The scientists who swab subways for coronavirus
by Tate Ryan-Mosley from MIT Technology Review on (#57CW5)
What weird bugs did you pick up last time you rode a subway train? Just as the covid-19 pandemic was taking off, a global network of scientists began mapping the DNA of urban microbes and using AI to look for patterns. Join host Jennifer Strong as she rides along on a subway-swabbing mission and talks to scientists racing to find an existing drug that might treat the disease.
We meet:- Christopher Mason, Weill Cornell Medicine
- David Danko, Weill Cornell Medicine
- Baroness Joanna Shields, BenevolentAI CEO
Credits: This episode was reported and produced by Jennifer Strong, Tate Ryan-Mosley, Emma Cillekens and Karen Hao with help from Benji Rosen. We're edited by Michael Reilly and Gideon Lichfield. Our technical director is Jacob Gorski.