Odd new particles may be tunneling through the planet, and how the flu operates differently in big and small towns

Science Magazine Podcast

Science Podcast

News, News Commentary, Science

4.3 • 842 Ratings

🗓️ 4 October 2018

⏱️ 20 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Hoping to spot subatomic particles called neutrinos smashing into Earth, the balloon-borne Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) detector has circled the South Pole four times. ANITA has yet to detect those particles, but it has twice seen oddball radio signals that could be evidence of something even weirder: some heavier particle unknown to physicists’ standard model, burrowing up through Earth. Science writer Adrian Cho joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss the possibility that this reading could lead to a big change in physics. Next, host Meagan Cantwell asks researcher Ben Dalziel what makes a bad—or good—flu year. Traditionally, research has focused on two factors: climate, which impacts how long the virus stays active after a sneeze or cough, and changes in the virus itself, which can influence its infectiousness. But these factors don’t explain every pattern. Dalziel, a population biologist in the Departments of Integrative Biology and Mathematics at Oregon State University in Corvallis, explains how humidity and community size shape the way influenza spreads. This week’s episode was edited by Podigy. Download a transcript of this episode (PDF) Listen to previous podcasts. About the Science Podcast [Image: Stuart Rankin/Flickr; Music: Jeffrey Cook] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Morgan State University, a Baltimore, Maryland Carnegie R2 doctoral research institution,
0:05.0	offers more than 100 academic programs and awards degrees at the Baccliorate, Masters, and Doctoral Levels,
0:12.0	is furthering their mission of growing the future leading the world.
0:16.0	Morgan continues to address the needs and challenges of the modern urban environment.
0:20.0	With a four-year quadrupling
0:22.3	of research, more than a dozen new doctoral programs, and eight new National Centers of Excellence,
0:28.5	Morgan is positioned to achieve Carnegie R1 designation in the next five years. To learn more about
0:34.5	Morgan and their ascension to R1, visit morgan.edu slash research.
0:40.4	This week's show is brought to you in part by Lego Technic.
0:43.5	Lego Technic isn't just another Lego set with bricks.
0:46.8	It's real-life advanced building.
0:49.3	Some sets have interconnecting rods, working gears, even real electric motors.
0:54.7	Technic is for the engineers, the petrol heads, your steam students.
0:59.3	From sports cars to hydraulic movers, if you build for power and speed, then visit
1:03.7	Lego.com slash Technic.
1:05.9	To find your next Technic build, and to see how Lego recently built a life-size, driveable supercar out of
1:12.3	Technic.
1:13.4	That's Lego.com slash Technic.
1:16.0	T-E-C-H-N-I-C.
1:18.2	Lego-R-R-R-R-E-C-LegO-R-R-E-L-E-L-E-L-E-L-E.
1:26.2	Welcome to the Science Podcast for October 5th, 2018.
1:29.8	I'm Sarah Crespi.
	...

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