MASKS. Since the early days of the pandemic, it’s been tough to nail down how much they can really do to slow down the spread of the virus. We speak to industrial hygienist Dr. Rachael Jones and share some new science that puts the final nail in the coffin of this debate (*hint* yes, you should wear a mask — your friends, family and neighbors too). Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/3lH5grh This episode was produced by Michelle Dang, with help from Wendy Zukerman, Rose Rimler, Hanna...
Sep 01, 2020•5 min•Season 9Ep. 2
Kombucha, kefir and other probiotic-crammed foods are marketed as charmers of the human microbiome — and the key to immune, gut and brain health. But how much does the microbiome actually matter, and do probiotics live up to the hype? To learn more we talked with biomedical engineering professor Ilana Brito, immunologist Dr. Yasmine Belkaid, psychiatry professor Ted Dinan, and microbiologist Dr. Namrata Iyer. UPDATE 8/28/20: An earlier version of this episode said there was a little bit of evide...
Aug 27, 2020•33 min•Season 9Ep. 1
Science Vs is back August 27th. Fact you next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 20, 2020•2 min
We’re six months into this coronavirus pandemic, which has shaken the world and stunned scientists. What have we learned? Where are we headed? To find out, we talk to virologist Professor John Dennehy, virologist and immunologist Professor Ann Sheehy, and hospital epidemiologist Dr. Cassandra Pierre. We also check back in with Dani Schuchman, who is now three months into his recovery from Covid-19. Also: MEAT-EATING SPONGES!! Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/2CXa8GS This episode w...
Jul 03, 2020•34 min•Season 8Ep. 23
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and America's favorite nerd joins Science Vs again. Wendy chats with Dr. Fauci about the pandemic’s past, present and future. Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/2V82uQg This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler, Michelle Dang, Mathilde Urfalino and Sinduja Srinivasan. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell and Caitlin Kenney. M...
Jun 23, 2020•22 min•Season 8Ep. 22
All through the pandemic, we’ve been waiting for a possible silver bullet: a vaccine. How soon could we actually get one? To find out, we talk to microbiologist and immunologist Professor Karla Satchell, immunologist Dr. Kathryn Stephenson, Pfizer executive Mike McDermott, and Ian Haydon, who’s participating in a vaccine clinical trial. Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/3egWFrc This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, with help from Michelle Dang, Sinduja Srinivasan, Laura Morr...
Jun 19, 2020•30 min•Season 8Ep. 21
The coronavirus seems to cause symptoms all over our body, from nose to toes. So how can one virus do so many strange things? To find out, we talk to gastroenterologist Dr. Anthony DeBenedet, virologist and immunologist Professor Ann Sheehy, otorhinolaryngologist Professor Thomas Hummel, and dermatologist Professor Amy Paller. Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/2zqehBZ This episode was produced by Rose Rimler and Meryl Horn with help from Wendy Zukerman, Sinduja Srinivasan, Michelle...
Jun 12, 2020•26 min•Season 8Ep. 20
Hundreds of thousands of people have joined the global protest movement sparked by the death of George Floyd. And a lot of doctors and public health experts are on board, despite concerns about the pandemic. So how can protesters stay safe — from coronavirus, and from police weapons like tear gas? To find out, we talk to epidemiologist Dr. Cassandra Pierre, Dr. Rohini Haar, and a protester who’s been tear gassed. Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/2MFnsRM This episode was produced b...
Jun 09, 2020•25 min•Season 8Ep. 18
Life is on pause for many of us right now. But scientists don’t want to stop! Researchers have had to figure out how to keep experiments going and keep lab animals alive — all while keeping themselves safe. To find out how they’re managing it, we talk to evolutionary biologist Dr. Ximena Bernal, plant biologist Professor Frank Telewski, marine conservation biologist Christine Figgener, and station manager Erin Heard. Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/3dgBZ2i This episode was produc...
May 29, 2020•27 min•Season 8Ep. 17
While a lot of countries have put in strict measures, like lockdowns, to stop the coronavirus, there’s been a conspicuous outlier: Sweden. The country has carved a different path, trying to keep its hospitals from being overrun while allowing society to function as normally as possible. So, is the Swedish model working? To find out, we talk to medical epidemiologist Dr. Emma Frans, Professor Annelies Wilder-Smith, Dr. Gary Weissman, and Dr. Eric Schneider. Also: ANCHOVIES! Here’s a link to our t...
May 22, 2020•26 min•Season 8Ep. 16
When the pandemic started, we were told not to bother with masks. But now it looks like experts have done a 180 here, and a lot of us are being told to cover our mugs when we leave the house. So which is it? Should we mask up or not? To find out, we talk to epidemiologist Professor Benjamin Cowling, microbiologist Dr. Anna Davies, and clinical psychologist Dr. Olga Perski. Also: RED DEVIL SQUID!! Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/2LxuxTW And here’s a link to the squid video: https:...
