Hantavirus at sea, microplastics, and the Alaska tsunami mystery

Hantavirus at sea, microplastics, and the Alaska tsunami mystery

Author: Scientific American May 11, 2026 Duration: 12:50
In this science news roundup, we start with a deadly hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship. The outbreak is raising concerns about rare human‑to‑human transmission while experts say the risk of a wider pandemic remains low. We also look at new research showing that airborne microplastics and nanoplastics may be contributing to global warming—an unexpected climate effect of plastic pollution. And in Alaska, a massive retreating-glacier‑driven landslide that triggered a dramatic tsunami offers new clues that could help improve early-warning systems in the future. Recommended Reading: What you need to know about hantavirus, the infection at the center of a deadly cruise ship outbreak A dangerous experiment is playing out on a cruise ship with hantavirus There is no vaccine for deadly hantavirus, but this scientist is working on one Trump administration cut funding to study hantavirus, the virus behind the deadly cruise ship outbreak Airborne microplastics could be making climate change worse A 1,500-foot tsunami took scientists by surprise. Now we know why it happened E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever feel like you want to stay on top of the latest science news but don't have hours to dig through journals? That's the space where Science Quickly lives. Each episode is a compact, engaging conversation designed to fit into your daily routine, whether you're commuting or just taking a break. Host Rachel Feltman brings her sharp curiosity and a journalist's eye to every topic, joined by other seasoned reporters from Scientific American who are out there talking to the researchers on the front lines. You'll hear more than just headlines; this podcast delves into the how and why behind fascinating discoveries, from quirky animal behaviors to groundbreaking climate tech and the inner workings of the human brain. The tone is conversational and often witty, making complex ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. It’s a variety show in the best sense, meaning you might explore a deep dive on neutrino detection one day and the science of a perfect cookie the next. Tuning in regularly feels like having a direct line to the most interesting developments, explained by people who are genuinely excited to share them. For anyone with a budding interest in how the world works or a long-time science enthusiast looking for a efficient update, this series from Scientific American consistently delivers substance and surprise in a manageable format.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Science Quickly
Podcast Episodes
Humans Make Wild Animals Less Wary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:26
From mammals to mollusks, animals living among humans lose their antipredator behaviors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Play Helped Dogs Be Our Best Friends [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:31
The ancestors of today’s dogs already exhibited some playfulness, which became a key trait during domestication. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Neandertal DNA May Be COVID Risk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:35
A stretch of Neandertal DNA has been associated with some cases of severe COVID-19, but it’s unclear how much of a risk it poses. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho…
Nobelist Talks CRISPR Uses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:32
New Nobel laureate in chemistry Jennifer Doudna talks about various applications of the gene-editing tool CRISPR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Blue Whale Song Timing Reveals Time to Go [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:38
Blue whales off California’s coast sing at night—until it’s time to start migrating, and they switch to daytime song. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
New Nobel Laureate Talks Today's Virology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:27
Charles Rice, who today shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of the hepatitis C virus, talked about how rapidly research now occurs, compared with his early work. Learn more about your ad ch…
Greenland Is Melting Faster Than Any Time in Past 12,000 Years [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:27
Researchers determined that Greenland is on track to lose more ice this century than during any of the previous 120 centuries. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice…
Sloths Slowly Cavort by Day Now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:14
The disappearance of their predators in a disturbed ecosystem has turned Atlantic forest sloths from night creatures to day adventurers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dinosaurs Got Cancer, Too [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:36
Researchers seeking evidence for cancer in dinosaurs found it in a collection of bones at a paleontology museum in Alberta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fluttering Feathers Could Spawn New Species [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:38
Fork-tailed flycatchers make a fluttering sound with their wings—but separate subspecies have different “dialects” of fluttering. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho…