Cause of Death - 100 Seconds to Midnight

Latest Episodes:

S8 E9: 100 Seconds to Midnight: The Rat Napkin Incident Oct 24, 2026

Show notes

The Shadow Economy Show Notes

The Rat Napkin Incident — Halloween Show Notes

Captain Obvious needs gas money. An influencer buys his three-dollar rat napkin. Before long, there are numbered editions, resale listings, forged certificates and collectors borrowing money to buy rats. Somewhere in Roswell, Steve is opening a closet full of luxury bathrobes.

This Halloween, we follow the napkins through scarcity, speculation, counterfeiting and a market collapse. Behind the absurdity are questions about where value comes from, who profits when prices climb, and what happens when buyers can no longer trust what they’re getting.

The napkin buyer can walk away. Someone looking for food, fuel or medicine may not have that luxury.

The Rat Napkin Incident is an original fictional story developed by Jackie Moranty and Quinn, her ChatGPT AI assistant, from the shared lore of the Cause of Death Art Garage. The final script was reviewed and corrected by Jackie Moranty.

Captain Obvious, Steve’s collectible-merch closet, the numbered napkins, their prices and the transactions described are invented. They are not accounts of an actual Goodwill operation, influencer scandal or collectible market. The Roswell Goodwill storyline is fictional.

The economic concepts and factual claims draw on the sources below. The fictional scenes illustrate those mechanisms; they are not research findings. Written and hosted by Jackie Moranty, with AI-assisted drafting and research.

A shadow economy includes activity hidden from public authorities: unreported income from otherwise legal goods and services, as well as illegal trade under the broad definition used here. Some economic studies define it more narrowly. Ordinary collecting, speculation and legitimate resale are not automatically illegal or hidden economic activity.

IMF — Hiding in the Shadows: The Growth of the Underground Economy (2002)

Supports the broad shadow-economy definition, including concealed income from lawful activity and illegal trade.

https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/issues/issues30/index.htm

OECD/EUIPO — Mapping Global Trade in Fakes 2025

Estimates international counterfeit trade at approximately $467 billion in 2021, equivalent to 2.3% of global imports. The report was published in 2025; the estimate uses 2021 data and is not a total for the entire shadow economy. It also examines affected products and enforcement challenges.

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/mapping-global-trade-in-fakes-2025_94d3b29f-en.html

FTC — Bringing Dark Patterns to Light (2022)

Documents misleading countdown timers, false limited-time offers and other tactics that impair consumer choice. A genuinely limited edition is different from falsely claiming scarcity or a deadline.

https://www.ftc.gov/reports/bringing-dark-patterns-light

USPTO — About Trademark Infringement

Explains unauthorized trademark use that is likely to confuse people about the source of goods. Counterfeit branding differs from a product merely having a similar style.

https://www.uspto.gov/page/about-trademark-infringement

US Code — 18 USC §2320: Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods or Services

Federal criminal law addresses intentional trafficking involving knowing use of counterfeit marks. The episode’s fake branded purses and sunglasses illustrate counterfeit trade; its forged napkins also illustrate fraudulent sales.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=2023&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-2023-title18-section2320

OECD — Countering Illicit Trade in Online Marketplaces

Research and policy resources on counterfeit distribution through digital marketplaces. Illegal trade can take place through ordinary-looking online storefronts.

https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/countering-illicit-trade-in-online-marketplaces.html

UK National Archives — Illegally Selling Coupons

A wartime record documenting illegal ration-coupon trading, with historical context on rationing and black markets.

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/home-front-1939-1945-part-two/illegally-selling-coupons/

Federal Reserve — Financial Stability Report, November 2025: Purpose and Framework

Explains valuation pressures, household and business borrowing, financial-sector leverage and funding risks. These vulnerabilities can amplify losses, forced sales and disruptions to credit. The Rat Napkin bubble illustrates the mechanisms; it is not evidence of a real financial crisis.

https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/november-2025-financial-stability-report-purpose-and-framework.htm

Cause of Death – 100 Seconds to Midnight explores threats to civilization and the science, history and human decisions that shape them.

Website: https://www.causeofdeath100secs.net

Email: jackie@causeofdeath100secs.net

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CauseofDeathpod

Instagram: @CauseofDeathpod

Threads: @causeofdeathpodcast

Facebook: @COD100Secs

Twitter/X: @CauseofDeath10

TikTok: @causeofdeath100secs

Listen on all major podcast platforms.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JackieMoranty

Ko-Fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/causeofdeathluckycharmsunplugg

Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/user/causeofdeathluckycharmsunplugged

Every contribution, subscription, review and share helps the show reach more people.

“Time Off” by Damma Beatz

Proud member of the Darkcast Network.

Darkcast on Twitter/X: @darkcastnetwork

Darkcast on Facebook: @DarkcastNetwork

Jackie is also a member of the Southern Gothic Network.

If you liked this episode, pass it around like a souvenir Rat Napkin bottle of liquor. Happy Halloween—and under no circumstances put the apocalypse on a tea towel.

