This Scientific American Science Quickly podcast episode covers recent science news, including the confirmation hearings for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services, the removal of data from government health agency websites, a significant tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas, the detection of H5N9 bird flu in US poultry, and a study on an antibody-based therapy for H5N1 bird flu. The episode features an interview with a health equity reporter discussing the Kansas TB outbreak, detailing its spread, symptoms, and risk factors. Finally, it concludes with a lighthearted segment about fossilized vomit and research on how polar bear fur repels ice. Listeners gain an understanding of current health and science issues and learn about the characteristics of active and latent tuberculosis.
