Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg Do facts have an expiration date? (with Samuel Arbesman)
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Oct 8, 2025 In this insightful discussion, guest Samuel Arbesman, a Scientist in Residence at Lux Capital and author, explores the evolving nature of knowledge. He introduces the idea of treating facts as drafts that change over time rather than immutable truths. Arbesman dives into how measurement tools shape our understanding and the importance of scientific humility. He also discusses the balance between skepticism and trust in science, the role of interdisciplinary connections, and how AI can democratize creativity. Ultimately, he encourages a sense of wonder in our approach to science and technology.
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Facts Follow Measurable Patterns
- Scientific knowledge changes with regularities that can be measured like half-lives.
- Aggregating many small, uncertain discoveries produces predictable patterns of change.
Chromosome Count Corrected By Better Tools
- Sam shares his grandfather's experience learning the wrong human chromosome count due to limited microscopy.
- Better techniques later corrected the count from 48 to 46, showing measurement limits matter.
Professor Who Embraced Being Wrong
- Sam recounts a professor who taught a lecture that was overturned by a paper the next day.
- The professor told students: if that bothers you, get out of science, emphasizing draft-like knowledge.
