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Sun, 13th Dec 2009

Was Swine 'Flu Man-Made?

Where did the 2009 H1N1 swine influenza pandemic come from? This week we hear the evidence that this new 'flu may have escaped from a laboratory. We also explore rising rates of resistance to the antiviral drug Tamiflu, hear how 'flu vaccines are made and meet a mutant 'flu strain developed by scientists to protect the population. Plus, why soy cuts cancer recurrence rates, how a case of mistaken identity spells trouble for endangered fish, a computer model for unclogging coronary arteries and in Kitchen Science Ben and Dave measure the speed of a sneeze...

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In this edition of Naked Scientists

02:05 - Soy stops breast cancer recurrence
04:51 - A fishy case of mistaken identity

07:21 - Computer model gets to heart of blocked artery problem
10:10 - Read my words

12:40 - How fast is a sneeze?

This time of year coughs and sneezes are a common complaint, but just how fast is a sneeze.
15:03 - Did Swine 'Flu Escape from a Laboratory?

Where do new pandemic strains of influenza come from? Canberra-based virologist Adrian Gibbs wonders whether swine flu could have come from a laboratory...

23:37 - What Causes Tamiflu Resistance?

James Wood addresses the concerns of tamiflu resistance in our population and reveals if we really should be worrying about it...
27:51 - How are 'Flu Vaccines Produced?

How are 'flu vaccines prepared, how long does it take and how is the technology evolving?

33:48 - Should you "feed a cold and starve a fever" ?

Should you "Feed a cold, starve a fever"? Is this true?
35:20 - Protecting, Anti-'flu Viruses

Nigel Dimmock discusses a new anti-influenza strategy - a virus that protects you from infection...

48:03 - How many 'flu-vaccine doses from an egg?

How many 'flu inoculations can you make from a single egg? Secondly, how do people ensure that the eggs that are used don’t contain the bird flu virus?
49:20 - How does 'flu infect cells?

How does 'flu actually infect our cells?

51:58 - What would happen if you Tasered an elephant?

My question is about Tasers; the Tasers they use for crowd control. What would happen if you Tasered an elephant? Would you live to tell the tale? How strong are these things?
54:33 - How do disinfecting hand-rubs work?

How do hand sanitizers work, and how effective are they against viruses?

Why is 'flu more prevalent in winter?

Why is flu more prevalent in winter?

Comments

No, it wasn't.
Now, what's to discuss? Bored chemist, Tue, 15th Dec 2009

I listend to the podcast on the way into work this morning. I have a couple questions...

What do they do with the 100's of millions of waste eggs after they have incubated and harvested the virus?

Can investigators ever find the source of the new virus, or are we left with best educated guesses?

There was mention of genetic sequences from parents not seen for many years. Is this always as a result of a stored virus being released or can a virus mutate back to a former version of itself?

nixietube, Wed, 16th Dec 2009

Did you actually listen to the programme? chris, Wed, 16th Dec 2009

The question: "Where did the 2009 H1N1 swine flu come from?"

FROM A PIG That would be my humble opinion. OK, maybe not so HUMBLE! Ethos, Wed, 16th Dec 2009

I suggest that you listen to the programme... chris, Thu, 17th Dec 2009

I heard a lot of speculation that it might have been, but I heard no evidence that it was. Geezer, Thu, 17th Dec 2009

Geezer: see above (I suggest that you listen to the programme...)

Chris ;) chris, Thu, 17th Dec 2009

I did, and, as I said, I heard a lot of speculation that it might have been, but I heard no evidence that it was. Geezer, Fri, 18th Dec 2009

No evidence that it was is not necessarily the same as saying no evidence that it wasn't...that's the worry, to my mind. daveshorts, Fri, 18th Dec 2009

Right. In the absense of evidence it is speculation. That's my only point. Geezer, Fri, 18th Dec 2009

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