Accessibility links

Environment : Goats and Soda Environment

Goats and Soda

STORIES OF LIFE IN A CHANGING WORLD

Environment

Thursday February 16, 2017

Germ History: Milkmaids Inspire Vaccines, But The Germs Keep Coming

Humans battle the germs. Xaver Xylophon for NPR hide caption

toggle caption

Xaver Xylophon for NPR

Agriculture

Germ History: Milkmaids Inspire Vaccines, But The Germs Keep Coming

February 16, 2017 • After milkmaids helped discover vaccination, we spent the next 150 years learning how to keep ourselves safe from germs. By the 1960s, we thought the battle was finally over. If only!

Tuesday February 14, 2017

What Do You Want To Know About Pandemics? Submit A Question

Xaver Xylophon for NPR

Health

What Do You Want To Know About Pandemics? Submit A Question

February 14, 2017 • We're running a series on the rise of killer viruses. If there's something you'd like to know, ask us. We'll answer reader queries in an upcoming story.

From Vector To Zoonotic: A Glossary For Infectious Diseases

Katherine Du/NPR

Health

From Vector To Zoonotic: A Glossary For Infectious Diseases

February 14, 2017 • The world of infectious diseases has more than a few words and phrases you might want to know more about. We've got definitions for 11 key terms.

Why Killer Viruses Are On The Rise

Once called the "Dutchmen" because of their large noses and large bellies, proboscis monkeys live only in Borneo. Ecosystems that have a lot of diverse animals, like this monkey, also tend to have a lot of diverse viruses. Charles Ryan hide caption

toggle caption

Charles Ryan

Environment

Why Killer Viruses Are On The Rise

February 14, 2017 • If you think there are more dangerous infectious diseases than ever, you're right. One big reason: pushing animals like this one out of their homes.

Why Killer Viruses Are On The Rise

Listen · 8:17 8:17

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/511227050/515242412" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Thursday February 9, 2017

Germ History: From Measles To Syphilis, How We Created The Golden Age Of Germs

The Golden Age Of Germs Xaver Xylophon/for NPR hide caption

toggle caption

Xaver Xylophon/for NPR

Environment

Germ History: From Measles To Syphilis, How We Created The Golden Age Of Germs

February 9, 2017 • Ten thousand years ago, many of our deadly human diseases didn't exist. What happened?

Tuesday February 7, 2017

MAP: Find Out What New Viruses Are Emerging In Your Backyard

Michaeleen Doucleff, Brittany Mayes and Katie Park/NPR

Environment

MAP: Find Out What New Viruses Are Emerging In Your Backyard

February 7, 2017 • Over the past 60 years, the number of new diseases cropping up in a decade has almost quadrupled. "We're in a hyperinfectious world," says one scientist.

Thursday January 26, 2017

The Continent That Contributes The Most To E-Waste Is ...

Workers sort batteries in an e-waste recycling factory in Jingmen, Hubei province, China. Jie Zhao/Corbis via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Jie Zhao/Corbis via Getty Images

Environment

The Continent That Contributes The Most To E-Waste Is ...

January 26, 2017 • If you guessed North America, you're wrong. A new report looks at who's producing the most.

Thursday January 12, 2017

Read The Smog-Inspired Poem That China Can't Stop Talking About

A smog alert day in Dalian, China. The photo was taken on December 19. VCG/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

VCG/Getty Images

Environment

Read The Smog-Inspired Poem That China Can't Stop Talking About

January 12, 2017 • It's written from the perspective of lung cancer. And it's striking a chord on social media.

More from Environment