Construction Physics essay on the history of the Screwworm

I'm an avid reader of Construction Physics, but was particularly taken by this recent essay about the history of Screwworm diseases in the United States: The Fall and Rise of Screwworm

Well-researched and well-written are hallmarks of Construction Physics articles, but this one is fascinating for its deep historical background; the article notes that "the first documented screwworm infection in a person in the US dates to the 1830s".

The major breakthrough occurred shortly after WWII:

The final piece of the puzzle to eliminate screwworm wouldn’t fall into place until 1950. That year, Knipling read a journal article by Nobel Prize-winning scientist Hermann Muller. Muller had been awarded the prize for his groundbreaking work in genetics, discovering that mutations could be introduced into living things by exposing fruit flies to radiation. Muller’s 1950 article was a warning against the dangers of nuclear war, cautioning that the resulting radioactive fallout could create “a world of sterile human beings.”2 Knipling contacted Muller and asked him if radiation could be used to create large numbers of sterile male screwworms. Muller responded: “I know nothing of screwworms but your theory is sound.”

I recommend reading everything at Construction Physics. But this article was compelling enough for me to post this more detailed recommendation.