#CauseofDeath100secs #TheRatNapkinIncident #ShadowEconomy #CounterfeitGoods #Speculation #EconomicBubbles #HalloweenPodcast #DarkcastNetwork

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

S8 E8: 100 Seconds to Midnight: To Live or Die Part 2 Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

To Live or Die Part 2: Having Insurance Isn’t the Same as Getting Care

The cancer is gone. The nose is reconstructed. The bills? Still here.

In Part 1, I told you how getting cancer surgery became a scramble to raise money—even though I had health insurance. This time, I’m finishing that story. Reconstruction and recovery went well, my plastic surgeon promised me the sexiest nose in Springfield, and I’m still waiting on that last part.

I also still owe about $600 on the surgery. Further treatment for the scar is considered cosmetic under my coverage, so my insurance won’t pay for it.

Then we pick up the history: Medicare and Medicaid, managed care, employer health plans, the Affordable Care Act and the rules shaping access today. We look at deductibles, upfront payment demands, coverage decisions and the companies handling healthcare money.

The point is simple: a service can be covered by a policy and still be financially out of reach for the patient.

I’m advocating for universal access to healthcare in the US. I’m open to different ways of getting there. We’ll examine public financing, regulated insurance systems and a public option—and ask whether each approach actually gets people the care they need without financial hardship.

And our “What if?”: what happens to the next person who needs surgery but doesn’t have an audience, a fundraiser or friends who can afford to help?

Research note: medical expenses and illness-related income loss can contribute to bankruptcy. Studies use different definitions and methods; this episode does not claim that healthcare is definitively the leading cause. Policy details reflect September 30, 2026.

American Academy of Dermatology — Mohs surgery

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/types/common/melanoma/mohs-surgery

National Archives — Medicare and Medicaid Act (1965)

https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/medicare-and-medicaid-act

CMS — Medicare and Medicaid milestones (1937–2015)

https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/History/Downloads/Medicare-and-Medicaid-Milestones-1937-2015.pdf

US Department of Labor — ERISA

https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/erisa

US Department of Labor — Self-insured health plans (2026 report)

https://beta.dol.gov/research-data/surveys-reports-publications/2026-report-congress-annual-report-self-insured-group-health-plans

US Department of Labor — COBRA continuation coverage

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/publications/workers-guide-health-benefits-cobra

HHS — HIPAA Privacy Rule and the 1996 law

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/laws-regulations/index.html

HealthCare.gov — ACA rights and protections

https://www.healthcare.gov/health-care-law-protections/rights-and-protections/

HealthCare.gov — Annual and lifetime coverage limits

https://www.healthcare.gov/health-care-law-protections/lifetime-and-yearly-limits/

IRS — Employer coverage provisions and the 50-employee threshold

https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/employers/employer-shared-responsibility-provisions

HealthCare.gov — Cost-sharing reductions

https://www.healthcare.gov/lower-costs/save-on-out-of-pocket-costs/index.html

CMS — No Surprises Act protections

https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights-insurance

IRS — Premium tax credits and changes for 2026

https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/questions-and-answers-on-the-premium-tax-credit

CMS — Medicaid community-engagement requirements (2026 rule)

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicaid-community-engagement-requirement-certain-individuals-interim-final-rule-comment-period-cms

HealthCare.gov — Premiums, deductibles and total costs

https://www.healthcare.gov/choose-a-plan/your-total-costs/

HealthCare.gov — What an out-of-pocket maximum excludes

https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/out-of-pocket-maximum-limit/

HHS OIG — Medicare Advantage denials (2022; sampled 2019 requests)

https://www.oig.hhs.gov/reports/all/2022/some-medicare-advantage-organization-denials-of-prior-authorization-requests-raise-concerns-about-beneficiary-access-to-medically-necessary-care/

FTC — Prescription drug middlemen (2025 interim staff report)

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-releases-second-interim-staff-report-prescription-drug-middlemen

FTC — Hospital mergers and prices: New Hanover–Cape Fear

https://www.ftc.gov/reports/effect-hospital-mergers-inpatient-prices-case-study-new-hanover-cape-fear-transaction

CMS — Historical US health spending (2024 actual totals)

https://www.cms.gov/data-research/statistics-trends-and-reports/national-health-expenditure-data/historical

Himmelstein et al. — Medical Bankruptcy (AJPH, 2019; survey contributors)

https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304901

Dobkin et al. — Economic Consequences of Hospital Admissions (AER, 2018)

https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20161038

WHO — What is universal health coverage?

https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/what-is-universal-health-coverage

European Observatory — Canada’s health system

https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/countries/canada

European Observatory — Germany’s health system (2024)

https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/publications/i/germany-health-system-summary-2024

CBO — Single-payer design choices (2019)

https://www.cbo.gov/publication/55150

CBO — Public option design choices (2021)

https://www.cbo.gov/publication/57125

Medicaid.gov — State choice following the Supreme Court ruling

https://www.medicaid.gov/faq/2020-04-14/93246

CMS — Part D established in 2003; coverage began in 2006

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Eligibility-and-Enrollment/LowIncSubMedicarePresCov/Downloads/StateLISGuidance021009.pdf

Cause of Death – 100 Seconds to Midnight explores threats that could bring civilization to the brink—and the science, people and solutions that might keep us from getting there. Everything is connected. Even your nose and a federal statute, apparently.

