Science Magazine Podcast Protecting newborns from an invisible killer, the rise of drones for farming, and a Druid mystery
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Sep 18, 2025 Leslie Roberts, a freelance science journalist, discusses the urgent need for a group B streptococcus vaccine to protect newborns from this deadly microbe. She highlights the vaccine's potential to save thousands of lives and outlines the complex development journey hampered by safety concerns and investment hesitance. Ben Belton, a food policy researcher, explores the rising adoption of agricultural drones, emphasizing their ability to enhance productivity and sustainability in farming across diverse nations. His insights on the future role of drones are both enlightening and thought-provoking.
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GBS Is A Much Bigger Global Threat
- Global studies found ~400,000 infant GBS cases yearly and ~91,000 deaths, revealing a much larger burden than previously known.
- Researchers also estimate ~40,000 stillbirths and possibly ~500,000 preterm births linked to GBS, amplifying its public-health significance.
Carol Baker's Early Breakthrough
- Carol Baker observed newborns dying the first day of life and correctly identified group B streptococcus as the culprit.
- She also proposed vaccinating mothers in late pregnancy to pass protective antibodies to infants, years before broad acceptance.
Large Trials Made Traditional Approval Impractical
- A conventional phase 3 trial for a GBS vaccine would need ~100,000 pregnant women and could cost around a billion dollars, making it impractical.
- Regulators and researchers therefore consider serological endpoints (protective antibody levels) as acceptable indirect measures of efficacy.
