The fascinating and dramatic story of a forgotten, life-saving cure to conquer deadly bacterial infections – bacteriophages – and the remarkable scientists behind them
When antibiotics started to fail the race to save humanity from deadly antibiotic resistant infections began. Science journalist Lina Zeldovich reveals the remarkable history of bacteriophages or ‘phages’, through the colourful lives of the British, French, Soviet and American scientists who discovered, developed and are now reviving this unique living medicine for seemingly incurable diseases.
Starting with the original discovery of bacteriophages, or ‘phages’, in 1917, Zeldovich reveals how they were all but forgotten as antibiotics rose to medical stardom in the West and Stalin purged leading scientists behind them in the former Soviet Union. It was only when patients started dying from antibiotic resistant infections that those scientists who fled the former Soviet Union realised their unique knowledge of phages presented a safe and effective solution for the future of humanity. Today new work has begun to develop this cure to safeguard our future.
Eye-opening, gripping and impeccably researched,
The Living Medicine is a remarkable portrayal of how curiosity, bravery and collaboration seeded one of the most important scientific discoveries of our time.
About the author
LINA ZELDOVICH grew up in a dissident family of Soviet Jewish scientists and learned English as a second language in her twenties. Now an award-winning author, speaker and Columbia Journalism School alumna, she has published stories in Popular Science, the New York Times, Scientific American, National Geographic, and more. Her last book, The Other Dark Matter: The Science and Business of Turning Waste into Wealth and Health, has been optioned for a TV series. She lives in New York City.
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