Science In Action How Fear Spreads
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Aug 28, 2025 Join asteroid specialist Sarah Russell, who studies interstellar dust, paleo geneticist Ludovic Orlando, who researches horse domestication, and epidemiologist Katerina Laporta, who examines historical rumor spread. They discuss the fascinating parallels between the spread of fear during the French Revolution and modern-day events, revealing how citizen militias shaped revolutionary ideas. Furthermore, uncover the genetic evolution of horses and the cosmic origins of asteroids like Bennu, highlighting the connection between our ancient past and current scientific endeavors.
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Revolutionary Rumours Behaved Like An Epidemic
- The 1789 Great Fear spread like an epidemic of rumours across France and can be analysed with modern epidemiological tools.
- Katerina Laporta and Stefano Zeperi digitised Lefebvre's records to trace timing and direction of the rumour spread.
Cities Acted As Super-Spreader Hubs
- Large towns acted as 'super-spreaders' during the Great Fear, sending rumours in many directions.
- The spread correlated strongly with town population size, making urban centres critical hubs.
Literacy, Not Ignorance, Fueled Spread
- Higher literacy and elites, not ignorance, helped amplify the Great Fear because they transmitted messages quickly.
- Messages and literate networks spread politically motivated rumours faster than slow newspapers.