Hantavirus update, PCOS name change, ‘cheeky’ fish behavior

Science Quickly

Scientific American

Science

4.4 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 18 May 2026

⏱️ 12 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of Science Quickly, we get the latest on the hantavirus outbreak with Tanya Lewis, Scientific American’s senior desk editor for health and medicine. We also unpack why the common health condition previously named polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is now called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS. Then SciAm’s chief newsletter editor Andrea Gawrylewski shares an interesting story about subatomic particles from this month’s issue of the magazine. And finally, we dive into the phenomenon known as “cloacal diving”—wherein one fish hides in another animal’s “butthole.” Recommended Reading: Can hantavirus spread through the air? What we do and don’t know Why hantavirus takes so long to show symptoms and what that means for containment Doubts grow over theory that bird-watchers’ trip to Argentine landfill sparked hantavirus outbreak ‘PCOS is inaccurate’—why scientists renamed polycystic ovary syndrome Mining companies are using cosmic rays to find critical minerals Sucker fish are hiding in manta rays’ ‘butthole,’ new study reveals E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Changes in sexual performance are more common than most people realize, and support doesn't need to feel awkward.
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0:09.1	Start by completing a short consultation reviewed by UK registered clinicians.
0:13.3	If eligible, treatment is delivered discreetly to your home with ongoing support whenever you need it.
0:18.7	You're not alone in this. Visit Medexpress.co.cote.ukukes slash podcast to learn more.
0:24.2	Hey, Science Quickly fans.
0:25.7	Rachel here.
0:26.6	If you love our show, I want to tell you about another podcast you should definitely be
0:31.5	listening to, Science Friday.
0:33.8	Science Friday and Science Quickly definitely share a lot of podcast DNA, mostly because
0:39.2	Science Friday was the first science show I ever listened to, and I love it so much that
0:44.2	I've actually appeared as a guest host on the show. But even if you're a longtime fan like me,
0:48.7	you might not realize that Science Friday isn't just for Fridays anymore. Every day,
0:55.9	the SciFri team puts the latest science news under the microscope, from the origin of the universe to AI news you can actually use
1:01.9	to the science of heavy metal screams. Just like science quickly, Science Friday stokes your curiosity
1:08.3	and pulls back the curtain on some of the most interesting science
1:11.7	happening today. So give Science Friday a listen wherever you get your podcasts.
1:21.5	Happy Monday listeners. For Scientific American Science Quickly, I'm Rachel Fultman.
1:30.9	You're listening to our weekly Science News Roundup.
1:38.2	First, let's check in on the hauntavirus situation.
1:41.9	Tanya Lewis, I am Senior Desk Editor for Health and Medicine, is here with an update. Tanya, thanks I am senior desk editor for Health and Medicine,
1:44.8	is here with an update. Tanya, thanks so much for coming on to chat with us. Yeah, thanks so much
	...

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