Coronavirus: Contact Tracing 101

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing 101

Author: Stitcher & Bill Nye May 27, 2020 Duration: 22:30
A key to staying safe from COVID-19 is contact tracing —  breaking the chain of transmission from person to person. Kelly Driscoll, head of the Community Tracing Collaborative in Massachusetts, explains how contact tracing works and what it can do to block the spread of the virus.

Curiosity drives Science Rules! with Bill Nye, a podcast built from listener voicemails. Each episode begins with a question from someone just trying to make sense of the world, whether it’s about their backyard or a distant galaxy. Bill Nye, alongside science writer Corey S. Powell, doesn’t just answer these questions off the cuff; they take them directly to top researchers and specialists who can provide real, evidence-based clarity. The conversation that unfolds is where this podcast finds its rhythm-it’s a deep yet accessible exploration that breaks down complex ideas without losing the wonder. You’ll hear discussions that pivot from the practicalities of daily life to the farthest reaches of theoretical science, all grounded in the methodical, question-everything spirit that defines true scientific inquiry. The tone is urgent and engaging, reflecting Bill’s genuine mission to foster a more scientifically literate society through direct dialogue. It’s that blend of everyday curiosity and expert insight that makes the show feel both personal and profoundly expansive. Tune in for a consistently surprising journey through the questions you have and the ones you haven’t even thought to ask yet, all handled with the show’s characteristic energy and depth.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Science Rules! with Bill Nye
Podcast Episodes
Coronavirus: To Protest or Not to Protest? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:13
In most cases, the danger of transmitting COVID-19 makes avoiding large gatherings a no-brainer. Could the social changes the protestors are demanding lead to long-term health benefits that are worth the short-term risks…
Coronavirus: Should We Let People Get Infected? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:08
If we want to achieve herd immunity to COVID-19, is the shortcut just to mingle without wearing masks, get a lot of us sick — and let a lot of people die?
Coronavirus: So, What’s the Plan? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:13
We are definitely not out of the woods yet with COVID-19, but communities across the world have either eased their lockdowns already or are planning to do so within the next few weeks. Michael Osterholm, a professor of p…
Coronavirus: Why Does This Keep Happening? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:12
This isn’t the first pandemic humanity has faced. From the black death to Spanish flu, from AIDS to Ebola; we’ve been here before. But historian Mark Honigsbaum, author of The Pandemic Century, says that the complacency…
Coronavirus: Being Comfortable with Uncertainty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:46
Researchers are moving at unprecedented speed, but they’re still struggling to understand this pandemic. What does the novel coronavirus do to our bodies? Virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen answers questions about what happ…
Coronavirus: The Search for Antiviral Drugs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:21
The hunt to find antiviral drugs has pressed on as we await a vaccine. Remdesivier is the latest treatment that has been touted to help patients suffering from COVID-19. But does this and other antiviral drugs really hel…
Coronavirus: Facing Existential Crises [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:23
David Wallace-Wells has rung the alarm about climate change in the pages of New York Magazine and his book, The Uninhabitable Earth. Now he’s trained his sights on our latest all-encompassing challenge, covid19. Wallace-…
A 21-year-old’s Guide to Alien Worlds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:29
There are billions and billions of planets out there. What could they be like? Could any of them be alive? Exoplanet-hunter and undergraduate MIT student Charlotte Minsky is helping to vet discoveries of possible planets…
Coronavirus: Who do you Believe? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:52
It feels like we’re in a transitional moment. As some states begin to relax their social distancing measures, how do you know who to believe? Science Journalist for The New York Times Apoorva Mandavilli joins to talk abo…