May 15, 2020•29 min•Season 8Ep. 15
How bad is the coronavirus for pregnant people and babies? Producer Meryl Horn is digging into this question for today’s episode. And it’s personal, because Meryl is pregnant and living in the pandemic hot spot that is New York City. We talk to Professor Emily Oster, pathologist Dr. David Schwartz, and obstetrician Dr. Suzanne LaJoie. Also: SWIMMING DINOSAURS!? Here’s a link to our transcript: bit.ly/2YKzD7e This episode was produced by Meryl Horn with help from me Wendy Zukerman, Rose Rimler, L...
May 08, 2020•25 min•Season 8Ep. 14
We’re learning that people can spread the virus when they don’t have symptoms. But how often does that actually happen? We talk to Mark Jorgensen, clinician-scientist Dr. Vivek Naranbhai and CDC epidemiologist Dr. Mateusz Plucinski. Also: KOALA POP SONGS!! Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/2zNX1q7 This episode was produced by Michelle Dang with help from me Wendy Zukerman, Laura Morris, Rose Rimler, Meryl Horn and Sinduja Srinivasan. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell with help from Ca...
May 01, 2020•27 min•Season 8Ep. 13
Since the outbreak started, we’ve been hearing that this coronavirus came from bats before jumping to humans. But recently, claims that the virus escaped from a lab have been getting a lot of attention. So did it? Is there an evil scientist behind all of this? To find out, we talk to microbiologist Professor Benhur Lee, Christian Stevens, and virologist Dr. Oscar MacLean. Also: FROGS!! UPDATE 4/27/20: An earlier version of this episode played a quote from a politician saying that China has only ...
Apr 24, 2020•25 min•Season 8Ep. 12
Social distancing has made it harder for a lot of us to get exercise. So we’re revisiting our episode on the seven-minute workout. Can this bite-size routine really keep us fit? Back in 2018, we asked exercise scientist Prof. Jeff Coombes — and Wendy gave it a go. Check out the transcript here: https://bit.ly/2RQarYz We also looked into the broader science of exercise in this episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3iMLOaNVAy0s6RsdecUySj And find the original study on the seven-minute workout ...
Apr 20, 2020•15 min•Season 8Ep. 12
We’re hearing stories of people getting this coronavirus, recovering, and then getting it again. So what’s going on: Does getting this virus give you immunity or not? To find out, we talk to virologist Dr. Kirsty Short of the University of Queensland and Dr. Robin Berzin of Parsley Health. Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/3ajK5om This episode was produced by Meryl Horn, Wendy Zukerman, Michelle Dang, Rose Rimler, Sinduja Srinivasan and Laura Morris. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell ...
Apr 17, 2020•28 min•Season 8Ep. 11
In the U.S. we've been social distancing for a few weeks now, and the question on everyone’s mind is: When can we go back to “normal”? And what’s happening in China, where they’ve already lifted the lockdown? To find out, we talk to Dr. Swapnil Mishra, part of the Imperial College Covid-19 Response Team, and Dr. Franz-Josef Schmitt. Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/2y5nJtc You can listen to The Journal’s full interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci here: https://spoti.fi/2x99xQ8 This epi...
Apr 10, 2020•21 min•Season 8Ep. 10
There are reports that the coronavirus can survive on surfaces for days. So how careful should we be about cleaning the stuff we touch? And do we need to be disinfecting our groceries? To find out, we talk to pathologist and microbiologist Dr. Josh Santarpia and toxicologist Dr. Joshua King. UPDATE 4/7/20: An earlier version of this episode suggested that Alex was wiping down his groceries with bleach, but the wipes he was using didn't contain bleach. We've updated the episode. Here’s a link to ...
Apr 07, 2020•26 min•Season 8Ep. 9
We’re hearing conflicting things about how the coronavirus spreads — is it through coughs and sneezes only? Or could it be floating in the air, infecting us as we walk down the street or go grocery shopping? We ask Dr. Rachael Jones, an industrial hygienist, and Dr. Zhi Ning, an environmental engineer. Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/3aI1kAE This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, Wendy Zukerman, Michelle Dang, Meryl Horn, Sinduja Srinivasan, Laura Morris, and Meg Driscoll. We’...
Apr 03, 2020•24 min•Season 8Ep. 8
From the early days of this coronavirus outbreak, it’s looked like the disease is way worse for older people. But now we’re hearing more stories of younger folks getting really sick. What’s going on? Is this virus scarier for younger people than we thought? We hear from a Gen-Xer who landed in the hospital with Covid-19, and we talk to immunologist Professor Vincent Racaniello. Also: THE HIGHEST MOUSE! We’ve set up a voicemail to collect all of your questions about coronavirus. Or if you’re a he...
