Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying discuss misinformation and its impact on mainstream researchers and media. They dissect flawed research on 'doing your own research' and celebrate the finding that the Trucker's Convoy emergency act was unconstitutional. The WHO's pandemic preparedness plan is criticized. They also explore their recent trip to Panama, highlighting the major migration across the Darien Gap and the construction projects in the Panama Canal. They delve into the history and challenges of the canal project and discuss the border situation at the US border.
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insights INSIGHT
Misinformation and Research
Doing your own research can lead to incorrect conclusions, especially when evaluating misinformation.
This is because online searches often yield low-quality information reinforcing pre-existing biases.
insights INSIGHT
Study Methodology Critique
A study claims online searches increase belief in misinformation due to exposure to low-quality sources.
The study's methodology is flawed, relying on potentially biased fact-checkers and a limited veracity scale.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Volcano Article Example
A "low-quality" article about volcanoes erupting globally was deemed false, yet the eruption data was accurate.
The article's "why" was poorly researched, but factual claims were true, exposing flaws in the study's assessment.
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In this 209th in a series of live discussions with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying (both PhDs in Biology), we talk about the state of the world through an evolutionary lens.
In this episode, we discuss misinformation and how dangerous it is, especially to mainstream researchers and media. We dissect research that claims to find evidence that “doing your own research” actually cements false views, and find that the research itself is so methodologically flawed as to be incapable of delivering accurate results. We celebrate the finding of Canada’s Federal Court that the invoking of the Emergencies Act during the Trucker’s Convoy was unconstitutional; and we discuss the WHO’s faltering pandemic preparedness plan. And we briefly discussed Panama: what is happening in the Darien, in the Panama Canal, and why a monkey crossed the Canal. Head over to our Locals for more content from Bret & Zack’s recent trip to Panama.
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Mentioned in this episode:
Doing your own research is a good way to end up being wrong (WaPo):https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/17/do-your-own-research-study/
Aslett et al 2024. Online searches to evaluate misinformation can increase its perceived veracity. Nature625:548-575: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06883-y
From Table S8?: Why are volcanoes all over the globe suddenly shooting giant clouds of ash miles into the air? https://www.lewrockwell.com/2020/01/michael-snyder/why-are-volcanoes-all-over-the-globe-suddenly-shooting-giant-clouds-of-ash-miles-into-the-air/
Cargo cult science, by Feynman (1974): https://calteches.library.caltech.edu/51/2/CargoCult.htm
Federal Court of Canada declares invocation of the Emergencies Act unconstitutional: https://theccf.ca/wp-content/uploads/EA-challenge-fed-court-reasons-FINAL.pdf
The cavalry rolled in, by Dan Arcand: https://naturalselections.substack.com/p/the-cavalry-rolled-in
The Guardian: Global pandemic agreement at risk of falling apart, WHO warns: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/22/global-pandemic-agreement-at-risk-of-falling-apart-who-warns
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