About the Medical Discovery News Team

The voices and energy behind Medical Discovery News are two scientists who met at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980, where they were pursuing research on infectious microbes and how they cause disease. Professors David W. Niesel, in 1983, and Norbert K. Herzog, in 1989, joined the faculty of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, world renowned for research in infectious and emerging tropical diseases, among other biomedical specialties. After accepting a Professorship in 2012 at the Department of Medical Sciences at the Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT, Dr. Herzog is now a founding member of the faculty at this new medical school. He continues as a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Pathology at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Their outgoing personalities and passion for promoting the understanding of science among the public evolved into Medical Discovery News five years ago. The show’s two-minute conversations have unraveled breaking scientific news, such as whether airport full-body scanners pose radiation risks, as well as ancient history, such as King Tut’s paternity. They’ve also explained puzzling biomedical questions such as why people yawn and the health benefits of beer. Another episode on the link between too little sleep and early death really woke up their listeners! This is done in an entertaining and informative way. Watch out – you might learn something!