Website: https://www.causeofdeath100secs.net

Email: Jackie@causeofdeath100secs.net

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CauseofDeathpod

Instagram: @CauseofDeathpod

Threads: @causeofdeathpodcast

Facebook: @COD100Secs

Twitter/X: @CauseofDeath10

TikTok: @causeofdeath100secs

Listen on all major podcast platforms.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JackieMoranty

Ko-Fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/causeofdeathluckycharmsunplugg

Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/user/causeofdeathluckycharmsunplugged

Every contribution, subscription, review and share helps the show reach more people.

“Time Off” by Damma Beatz

Proud member of the Darkcast Network.

Darkcast on Twitter/X: @darkcastnetwork

Darkcast on Facebook: @DarkcastNetwork

Jackie is also a member of the Southern Gothic Network.

If this episode made you think, pass it along. Necessary healthcare shouldn’t depend on how good you are at asking strangers for money.

#CauseofDeath100secs #ToLiveOrDie #UniversalHealthcare #HealthcareAccess #HealthInsurance #MedicalDebt #HealthcareReform #PatientAdvocacy #USHealthcare

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

S8 E7: 100 Seconds to Midnight: The Apocalypse Has Entered the Podcast Sep 26, 2026

Show notes

Cause of Death – 100 Seconds to Midnight
Episode: S8 E7: 100 Seconds to Midnight: The Apocalypse Has Entered the Podcast

The Doomsday Clock has never been closer to midnight.

On January 27, 2026, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the Clock from 89 seconds to midnight to 85 seconds—the closest it has ever been to catastrophe.

But the Clock isn’t predicting the end of the world. It’s a warning.

This year, that warning comes from several directions at once: nuclear weapons, climate change, biological threats, artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies, and the erosion of international cooperation.

The frightening part isn’t simply that these risks exist. It’s that they increasingly interact with one another.

The Doomsday Clock: What Does It Actually Mean?

The Doomsday Clock grew out of the Manhattan Project. In 1945, scientists who had helped develop the atomic bomb formed the organization that became the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. In 1947, artist Martyl Langsdorf designed its famous magazine cover: a clock set at seven minutes to midnight.

Originally focused on nuclear danger, the Clock later expanded to include climate change, biological threats and disruptive technologies. In 2026, the Bulletin also emphasized a risk underlying all of them: weakening international cooperation.

The Clock isn’t telling us catastrophe is inevitable. It’s telling us we are running out of margin for error.

Risk #1: Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear weapons are the original reason the Clock exists, and they remain an immediate catastrophic risk.

The Bulletin pointed to continuing conflicts and nuclear brinkmanship, deteriorating arms-control relationships and modernization of nuclear arsenals. The concern isn’t simply how many weapons exist; communication and systems designed to prevent escalation have weakened.

The Bulletin calls for renewed dialogue, restraint and international cooperation to reduce nuclear risk.

Risk #2: Climate Change

Climate change is already changing systems on which civilization depends. Global temperatures remain extraordinarily high, atmospheric carbon dioxide continues to reach record levels, and a warming atmosphere and ocean contribute to both flooding and drought.

The effects can cascade through water supplies, food security, migration and infrastructure. Then there is another growing pressure: data centers.

The Data Center Connection

AI and other computational technologies require enormous computing power, electricity and cooling.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s 2025 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report, published in June 2026, estimates data centers could account for 11.8% of U.S. electricity consumption by 2030, with modeled scenarios ranging from 9.5% to 15.3%.

Cooling can require water, while electricity generation can have an indirect water footprint. That matters especially where water is already scarce.

Water Scarcity: The Bigger Picture

The Middle East and North Africa show how climate, technology and water scarcity can collide. The World Bank identifies MENA as a hotspot of unsustainable water use. Meanwhile, Gulf countries are investing heavily in AI and data-center infrastructure while confronting severe water constraints.

The Rio Grande offers another example. It is already stressed by drought, reduced snowpack, heat, reservoir conditions, agriculture and groundwater pressures, while data-center development adds new attention to industrial water use in New Mexico.

Important distinction: data centers did not cause the Rio Grande’s water crisis. The question is how we responsibly add new water and energy demands where those resources are already stressed.

Risk #3: Biological Threats

The Bulletin identified several biological concerns.

Mirror Life: Scientists have raised concerns about synthetic organisms built from molecular structures that are mirror images of those found in nature. A self-replicating mirror organism could potentially evade biological systems and defenses; the Bulletin characterized this as a potentially existential risk.

AI-Designed Biological Threats: AI can help design proteins and biological systems, offering enormous benefits but also potential for misuse.

Biological Weapons: International controls depend heavily on cooperation and shared norms, safeguards the Bulletin warned have weakened.

Public Health Preparedness: Natural disease can also become catastrophic when surveillance, preparedness, expertise and public trust are inadequate.

Risk #4: Artificial Intelligence & Disruptive Technologies

AI can amplify other risks. It can accelerate biological research, influence military decision-making, contribute to misinformation and be incorporated into systems where mistakes could have extraordinary consequences.

