACTURING CAPACITY, AND TO POTENTIALLY SUSPEND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS SO OTHER COMPANIES CAN START MAKING THE MRNA VACCINES AND OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE UNDER THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.

THE ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT IF WE DON'T SEE MOST OF THE WORLD IMMUNIZED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE LIKELY POTENTIALLY SEEING AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING AT RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE SEEING HOSPITALS THAT CAN'T GET BACK TO NORMAL.

AND HOSPITALS THAT ARE OVERWHELMED, WHICH KEEPS THEM FROM TAKING CARE OF OTHER HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS.

AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT HEALTH CARE WORKERS GETTING SICK.

AND IT IS LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR RECOVERY, A DR. IVERS SAID, THE FACT THAT THE GLOBAL ECONOMY CAN'T GET BACK TO NORMAL.

SO WE'RE INVEST INGING IN OUR OWN VIVAL, SURVIVAL.

>> Braude: DR. IVERS, IS THERE ANY PART OF THAT YOU DISAGREE WITH?

>> I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH ALL OF THAT.

WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GLOBAL RECOVERY.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF VACCINE FOR OURSELVES.

SO WE HAVE LONG PAST GONE PAST THE POINT AT WHICH WE HAVE TO KIND OF THINK FIRST OF OURSELVES BEFORE WE THINK OF OTHERS.

ABSOLUTELY MORALLY.

AND ALSO A PUBLIC HEALTH IMPERATIVE TO DO IT AS WELL.

>> Braude: LET'S COME BACK TO THE UNITED STATES, IF WE CAN.

I MENTION THERE'D ARE A BUNCHTHERE ARE ABUNCH OF STATES TURNING DOWN DOSES, LIKE KANSAS, MISSISSIPPI, IOWA -- IN RESPONSE TO THOUGH REJECTIONS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER EXPRESSION, OUR OWN GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER HAD THIS TO SAY LAST WEEK.

>> Governor: WE CAN DO TWO OR THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT IN THE COMMONWEALTH THAN WERE ACTUALLY HAVE SUPPLY FOR.

I HAVE EXPRESSED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IF THEY HAVE STATES TURNING AWAY DOSES OR NOT ACCEPTING DOSES, WE WOULD BE PERFECTLY HAPPY TO TAKE THEM OFF THEIR HANDS AND MAKE SURE THEY GET USED QUICKLY.

>> Braude: DR. BADHALIA, DOES ANYTHING THE GOVERNOR SAID TROUBLE YOU?

>> THE MORE PEOPLE WE VACCINATE, THE BETTER IT IS.

THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS I SEE THIS PATTERN FORMING WHERE YOU SEE STATES LIKE MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHICH 60% OF PEOPLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE GOT AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

IN MISSISSIPPI, 30%, HALF AS MANY PEOPLE.

AND YOU'RE SEEING A FUTURE WHERE COMMUNITIES LIKE BOSTON ACHIEVE COMMUNITY-LEVEL IMMUNITY, BUT OTHER STATES DON'T ACHIEVE THAT, AND THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE THE OUTBREAKS, SIMILAR TO THE GLOBAL EFFORT.

I THINK WE NEED TO WORK ON ENSURING THERE IS VACCINE EQUITY IN OUR STATES.

IF IT INVOLVES TRYING TO GET PEOPLE IN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA AND TENNESSEE, AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THOSE STATES, THAT'S THE HARD WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

BECAUSE IF THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO TRABS TRANSMIT THERE, YOU'LL SEE THE SAME TYPES OF PROBLEMS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE VIRUS TRANSMITTING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

>> Braude: DR. IVERS, WITH THE TRANSMISSION FROM STATE TO STATE, I'M SURE YOU BOTH HAVE SEEN THE POLLS, EVEN AFTER THE REAUTHORIZATION -- THAT'S PROBABLY THE WRONG TERM, BUT THE ENDING OF THE PAUSE OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON, ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IMMUNIZED SAID THEY WOULD TAKE THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE.

SOME SAID THERE IS ENOUGH MODERNA AND PFIZER, IT SEEMS TO ME AS A NON-PROFESSIONAL, THAT THAT KIND OF CONCERN TRICKLES DOWN TO THOSE WHO ARE HESITANT TO BEGIN WITH AND CAUSES EVEN MORE HESITANCY.

AM I WRONG?

>> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT I ALSO THINK WE SHOULD EXPECT THAT AT THIS PHASE OF OUR OWN VACCINATION CAMPAIGN IN THE U.S., THAT WE SEE A SLOWING OF THE PACE.

ALL THE EAGER PEOPLE WHO WERE READY TO GO AND WANTED TO GET THE VACCINE, GOT THE VACCINE.

AND NOW THE REAL HARD WORK BEGINS.

PUBLIC HEALTH WORK IS HARD.

WE HAVE TO GET INTO THE NUANCES AND UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES OF WHY PEOPLE MIGHT BE HESITANT, WHY THEY WANT TO DELAY, IF IT IS REALLY THEIR HESITANCY OR IT IS STILL IN RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR ACCESS.

ARE WE GETTING FOO THE INTO THE COMMUNITIES, ARE WE ENGAGING COMMUNITY LEADERS?

I'M NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SLOWING DOWN OF THE PACE, AS I AM COGNIZANT OF THE FACT WE HAVE TO DO MORE WORK NOW, WE HAVE TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES EVEN MORE.

>> Braude: I HAVE 30 SECONDS FOR EACH OF YOU, IF I MAY.

YOUR OPTIMISM, DR. IVERS, IS GREATER THAN MINE.

IF WE HAVE 30% HESITANCY, OR PEOPLE WHO ARE SELF-DECLARED REPUBLICANS WHO WON'T TAKE IT, WHITE EVANGELICALS, 30%.

WE'RE NOT EVEN HITTING ON PEOPLE UNDER 16 YEARS OLD, NOT TO MENTION THE GLOBAL SITUATION YOU BOTH DISCUSSED.

EXPLAIN TO ME HOW WE GET FROM HERE TO HERD IMMUNITY, EITHER IN THE UNITED STATES, THE WORLD'S WEALTHIEST NATION, OR IN THE REST OF THE WORLD.

DR. IVERS FIRST, IF YOU CAN.

>> WE JUST HAVE TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES, JIM.

WE CAN'T BE COMPLACENT.

WE HAVE TO GET INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE TO RAISE UP COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ENGAGE THEM IN THE CONVERSATION.

WE HAVE TO STOP HOARDING VACCINES.

WE HAVE TO SUSPEND THE PATENTS.

WE HAVE TO SHARE TECHNOLOGY.

AND WE HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO BUILDING CAPACITY.

WE CAN GET THERE IF WE DON'T LOSE MOMENTUM.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THE PANDEMIC IS ALMOST OVER, OR IT IS WINDING DOWN, AND OTHERS ARE STILL WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES, SO WE HAVE TO STAY ALERT.

>> Braude: DR. BADHALIA, YOU HAVE THE LAST 30 SECONDS.

MAKE ME MORE OPTIMISTIC.

>> I THINK THE CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM IS WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITHEMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION VACCINES.

HERE ON IN, IT BECOMES A CONVERSATION BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE WAIT AND SEE CATEGORY, THE PEOPLE MOST LIKELY TO GET VACCINATED.

WE NEED TO ARM OUR DOCTORS, PHARMACISTS, WITH THE INFORMATION FOR THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

WE NEED TO MAKE IT AS EASY TO ACCESS THE VACCINE.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN ASKING EMPLOYERS TO LET PEOPLE OFF FROM WORK TO BE ABLE TO GET VACCINES, AND ALLOWING VACCINES IN MANY STORES AND PHARMACIES AS POSSIBLE, SO THE ADULTS CAN ACCESS IT.

AND ALSO STAY AHEAD OF OF MISINFORMATION.

WE HAVE TO SIT BACK AND ISSUE, AND FIGURE OUT, AS DR. IVERS SAID, WHAT IS THE MISINFORMATION, AND THEN SUPPLY THE INFORMATION.

>> Braude: DR. BADHALIA, YOU SAID YOU HAD FAMILY IN INDIA, AND I DIDN'T FOLLOW UP AND SAY ARE THEY OKAY?

ARE THEY OKAY?

>> I LOST TWO OF MY AUNTS.

MY FATHER LOST TWO OF HIS SISTERS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF INDIAN-AMERICANS WHO LOST FAMILY THIS WEEK.

>> Braude: I'M SO SORRY TO HEAR.

THANK YOU, DR. BADHALIA FOR YOUR TIME, AND DR. IVERS, ALSO FOR YOUR TIME AS WELL.

