Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

Frankenstein Versus the Volcano

Jun 3, 2022

The catastrophic eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815 not only created chaos but also transformed climates and societies across the globe. Intriguingly, this disaster inspired Mary Shelley to pen the horror classic, 'Frankenstein.' The discussion explores how such calamities have historically sparked creativity and innovation, paralleling modern challenges like the pandemic's influence on remote work. It highlights the lessons we learn about resilience during crises and the unexpected impacts on science and culture.

34:59

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Highlights

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Episode notes

The Surprising Benefits of Disasters

02:57

Intro

2min

Cataclysm: The Eruption of Mount Tambora

3min

The Eruption and its Echoes

11min

Effects of Tambora: A Colorful Winter in Italy

3min

Resilience Through Catastrophe

12min

Creativity Amidst Catastrophe

13min

When Mount Tambora erupted it spewed ash across the globe; blotting out the sun; poisoning crops; and bringing starvation, illness and death to millions. It may also have helped inspire great scientific and cultural advances - including the horror masterpiece Frankenstein. How well do we adapt to catastrophe and what are the limits of our ability to weather even the worst circumstances?

For a full list of sources go to timharford.com

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