Science Quickly Exploring the Hidden Life in the Air around Us with Carl Zimmer
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Feb 19, 2025 
Carl Zimmer, a renowned science journalist and author of "Airborne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe," dives into the fascinating world of aerobiology. He discusses the evolution of beliefs about airborne diseases, tracing ideas from ancient miasmas to modern science. Zimmer highlights the crucial role of microbes in indoor air and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our understanding of airborne transmission. He also reflects on the historical ties between aerobiology and biological warfare, revealing unsettling truths about the life we share our air with.
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Centuries of Airborne Disease Understanding
- The history of understanding airborne disease spans centuries and is filled with forgotten scientists and shifting ideas.
- This history is crucial to grasping the COVID pandemic and future airborne threats.
Miasma Theory's Persistence
- Early diseases were attributed to 'miasmas' or corrupted air, a belief persisting even during germ theory's rise.
- Many diseases named after bad air, like malaria, reflect this historic misconception.
Science’s Twisty History
- Science is not linear; ideas once dismissed can later prove correct amid opposition.
- Pasteur’s experiments showed airborne germs, yet many found this concept 'too fantastic to believe'.
