Earthquakes caused by too much water extraction, and a dog cancer that has lived for millennia

After two mysterious earthquake swarms occurred under the Sea of Galilee, researchers found a relationship between these small quakes and the excessive extraction of groundwater. Science journalist Michael Price talks with host Sarah Crespi about making this connection and what it means for water-deprived fault areas like the Sea of Galilee and the state of California.

Also this week, Sarah talks with graduate student Adrian Baez-Ortega from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom’s Transmissible Cancer Group about the genome of a canine venereal cancer that has been leaping from dog to dog for about 8000 years. By comparing the genomes of this cancer from dogs around the globe, the researchers were able to learn more about its origins and spread around the world. They also discuss how such a long-lived cancer might help them better understand and treat human cancers.

This week’s episode was edited by Podigy.

Ads on this week’s show: Science Sessions podcast from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Download the transcript (PDF)

Listen to previous podcasts.

About the Science Podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices