Group B Strep Vaccine Trials Move Forward in Pregnancy After 50-Year Wait; Drones Transform Agriculture and Fall Science Books

Science Magazine's September 18, 2025 podcast examines why a vaccine for Group B streptococcus (GBS) during pregnancy has taken decades to reach testing, how maternal antibodies could protect newborns, and the challenges of conducting vaccine trials in pregnancy. The episode also surveys the rapid growth of farming drones, the drivers behind adoption across regions, and possible efficiency and sustainability gains. Valerie Thompson then previews fall science books, including Bog Queen by Anna North, Marion Nestle's What to Eat Now, and The Whispers of Rock by Anjana Katwa.

Group B Strep vaccine in pregnancy: burden, history and current progress

The episode begins by detailing the global burden of Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborns, with hundreds of thousands of cases and tens of thousands of deaths annually. The discussion highlights the long arc from recognition to vaccine development, noting that progress stalled for decades due to safety concerns linked to vaccines administered during pregnancy, especially after the thalidomide era. Leslie Roberts explains that GBS can cause stillbirth, meningitis, and long-lasting developmental effects, underscoring the urgency of protective strategies for newborns. A central tension is the cost and feasibility of standard phase 3 vaccine trials in a relatively rare neonatal disease, prompting consideration of antibody-based endpoints as surrogate markers of protection.

“This microbe can cause stillbirth and illness in infants with very long lasting effects.” - Leslie Roberts

Roberts and colleagues trace the pivotal work of Carol Baker, who linked maternal antibody levels to infant outcomes and proposed that boosting maternal antibodies in the last trimester could confer passive protection to the baby. The discussion explains how current vaccination regimens for other pathogens in pregnancy—such as pertussis and Tdap—demonstrate safety and antibody transfer, but that GBS vaccines pose unique regulatory and logistical hurdles because the trial population is narrower and the endpoint is indirect. The field has debated entrant strategies, favoring serological endpoints over large-scale neonatal morbidity trials, a shift driven by the enormous cost and complexity of definitive trials in this context.

From accelerants to regulators: how vaccines are advancing in pregnancy

The podcast traces the recent policy and regulatory work that has supported a shift toward maternal vaccination for GBS. Pfizer and Minervax have engaged global regulators, with the first shot administered to a healthy pregnant participant in August 2025, signaling a turning point after a 50-year delay. The discussion discusses how trial design now prioritizes immunogenic endpoints—antibody levels in the mother and infant that correlate with protection—over direct clinical endpoints in the era of rapid, high-stakes pharmaceutical development. The emphasis remains on ensuring accessibility and affordability globally, even as trials pursue feasible endpoints.

“50 years after this was discovered, the vaccine is being trialed in pregnancy.” - Leslie Roberts

Drones in agriculture: adoption, drivers and sustainability

The episode then shifts to agriculture, where farm drones are expanding rapidly. Ben Belton explains that drones now carry substantial payloads, enabling larger-scale spraying, seeding, and input applications. Adoption has been uneven, with rapid uptake in drone-friendly policy environments (notably China, Japan, and South Korea) and slower growth in parts of Europe and North America where regulation and public concerns temper deployment. The technology is increasingly used on rice and other field crops; rental models dominate, especially among smallholder farmers who pool resources to access drones.

“They've definitely gotten cheaper. They're getting easier to operate, I guess you would say, for someone who's not super tech savvy.” - Ben Belton

Belton emphasizes that drones are playing a complementary role to traditional machinery in large farms, filling gaps where tractors cannot access, and potentially reducing labor burdens in aging farming communities. The potential for improved droplet precision, canopy penetration, and reduced soil compaction could translate into efficiency gains and, in some cases, lower energy use. The discussion also acknowledges ongoing questions about spray drift, health impacts for spraying personnel, and the need for robust, context-specific regulations to harness benefits while mitigating risks.

“A single rice farm can be using a drone 4 or 5 times over the course of a production cycle.” - Ben Belton

Fall science books: a quick preview

Valerie Thompson rounds out the program with a preview of fall science books, including Bog Queen by Anna North, What to Eat Now by Marion Nestle, and The Whispers of Rock by Anjana Katwa. The books section highlights how fiction can intersect with science, and how nonfiction titles translate current science into policy, health, and culture. The discussion also notes the distinctive illustrated cover art created for the season’s roundup, inviting readers to explore both the science and the storytelling behind these selections.

In sum, the episode threads together the long arc of vaccine development with immediate innovations in agriculture and the culture of science publishing, illustrating how policy, technology, and communication shape what it means to translate science into public health and everyday life.

Quotes are embedded within the sections above to highlight key takeaways from the conversations.