A Man Let Snakes Bite Him for Years. He Could Be the Key to a Universal Antivenom : Short Wave

A man let snakes bite him for years. He could be the key to a universal antivenom : Short Wave

What's it like to get bit by a venomous snake? "It's like a bee sting times a thousand," Tim Friede says. Tim would know. Over the past few decades, he's let himself be bitten over 200 times by all kinds of venomous snakes — black mambas, taipans, cobras, kraits and more. With time, he's gradually built immunity to multiple types of venom. Could scientists help him share that immunity with others? Science reporter Ari Daniel joins Short Wave to …

The Man Who Endured 200 Snake Bites

Guests:Susan Kelleher of DCULaura Hayes of DIASTim Friede

For years, snakes bit him. His blood may help create a new antivenom : Short Wave : NPR

The Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) is a lethal venomous snake native to Africa. Its bite is one of multiple that could be treated with a new universal antivenom… developed from a human named Tim Friede. Michele D'Amico/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Michele D'Amico/Getty Images The Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) is a lethal venomous snake native to Africa. Its bite is one of multiple that could be treated with a new universal antivenom… devel…