The Future of Permafrost

Today you’ll learn about a zombie virus recovered from the arctic permafrost and brought back to life, some good news about 26 Australian animal species that have been brought back from the brink, and how a new pill could potentially limit the levels of “bad” cholesterol in the body. 

Zombie Virus 

• “Scientists have revived a ‘zombie’ virus that spent 48,500 years frozen in permafrost.” By Katie Hunt. 2023.
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/08/world/permafrost-virus-risk-climate-scn/index.html
• “Arctic permafrost is thawing rapidly. It affects us all.” By Katie Hunt. 2022.
  • https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/12/world/permafrost-climate-change-explainer-scn/index.html

Back From the Brink

• “Researchers find 26 Australian species recovered from the brink of extinction.” abc.net. 2023.
  • https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-24/australian-animals-no-longer-meet-criteria-as-threatened-species/102020276
• “Lights at the end of the tunnel: The incidence and characteristics of recovery for Australian threatened animals.” by Woinarski, et al. 2023.
  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320723000460
• “Humpback whales no longer listed as endangered after major recovery.” by Claudia Long. 2022.
  • https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-26/humpback-whales-no-longer-listed-as-endangered/100862644
• “Red List: Summary Statistics.” n.a. N.d.
  • https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/summary-statistics

Bad Cholesterol

• “Oral pill cuts bad cholesterol by 60% in phase 2 clinical trial” By Michael Irving
  • https://newatlas.com/medical/oral-pill-bad-cholesterol-phase-2-clinical-trial/
• “Efficacy and safety of the oral PCSK9 inhibitor MK-0616: a phase 2b randomized controlled trial” by Christie M. Ballantyne et al.
  • https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2023.02.018
• “What Is the Difference Between Good and Bad Cholesterol?” by Keck Medicine of USC
  • https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-good-and-bad-cholesterol/#:~:text=As%20a%20general%20rule%2C%20HDL,cholesterol%20directly%20to%20your%20arteries.
• “Coronary artery disease” by Mayo Clinic
  • https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronary-artery-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350613#:~:text=If%20there's%20too%20much%20cholesterol,blood%20flow%20through%20an%20artery.
• “PCSK9 gene” by MedLine Plus
  • https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/pcsk9/#:~:text=The%20PCSK9%20protein%20controls%20the,in%20regulating%20blood%20cholesterol%20levels.

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Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/zombie-virus-back-from-the-brink-bad-cholesterol

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