>> Braude: BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I WANT TO CLARIFY SOME POLLING DATA I SHARED LAST WEEK DURING OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT THE GUILTY VERDICTS IN THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL.

I SAID THAT JUST 40% OF RESPONDENTS IN A "U.S.A. TODAY"/IPSOS POLL SAID THEY BELIEVE THAT GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED, AND THAT WAS TRUE.

BUT I SHOULD HAVE ALSO INCLUDED ANOTHER RESULT FROM THE SAME POLL: THAT 71% SAID THEY THOUGHT THE JURY WAS RIGHT TO FIND CHAUVIN GUILTY ON ALL THREE CHARGES.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THESE ARE TO BE RECONCILED, BUT THEY WERE THE RESULTS.

I ALSO WANT TO NOTE ANOTHER PARTICULARLY TROUBLING DATA POINT FROM A CBS YOUGOV POLL OUT OVER THE WEEKEND, WHICH FOUND THAT WHILE THREE IN FOUR RESPONDENTS OVERALL BELIEVE THE JURY MADE THE RIGHT DECISION, CLOSE TO HALF OF ALL REPUBLICANS BELIEVE THE JURY GOT IT WRONG.

>>> NEXT UP, SPACE IS KNOWN AS THE FINAL FRONTIER.

BUT THERE ARE PARTS OF THIS PLANET WE'RE STILL LEARNING ABOUT, TOO.

IN FACT, WHILE TWO DOZEN PEOPLE HAVE FLOWN TO THE MOON AS OF THIS MONTH, JUST 22 HAVE EVER TRAVELED TO THE DEEPEST KNOWN POINT OF THE OCEAN.

THAT WOULD BE CHALLENGING DEEP IN THE MARIANA TRENCH, CLOSE TO SEVEN MILES BELOW SEA LEVEL.

MY NEXT GUEST IS ONE OF THEM.

WAYLAND RESIDENT POB McCALLUM IS AN OCEAN EXPLORER AND A FOUNDING PARTNER OF THE COMPANY EYOS EXPEDITIONS.

>> Braude: ROB, IT IS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.

>> THE PLEASURE IS MINE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: TO PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE, YOU WENT QUITE A BIT FURTHER DOWN INTO THE OCEAN THAN A FELLOW NEW ZEALANDER HAD TO GO TO MEET THE TOP OF MT.

EVEREST WITH TANGA NORWAY.

WE KNOW HOW DANGEROUS HIS EXPEDITION WAS.

HOW DANGEROUS WAS YOURS?

>> IT IS ALL RELATIVE.

WE ARE CONTAINED WITHIN A TIETITANIUM SPHERE THAT IS SIX FEET ACROSS, AND SO THE PRESSURE IS ALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE SPHERE.

INSIDE THE VEHICLE, WE'RE NOT SUBJECTED TO ANY PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS THAT THE MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS WOULD HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO.

SO I HAD AN EASY RUN COMPARING.

>> Braude: WHEN YOU SAY "AN ESSIEAN EASY RUN," THERE IS ALSO A PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT.

20 POUNDS OF PRESSURE PER SQUARE INCH, IS THAT A CORRECT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOU ENCOUNTER AS YOU GO DOWN?

>> AT THE DEPTH THAT WE'RE OPERATING AT, IT IS ABOUT 16.5THOUSAND P.S.I., SO POUNDS PER SQUARE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR CAR TIRE, IT HAS A PRESSURE OF AROUND 35 POUNDS.

THE PRESSURE IS IMMENSE.

TO PUT IT IN LAY TERMS, JUST ON THE HATCH THAT WE GET IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THERE IS THE WEIGHT OF ABOUT 2200 TONS.

THAT IS AKIN TO FIVE FULL BOEING 747s.

IT IS AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE.

>> Braude: I WOULD SAY SO.

WHY DID YOU DO IT?

>> THIS IS THE LAST EXPLORATION ON EARTH.

FROM HERE WE GO TO MARS.

IN FACT, WE'RE TAKING OUR FIRST BABY STEPS ON MARS, AND YET WE HAVE THIS VAST PART OF OUR PLANET, THE HADEL ZONE, THE OCEAN BELOW 20,000 FEET, THAT WE'VE SCARCELY VISITED.

>> Braude: ARE YOU AS CALM, WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS, AS YOU ARE RIGHT NOW?

