Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova What the Nobels Tell Us About the World Right Now
14 snips
Oct 18, 2025 The discussion dives into the 2025 Nobel Prizes, exploring how winners reflect current cultural values. Maria critiques the politicization of the Peace Prize and shares the fascinating story of a winner unreachable while hiking. They unravel the complex selection process and historical biases in awards, particularly in literature. The economics prize highlights creative destruction and its importance in innovation. Lastly, the hosts humorously ponder what prizes they'd give each other, promising an engaging follow-up for next year's awards.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Winner Found Off The Grid
- Fred Ramsdell was unreachable for 24 hours after winning the Nobel because he was hiking off the grid with his wife.
- His wife found reception and screamed, leading to the discovery that he had won the prize.
Leaks Can Move Prediction Markets
- Prediction markets showed surges before the Nobel Peace Prize, suggesting information leaks or discoverable metadata clues.
- Nate warns that motivated actors can exploit small public signals to profit from prediction markets.
Judging Prizes Feels Fast And Political
- Nate described judging Pulitzers as intensive: massive stacks of submissions and quick deliberations over a few days.
- He noted panels can dismiss much of the pile and decisions can feel political or network-influenced.
