Bugs in the System: Cancer-Sniffing Worms, Hackers, and the New Cold War

Stephen said this episode was about "diagnostics," but no one's going to listen to an episode about "diagnostics." Even a diagnostician is going to pass on a diagnostics episode in favor of some vintage white-lady killings on "My Favorite Murder."

So! This episode is all about things infiltrating systems, which is much more interesting. 

Check it -- scientists discovered that the ever-useful C. elegans roundworm, a research favorite, is naturally attracted to the smell of lung cancer. What did we ever do to deserve such a great little fella?

Also -- let's talk about the world of "ethical hacking," where companies hire sharp-eyed software engineers to break into their computer systems. It's, not surprisingly, a good career path, should you want to ditch the Bed, Bath & Beyond management track and head back to school, white hat in hand.

The timing for a career move is good, since ransomware attacks are at an all-time high ... and given the US tensions with Russia, it's not crazy to assume we'll see more hacks in the future. 

All of which is much more exciting, and potentially unsettling, than "diagnostics." Luckily, Stephen also talks about goats and racehorses, so this is truly an episode with something for everyone.*

 

*Some conditions apply.

 

JOURNOS is produced by Heather "Eagle Ears" Wilson. Music by Nathan "Nerthanial" Readey. Special thanks to Mike Bussing.