The Bulletin has specifically raised concerns about AI in military systems, including nuclear command and control. It also warns about degradation of the information environment: collective action becomes harder when people cannot agree on basic facts.

The Risk Beneath the Risks

Perhaps the most important part of the 2026 announcement isn’t any individual threat. It’s the loss of cooperation.

Nuclear weapons, climate change, biological threats and AI don’t respect national borders. A virus doesn’t stop at a border. Carbon dioxide doesn’t stop at a border. A nuclear exchange doesn’t stay neatly contained. AI-generated information can cross the world in seconds.

The question is whether humanity can cooperate well enough to manage problems no country can control alone.

So… Are We Doomed?

No.

Midnight is not destiny. The Bulletin identifies actions that could reduce these risks, including renewing nuclear arms-control negotiations; strengthening biotechnology safeguards; establishing safeguards against AI-assisted biological threats; reducing fossil-fuel consumption and investing in climate resilience; developing international rules for military AI; protecting nuclear command-and-control systems from unsafe AI integration; rebuilding public-health preparedness and biological surveillance; improving data-center efficiency and sustainability; managing water resources more effectively; and restoring international cooperation and diplomatic communication.

The Clock is a warning—not a prediction. Warnings are useful precisely because there is still time to respond.

The Bigger Question

The question isn’t:
“How close are we to midnight?”

The better question is:
“What are we going to do with the time we have left?”

The history of the Clock is, in many ways, a history of technological capability moving faster than our ability to govern it.

We invented the atomic bomb before we figured out how to live with it.
We’re developing artificial intelligence faster than we understand all of its consequences.
We’re altering the climate faster than we’re adapting our infrastructure.
We’re gaining unprecedented biological capabilities while struggling to maintain the institutions that protect us from biological threats.

The technology isn’t necessarily the problem.

The problem is whether our ability to manage the technology can keep pace with our ability to create it.

And that’s why the Clock is sitting at 85 seconds.

Not because midnight is inevitable.

Because the margin for error is getting smaller.

Sources & Further Reading

The Doomsday Clock
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists — 2026 Doomsday Clock Statement
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists — Nuclear Risk
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists — Climate Change
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists — Biological Threats
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists — Disruptive Technologies
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists — Doomsday Clock Timeline
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists — Doomsday Clock FAQ

Climate, Water & Data Centers
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — United States Data Center Energy Usage Report: 2025 Update
World Bank — Beyond Scarcity: Water Security in the Middle East and North Africa
World Bank — Finding Institutional Solutions to Water Scarcity in MENA
World Bank — Electricity and Water Access in MENA
UAE Government — Water
UAE Government — Water Security Strategy 2036
UAE Energy & Water Atlas — Water Security
Middle East Council on Global Affairs — AI, Data Centers, Water & Energy in the Gulf

The Rio Grande
Meta — Restoring Water in Our Data Center Communities
Meta — 2024 Volumetric Water Benefits Report
Fact Check — Meta’s New Mexico Data Center and the Rio Grande

About Cause of Death – 100 Seconds to Midnight

Cause of Death – 100 Seconds to Midnight explores threats that could bring civilization to the brink—and the people, science and solutions that might keep us from getting there.

Please rate, review and share the podcast.

Stay Connected
Website — www.causeofdeath100secs.net
Email — Jackie@causeofdeath100secs.net
Linktree — Cause of Death
Instagram — @CauseofDeathpod
Threads — @causeofdeathpodcast
Facebook — @COD100Secs
Twitter/X — @CauseofDeath10
TikTok — @causeofdeath100secs

Support the Podcast
Apple Podcasts — Subscribe through Apple Subscriptions
Patreon — Support Cause of Death
Ko-Fi — Support Cause of Death
Merch — Cause of Death Merchandise on TeePublic

Music
“Time Off” by Damma Beatz

Networks
Cause of Death – 100 Seconds to Midnight is a proud member of the Darkcast Network.
Twitter/X — @darkcastnetwork
Facebook — @DarkcastNetwork
Jackie is also a member of the Southern Gothic Network.

And One More Thing…

Please share the show with someone who needs to hear it.

The goal isn’t simply to stare at the Clock. It’s to figure out how to move the hands back.

Hashtags
#CauseofDeath100secs #85Seconds #DoomsdayClock #BoardofAtomicScientists #GlobalSolutions

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

S8 E6: 100 Seconds to Midnight: To Live or Die - Healthcare in the US Aug 04, 2024

