Short Wave

Parasites Have Haunted Us For Millions Of Years


Listen Later

Parasites have roamed the Earth for a long time. They were here before the dinosaurs: The oldest fossils are more than 500 million years old. Today on the show, Regina G. Barber speaks with paleontologists Karma Nanglu and Danielle de Carle about a mysterious fossil called the “Riddler,” and the oldest-ever leech fossil. They share stories of the enduring power of parasitism through the ages and why the clues to prehistoric mysteries may be tucked in a basement.


Interested in more science behind rare fossils? Email us your question at [email protected].


Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Short WaveBy NPR

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

6,381 ratings


More shows like Short Wave

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

91,256 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,825 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,691 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,607 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

26,020 Listeners

Science Vs by Spotify Studios

Science Vs

12,133 Listeners

Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,434 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

113,520 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,972 Listeners

The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

9,566 Listeners

Today, Explained by Vox

Today, Explained

10,335 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,486 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,837 Listeners

Consider This from NPR by NPR

Consider This from NPR

6,446 Listeners

Unexplainable by Vox

Unexplainable

2,304 Listeners