Can Science Be Efficient? The 264th Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying
whatshot 8 snips
Feb 15, 2025
From Barcelona, the hosts explore trends in coughing and health post-COVID. They discuss the complexities of mRNA technology, emphasizing its risks in cancer treatment. The podcast delves into federal grants, highlighting how indirect costs create imbalances favoring expensive science. A philosophical twist on the Ship of Theseus sparks a conversation about identity and the importance of theoretical frameworks in science. Additionally, they engage in a thought-provoking dialogue on trans issues, advocating for meritocracy and inclusion in society.
01:33:10
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Coughing Paradox
Bret Weinstein noticed a decrease in public coughing since COVID.
This observation spans across different locations, creating a paradox.
insights INSIGHT
Potential Explanations for Reduced Coughing
The reduced coughing could be due to behavioral changes or a "pull-forward effect."
The pull-forward effect suggests increased mortality among vulnerable populations.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
mRNA Platform Considerations
Reject mRNA platform proposals for contagious pathogens due to systemic risks.
Consider mRNA for terminal illnesses only as a last resort, after careful consideration.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In this week’s episode, we discuss changes in global health from Barcelona, as indicated by how much public coughing is taking place now. This segues into a discussion of cancer, mRNA, trade-offs, and complex systems. Then: what DOGE needs to understand about science, which is not inherently efficient. What are indirect costs on federal grants, why are they necessary, and why do they vary? And: how does having indirect costs create perverse incentives by university administrators to privilege scientists over non-scientists, and Big Science over (regular) science. Specifically, science in the West is failing because fast, expensive empirical science is nearly always favored over slow, cheap, and/or theoretical science. Universities get richer, and Big Scientists get promoted, but grad students don’t learn how to be scientists, and we all lose out on having basic scientific questions answered, which will ultimately be our downfall. Also: the Ship of Theseus.
*****
Our sponsors:
Pique’s Nandaka: delicious mushroom, tea, and chocolate drink that provides all day energy. Get 20% off plus free frother+beaker at http://www.Piquelife.com/DARKHORSE
Fresh Pressed Olive Oil Club: Scrumptious & freshly harvested. Go to http://www.GetFreshDarkHorse.com to get a bottle of the best olive oil you’ve ever had for $1 shipping.
CrowdHealth: Pay for healthcare with crowdfunding instead of insurance. It’s way better. Use code DarkHorse at http://JoinCrowdHealth.com to get 1st 3 months for $99/month.
*****
Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com/
Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com
Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AGANGg (commission earned)
Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org
*****
Mentioned in this episode:
Evolutionary Lens #84, June 2021 (Hey YouTube: Divide by Zero): https://odysee.com/@BretWeinstein:f/EvoLens84:b
Research University Classifications for 2025: https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/carnegie-classification/research-designations-faqs/
NSF’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey: https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/higher-education-research-development/2023
DarkHorse Podcast