logo
episode-header-image
May 2022
1h 12m

Ep 96 Tapeworm: We encyst you listen

Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

We can probably all agree that the thought of a tapeworm hiding out in your gut is not a pleasant one. Nor is the image of tapeworm larvae forming cysts in your muscles, organs, and even your brain. So listening to an entire episode on these parasitic worms? We understand why that may seem like a bit much. But trust us, the world of these worms is too fascinating and important to be missed. In this episode, we break down the biology of the tapeworm species that commonly infect humans and discuss the role of these parasites as a leading infectious cause of epilepsy around the world. Then we venture into the ancient and not-so-ancient history of these tapeworms, starting at “who was infected first - the human or the pig?” and ending with “what was the tapeworm diet all about anyway?” Finally, we wrap up the episode with a look at tapeworm by the numbers today. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Jul 8
Ep 181 PCOS: Beyond the cysts
What’s in a name? What can you really tell from a label like “polycystic ovarian syndrome”? And how much of that is more misconception than truth? The answer, as it turns out, is the former. In this episode, we delve into the world of PCOS, a world that shows us how preconceived ... Show More
1h 26m
Jul 1
Ep 180 Food Dyes: It’s all marketing
This episode, we aren’t asking you to taste the rainbow, but we are scrutinizing the artificial dyes that give it its color. When you’re munching on brightly colored candies or dipping a french fry in purple ketchup, what exactly is it you’re tasting? In this episode, we take you ... Show More
1h 25m
Jun 24
Special Episode: Professor Steven Mithen & The Language Puzzle
From the earliest grunts and gestures to the complex sentences we use today to convey a multitude of concepts, language has evolved to become one of humanity’s most powerful tools. It allows us to connect, create, conspire, control, console, catch up, and so much more. How did we ... Show More
49m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2022
The Worm Wars
In 1998, a researcher rolled out an innovative approach to education. And in 2015, Methodology Twitter had a big fight about it.  Support us:Hear bonus episodes on PatreonDonate on PayPalGet Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and moreLinks!The original 2004 paperThe 2015 re-ana ... Show More
57m 5s
Jul 2013
Grunting the Conqueror Worm
Grunting the Conqueror Worm: Behold the conqueror earthworm, a creature introduced to North America mere centuries ago and now virtually unstoppable. And yet some humans know the means of summoning these worms from the Earth using only music or the rhythmic rubbing of stakes. In ... Show More
28m 11s
Mar 2023
Are Hammerhead Worms Really Dangerous?
These large, land-dwelling flatworms are invasive and toxic -- but they're not dangerous (unless you eat a lot of them, or happen to be an earthworm). Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/hammerhead-worms. ... Show More
4m 59s
Jul 2009
Three Gross Parasites
There are some pretty disgusting parasites out there, but Josh and Chuck have settled on three particularly gross ones. Tune in to learn more about flesh-eating parasites, guinea worms and tapeworms in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https ... Show More
28m 11s
Apr 2022
Monsters Inside Me: Sleeper Cells
A creature feeds on the brain tissue of a young boy after he ingests worm eggs, and a killer works its way through the body of a Vietnam veteran, laying waste to his organs and lymph system.For more shocking, true stories about mysterious illnesses caused by parasites, listen to ... Show More
41m 15s
May 2021
The Parasite Delusion
Last week, we talked about if eating papaya seeds could rid your body of parasites (spoiler: it can’t). But being concerned about having parasites is not new. We continue the conversation by looking into the phenomenon of Ekbom’s syndrome, or delusional parasitosis, a difficult d ... Show More
38m 38s
Aug 2022
Things You Thought You Knew – What Are Wormholes?
What is a wormhole, really? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore things you thought you knew about the physics of falling objects, white noise, and wormholes. Why do things break when they fall? NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to t ... Show More
46m 17s
Nov 2023
Hypno Pain Killer, Mosquito Secrets, Important Worms
Today, you’ll learn about how hypnotherapy could be a tool to fight pain after surgery, a discovery that could lead to less mosquito-borne diseases, and how you might have worms to thank for your fall feast. Hypno Pain Killer “The Role of Hypnotherapy in Postoperative Cardiac Sur ... Show More
14m 22s
Aug 2016
Curious Incident of the Guinea Worm in the Dog
Humans have waged a decade-spanning war of extinction against the parasitic Guinea worm. With cases down roughly 99.99 percent from 1986, it would seem the struggle is nearly at an end. Now our inhuman adversary has found a new place to hide -- and that place is man's best friend ... Show More
47m 23s