Stephen Dubner

Today, there are two main species, the black rat, Radus radus, which likely originated in India. And then the brown rat that we are familiar with, Rattus norvegicus, the Norway rat, even though it did not originate in Norway. So why is it called that?

That is Bethany Brookshire.

That is Bethany Brookshire.

That is Bethany Brookshire.

Brookshire is a science journalist with a PhD in physiology and pharmacology. She recently published a book called Pests, How Humans Create Animal Villains. So you can see where her allegiance lies. Here is some more rat history.

Brookshire is a science journalist with a PhD in physiology and pharmacology. She recently published a book called Pests, How Humans Create Animal Villains. So you can see where her allegiance lies. Here is some more rat history.

Brookshire is a science journalist with a PhD in physiology and pharmacology. She recently published a book called Pests, How Humans Create Animal Villains. So you can see where her allegiance lies. Here is some more rat history.

How did that association come to be made and how much does it intersect with the plague in Europe?

How did that association come to be made and how much does it intersect with the plague in Europe?

How did that association come to be made and how much does it intersect with the plague in Europe?

To be clear, the plague persists today in very small numbers, just a few hundred reported cases a year, fewer than a dozen in the U.S. But this third wave of bubonic plague continues. has done terrible damage over the past hundred years in India, especially during the early 20th century, and in Vietnam during its war in the 1960s and 70s.

To be clear, the plague persists today in very small numbers, just a few hundred reported cases a year, fewer than a dozen in the U.S. But this third wave of bubonic plague continues. has done terrible damage over the past hundred years in India, especially during the early 20th century, and in Vietnam during its war in the 1960s and 70s.

To be clear, the plague persists today in very small numbers, just a few hundred reported cases a year, fewer than a dozen in the U.S. But this third wave of bubonic plague continues. has done terrible damage over the past hundred years in India, especially during the early 20th century, and in Vietnam during its war in the 1960s and 70s.

The plague is caused by a bacterium known as Yersinia pestis. You see, it's right there in the name, Yersinia pestis. The Yersinia part comes from Alexandre Yersin, the first scientist to describe and culture these bacteria.

The plague is caused by a bacterium known as Yersinia pestis. You see, it's right there in the name, Yersinia pestis. The Yersinia part comes from Alexandre Yersin, the first scientist to describe and culture these bacteria.

The plague is caused by a bacterium known as Yersinia pestis. You see, it's right there in the name, Yersinia pestis. The Yersinia part comes from Alexandre Yersin, the first scientist to describe and culture these bacteria.

And how much do we know about how the plague is spread?

And how much do we know about how the plague is spread?

And how much do we know about how the plague is spread?

Okay. And then how is plague spread between humans? For that, we will bring in another scientist.