Instant Genius is a bite-sized masterclass in podcast form. And in this episode, we explore the extraordinary science of phages.
Even before the global COVID pandemic, the simple mention of the word ‘virus’ was likely to send shivers down most of our spines. But it turns out not all viruses are nasties. Ever heard of a phage? They are a type of virus that infect bacteria. Despite being one of the most common forms of life on Earth, we still only know very little about them. However, current research suggests they may just be one of our greatest allies in the fight against superbugs.
Tom Ireland, author of The Good Virus: The Untold Story Of Phages, explains all.
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Listen to more episodes of Instant Genius:
- The fascinating science of fermentation, with Prof Andrea Sella
- Why people believe in ghosts, with Ben Alderson-Day
- How to spot a narcissist, with Dr Erica Hepper
- Solving the UK’s water pollution problem, with Dr Tanja Radu
- Perfectionism, with Thomas Curran
- The hidden ways ocean currents change our world, with Helen Czerski