The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has inspired widespread fear throughout the U.S. and in many other countries. In reality, the threat of Ebola is actually quite small with only 1,700 deaths since 1976. The rarity of the Ebola virus has given major pharmaceutical companies very little incentive to develop a treatment for the virus given that the market for such a drug would be almost nonexistent. However, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, a small pharmaceutical company based in Frederick, MD, has been given government help to develop a cure for the virus. Listen to learn more about the complexity of the Ebola virus and what is being done to develop a cure.
Story Length: 4:11
© 2014 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.
AIR DATE: 04/11/2014
Scientists have now figured out the genetic code to one of the oldest known plagues. This public radio story describes what may have been the first outbreak of bubonic plague in Europe in the 6th century CE, 800 years before the Black Death struck in 1347. You learn how scientists discovered that the “Justinian plague” was actually a first outbreak of bubonic plague in Europe, and where it came from.
Read More
Researchers are looking deep into our cells to study the origins of cancer. This audio story is about scientific research that’s trying to prevent cancer at a cellular level. It also looks at how more money is spent on treating the disease than studying ways to prevent it.
Read More
Infectious diseases like plague don’t just impact humans, they can spread and decimate animal populations as well. One scientist saw the impact of plague in prairie dog colonies and among black footed ferrets. He questioned whether the scientific understanding of plague cycles and transmission was accurate. Listen to learn what scientists discovered about plague and its larger impact on ecosystems.
Read More
