Preventing heartworm disease in your dog isn't just good for your furry friend. It turns out that humans can be infected with heartworm, too!

This week in news, we dive into microfliers inspired by seeds and parasites that turn plants into zombie plants!

The biggest challenge in a parasite's life is to move from one host to another. Intriguingly, many parasites have evolved the ability to manipulate the behavior of their hosts to improve their own survival -- sometimes even by direct...

Unlike with many other viruses, once you get a herpesvirus you’re stuck with it for life. But just how do these master trespassers accomplish this feat?

Germs are found on almost every surface we come in contact with, which makes it incredibly common for our bodies to be exposed to them. But why are some of these germs relatively harmless, while others can be fatal? Yannay Khaikan and...

Some experts feared we were in for a "twindemic" during the 2020-2021 flu season. That didn't happen, which might mean that there will be more people susceptible to getting sick this year.

Lice... the mere mention of them is enough to make most people all itchy. Well, get ready to get scratching, because we've compiled seven squirm-inducing lice facts on this week's List Show!

Some parasites can hijack the brains of their victims and cause them to behave in strange ways, but how they do it, and do we humans need to be worried?

Your body usually does a great job defending you from all kinds of viruses, fungi, and bacteria. However, there are some pathogens out there that can hide from your immune system and stay dormant in your body, waiting for their...

Today, about a third of the world's population is infected with a strange disease called toxoplasmosis - and most of them never even know it. And while the parasite can multiply in practically any host, it can only reproduce sexually in...

Hank tells us about all of the things that live on us or in us - the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly.

All year long, researchers at hospitals around the world collect samples from flu patients and send them to top virology experts with one goal: to design the vaccine for the next flu season. But why do we need a new one every year?...

Discover the science of how viruses can jump from one species to another and the deadly epidemics that can result from these pathogens. -- At a Maryland country fair in 2017, farmers reported feverish hogs with inflamed eyes and...

Also known as cercarial dermatitis, swimmer’s itch is more than just an annoying rash…

Warning! This episode is a little gross… Between 1/3 and 1/2 of all life on earth is parasitic - and here are 4 of the creepiest parasites we know about.

If you're wondering why blackface -- mimicking people of African descent via stereotypes and makeup-darkened skin -- is a big deal, then perhaps a little history lesson can help demystify the outcry. Dwan Reece, curator at the National...

There’s a huge seasonal difference in death rates that is propelled by a variety of factors including pathogen behavior and anatomical response to temperature changes.

There are fossils of viruses, of sorts, preserved in the DNA of the hosts that they've infected. Including you. This molecular fossil trail can help us understand where viruses came from, how they evolved and it can even help us tackle...

You might have been one of those lucky people that had a microscope to tinker with as a kid. But if you missed out on that, it’s not too late! If you’re interested in making your very own foray into the world of microscopy, here are four...

There's something surprising that helps determine how damaging a disease is: distance.

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The Secret Social Life of Plants

Clinical Sexologist and Sexplanations Host Lindsey Doe teaches Hank the difference between HIV and AIDS. Then Chinchilla Ash teaches Hank about softness.

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What if you could just drop your kids off at someone else’s place and let them have the responsibility? Well, there are some animals that do just that. They’re called brood parasites, and they lay their eggs in other animals’ nests and...

This week, Mike introduces you to Tricksters, starting with Anansi, the West African trickster god who is also sometimes a spider. Tricksters are, well, tricky. They're wise and foolish, they're promiscuous and amoral, but in a lot of...