Show notes

Healthcare Show Notes: You can reach me on the website at www.causeofdeath100secs.net or you can email me at Jackie@causeofdeath100secs.net. My Link Tree can be found at: https://linktr.ee/CauseofDeathpod Hello and welcome to Cause of Death – 100 Seconds to Midnight. I’m your host, Jackie Moranty. This episode is going to be a little different since I’m going to give you a glimpse into my life. I normally try to keep my personal life out of the podcast, or at least limit it to entertaining anecdotes that are related to whatever topic I’ve chosen to teach you about. This time, you’re going to be immersed in a personal journey that I’ve been experiencing over the last couple of years. This story will hopefully, give you all some insight about the American healthcare system and the ways that it fails us. It’s 90 Seconds to Midnight and in one of the most powerful countries in the world, only two classes of people can afford healthcare, the very rich and the very poor. I’ve taken the link to my GoFundMe out since I’ve met my goal. Thank you all so much for donating. https://agentsync.io/blog/loa/the-history-of-health-insurance-past-present-and-future https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/u-s-spending-healthcare-changed-time/#Annual%20change%20in%20price%20and%20quantity%20indexes%20of%20health%20services,%201980-2022,%20index%20numbers%202017=100 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500098/ https://developmentalpolitics.org/platform-of-policy-recommendations/homelessness-in-the-u-s/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw2Je1BhAgEiwAp3KY71ecsxQGxcCSgQ_9r1NC6z_hyPTyzahtd011WpvpffS2uHLdELsT4BoCRCUQAvD_BwE https://www.audacy.com/wwjnewsradio/news/national/medical-debt-is-forcing-people-into-homelessness https://consumers4qualitycare.org/medical-debt-puts-housing-out-of-reach-for-millions-of-consumers/#:~:text=Nearly%20half%20of%20those%20people,likelihood%20of%20experiencing%20poor%20health. Music: Time Off by Damma Beatz You can reach me on: Instagram: @CauseofDeathpod Threads: @causeofdeathpodcast FB: @COD100Secs Twitter: @CauseofDeath10 TikTok: @causeofdeath100secs Please don’t forget to rate and review on any of the platforms found here: www.causeofdeath100secs.net You can support Cause of Death here: Subscribe on Apple Subscriptions Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/JackieMoranty Ko-Fi:

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

S8 E5: 100 Seconds to Midnight: The Dragon's Lair Apr 28, 2024

Show notes

You can reach me on the website at www.causeofdeath100secs.net or you can email me at Jackie@causeofdeath100secs.net. My Link Tree can be found at: https://linktr.ee/CauseofDeathpod This has been my podversary episode. Three years ago, I had an idea that I could mix my passion for infectious disease with history and help others understand how governments, citizens and researchers view disease. Two years ago, I added the 100 Seconds to Midnight episodes to introduce the concept of global disaster. This year, I’m sprinkling in a bit of humor to break up the infectious disease and disaster. Show Notes for Dragons: “Don’t Slay the Dragons” by Dr. Ben Dover “The Dangers of Dragons: Elimination of an Invasive Species” by Dr. Fran Kenstien Darkcast Network – Promo by Yours Truly Podcast Promos: Missing Magnolias Creepy Tapas Disturbing Interests Special Guests: Jason Usry as Dr. Ben Dover - https://www.santamaybe.com/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0882426/ Nina Innstead as Dr. Fran Kenstien – https://www.ninainnsted.com/ https://www.alreadygonepodcast.com/ CJ John as Puff the Magic Dragon – https://beyondtherainbowpodcast.com/ Thank you all for lending your voices to this episode! I’m grateful for all of you. Music: Time Off by Damma Beatz You can reach me on: Instagram: @CauseofDeathpod Threads: @causeofdeathpodcast FB: @COD100Secs Twitter: @CauseofDeath10 TikTok: @causeofdeath100secs Please don’t forget to rate and review on any of the platforms found here: www.causeofdeath100secs.net You can support Cause of Death here: Subscribe on Apple Subscriptions Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/JackieMoranty Ko-Fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/causeofdeathluckycharmsunplugg Merch can be found at: https://www.teepublic.com/user/causeofdeathluckycharmsunplugged Please share this podcast with everyone you know. Cause of Death – 100 Seconds to Midnight is a proud member of the Darkcast Network. Find us at @darkcastnetwork on Twitter and @DarkcastNetwork on Facebook. I am also a proud member of the Ossa Collective Network. Cause of Death – 100 Seconds to Midnight can be found on all major podcast platforms. Tags: #causeofdeath100secs #dragons #invasive species #wildlifeconservation #podversary

