Peril in The Main Stream: The 209th Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying

In this 209th in a series of live discussions with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying (both PhDs in Biology), we talk about the state of the world through an evolutionary lens.

In this episode, we discuss misinformation and how dangerous it is, especially to mainstream researchers and media. We dissect research that claims to find evidence that “doing your own research” actually cements false views, and find that the research itself is so methodologically flawed as to be incapable of delivering accurate results. We celebrate the finding of Canada’s Federal Court that the invoking of the Emergencies Act during the Trucker’s Convoy was unconstitutional; and we discuss the WHO’s faltering pandemic preparedness plan. And we briefly discussed Panama: what is happening in the Darien, in the Panama Canal, and why a monkey crossed the Canal. Head over to our Locals for more content from Bret & Zack’s recent trip to Panama.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Doing your own research is a good way to end up being wrong (WaPo)

Aslett et al 2024. Online searches to evaluate misinformation can increase its perceived veracity. Nature625548575

Fact checkers aren’t scientists

From Table S8?Why are volcanoes all over the globe suddenly shooting giant clouds of ash miles into the air?

Cargo cult science, by Feynman (1974)

Federal Court of Canada declares invocation of the Emergencies Act unconstitutional

The cavalry rolled in, by Dan Arcand

The GuardianGlobal pandemic agreement at risk of falling apart, WHO warns

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Welcome and locals exclusive conversation

(04:30) Sponsors

(11:00) WaPo on misinformation and doing your own research

(21:10) Article

(33:18) Fact checking volcanoes

(53:45) More fact checks

(56:10) Illegal use of emergencies act on Canadian truckers’ convoy

(01:03:20) WHO Pandemic treaty

(01:10:12) Panama trip

(01:29:05) Wrap up