Inside Russia’s Secret Bioweapons Programs: The Plague, Soviet Scientists & Biological Warfare

Inside Russia’s Secret Bioweapons Programs: The Plague, Soviet Scientists & Biological Warfare

What secrets lie behind Russia’s historical biological weapons programs? In this fascinating deep dive, infectious disease expert and author Wendy Orent explores the history of the plague, the clandestine world of Soviet bioweapons research, and the geopolitical implications of deadly pathogens.

Discover how correspondence with a prominent Soviet biological weapons scientist led Orent to investigate the hidden history of biological warfare. From the natural plague reservoirs found in marmots to the realities of laboratory leaks, the devastating Black Death, and modern fears surrounding infectious diseases, this discussion separates scientific evidence from popular myths.

The conversation also examines the history of vaccines, including polio vaccination, major public health controversies, and the ways misinformation and public misconceptions shape our understanding of infectious diseases.

In this episode:

• Russia’s and the Soviet Union’s biological weapons research

• The history and biology of the plague

• Soviet scientists and the secrets of bioweapons programs

• Natural pathogen reservoirs, marmots, and disease transmission

• Biological warfare, laboratory leaks, and historical outbreaks

• The Black Death and its lasting impact on human history

• Polio vaccines, public health, and scientific controversies

• The intersection of infectious diseases, geopolitics, and global security

Watch to explore the complex history of biological warfare and the science behind some of humanity’s most feared infectious diseases.

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