Some dogs and cats have become sick with COVID. But it’s not just domestic critters that are vulnerable: zoo animals have fallen ill too. There’s more strange news about the pandemic, for example scientists who track the coronavirus in our sewage, and computer models that show that flushing the toilet can launch persistent, pathogenic plumes into the room. And scientists have warned the WHO that infectious virus remains airborne. Also, how a shortage of glass vials could delay the deployment of a vaccine.

Guests:

  • Yvette Johnson-Walker – Epidemiologist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, and affiliate faculty with the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health.
  • Rolf Halden – Professor and Director of the Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering at Arizona State University.

  • Bryan Bzdek – Chemist, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, U.K.

  • Megan Molteni – Staff writer, “Wired.”

Descripción en español

Segments:
Part 1: Yvette Johnson-Walker / Pets and COVID
Part 2: Rolf Halden / Sewage COVID
Part 3: Bryan Bzdek / Airborne COVID
Part 4: Megan Molteni / Vaccine Glass

Podcast also available on PocketCasts, SoundCloud, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and RSS.

2026 Webby Award Nominee
for our three part series on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Big Picture Science is an immersive radio show and podcast that reveals the unexpected connections in science.

Our Skeptic Check episodes take a critical look at extraordinary science claims and pseudoscience.

Don’t settle for a science snapshot. Get the big picture. 

Hosted By

Molly Bentley Executive Producer and Co-Host, Big Picture Science  

Seth Shostak Producer and Co-Host, Big Picture Science
Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute

Latest episodes