Up in Smoke

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Aug 9, 2024

Leda Kobziar, a fire ecologist from the University of Idaho, joins the discussion to shed light on the unexpected effects of wildfires. She tackles the complex relationship between smoke, fungi, and human health, especially concerning recent outbreaks among burn patients. Leda reveals how smoke harbors microorganisms that influence both ecology and human biology. The conversation also delves into fire's dual role in nature – as a destroyer and a facilitator of life, challenging our perceptions of what smoke truly contains.

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ANECDOTE

Mysterious Mold Outbreak

Dr. Naomi Hauser, an infectious disease doctor, noticed an unusual outbreak of mold infections in burn patients.
The infections involved various mold types, making a single source in the hospital unlikely.

INSIGHT

Smoke-Clogged Filters

The hospital's air filters were overwhelmed by wildfire smoke, suggesting a potential link to the infections.
This prompted investigation into whether smoke carries infectious agents.

ANECDOTE

Petri Dish Experiment

Fire ecologist Leda Kobziar observed smoke's fog-like properties and wondered if it contained bacteria, similar to snow-making machines.
She conducted an experiment using petri dishes in prescribed burns, finding hundreds of bacteria and fungi colonies.

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Two scenes. In the first, a doctor gets a call — the hospital she works at is having an outbreak of unknown origin, in the middle of the worst wildfire season on record. In the second, an ecologist stands in a forest, watching it burn. Through very different circumstances, they both find themselves asking the same question: is there something in the smoke? This question will bring them together, and reveal – to all of us – a world we never saw before.

This is the first episode in an ongoing series hosted by Molly Webster, in conversation with scientists and science-y people, doing work at the furthest edges of what we know. More to come!

Special thanks to Leda Kobziar, at the University of Idaho, and Naomi Hauser, at the University of California, Davis. Plus, James and Shelby Kaemmerer, and Paula and John Troche.

We have some exciting news! In the “Zoozve” episode, Radiolab named its first-ever quasi-moon, and now it's your turn! Radiolab has teamed up with The International Astronomical Union to launch a global naming contest for one of Earth’s quasi-moons. This is your chance to make your mark on the heavens. Submit your name ideas now through September, or vote on your favorites starting in November: https://radiolab.org/moon

EPISODE CREDITS:
Hosted and Reported by - Molly Webster
Produced by - Sindhu Gnanasambandan
Fact-checking by - Diane A. Kelly
and Edited by - Pat Walters

EPISODE CITATIONS:

Articles -

And lastly, wanna learn more about bacteria in snow-making machines – check out this New York Times article (https://zpr.io/t6HKi7HMuHMZ), or this science-explainer (https://zpr.io/VygRVBb5vspq)!

Scientific Papers -

Read Leda’s paper on microbes in smoke (https://zpr.io/d3JVm7gEf2dc)!

For more details on the outbreak at Naomi’s hospital, you can check out this abstract of her findings (https://zpr.io/DGgS9UCFicpJ).

Leda was inspired to stick petri dishes into smoke after reading a science research paper written by a father-daughter team, as part of a high school science project in Texas. Go read it (https://zpr.io/D3LVMy2raLr9)!

Audio -

For further fungal listening, Radiolab and Molly have covered fungus and hospital outbreaks (https://radiolab.org/podcast/fungus-amungus) before (plus: dinosuars!), in our episode Fungus Amungus.

You can also listen to Super Cool (https://radiolab.org/podcast/super-cool-2017), a Radiolab episode about wild horses, microbes, and things freezing instantaneously. (It’s seriously one of Molly’s favorite Radiolab episodes and it has a moment of such SPONTANEOUS joy, she re-plays it at least once a year to smile.)

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Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation Initiative, and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.