The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe The Skeptics Guide #1003 - Sep 28 2024
Sep 28, 2024
Andrea Jones-Roy, a political scientist and podcaster, joins to explore political forecasting and the misconceptions around it. She discusses the complexities of data interpretation in political science, emphasizing the need for critical thinking. They also delve into intriguing topics like the future of genome storage on 5D crystals and the alarming rise in myopia linked to screen time. Additionally, the mystery of 'bio-twang'—whale sounds recorded in the Mariana Trench—unfolds through AI analysis, making for a captivating conversation.
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Unsolicited Political Opinions
- Andrea Jones-Roy finds it challenging that everyone claims to be a political expert during election season.
- People offer unsolicited opinions on election outcomes, even to political scientists.
Imperfect Government Data
- Government data, like jobs or crime statistics, is inherently imperfect due to various sources and collection methods.
- Despite imperfections, broad trends in data can still offer valuable insights.
Motivated Reasoning and Data
- The imperfection of data allows individuals to selectively trust studies aligning with their beliefs.
- People tend to dismiss studies with undesirable conclusions, highlighting the influence of motivated reasoning.