Science In Action

Covid -19 origins


Listen Later

Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Market is associated with many of the first cases or Covid- 19, but data on precisely how and from where the virus might have first spread has been difficult to find.

However a re-examination of the earliest samples collected from the market seem to pinpoint where the virus first showed itself. Sydney University virologist Eddie Holmes says this evidence will be crucial in determining which animals may have initially passed the virus to humans.

Humans are known to have passed the Sars-Cov-2 virus to other animals, including cats, mink and deer. Canadian researchers have recorded the first incident of a modified form of the virus passing back from deer to humans. Virologist Samira Mubareka from the University of Toronto explains the implications.

Chernobyl, the site of the worlds worst nuclear accident is back in the news as the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to a stirring up of nuclear material when troops entered the site. Ukraine has a number of nuclear reactors, Claire Corkhill, professor of nuclear materials at Sheffield University explains the potential risks from the current conflict and safeguards in place.

And we hear from Svitlana Krakovska Ukraine's representative on the Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change, on her thoughts on the prospects for climate action and scientific progress in Ukraine.

Image: Disinfection Work At Wuhan Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market, China 4 March 2020.

Credit: Zhang Chang / China News Service via Getty Images.

Presenter: Roland Pease

Producer: Julian Siddle

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Science In ActionBy BBC World Service

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

327 ratings


More shows like Science In Action

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,811 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

891 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,074 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,476 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,817 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,825 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,047 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,062 Listeners

The Naked Scientists Podcast by The Naked Scientists

The Naked Scientists Podcast

605 Listeners

Nature Podcast by Springer Nature Limited

Nature Podcast

764 Listeners

Ask the Naked Scientists by Dr Chris Smith

Ask the Naked Scientists

74 Listeners

Health Check by BBC World Service

Health Check

91 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

975 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

402 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

425 Listeners

Science Magazine Podcast by Science Magazine

Science Magazine Podcast

826 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

821 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

227 Listeners

Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

Unexpected Elements

362 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

480 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,219 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

767 Listeners

The world, the universe and us by New Scientist

The world, the universe and us

118 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,607 Listeners