Ep 130 Cocoliztli: We do love a salty dish

Ep 130 Cocoliztli: We do love a salty dish

In the 16th century, a series of deadly epidemics swept through much of the region of Mesoamerica known as the Aztec Empire, killing untold millions. By the start of the first of these epidemics, the area had become woefully accustomed to devasting epidemic disease, as the Spanish conquistadors had introduced smallpox, measles, typhus, and influenza, among other infections. But this disease, with its tendency to induce massive hemorrhage, fever, jaundice, and rapid death, seemed different from those now familiar infections, and so was given a new name: cocoliztli. People watched in horror as cocoliztli overtook town after town, village after village, sometimes killing as much as 80% of the population and leaving nothing but desolation in its wake. Hundreds of years after the epidemics ended, debate about the pathogen responsible for cocoliztli remains. In this episode, we’re going deep down the rabbit hole of this medical mystery, linking the spread and nature of these epidemics with the characteristics of the many pathogens that have been proposed over the years. We draw from contemporary accounts, ecological analyses, and even a recent ancient DNA study to make our evaluations, but do we ever get to the bottom of cocoliztli? Tune in to find out.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jaksot(280)

Ep 200 Poop Part 1: How the sausage gets made

Ep 200 Poop Part 1: How the sausage gets made

It might be stinky and it might be unpleasant to behold, but we all do it. For many of us, our poop is out of sight, out of mind once we flush it away. But for the next hour and fifteen minutes or so,...

10 Helmi 1h 11min

Special Episode: Nicola Twilley & Frostbite

Special Episode: Nicola Twilley & Frostbite

For much of the world, refrigeration is such a commonplace technology that we rarely stop to wonder at the many ways it has transformed our lives. From the foods we grow to where we grow them, from ho...

3 Helmi 1h

Ep 199 Sleep Part 2: Predictably unpredictable

Ep 199 Sleep Part 2: Predictably unpredictable

Now that we know just how critical sleep is, we’re all making sure we get the amount we need, right? Unfortunately no. One-third to one-half of Americans are not getting enough sleep, according to pub...

27 Tammi 1h 10min

Ep 198 Sleep Part 1: Sleeping with one eye open

Ep 198 Sleep Part 1: Sleeping with one eye open

Sleep is a universal experience. It’s not just the lion that sleeps tonight - it’s also the butterfly, the chicken, the jellyfish, the dog, the snake, the worm, and of course the human. What is this w...

20 Tammi 1h 14min

Special Episode: Daniel Stone & American Poison

Special Episode: Daniel Stone & American Poison

The widespread use of leaded gasoline in the 20th century led to one of the world’s biggest public health and environmental disasters, the effects of which are still present today. Since its developme...

13 Tammi 57min

Ep 197 Detox: Enemas for everyone

Ep 197 Detox: Enemas for everyone

Ah, the new year. After the last month and a half of indulgent food and drink, disrupted schedules, and laying around the house, who doesn’t feel like they’re in need of a whole-body cleanse? There ar...

6 Tammi 1h 16min

From the Vault - Endometriosis: Menstrual Backwash (Ep 88)

From the Vault - Endometriosis: Menstrual Backwash (Ep 88)

This episode originally aired on January 11th, 2022. Chances are you know someone with endometriosis, or perhaps you’re affected yourself. But despite its incredibly high prevalence, endo remains almo...

30 Joulu 20252h 11min

From the Vault - Hepatitis B: Hepatiti, Take 2 (Ep 89)

From the Vault - Hepatitis B: Hepatiti, Take 2 (Ep 89)

This episode originally aired on January 25th, 2022. In light of the recent changes by RFK jr’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to eliminate the universal birth dose of the hepatit...

23 Joulu 20251h 30min

Suosittua kategoriassa Tiede

rss-mita-tulisi-tietaa
tiedekulma-podcast
docemilia
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-tiedetta-vai-tarinaa
mielipaivakirja
utelias-mieli
filocast-filosofian-perusteet
rss-ranskaa-raakana
rss-duokkari-ekstra
rss-astetta-parempi-elama-podcast
rss-ilmasto-kriisissa
rss-tervetta-skeptisyytta
rss-lihavuudesta-podcast
rss-sosiopodi