In Greek mythology, a chimera is a monstrous scramble of a lion, goat, and a serpent. In genetics, the term means something only slightly more down-to-earth: an organism with cells from at least two different species. While this might sound perfect for devising something gruesome like a pigeon-rat, it’s most promising for regenerative medicine. A chimera, with a genetically engineered ability to nurture cells of another species, can grow entire organs for another creature. Researchers just used chimeras to get one step closer to growing vital human organs.

A team of researchers in China and the U.K. have used a CRISPR-modified pig-human chimera to grow a human kidney. They published their results today in the journal Cell Stem Cell. While previous studies have employed similar methods to grow human blood or skeletal muscle in pigs, this is the first time scientists have successfully cultivated a solid humanized organ inside another species.

The heroes of The Wheel of Time are a long way from home in Season 2. And for Sanaa Hamri and Thomas Napper — who each directed two of the season’s first four episodes — an expanding scope allowed them to flex their muscles as unconventional visionaries.

Hamri and Napper have each directed music videos for some of the biggest names in the game. Now, they’re traveling to far-off lands to tackle Robert Jordan’s 14-novel fantasy series. To hear Hamri tell it, though, their experiences in the music industry make them uniquely qualified for the “fanfare” of a world like The Wheel of Time’s.

“I just love tackling these types of worlds,” Hamri tells Inverse. The heightened visuals of The Wheel of Time are a natural progression for the director and executive producer — but neither she nor Napper were willing to skimp on the heightened emotions that the first season of the series delivered. As The Wheel of Time returns for Season 2, Inverse speaks with the series directors about committing to the action, angst, and adventure to the fantasy world.