Once declared eliminated. Now making a comeback.In this episode of MicroMysteries, we dive into the story of measles - one of the most contagious viruses ever known. From its ancient origins in the Persian Empire to its deadly return across Europe today, we unravel how this virus works, how it tricks your immune system, and why it’s reemerging now.👁️🗨️ Inside this episode:📜 The 9th-century diagnosis that mistook measles for smallpox🩸 Wild historical “treatments” including red cloth and mercury🧠 What is immune amnesia and why it matters📊 Why Europe saw a 45x spike in cases in just one year💉 And how close we really came to wiping it outThis marks the beginning of Season 1 – Part 2 as we move from bacterial killers to viral threats 🔬Next up: the poxes - smallpox and chickenpox. Two viruses. One eradicated. One still hiding in your nerves.🎧 Hit play, subscribe, and stay curious. Because some microbes don’t stay in history books.
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Tuberculosis: The White Plague’s Long Shadow
Tuberculosis—once known as the "White Plague"—was one of the deadliest and most misunderstood diseases in history. In this episode of Micro Mysteries, we explore how TB haunted 19th-century cities, inspired tragic art and literature, and was wrongly seen as a "romantic illness." But behind the myth was a slow-moving, stealthy microbe: Mycobacterium tuberculosis—also known as Koch's bacillus.🎙️ Discover how Robert Koch’s groundbreaking identification of the bacterium changed everything, how the BCG vaccine and streptomycin gave us powerful tools to fight back, and why drug-resistant TB remains a serious global threat today.🔬 Join us for a journey through science, history, and humanity’s ongoing battle with one of its oldest microbial foes.
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Leprosy & The Pioneer Chemist Alice Ball
Welcome back to Micro Mysteries! Today, on International Women's Day, we're diving into the mysterious history of leprosy and celebrating Alice Ball, the groundbreaking scientist whose pioneering work almost went unnoticed. At a time when the rights of women, minorities, and marginalized gender identities face significant threats, Alice’s legacy reminds us of the importance of visibility, recognition, and equality.
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Cholera: The Ghost in the Water
Cholera swept through 19th-century London, leaving death and confusion in its wake. This episode tells the story of how Dr. John Snow uncovered the true source of the outbreak, transforming public health and our understanding of waterborne disease.
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The Plague That Changed History
In this episode, we journey back to the 14th century to explore the Black Plague, a devastating pandemic that reshaped Europe. Discover how Yersinia pestis, the bacterium behind the Black Death, brought entire cities to their knees, changed the course of medicine, and left a lasting mark on culture, society, and science.
🎙️ Welcome to Micro Mysteries! 🎙️
Dive into the fascinating, unseen world of microbes: those tiny yet mighty organisms that have shaped history, medicine, and even the future of our planet. 🌍✨ Our podcast explores everything from how bacteria communicate to the surprising ways microbes impact health and technology.
🔬 Join us for captivating stories, expert insights, and thought-provoking discussions that make science accessible, fun, and inspiring.
🔗For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @micromysteriespodcast
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