Swords, cannibalism, poison: inside the world of killer microbes
About this episode
There is a murderous crime spree happening right under—and perhaps inside—our noses. Killer microbes armed with weapons are eviscerating, assassinating, and detonating their fellow microbes. And the newest culprit? A protist that morphs into a cannibilastic supergiant when times get tough.
Host Flora Lichtman talks with Glen D’Souza and Ben Larson, two detectives who study these micro-murders. They chat about why microbes kill, how they choose their victims, and whether we can harness those weapons for good.
Guests:
Dr. Glen D’Souza is a microbiologist and assistant professor at Arizona State University in Tempe.
Dr. Ben Larson is an assistant professor and cell biologist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York.
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