Evolving flu, and the desert decomposition conundrum

About this episode

Dr Chris Smith discusses the evolution of influenza viruses, desert decomposition, autism-related genes, and animal fear responses.

Predicting how influenza viruses will evolve, how deserts decompose matter despite the dry, what worms are revealing about a gene linked to autism, and what makes mice fearful of cat smells. Dr Chris Smith talks to the authors of the latest leading research in eLife... Get the references and the transcripts for this programme from the Naked Scientists website

People in this episode

Host: Dr Chris Smith

Topics covered

• influenza evolution
• desert decomposition
• autism gene
• animal behavior
• fear response

Keywords

• influenza
• decomposition
• autism
• worms
• mice
• fear
• cat smells

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: eLife, Naked Scientists

Places: desert

More episodes of The eLife Podcast

• Genetic cancer sensors, and why crabs walk sideways · May 21, 2026 · 38 min
• Moths hear plants, and what fingerprints do for touch · February 28, 2026 · 38 min
• Nocebos, and why the eyes of some species stay shut at birth · November 30, 2025 · 40 min
• Ants doing gene therapy, and tadpole microbiomes · September 8, 2025 · 43 min
• Finland's giant virus, and monkeys take care of their teeth · June 19, 2025 · 39 min
• Frog toxicity, and what a year's schooling does to the brain · April 24, 2025 · 35 min