Main content

Naming Diseases

Michael Rosen and Dr Laura Wright explore how diseases are named and the political, economic and social fallout from disease names past and present.

Michael Rosen and Laura Wright explore how diseases are named and the political, economic and social impact of disease names past and present. Joining them are Laura Spinney, Science journalist and author of Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How it Changed the World and Professor Peter Piot; Ebola co-discoverer and AIDS pioneer, currently Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and professor of global health.

Producer: Sarah Addezio.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Mon 12 Feb 2018 23:00

Broadcasts

  • Tue 6 Feb 2018 16:00
  • Mon 12 Feb 2018 23:00

From blunk to brickfielder: our wonderful words for weather

From blunk to brickfielder: our wonderful words for weather

Exploring creative descriptions for wind, rainfall and sunny spells from around the world

Digital body language – how to communicate better online

Digital body language – how to communicate better online

We need to find new ways of talking to each other “virtually”.

Coinages that changed the world – and some that tried to...

Coinages that changed the world – and some that tried to...

Exploring the hidden histories of obscure words, and common buzz phrases.

Ittibitium, borborygmus, and Ba humbugi – 14 wonderful science words you’ve never heard of

Ittibitium, borborygmus, and Ba humbugi – 14 wonderful science words you’ve never heard of

Michael Rosen puts the language of science under the microscope.

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.

Keywords for Our Time

Series of programmes examining key phrases in public debate.

Smiley face: Seven things you didn't know about emoji

Some facts about emoji - possibly the world's first truly global form of communication.

The funny words that kids invent

Have a look at some of the fantastic words that children invent and reimagine.

Podcast