I'M SERIOUS, BY THE WAY?

>> YES.

IT'S A TRAIT.

I MEAN, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, WE SAY DON'T GET FRIGHTENED, JUST THINK FASTER.

BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.

AND YOU CAN ONLY MANAGE THEM IF YOU'RE THINKING CLEARLY.

SO THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC.

WE TRUST IN THE ENGINEERING.

WE TRUST IN THE PATH, AND WE TRUST IN THE SCIENCE.

>> Braude: I BELIEVE WHERE YOU WENT IS IN THE HADAL ZONE, NAMED AFTER THE HAITI'S, PROBABLY.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO US MERE MORTALS WHO GO, WHAT IS IT LIKE DOWN THERE?

>> FOR ME, IT IS IMMENSELY CALMING.

YOU CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE HULL IS SO THICK.

YOU CAN ONLY HEAR THE SOUND OF YOUR OWN BREATHING AND THE WHIRL OF THE COMPUTER.

SO IT IS A REALLY RELAXING PLACE TO BE.

YET AT THE SAME TIME, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO COME INTO VIEW NEXT.

WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING ON THE SCREEN THERE ARE THE SULFUR MOUNDS, WHICH NO ONE HAD ANY IDEA ACTUALLY OCCURRED AT THESE DEPTHS.

SO IT IS A VERY INTERESTING PLACE TO BE.

IT IS BOTH RELAXING AND YET IMMENSELY EXCITING.

>> Braude: WHAT KIND OF LIFE EXISTS DOWN THERE?

>> THERE ARE NO FISH BELOW -- AROUND 28,000 FEET -- >> Braude: BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE?

>> BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ANIMALS TO GROW STRUCTURE AS WE KNOW IT.

BUT THERE IS LIFE ON THE BOTTOM.

AND THE STUFF THAT WE'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN IS THIS BACTERIAL MASING, BACTERIAL MASSING.

THERE IS SOME THOUGHT THAT THIS IS WHERE LIFE ITSELF BEGAN.

THE REASON IT IS INTERESTING IS BECAUSE IT IS WHAT WE CALL AN EXTREMAPHILE, WHICH IS AN ORGANISM THE CAN SURVIVE EXTREMELY HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS.

AND THAT'S THE TYPE OF LIFE PERCY ON MARS IS LOOKING FOR AND EVENTUALLY FURTHER OUT IN THE GALAXY.

>> Braude: SO WHAT VALUE MIGHT THERE BE TO ME AND THE REST OF THIS PLANET OF WHAT YOU AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU LEARN AT SEVEN MILES DOWN IN THE MARIANA TRENCH?

>> I SAY TO PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW SO LITTLE ABOUT THIS ENVIRONMENT, THAT WE BARELY UNDERSTAND WHAT QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE ASKING, LET ALONE HAVE THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE ANSWERS.

I MEAN, WE WILL LEARN THE LAST LITTLE BIT OF THE KEY TO EVOLUTION BY UNDERSTANDING HOW THIS LIFE SURVIVES EXTREME CONDITIONS.

WE WILL LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW OUR PLANET WAS FOUND.

WERE YOU MAY FIND USEFUL COMPOUNDS, PARTICULARLY MEDICAL COMPOUNDS, IN THE DEEP.

WE MAY START TO CRACK THE RIDDLE OF HOW TO REDUCE THE CARBON IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

THERE IS SO MUCH TO LEARN, AND YET WE'RE SORT OF IN THE -- WHERE I WENT, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, AND 24 PEOPLE HAVE ORBITED THE MOON.

SO WE'RE AT THE DAWN OF EXPLORATION.

>> Braude: YOU USED THE WORD "CALM" TWICE, BUT CAN YOU DESCRIBE FURTHER -- I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST BE LIKE WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET THERE, AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE AT A PLACE WHERE FEWER THAN TWO DOZEN HUMANS HAVE EVER GONE.

AND YOU'RE AT THE DEEPEST PART OF THE OCEAN.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE A LITTLE MORE WHAT YOU FEEL LIKE INSIDE WHEN YOU GET TO THAT POINT?

>> IT'S -- THERE ARE THREE PHASES TO THE JOURNEY.

THE LAUNCH AND THE VOYAGE DOWN TAKE AROUND FOUR, FOUR AND A HALF, HOURS.

