This episode is presented by eBay.

Rob, everyone loves a deal and a bargain from time to time, don't they? Absolutely, mate. And you know where you can grab a great deal? Talk to me. Where? The eBay app. Yes, you are correct. You didn't need to talk to me. I already knew it. I love eBay. When you're buying, you can discover loads of hidden gems. there's so many items where you think I would have never found that anywhere else.

Then when you're buying, you can discover loads of hidden gems. There's so many items where you think I would have never found that anywhere else. Then when you're selling, it's so simple and most

importantly, free. It's free, Rob. When it's this easy to sell for free and there's great deals

on things you love. You can't help but say when it's eBay. It excludes vehicles and business

sellers.

Welcome to Science Talk, the weekly podcast of Scientific American.

For the seven days starting October 17th, I'm Steve Merski.

This week on the podcast, from people to chickens to yeast.

We'll talk with Scientific Americans news editor Phil Yam about people and animals and public health,

and evolutionary biologist Sean Carroll discusses some fascinating research he just published that looks at how a single gene with two functions wound up as two genes with specialized functions.

Plus, we'll test your knowledge about some recent science in the news.

First up, though, Phil Yam, we spoke in the library at Scientific American.

Hey, Phil, how are you? Good, Steve.

So you just got back from Europe. Where were you?

I was in Salzburg attending the Salzburg Global Seminar on Animal and Public Health.

Animal and public health.

Yes.

Basically, 75% of all emerging diseases come from animals, and the seminar, which brought

together a group of diverse researchers, tried to look at what we can do to better contain

or spot potential outbreaks.

Now, this is a particular interest of yours because you wrote a book about mad cow disease.

...