Julia Van Etten

Tiny Living Beings

Science EN ↓ 28 episodes

Tiny Living Beings is a weekly podcast where listeners get to know a scientist, a weird microorganism they like, and why they think it's interesting. Our planet is full of billions of different microscopic organisms, most of which are still unknown to science. The ones we do know are diverse and strange. Microbiology knowledge is often gatekept by scientists who discuss this information in exclusive professional circles, but more of these topics need to be shared with the public! Although generally upbeat and fun, conversations often tangentially address frustrations with society or become exi...

Author

Julia Van Etten

Episodes

Leptospira bacteria - with Kyra Hartog 05.12.2022 39:54

If you have a dog, you'll want to listen to this one! Leptospira is a genus of spirochete bacteria that can infect many different mammals, from rats to rhinos. Veterinarian Kyra Hartog talks about what Leptospira do in nature and why some animals get Leptospirosis and others do not. She also describes symptoms and treatments and gives advice on how to keep your dogs safe! We also go on a rant abou...

Deadly amoeba - with Seth Bromagen 28.11.2022 39:19

Naegleria fowleri is a Percolozoan flagellate protist known as the "brain-eating amoeba". While fatal to humans, this microbe doesn't have a sinister motive. In fact, as Dr. Bromagen explains, infecting humans has no benefit to the amoeba and will be fatal to it as well as the infected human. In this episode we discuss the ecology, natural history, and pathogenicity of Naegleria fowleri and then t...

Tiny Living Beings: Trailer 26.11.2022 2:34

"The world shimmers, a pointillist landscape made of tiny living beings." -Lynn Margulis Tiny Living Beings is a weekly podcast where listeners get to know a scientist, a weird microorganism they like, and why they think it's interesting. Our planet is full of billions of different microscopic organisms, most of which are still unknown to science. The ones we do know are diverse and strange. Micro...