Podcast Title: Search Engine
Host: PJ Vogt
Episode: Viruses in the Air
Release Date: March 21, 2025
Introduction to the Epidemic Mysteries (02:24 - 03:41)
In this episode, PJ Vogt delves into the elusive nature of illnesses, likening sickness to unsolved mysteries. He reflects on the recurring flu seasons, norovirus outbreaks, and the enigmatic ways diseases spread, often leaving individuals pondering the source of their ailment. Vogt introduces the conversation with Carl Zimmer, a renowned science writer and author of the book Airborne, to explore how scientists understand and sometimes misinterpret the transmission of viruses.
Notable Quote:
"Sickness itself is this mystery that we rarely completely solve."
— PJ Vogt [02:24]
Carl Zimmer on Airborne Transmission and the Wells' Legacy (03:41 - 12:59)
Carl Zimmer shares his insights into the history of airborne disease transmission, highlighting the pivotal yet overlooked contributions of William and Mildred Wells in the 1930s. These pioneering scientists challenged the prevailing beliefs of their time by demonstrating that diseases like tuberculosis, streptococcal infections, and influenza could indeed spread through airborne particles, not just large droplets.
Key Points:
- Historical Context: During the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, the scientific community struggled to understand the virus's transmission, leading to widespread confusion and ineffective prevention measures.
- The Wells' Contribution: William and Mildred Wells developed innovative devices, such as the air centrifuge and the infection machine, to prove the presence of germs in the air. Their experiments demonstrated that ultraviolet (UV) light could neutralize airborne pathogens, significantly reducing disease transmission.
- Challenges Faced: Despite their groundbreaking work, the Wells faced significant resistance due to their unconventional approaches and difficult personalities. Their inability to build alliances and their paranoid nature led to their eventual ostracization from the scientific community.
Notable Quotes:
"They were, you know, their own worst enemies. They make things difficult even for their closest friends."
— Carl Zimmer [19:46]
"We have all the knowledge, but it just takes a while to get there."
— Carl Zimmer [28:57]
The Forgotten Pioneers and Rediscovery During COVID-19 (13:07 - 26:27)
Zimmer explains how the Wells' discoveries were largely forgotten over the decades, only to be resurrected during the COVID-19 pandemic. A small community of scientists who had kept the Wells' theories alive gradually coalesced, advocating for the recognition of airborne transmission. However, institutional resistance persisted, with organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) initially denying COVID-19's airborne nature.
Key Points:
- Airborne Transmission Recognition: It wasn't until April 2021 that the WHO officially acknowledged COVID-19 as an airborne disease, over a year into the pandemic.
- Systemic Inertia: The high bar set for evidence and the reluctance to overhaul public health strategies contributed to delayed recognition and response.
- Impact of Recognition: The acknowledgment of airborne transmission underscored the importance of ventilation, mask-wearing, and air filtration in preventing disease spread.
Notable Quotes:
"Science is a human activity. And so people have to work together. And so there's inevitably a certain kind of political dimension to science."
— Carl Zimmer [19:19]
"If you really want to start to understand this weird history behind the COVID pandemic, start with genuine William and Mildred Wells."
— Carl Zimmer [11:23]
Current Concerns: Bird Flu and Pandemic Preparedness (32:26 - 39:50)
The conversation transitions to current and future threats, focusing on bird flu (H5N1) and its potential to evolve into a human-transmissible virus. Zimmer discusses the virus's presence in various animals and the risk of it adapting for easier transmission among humans.
Key Points:
- Bird Flu Dynamics: H5N1 has been spreading among birds, cows, and cats in the United States, increasing the chances of the virus adapting to mammals.
- Transmission Risks: The virus's ability to become airborne poses a significant threat, as it could lead to a more severe pandemic similar to or worse than COVID-19.
- Preparedness Measures: Zimmer emphasizes the importance of monitoring air quality using tools like carbon dioxide monitors and wearing N95 masks in high-risk environments to reduce exposure.
Notable Quotes:
"Bird flu could evolve to become a human flu. And part of that may be, how do you become airborne?"
— Carl Zimmer [34:28]
"If you see it going up, I'm not going to wait till it's like, you know, two or three thousand parts per million. I'll totally put on a mask."
— Carl Zimmer [37:11]
Understanding Science as a Progressive and Flawed Endeavor (28:08 - 28:57)
Zimmer reflects on the nature of scientific progress, acknowledging that it is often messy and contentious. Despite setbacks and human failings, science has significantly advanced public health, saving countless lives through the germ theory, vaccines, and antibiotics.
Notable Quote:
"If people understood how science actually works, you know, it is messy, it is contentious, people make mistakes and so on. And yet we do learn things."
— Carl Zimmer [28:26]
Closing Thoughts and Personal Anecdotes (35:00 - 39:50)
Zimmer shares his personal pandemic preparedness strategies, such as using a carbon dioxide monitor to assess air quality and wearing masks proactively in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces. He also discusses ongoing technological advancements aimed at detecting airborne pathogens in real-time, which could revolutionize how we approach disease prevention in the future.
Notable Quotes:
"It's just that the air is particularly challenging because we all have to breathe and because we just don't have systems in place across the board to keep our air clean."
— Carl Zimmer [39:07]
"I do take a carbon dioxide monitor around with me. Do you know these things?"
— Carl Zimmer [35:13]
Conclusion: The Imperative of Embracing Airborne Science (39:50 - 40:00)
As the episode concludes, Zimmer underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing airborne transmission in preventing future pandemics. He advocates for a societal shift towards proactively managing air quality to safeguard public health, emphasizing that awareness and technological innovation are key to mitigating the risks posed by airborne diseases.
Notable Quote:
"You just don't get systems in place to keep our air clean. In the same way that you assume that the water that's coming out of your tap is not laced with sewage, right? If it is, you're like, what the hell."
— Carl Zimmer [39:23]
Final Thoughts:
Viruses in the Air provides a compelling exploration of the history and science behind airborne disease transmission. Through the lens of Carl Zimmer's expertise, listeners gain a deeper understanding of how scientific breakthroughs can be lost and later rediscovered, the challenges of changing established paradigms, and the critical importance of airborne research in preventing future health crises.