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

S8 E4: Here Kitty Kitty: The Story of Toxoplasma gondii Apr 21, 2024

Show notes

You can reach me on the website at http://www.causeofdeath100secs.net or you can email me at mailto:Jackie@causeofdeath100secs.net. My Link Tree can be found at: https://linktr.ee/CauseofDeathpod When I was in college, I had a Microbiology professor who swore that cats were out to kill us all. She told everyone in any class that she taught that cats carried every disease known to man and they were going to pass them all to us. Cats were single-handedly going to end humankind. Now, she knew this wasn’t true and if you’ve listened to any of my past episodes, you know it’s not true, but today, I’m going to talk about a parasite that cats carry that could have a significant impact on cat owners. Toxoplasma gondii Show Notes: https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/toxoplasmosis/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/health_professionals/index.html#tx https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/gen_info/faqs.html https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/toxoplasmosis-cats https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563286/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3162817/ https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1743814-overview?form=fpf https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/cmr.00115-19 https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/extraintestinal-protozoa/toxoplasmosis https://www.cell.com/trends/parasitology/abstract/0169-4758(88)90018-X https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7752/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3109627/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/toxoplasma-gondii https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/229969-overview?form=fpf https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-020-04528-x https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-24092-x https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-020-04445-z https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/congenital-toxoplasmosis https://www.nature.com/articles/s41537-022-00292-2 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1550-7408.2008.00345.x https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19744303/ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1863-2378.2009.01276.x https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/229969-overview?scode=msp&st=fpf&anfErrHint=true&icd=login_error_gg_mismatch_fpf&client=205502&urlCache=aHR0cHM6Ly9lbWVkaWNpbmUubWVkc2NhcGUuY29tL2FydGljbGUvMjI5OTY5LW92ZXJ2aWV3P2Zvcm09ZnBmJnNjb2RlPW1zcCZzdD1mcGYmc29jaWFsU2l0ZT1nb29nbGU&su=EXUHB2/fkQ9sBjQl7hkqDIHTs0Xd4JxI8gikIGYJMIgmCZ+wTe/gcdb9CztGtN/y&form=login https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1863-2378.2009.01276.x https://www.scielo.br/j/mioc/a/c3zTqcQyh8DMhN3NpCddHGs/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/24416205_Toxoplasma_gondii_1908-2008_homage_to_Nicolle_Manceaux_and_Splendore https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Toxoplasma-gondii%3A-1908-2008%2C-homage-to-Nicolle%2C-Ferguson/fe26b8691f59bebf521dd5530b978b23240e68d5 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020751909001064 https://www.academia.edu/61852031/Toxoplasma_gondii_1908_2008_homage_to_Nicolle_Manceaux_and_Splendore https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/229969-overview?form=fpf https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4612-2476-1_27 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19430635/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3535705/ https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4612-2476-1_27 https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-3305-6-334 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020751909000964 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020751909000964#bib76 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020751909000964#bib102 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020751909001064 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020751909000940 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020751909000605...

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

S8 E3: What's New with WHO? Updates in Epidemiology Apr 07, 2024

Show notes

You can reach me on the website at http://www.causeofdeath100secs.net or you can email me at mailto:Jackie@causeofdeath100secs.net. My Link Tree can be found at: https://linktr.ee/CauseofDeathpod I wanted to take a moment to discuss some recent happenings in the world of epidemiology. I’m going to talk about some diseases that I’ve addressed in previous episodes, and some that I haven’t touched on yet, but all of them have been in the news recently. I won’t be getting into the etiology and pathology of these diseases in this episode. If I haven’t talked about some of these yet, they’re on the list, so I’ll address that when the full episode drops. Update Show Notes: Atypical Canine Respiratory Disease https://www.newsweek.com/dog-respiratory-illness-map-update-spread-more-states-1864961 https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/02/13/mysterious-dog-respiratory-illness-update/72576739007/ https://news.yahoo.com/potentially-fatal-mystery-illness-dogs-060159255.html https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/01/mystery-dog-illness-pandemic/677047/ https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-finds-no-novel-pathogens-genetic-testing-mystery-illness-dogs-2023-12-22/ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/06/well/family/dog-respiratory-illness-safety.html https://today.umd.edu/a-mysterious-illness-is-spreading-among-dogs-nationwide-heres-what-you-need-to-know https://www.today.com/health/mystery-dog-illness-2023-rcna125553 https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/pet-insurance/mystery-dog-illness/#:~:text=Source%3A%20Pexels-,What%20Is%20the%20Mystery%20Respiratory%20Illness%20in%20Dogs%3F,are%20familiar%20with%20kennel%20cough. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/veterinarians-warn-mystery-illness-killing-215133668.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACW7Uiy5HxjmcaF_D2-9o6GtGfm7nAlb4yFctYG-nBn8ZuRRj2zUIbIt0Ee3BkLxcLsMm9sNrIKQL5rnE0pFuq9kJQCpVbNxBDlq8s5orvebvkQdldpZUyPjwlgtcNyM67E9i3DIL-__We_mNiJ1Bzz-QAv0gptdCA6HJff0_Woj https://gazette.com/life/pets/dog-respiratory-illness-in-decline-in-colorado-springs-nationwide/article_57fcffde-d4fd-11ee-8e3a-ab7269181439.html https://roanokevet.com/the-mysterious-dog-disease-key-facts/ https://www.denverpost.com/2024/02/05/mysterious-canine-respiratory-disease-colorado-decreasing-dogs-cough/ Bird Flu Outbreak https://www.science.org/content/article/bird-flu-may-be-spreading-cows-milking-and-herd-transport https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/04/04/1242711884/bird-flu-h5n1-cattle-eggs-humans-vaccine https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/04/04/1242711884/bird-flu-h5n1-cattle-eggs-humans-vaccine https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/growing-concerns-about-bird-flu-cases-in-u-s-farm-animals-and-risk-to-humans https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/spotlights/2023-2024/h5n1-analysis-texas.htm https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/tests-confirm-avian-flu-new-mexico-dairy-farm-probe-finds-cats-positive https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2024-04-04/bird-flu-in-cows-and-a-human-worries-scientists-time-for-vigilance?embedded-checkout=true https://www.statnews.com/2024/04/05/bird-flu-cdc-urges-doctors-watch-for-h5n1-in-farm-workers/ https://www.wsj.com/finance/commodities-futures/bird-flu-spreads-to-cattle-raising-fears-on-farms-9293b953 https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/mammals.htm https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/dshs-reports-first-human-case-avian-influenza-texas https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0401-avian-flu.html Syphilis Studies https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/30/health/syphilis-cdc.html#:~:text=With%20more%20than%2084%20cases,rounded%20out%20the%20top%20five.) https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2022/default.htm https://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/stats.htm https://www.statnews.com/2024/01/30/syphilis-rates-epidemic-united-states/...

