Short Wave

The genetic secret helping bats survive a deadly epidemic

October 5, 2026·13 min·3-min readnarrativescience
Podzilla Summary (3 min)
TLDR
The episode explores the devastating impact of white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that has decimated bat populations across the U.S., particularly the once-abundant little brown bat. It highlights how some bats are surviving due to genetic adaptations and reproductive trade-offs

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Guest

G

Giorgia Auteri

narrative on Short Wave

Mentions

Books, people, and resources mentioned in this episode.

People

Giorgia AuteriRegina BarberHannah Chin

Companies

Bat Conservation International

Topics

Climate ChangeEcologyLong Form JournalismMental HealthTrue Crime

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