The first true lab rat was the Wistar rat, a strain specifically bred for biomedical research. In his “rat universe” experiments, John B. Calhoun placed large numbers of these rats in a controlled environment for more than a year, and found evidence for the same anxieties sparked by their urban cousins: overpopulation and an ensuing ‘behavioural sink’.
Jon ... Show More
Jul 30
Close Readings: ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley
Born from grief, exile, intellectual ferment and the ‘year without a summer’, Frankenstein is a creation myth with its own creation myth. Mary Shelley’s novel is a foundational work of science fiction, horror and trauma narrative, and continues to spark reinvention and reinterpre ... Show More
34m 21s
Feb 2025
624. The Animal No One Loves, Until They Do
To most people, the rat is vile and villainous. But not to everyone! We hear from a scientist who befriended rats and another who worked with them in the lab — and from the animator who made one the hero of a Pixar blockbuster. (Part three of a three-part series, “Sympathy for th ... Show More
45m 19s
Sep 2024
Qu’a fait la ville de Paris pour lutter contre les rats en 1901 ?
En 1901, la ville de Paris a organisé un concours de dératisation pour lutter contre la prolifération des rats. Ce concours, qui peut sembler insolite aujourd'hui, reflétait la lutte constante de la capitale contre les rongeurs à une époque où les rats représentaient un véritable ... Show More
1m 44s
Feb 2025
623. Can New York City Win Its War on Rats?
Even with a new rat czar, an arsenal of poisons, and a fleet of new garbage trucks, it won’t be easy — because, at root, the enemy is us. (Part two of a three-part series, “Sympathy for the Rat.”) SOURCES:Kathy Corradi, director of rodent mitigation for New York City.Robert Corri ... Show More
50m 23s
Nov 2024
The Rat King - Chapter 14
Susan listened to the rat king tell her his story, but she couldn’t really believe that it was true. When the rat king leaves the room to find the infiltrator, Khai comes to talk to Susan. She can’t believe her eyes. The last time she saw him, he had given up his last life to sav ... Show More
12m 32s
Nov 2024
The Rat King - Chapter 16
Vinnie goes to warn the cats while Susan and Tucker follow Julian to open the gate for the rats. Susan carries Tucker, and Julian tries his best to keep them from talking as he growls at the rats around him. When the rocks start to fall, and Susan and Tucker get separated, she do ... Show More
9m 4s
Jan 2025
The Rat King - Chapter 24
Susan is not sure if she will find the answers everyone is looking for in the book Albert showed her, but for now, she has to go home and see her parents. This is the final chapter of The Rat King. Thank you so much for listening.Sleep Tight!, Sheryl & Clark---👉 Follow along wit ... Show More
7m 58s