Twenty years ago this month, letters containing Bacillus anthracis spores were mailed to various politicians and news media offices in the US, resulting in illness, death, and a widespread fear that transformed anthrax from an agricultural disease or occupational hazard into a potential weapon of bioterrorism. In this episode, we explore the many dimensions ... Show More
Yesterday
Ep 194 Salt Part 1: The Seasoning
<p>Have you ever thrown a pinch of spilled salt over your left shoulder? Or said to someone “well, take his opinion with a grain of salt”? Or looked up the potential salary of a job listing? Salt is so deeply embedded in our cultures, our languages, our history as a s ... Show More
55m 35s
Nov 18
Special Episode: Gabriel Weston & Alive
<p>In an anatomy and physiology class, you may learn how the different heart valves work to circulate your blood, how the structure of your kidney helps to maintain electrolyte levels, and how the expansion and contraction of your lungs sets off a carefully orchestrated cascade o ... Show More
49m 47s
Nov 11
Ep 193 Necrotizing Fasciitis: A strange beast
If you were asked to describe necrotizing fasciitis in three words, you might choose: rapid, deadly, and rare. The third of those adjectives may provide some comfort, but the first two are the clear inspiration for this infection’s more lurid nickname: flesh-eating bacteria. In t ... Show More
1h 7m
Jan 2024
Salmonella and Shigella (Re-release)
<p><em>Salmonella</em> and <em>Shigella</em> species<em> </em>are almost made to be confused—two bacterial infections in the Enterobacteriaceae family that are spread by food and dirty conditions, cause gastroenteritis, and start with S! To make matters more confusing, they look ... Show More
21m 55s
Dec 2022
Preparing for the next pandemic
Infectious diseases which cause epidemics and pandemics are on the rise.Claudia Hammond is joined by an eminent panel of disease detectives, who spell out why the risks are increasing and most importantly, what we can do to predict, prepare and protect ourselves against potential ... Show More
50m 33s