These malaria drugs treat the mosquitos — not the people

Nature Podcast

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Science, News, Technology

4.4 • 859 Ratings

🗓️ 21 May 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

00:45 Treating mosquitoes for malaria

Researchers have developed two compounds that can kill malaria-causing parasites within mosquitoes, an approach they hope could help reduce transmission of the disease. The team showed that these compounds can be embedded into the plastics used to make bed nets, providing an alternative to insecticide-based malaria-control measures, which are losing efficacy in the face of increased resistance.

Research article: Probst et al.

10:42 Research Highlights

The sunlight-powered device that can harvest drinkable water from desert air, and evidence that the world’s richest people are disproportionately responsible for climate impacts.

Research Highlight: Atacama sunshine helps to pull water from thin air

Research Highlight: The world’s richest people have an outsized role in climate extremes

13:02 The genetics that can lead to pregnancy loss

Researchers have found specific genetic mutations that can lead to pregnancy loss. It’s known that errors, such as the duplication of chromosomes, can lead to nonviable pregnancies but less has been known about non-chromosomal genetic errors. The new work identifies DNA sequence changes that can lead to a non-viable pregnancy. This may offer clinicians the ability to screen embryos for these changes to help avoid pregnancy loss.

Research article: Arnadottir et al.

22:24 Briefing Chat

Bespoke CRISPR-based therapy treats baby boy with devastating genetic disease, and the ‘anti-spice’ compounds that can lower chillies’ heat.

Nature: World’s first personalized CRISPR therapy given to baby with genetic disease

New Scientist: Chemists discover 'anti-spice' that could make chilli peppers less hot

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1:52.2	Nature.
1:54.0	Nature.
1:56.1	Welcome back to the Nature podcast.
1:58.7	This week, treating mosquitoes for malaria and understanding
2:03.2	the genetics of pregnancy loss. I'm Nick Petichow. And I'm Benjamin Thompson.
2:12.1	First up, we've got a story about efforts to improve the ability of anti-mosquito bed nets to prevent malaria transmission.
	...

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