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cover of episode Yodeling Monkeys, Increasing Measles Cases and Stressed Out Americans

Yodeling Monkeys, Increasing Measles Cases and Stressed Out Americans

2025/4/7
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Science Quickly

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Rachel Feltman: 我报道了德克萨斯州自一月底以来已报告的481例麻疹病例,其中一些儿童需要维生素A治疗。美国卫生与公众服务部长罗伯特·F·肯尼迪小儿公开宣传为麻疹患者补充维生素A,同时似乎淡化疫苗的重要性。美国疾病控制与预防中心阻止了一份关于持续爆发的评估报告的发布,该报告本来会强调接种疫苗以预防麻疹的必要性。疾病控制与预防中心发言人声称这份报告没有发表,因为公众已经知道这些信息,并且疾病控制与预防中心仍然认为疫苗是预防麻疹的最佳方法,但同时也补充说,接种疫苗的决定是个人的选择。麻疹疫苗的风险极低,一项研究发现,每百万剂疫苗中只有略高于两次严重的副作用事件,而每千例麻疹病例中就有一例与脑炎(脑肿胀)有关,这可能是致命的。美国食品药品监督管理局疫苗部门的最高官员彼得·马克斯辞职,据报道,他是被要求辞职或被解雇。来自23个州和华盛顿特区的立法者正在起诉卫生与公众服务部,原因是削减了超过110亿美元的公共卫生项目资金,这些资金并非专门用于新冠疫情应对措施。这些资金中的一部分用于加强公共卫生基础设施,以提高各州和社区应对疫情和其他重大危机的能力,包括麻疹疫情、禽流感蔓延和持续的阿片类药物疫情。达拉斯县卫生与公众服务部门由于同样的资金削减,不得不取消了数十场计划中的免费麻疹疫苗接种诊所。一项新的研究表明,美国人的寿命比欧洲同等收入水平的人短,这表明美国的系统性问题,如压力、饮食和环境污染物,是无法通过金钱解决的。这项研究发现,最富有的美国受试者的平均寿命比欧洲最富有的参与者短,而在西欧的一些地区,例如德国、法国和荷兰,一些最贫穷的居民的寿命与最富有的美国人相当。詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜的观测证实,2024 YR4小行星在2032年撞击地球的可能性几乎为零,但仍存在撞击月球的可能性(约2%)。一些天文学家认为,月球碰撞可能是一个巨大的研究机会,可以帮助我们了解月球的过去。提前知道有东西要撞击月球,并有时间确定其尺寸和轨迹,将使人们能够对月球陨石坑的形成进行前所未有的研究。一项研究发现,猴子可以使用喉咙中的声带膜发出类似于人类yodel的声音。研究人员发现,这些结构帮助猴子实现所谓的“声音断裂”,即它们快速地在使用声带膜和声带发声之间切换,从而产生我们听到的快速频率变化。先前的研究表明,人类放弃了这些膜是为了使我们的语音更稳定,但这可能是以牺牲一些非常酷的yodel技巧为代价的。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The Texas Health Department reported 481 measles cases, with some children needing treatment for vitamin A toxicity. The CDC blocked a report emphasizing vaccination, citing that the information was already public knowledge, while also stating that vaccination is a personal choice. Lawmakers from 23 states are suing HHS for cutting over $11 billion in public health funding.
  • 481 measles cases reported in Texas since late January
  • CDC blocked the release of a report emphasizing vaccination
  • 23 states and Washington, D.C. are suing HHS over $11 billion in funding cuts

Shownotes Transcript

The Trump administration continues to make cuts to U.S. science and health agencies. Now some states are fighting back, suing the Department of Health and Human Services for slashing $11 billion in public health funds. A study finds that Americans live shorter lives than Europeans with the same income—stress and other systemic issues could be to blame. While much-hyped asteroid 2024 YR4 is no longer a risk to Earth, it could still hit the moon—a possibility that has some scientists excited. Plus, we give an update on the U.S.’s measles outbreak and the troubling hesitancy that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is showing toward communicating with the public. 

Recommended reading:

As Measles Continues to Rise, CDC Muffles Vaccine Messaging

JWST Delivers Best-Yet Look at That Worrisome Asteroid)

Americans Are Lonelier Than Europeans in Middle Age)

E-mail us at [email protected]) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Naeem Amarsy and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Alex Sugiura with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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