Science Quickly

It’s been five years since COVID was declared a global pandemic. Local, national and global public health agencies mobilized to contain the spread of COVID, but experts worry that backlash against measures like lockdowns have made today’s systems less capable of handling a disease of similar scale. Now the U.S. faces a tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas that underscores the importance of public health infrastructure.Recommended reading:On COVID’s Fifth Anniversary, Scientists Reflect on Mistakes and Successes https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/on-covids-fifth-anniversary-scientists-reflect-on-mistakes-and-successes/Read Michelle Mello’s research on how public health legal powers have changed since the beginning of the COVID pandemic:https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-076269 And check out Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga’s ongoing health equity reporting:https://www.kcur.org/bek-shackelford E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Naeem Amarsy and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with producer Fonda Mwangi. Our show is edited by Jeff DelViscio with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With measles cases on the rise, experts are pushing back against misleading claims about vitamin A as a substitute for vaccination. A Supreme Court ruling has reshaped the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority over water pollution, raising concerns about future environmental protections. And in the world of biotechnology, scientists have genetically engineered woolly mice—an experiment with implications for de-extinction efforts.Recommended reading:Company Seeking to Resurrect the Woolly Mammoth Creates a ‘Woolly Mouse’https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/company-seeking-to-resurrect-the-woolly-mammoth-creates-a-woolly-mouse/ Trump Gives EPA One Week to Decide on Abandoning Climate Pollution Regulationhttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-gives-epa-one-week-to-decide-on-abandoning-climate-pollution/ Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Naeem Amarsy and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Alex Sugiura with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Green is an author, advocate and one half of the Vlogbrothers. His latest book, Everything Is Tuberculosis, comes out on March 18. Green joins host Rachel Feltman to share how tuberculosis shaped history, geography and culture. He discusses how he came to understand the inequities of tuberculosis and the dire risk public health interruptions pose to patients today.Recommended reading:You can preorder Everything Is Tuberculosis: https://everythingistb.com/#bookHow Advocates Pushed Big Pharma to Cut Tuberculosis Drug Priceshttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-advocates-pushed-big-pharma-to-cut-tuberculosis-drug-prices/ The Heroic Black Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosishttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-heroic-black-nurses-who-helped-cure-tuberculosis/ E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Naeem Amarsy and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Alex Sugiura and Naeem Amarsy with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Megha Satyanarayana, the chief opinion editor at Scientific American, delves into the concerning study revealing microplastics infiltrating our brains. She uncovers how these tiny pollutants extend far beyond factories, raising alarms about their long-term impact. Satyanarayana also shares insights about her column, Cross Currents, which aims to clarify complex scientific issues and combat misinformation in health and environmental debates. Her perspective emphasizes the urgent need for awareness and action amid rising plastic pollution and its implications.

A measles outbreak in West Texas has led to a tragic death, highlighting the importance of vaccines. Meanwhile, public health officials are racing against time to investigate mysterious disease outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Fascinating research shows how low microbial diversity on the International Space Station could affect astronauts' health, and scientists delve into the eerie transformation of brains into glass during volcanic eruptions, including a captivating look at ancient Martian beaches that suggest a lost ocean.

In this discussion, Josh Fischman, senior editor at Scientific American with expertise in the psychology of earworms, reveals the science behind why certain songs loop endlessly in our minds. He explains how specific traits, like a tempo around 124 beats per minute, make some tunes more sticky than others. The conversation includes strategies to combat these pesky earworms and shares hilarious listener stories about their most unforgettable songs. Get ready to uncover the psychology behind those catchy melodies!

Lee Billings, Senior space and physics editor for Scientific American, dives into the remarkable journey of the Gaia spacecraft, which expertly mapped the Milky Way for 11 years. He shares insights on its three trillion observations, revealing discoveries about tidal streams, black holes, and asteroids. Billings also discusses Gaia's legacy in galactic archaeology and the future of astronomical exploration, hinting at potential data releases that could unveil thousands of new exoplanets. An engaging look at the end of one mission and the start of another!

Unravel the mysteries of the universe with discussions on the black hole in our galaxy and its light flares. Discover the rollercoaster risk of asteroid 2024 YR4 and why it keeps changing. Marvel at the inclusion of a Paralympic athlete as a pioneering astronaut candidate. Dive into the rise of measles cases in Texas, highlighting the importance of vaccinations. Plus, explore groundbreaking research linking genetics to language development and learn how fish can actually recognize individual divers!

Tina Lasisi, a biological anthropologist at the University of Michigan, dives into the fascinating world of human hair evolution. She unpacks why humans have varying hair types, particularly focusing on the mystery behind curls. The discussion touches on hair's role in heat regulation and how environmental factors shape its characteristics. Lasisi also explores the impact of puberty on hair texture and interesting findings about "chemo curls," revealing much about how our hair reflects our biological stories.

Carl Zimmer, a renowned science journalist and author of "Airborne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe," delves into the fascinating and often overlooked world of airborne microorganisms. He chronicles the historical understanding of diseases transmitted through air, from ancient Greek 'miasmas' to modern germ theory. Zimmer discusses the turbulent relationship between science and warfare that shaped aerobiology, and critically examines the debates on COVID-19 transmission, urging a reconsideration of public health strategies. It's an enlightening exploration of the unseen life in our atmosphere!