AND DURING THAT TIME WE'RE REHEARSING THE SORT OF FINAL DRESS REHEARSAL, IF YOU LIKE, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ON THE BALM.

BOTTOM.

AND WE'RE DOING THAT BECAUSE IT COSTS SO MUCH MONEY AND SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT TO GET PEOPLE THERE, SO YOU DON'T WANT TO WASTE A MINUTE.

ONCE WE'RE ON THE BOTTOM, WE'RE CARRYING OUT ALL OF OUR TASKS.

AND ONCE WE LEAVE, IT IS PURE ADULATION.

WE'VE DONE ARE MISSION.

AND THEN WE CHAT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION WE PICKED UP.

>> Braude: YOU'RE SO THRILLED WITH YOUR TEAMMATE THERE, THAT I'M TOLD IS AUSTRALIAN, THAT I'M TOLD YOU WERE WILLING TO EAT THE WORST FOOD IN THE WORLD, A VEGAMITE SANDWICH?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

BUT IT WAS A FANTASTIC MOMENT FOR BOTH OF US BECAUSE NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA HAVE AN EXTREMELY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.

AND FOR BOTH OF US TO BE ON THIS VOYAGE TOGETHER WAS THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME, LITERALLY.

>> Braude: ROB, CONGRATULATIONS.

IT IS REALLY THRILLING, AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT IT.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: TO THE CASUAL OBSERVER, MAIN STREET OF WEST SPRINGFIELD MAY SEEM LIKE ANY OTHER.

BUT LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER AND YOU'LL FIND AN ETHNIC MAKEUP THAT RUNS THE GAMUT, FROM MYANMAR TO ROMANIA AND ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN.

BRIAN SULLIVAN, FROM OUR SISTER STATION WGBY IN SPRINGFIELD, MET WITH TWO OF THE STREET'S SHOPKEEPERS, BOTH IN PURSUIT OF THEIR OWN AMERICAN DREAM.

>> Reporter: A CENTURY AGO, THESE STOREFRONTS MAY HAVE HAD TRADITIONAL FRENCH, ITALIAN, OR IRISH NAMES.

NOW THEY CATER TO THE MOST RECENT GROUPS WHO HAVE CROSSED THE OCEAN TO BECOME CITIZENS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS WEST SPRINGFIELD, HOME TO THE THIRD HIGHEST REFUGEE POPULATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND ACCORDING TO THE PAINTINGS ON THE SIDE OF THE MERRICK STATION, THEY HAVE TRULY TRAVELED FROM ALL POINTS ON THE GLOBE TO GET HERE.

WITHIN A COUPLE OF BLOCKS HERE ON MAIN STREET, I CAN FIND BUSINESSES OWNED BY PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE FROM RUSSIA, NEPAL, TURKEY, AND LEBANON, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

SO FOR THOSE WHO ARRIVED HERE WITH THAT ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, THIS HAS BEEN THE STREET BUILT ON THE AMERICAN DREAM.

FOR ONE ENTREPRENEUR, THAT DREAM HAD THE SOUNDS OF BUZZERS, SCISSORS, AND SATISFIED COSTUMERS.

BUT HEARING THEM HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT WASN'T REALLY ON HIS RADAR WHEN HE WAS JUST A KID WORKING WITH HIS UNCLES AT THEIR BARBER SHOPS IN BAGHDAD.

>> AFTER THE WAR, LIKE TO BE HONEST, I WASN'T EVEN THINKING ABOUT LEAVING IRAQ.

BUT THE OPPORTUNITY CAME TO MY DOOR, AND I HAD A CHANCE TO MOVE TO THE U.S. AND I TOOK IT.

AND I TOOK IT.

AND I'M A BIG BELIEVER THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME THERE.

>> Reporter: IN 2016, ALSAADI, WHO HAD BEEN A REFUGEE ONLY A FEW YEARS PRIOR, BECAME A FULL-FLEDGED AMERICAN CITIZEN, JOINING AN IRAQI-AMERICAN MONEY THAT MAKES UP LESS THAN 1% OF WEST SPRINGFIELD'S OVERALL POPULATION.

BUT HERE IN THE CORNER OF RUSSELL AND MAIN TREATMENTS, THAT PRESENCE FEELS MUCH GREATER.

LEBANESE-AMERICANS, MEANWHILE, MAKE UP A SLIGHTLY LARGER CONTINGENT IN WEST SPRINGFIELD, ROUGHLY 1.5%, ALTHOUGH THEY'VE BEEN A PART OF THE AMERICAN FABRIC SINCE THE 1800s.

