Nature Podcast From Hippocrates to COVID-19: the scientific fight to prove diseases can be airborne
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Apr 7, 2025 
Carl Zimmer, a renowned science writer and New York Times columnist, dives into the fascinating world of airborne diseases. He discusses the surprising airborne spread of COVID-19, drawing from a dramatic choral rehearsal outbreak. Zimmer also traces the contentious history of aerobiology, detailing the struggles of pioneering researchers like William and Mildred Wells. He highlights the significant impact of government censorship on public health and stresses the lessons from the past in understanding the transmission of pathogens today.
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Skagit Valley Chorale
- Carl Zimmer's book "Airborne" begins with his 2023 visit to a choral concert.
- This choir, the Skagit Valley Chorale, suffered a COVID outbreak early in the pandemic.
Aerobiology vs. Traditional Views
- Aerobiology studies all life in the air, not just coughs and sneezes.
- Germs in droplets can float like smoke, traveling further than traditionally thought.
COVID and Historical Parallels
- Debates about COVID transmission mirrored historical scientific disagreements.
- The idea of airborne disease transmission, formulated in the 1930s, was largely ignored.
