Radiolab
Revenge of the Miasma
Feb 28, 2025
Dive into the murky history of airborne diseases and how disbelief masked an invisible threat for years. Science journalist Carl Zimmer reveals the tragic tale of a chorale rehearsal turned superspreader during COVID-19. Explore the dramatic shift from miasma to germ theory, uncovering how singing in shared spaces exposed hidden risks. Discover forgotten pioneers of air quality science and the fascinating connection between what we breathe and our health, highlighting the endless evolving narrative of disease transmission.
35:31
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Quick takeaways
- Carl Zimmer's exploration of historical scientific debates reveals how misinformation and skepticism have repeatedly obscured the truth about airborne diseases.
- The Skagit Valley Chorale COVID outbreak exemplifies the urgent need for public health guidelines to adapt to emerging evidence of airborne transmission.
Deep dives
The Origins of Aerobiology
Fred Meyer, a pioneering scientist, discovered a novel fungus affecting watermelons in 1915 that could travel through the air via spores, leading to the inception of aerobiology. At a young age, he conducted experiments while flying in open cockpit planes to collect airborne microbes, which was revolutionary for the time. His work contradicted the prevailing beliefs that living organisms couldn't survive in the air, garnering both interest and skepticism from contemporaries. Ultimately, his contributions led to the establishment of a government-supported bureau for aerobiology, which sought to monitor microscopic life in the atmosphere.
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