BUT FOR ALL OF THE ASSIMILATION THEY'VE ACHIEVED OVER THE CENTURIES, SOMETIMES THE SMELL OF TRADITIONAL LEBANESE CUISINE IS JUST ENOUGH TO SPARK A CRAVING FOR A TASTE OF THE OLD COUNTRY.

>> I, MYSELF, AM FROM LEBANON.

SO THIS LEBANESE FOOD HERE I ACTUALLY LIKE THE MOST.

THE PEOPLE ARE VERY GENEROUS, VERY NICE, GREAT COOK.

>> Reporter: THAT GENEROSITY AND LOVE OF COOKING TURNED OUT TO BE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND OPENING THE RESTAURANT IN AUGUST OF 2014.

BUT THE IDEA, AT FIRST, SEEMED A BIT OUT OF LEFT FIELD WHEN OWNER NISRINE AWKAL'S HUSBAND PROPOSED THAT HE QUIT HIS JOB AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, AND SHE QUIT HERS AS AN INTERPRETER AND SOCIAL WORKER, TO GIVE THIS THING A GO.

>> AND IN THE BEGINNING, I WAS, LIKE, I -- OKAY, LIKE, IT'S A BUSINESS THAT WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.

WE LOVE COOKING.

LIKE I USED TO ALWAYS HOST THE PARTY OR A DINNER.

AS YOU KNOW, WE LOVE COOKING, SHARING FOOD WITH EVERYBODY.

LIKE THIS IS AN ARAB MEDITERRANEAN CULTURE THAT YOU ALWAYS ARE COOKING AND SHARING WITH EVERYBODY.

AND HE SAID, LET'S DO IT.

>> Reporter: COMING TO THE UNITED STATES ON A GREEN CARD WITH HER HUSBAND IN 1997, AWKAL'S JOURNEY TO AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP WAS DIFFERENT FROM ALSAADI, WHO ARRIVED ON THESE SHORES AS A REFUGEE.

BUT MY QUESTION FOR EACH OF THEM IS: AS THEY NAVIGATE THE ROCKY WATERS OF RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS, IS IT THE SAME?

IS THE AMERICAN DREAM STILL ALIVE?

>> YOU HAVE A PLAN; YOU CAN DO IT.

ANYONE CAN DO ANYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY.

ANYONE, LIKE, THAT'S WHAT I TELL MY KIDS.

TAKE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE THE BLESSINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY GIVE YOU, I SEE VERY FEW COUNTRIES GIVE THAT.

>> STILL ALIVE; STILL EXIST.

THIS IS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES.

IF YOU PUT IN THE WORK AND YOU PUT IN THE DISCIPLINE -- IF YOU PUT IN THE HARD WORK, IT WILL DEFINITELY EXIST.

>> Reporter: BRIAN SULLIVAN, GBH NEWS.

>> Braude: AND, FINALLY TONIGHT, A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT SOME OF YOU HAVE SENT IN DURING THESE PANDEMIC TIMES.

RICHARD SEPT IN THIS IMAGE OF A BLACK LIVES MATTER PAINTING HE CREATED.

JANE SENT IN A PICTURE OF THESE DAFFODILS SHE SPOTTED ON THE NEWBURY STREET THE OTHER DAY.

AND NEARBY, THOMAS SENT US THIS PICTURE OF PHYLLIS WHEATLEY WITH SOME DAFFODILS ON THE COMMONWEALTH AVENUE MALL'S BOSTON WOMEN'S STATUE.

LOOKS LIKE SPRING, YOU TWO!

THANK YOU ALL FOR SENDING THOSE IN.

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US, USE THE ADDRESSES ON YOUR SCREEN.

>>> THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

I'LL TALK TO CAROL HORNE, A FORMER POLICE OFFICER IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK, WHO JUST SUED FOR HER PENSION AND WON -- 15 YEARS AFTER SHE WAS FIRED FOR STOPPING A FELLOW OFFICER FROM USING A CHOKEHOLD ON A BLACK MAN ALREADY IN HANDCUFFS.

A MAN WHO, LIKE GEORGE FLOYD, ERIC GARNER, AND MANY OTHERS, SAID HE COULDN'T BREATHE.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND STAY SAFE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org