This is the science podcast for August 21st, 2025.

I'm Sarah Crespi.

First up, staff writer Meredith Blodman discusses recent advances in understanding endometriosis,

a disease where tissue that resembles the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.

We talk about how researchers are now investigating

the role of the immune system in this disease and finding new paths to diagnosis and treatment.

Next on the show, why are there good dengue years and bad dengue years? This week in science

translational medicine, Talia Kwandalasi and colleagues mapped the synchrony and spread of this

mosquito-borne disease in Latin America. She joins the podcast to talk about how seasons, rainfall,

even El Nino connect with dengue levels.

Enemitriosis probably affects 10% of reproductive aged women. It can be painful. It often

takes years and years to diagnose and the treatment options are not great. This week in science,

staff writer Meredith Wadman wrote about new insights into endometriosis and potential pathways to treatment,

and these are often coming from researchers with the disease. Hi, Meredith. Welcome back to the podcast.

Glad to be here with you, Sarah. Reading this story made me realize that I might need a refresher.

I might have an old definition of endometriosis in my brain. What are the main characteristics

of this illness? Endometriosis is my brain. What are the main characteristics of this illness?

Endometriosis is a disease where tissue like the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. That's most often in the pelvic cavity area, but it can't occur further afield than

that. That's the definition of the disease. Why does it take so long to

diagnose? Well, A, physicians don't have enough of an index of suspicion for it. And what is

commonly called just period pain, you know, normal you're having cramps. Sorry, that's part of

life, girly. That too often is what happens and it doesn't get properly

...