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

S8 E2: Brain Suckers: The Story of Naegleria fowleri Mar 10, 2024

Show notes

Brain Eating Amoeba Show Notes: You can reach me on the website at http://www.causeofdeath100secs.net or you can email me at mailto:Jackie@causeofdeath100secs.net. My Link Tree can be found at: https://linktr.ee/CauseofDeathpod This season is called “Creepy Crawlies” and today, I’m going to be talking about one of the strangest and most dangerous among them, Naegleria fowleri. This animal is the brain eater that’s made a huge splash, pun intended, in the media over the last couple of years. While this organism thrives in temperatures above 80° Fahrenheit, it can be found in lake or river sediment at temperatures well below that. The mortality rate for PAM is roughly 97% with only four people out of 157 having survived in the US between 1962 and 2022. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350905632_Naegleria_fowleri_Sources_of_infection_pathophysiology_diagnosis_and_management_a_review https://www.thoughtco.com/the-life-of-an-amoeba-4054288 https://www.thoughtco.com/what-are-cells-373361 https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/general.html https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/index.html https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/infections/Pages/naegleria-fowleri-the-brain-eating-amoeba-how-to-prevent-this-rare-infection.aspx https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535447/ https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/naegleria/index.html https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p01085.pdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9964342/ https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/laboratory-biosafety-biosecurity/pathogen-safety-data-sheets-risk-assessment/naegleria-fowleri.html https://www.tceq.texas.gov/toxicology/q-a/amoeba https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/public-health/why-brain-eating-amoeba-infections-are-becoming-more-common.html https://weather.com/health/video/rare-brain-eating-amoeba-cases-could-rise-due-to-climate-change?cm_ven=PS_GGL_DSA_09162019_1&par=MK_GGL&tpcc=mktg-search-Google-acquisition&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAuYuvBhApEiwAzq_YiUAkKam_smsl0ezdn7j4gstP7QyZTDtoE5uFzjHC_5siNsBL80-DpxoCdt4QAvD_BwE https://www.science.org/content/article/repurposed-drug-battles-brain-eating-amoeba https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7783332/ https://byjus.com/biology/amoeba/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31612525/#:~:text=Though%20the%20exact%20pathogenesis%20of,pathogen%20invading%20the%20host%20CNS. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604384/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001706X16305897 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acschemneuro.6b00232 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1440-1681.13192 https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/223910-overview?form=fpf https://academic.oup.com/femspd/article/51/2/243/888715 https://academic.oup.com/f https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/aac.01293-15 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/naegleria-fowleri https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11684-021-0865-2 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350905632_Naegleria_fowleri_Sources_of_infection_pathophysiology_diagnosis_and_management_a_review https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Reported-cases-of-primary-amebic-meningoencephalitis-n-381-by-country-of-exposure-No_fig1_341190198 https://applications.emro.who.int/imemrf/Parasitologists_United_J/Parasitologists_United_J_2012_5_2_93_104.pdf https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-73772-5_88 https://www.academia.edu/70102030/A_Review_on_Global_Distribution_of_Primary_Amoebic_Meningoencephalitis_PAM_Caused_By_Naegleria_Fowleri_The_Brain_Eating_Amoeba https://acsw.dypvp.edu.in/documents/Study-Material/Microbiology-TYBSc/Entamoeba-histolytica.pdf https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/5100/420-002-epitrends2019-03.pdf https://acsw.dypvp.edu.in/documents/Study-Material/Microbiology-TYBSc/Entamoeba-histolytica.pdf Darkcast Network – Promo by Yours Truly Podcast Promos: Rogue Darkness Hands Off My Podcast Weird True Crime...

