The Jordan Harbinger Show 510: Rob Reid | Why the Future is a Good Kind of Scary
May 20, 2021
Rob Reid, a tech entrepreneur and author of "After On," shares fascinating insights on the future of pandemics and biotech. He explores the dangers of gain-of-function research, emphasizing how even secure labs can leak pathogens. Reid discusses the need for global preparedness against emerging threats and advocates for home DNA printers to create vaccines on demand. The conversation also delves into the ethical dilemmas of synthetic biology and the societal vulnerabilities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It's a thought-provoking look at the intersection of technology and health.
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Fighting the Last War
- Nations often prepare for the last war, not the next.
- We must prepare for the next pandemic, not just COVID-19.
COVID-19's Benign Nature
- COVID-19's relatively low lethality compared to other viruses like SARS (10% fatality) or H5N1 (50%+) was fortunate.
- A more lethal, contagious virus could overwhelm systems, especially if it's engineered.
Measles Contagion
- Measles can be contracted hours after an infected person leaves a space, highlighting its contagiousness.
- COVID-19 is less contagious; unlikely to catch it from brief contact in a shared space.