Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. or Join now .

The isolated Galapagos Islands are a ecological treasure and a key setting in the history of science: Charles Darwin did research there that helped him come to understand biological evolution—though, as detailed in a new Nautilus story by Henry Nicholls, it was observations of plants, rather than the better-known finches, that were most enlightening. 

One hundred eighty years after Darwin’s visit to that unblemished wilderness, the Galapagos is facing an environmental threat: Birds on the islands have been infected by malaria. The disease drove many native birds to extinction in Hawaii, and biologists are investigating whether the same could happen in the Galapagos. In the radio piece embedded below, St. Louis public radio reporter Véronique LaCapra journeys to the exotic islands to talk with Maricruz Jaramillo and Samoa Asigau, two researchers looking into how birds acquire the disease. In interviews they talk about their research and also about why they went into science despite obstacles based on their gender. The piece gives some great insight into how research works, both on a scientific and personal level. 

Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now .

This story was produced for the PRX (Public Radio Exchange) STEM Story Project with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now .
Maricruz Jaramillo (standing) and Samoa Asigau wait for their ride back to the Charles Darwin Research Station after an early morning of catching birds in an agricultural area on Santa Cruz Island.Véronique LaCapra, St. Louis Public Radio
close-icon Enjoy unlimited Nautilus articles, ad-free, for as little as $4.92/month. Join now

! There is not an active subscription associated with that email address.

Join to continue reading.

Access unlimited ad-free articles, including this one, by becoming a Nautilus member. Enjoy bonus content, exclusive products and events, and more — all while supporting independent journalism.