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

S8 E1: The Worms Crawl In: The Story of Whipworm (feat Sweet Pea) Feb 25, 2024

Show notes

You can reach me on the website at www.causeofdeath100secs.net or you can email me at Jackie@causeofdeath100secs.net. My Link Tree can be found at: https://linktr.ee/CauseofDeathpod Today, we’re going to talk about whipworm. I chose this particular parasite because my dog, Sweet Pea was diagnosed with it a few weeks ago despite having worm meds every month. We’ll begin this story, as usual, with etiology and pathology. Whipworm is a parasitic roundworm. Its scientific name is Trichuris trichiura, it’s phylum is Nematoda, Class Enoplea, Domain Eukaryota. It’s in the Family Trichuridae, Genus Trichuris and Kingdom Animalia. The body of the worm is shaped like a whip with a long, thick handle-like structure at one end, the anus, that tapers off to a thin whip-like structure at the other end. It’s this end that attaches to the cecum, but we’ll get to that. For those of you who love my dog, she’s a special guest on this episode. She’s talking about her experience with whipworm. And her birthday party. Whipworm Show Notes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507843/ https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1000631-clinical?form=fpf https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/whipworm/gen_info/faqs.html https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/whipworm/health_professionals/index.html#:~:text=Whipworm%20is%20effectively%20treated%20with,should%20be%20taken%20with%20food. https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/whipworm/index.html https://nexgard.com.au/products/heartgard#:~:text=Do%20heartworm%20tablets%20kill%20all,added%20to%20your%20deworming%20program. https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/about-us/psv/articles/what-have-you-forgotten-about-whipworms https://www.marvistavet.com/whipworms.pml https://us.virbac.com/home/health-topics/whipworms.html https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/trichuris https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-29334-0 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.637570/full

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

S7 E7: 100 Seconds to Midnight: Countdown, the Finale Feb 11, 2024

Show notes

You can reach me on the website at http://www.causeofdeath100secs.net or you can email me at mailto:Jackie@causeofdeath100secs.net. My Link Tree can be found at: https://linktr.ee/CauseofDeathpod This episode is the season finale of “Countdown”, and that sentiment has been announced by the Board of Atomic Scientists. They made the announcement on January 23, 2024. They have referred to this time as a moment of historic danger. “This year, the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists leave the hands of the Doomsday Clock unchanged due to ominous trends that continue to point the world toward global catastrophe.” Countdown, the Finale Show Notes: The January 23rd announcement of the Science and Security Board: https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/current-time/ https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/current-time/nuclear-risk/ https://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear-weapons/worldwide#:~:text=Nine%20countries%20possess%20nuclear%20weapons,is%20close%20to%2013%2C000%20weapons. https://www.icanw.org/nuclear_arsenals?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAt5euBhB9EiwAdkXWOyENFzF9Rcw4CyCkeD-ubxbexrclYhy_iQrf0Bta0HfvjW6AvwvIuBoC7EgQAvD_BwE https://ee.stanford.edu/~hellman/opinion/inevitability.html https://ee.stanford.edu/~hellman/breakthrough.html https://www.nti.org/area/nuclear/ https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/nuclear-weapons?CMP=ILC-refresh https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/27/us-frets-over-irans-accelerated-uranium-enrichment-programme https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/real-russian-nuclear-threat https://time.com/6323059/us-china-russia-nuclear-threat/ https://www.ntiindex.org/ https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/as-the-us-faces-down-new-nuclear-threats-will-cold-war-solutions-work-once-again/ https://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear-weapons/solutions https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/05/04/rattling-nuclear-saber-what-russia-s-nuclear-threats-really-mean-pub-89689 https://www.icanw.org/will_putin_use_nuclear_weapons https://world101.cfr.org/global-era-issues/nuclear-proliferation/nuclear-world https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/return-nuclear-escalation https://fas.org/initiative/status-world-nuclear-forces/ https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/israel-war-on-gaza/ https://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear-weapons/worldwide?utm_source=googlegrants&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=GSP&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAiP2tBhBXEiwACslfnpqmexpLcMY3Kgo1EpbsSYGLtOrs0OOvQMPK48EMT9AOzH1qM9hDhxoCGUgQAvD_BwE https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-kim-jong-un-us-missile-tests-threat-nuclear-war/ https://thebulletin.org/2023/11/why-a-russian-nuclear-expert-thinks-the-doomsday-clock-should-move-away-from-midnight/ https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15250.doc.htm https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_50068.htm https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-u-s-s-plans-to-modernize-nuclear-weapons-are-dangerous-and-unnecessary/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=tfd_dsa&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAiP2tBhBXEiwACslfniXvPhGsmExdPF0TbFL-t-I1wROwuKtLzwaMVVRIf1CBqutWoXxr2xoCCY0QAvD_BwE https://gsinstitute.org/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAiP2tBhBXEiwACslfnrsJFQ-KeYi8Jfd1tus-ZaiPBG5eowGF0UR1lt8ClNqIFI6oVxfDFhoCfQAQAvD_BwE https://www.icanw.org/nuclear_arsenals?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAt5euBhB9EiwAdkXWOyENFzF9Rcw4CyCkeD-ubxbexrclYhy_iQrf0Bta0HfvjW6AvwvIuBoC7EgQAvD_BwE https://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear-weapons/worldwide#:~:text=Nine%20countries%20possess%20nuclear%20weapons,is%20close%20to%2013%2C000%20weapons. https://www.statista.com/statistics/264435/number-of-nuclear-warheads-worldwide/ http://nuclearrisk.org/3likely.php https://cepa.org/article/the-china-russia-axis-moves-into-high-gear/ https://news.mit.edu/2023/foreign-policy-scholars-examine-china-russia-relationship-1117 https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/09/11/china-russia-alliance-cooperation-brics-sco-economy-military-war-ukraine-putin-xi/...

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Cause of Death – 100 Seconds to Midnight

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected