Why do some mammals have much lower rates of cancer than others?
There are two standard explanations - but neither is totally satisfying. I spoke with Dr. Matías Blaustein and co-first author Julian Maxwell about their recent paper published in Science Advances, proposing an intriguing new explanation for why we see such different rates of cancer - that evolution selected for them - including high rates!
Their paper is titled "Coevolution of cooperative lifestyles and reduced cancer prevalence in mammals" and was published 12 November, 2025.
Many thanks to them and their team for their work, and taking the time to discuss it with me.
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#2: Evolution may select for cancer rates - Dr. Matías Blaustein
An intriguing new explanation for why we see such different rates of cancer across mammal species
imperfect, but improving!
The world, and our knowledge about it, is imperfect but gradually getting better. This pod focuses on the frontiers of science, and how we are making progress against the world's biggest problems.
The world, and our knowledge about it, is imperfect but gradually getting better. This pod focuses on the frontiers of science, and how we are making progress against the world's biggest problems.Appears in episode