Mar 31, 2020•25 min•Season 8Ep. 5
President Trump says an anti-malarial drug could be a “gift from god” for treating Covid-19. Does it really work? And is it dangerous? We talk to toxicologist Professor Daniel Brooks, infectious disease specialist Dr. Matthew Pullen, and microbiologist Professor Karla Satchell. Also: VAMPIRE BATS! We’ve set up a voicemail to collect all of your questions about Coronavirus. Or if you’re a healthcare worker with a personal story you want to share, please call (774) 481-1238 and leave us a messag...
Mar 27, 2020•24 min•Season 8Ep. 4
Healthcare workers across the U.S. are saying they don’t have enough protective gear to keep them safe against the coronavirus. They’re having to reuse masks, and they’re worried that they may have to resort to homemade cloth masks. Is all this safe? Plus, reports are saying that ibuprofen, the stuff in Advil, is making people with coronavirus sicker. But what does the science say? To find out we spoke to infectious disease expert Professor Raina MacIntyre, industrial hygienist Dr. Rachael Jones...
Mar 24, 2020•24 min•Season 8Ep. 3
As Covid-19 cases rise in the U.S., healthcare workers are already struggling to keep up. In a different kind of episode, we bring you an interview with Dr. Antoinette Ward, who is leading Covid-19 testing at a major hospital in Atlanta — and finding ways to treat the rapidly increasing number of patients. This interview comes from iHeartRadio’s The Women. For more stories from those on the front lines, listen here: http://bit.ly/TheWomenPodcast Here’s a link to the transcript: https://bit.ly/3b...
Mar 19, 2020•20 min•Season 8Ep. 2
The coronavirus pandemic is here, and in the U.S., this is starting to get very real. We talk to people in South Korea and Italy to see what life has been like for them. And we find out what the problem was with America’s tests — are they fixed now? And now that social distancing is on everyone’s mind, do we have evidence that it will really “flatten the curve”? We speak to public health expert Prof. Josh Sharfstein, virologist Prof. Vincent Racaniello, and epidemiologist Prof. Elizabeth Radin. ...
Mar 16, 2020•28 min•Season 8Ep. 1
Science Vs is back March 19th. Fact you next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 12, 2020•2 min
The new coronavirus continues to spread around the world, and it’s already killed several people in the U.S. People are starting to worry that this will turn into a full-blown pandemic. So how many of us could ultimately get infected — and is it time to prepare for the worst? To find out, we talk to epidemiologists Dr. Cécile Viboud and Prof. Marc Lipsitch. Here’s a link to our transcript : https://bit.ly/2IjUqW0 and our Hand Washing Song : https://player.gimletmedia.com/7osxva Selected referenc...
Mar 04, 2020•28 min•Season 7Ep. 14
A new virus showed up in China late last year, and it’s making its way to other countries too. So what do scientists know about the virus so far? And how worried should we be? To find out we talk to infectious disease researchers Dr. Kristian Andersen and Dr. Catharine Paules, physician Dr. Hui, and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci. We did an episode on a *fictional* pandemic, which you can find here: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/science-vs...
Jan 31, 2020•29 min•Season 7Ep. 13
This week — asteroids. Could a space rock really slam into us and destroy the world? And if we did spot one heading straight for us, is there anything we could do to stop it? We speak with asteroid researcher Dr. Alan Harris, astrophysicist Dr. Sergey Zamozdra, computational physicist Dr. Cathy Plesko, and physicist Dr. Andy Cheng. Check out the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2MrW1vp Selected references: Overview of Chelyabinsk impact and risk from asteroids: http://bit.ly/2ECSRQQ How many ...
Dec 20, 2019•34 min•Season 7Ep. 12
American healthcare has big problems. Some say the solution is Medicare For All: one government plan for everybody. But others say government healthcare would be worse than what we already have. Who’s right? And how did things get this bad? We talk to health policy researchers Prof. Harold Pollack and Robin Osborn. Check out the full transcript here: https://bit.ly/38ye0cY Selected references: Paper from last year on why American healthcare spending is so high: https://bit.ly/2t8gkqB Report from...
Dec 13, 2019•36 min•Season 7Ep. 11
On today’s show, three f-ant-astic stories of survival, friendship and courage about some of the most underrated creatures in the animal queendom. Produced with our friends at Every Little Thing , another Gimlet podcast. We spoke with behavioral ecologist Dr. István Maák, biologist Dr. Erik Frank, entomologist Dr. Christina Kwapich, and biologist Prof Derrick Brazill. Check out the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/38cDgoU Selected references: István’s study on ants surviving in a nuclear bunk...
Dec 05, 2019•32 min•Season 7Ep. 10
