Experimental History

Exploring cognitive biases like conjunction fallacy and endowment effect, the podcast challenges the misconception that people are inherently stupid. It delves into human intelligence, cognitive illusions, and societal perceptions, highlighting the importance of embracing different perspectives and eradicating biases about intelligence.

Exploring issues with peer review in scientific publishing, emphasizing the need for constructive feedback and innovation. Discussing the impact of self-publishing on academic recognition and navigating feedback in science discourse. Delving into academic hierarchy and the risks of disrupting established structures.

Exploring the failures of peer review in promoting innovation and detecting errors in scientific research. Discussing flaws like data manipulation and lack of feedback incorporation. Proposing a shift towards a more interactive and open approach to scientific publishing.

Explore the controversial life of Sir Francis Goulton, his involvement in eugenics, and innovative perspectives. Learn survival tips, historical quarantine policies, and quirky experiments. Reflect on lessons from a historical figure's design and experimentation.

The podcast explores a bias in human imagination towards envisioning better scenarios, even unrealistically improving aspects of life. It compares cultural differences in idea generation between Polish, Mandarin, and American participants. The study reveals the complexity of human perception and the struggle to imagine things being worse, despite a typical psychology finding. The constant pursuit of improvements is linked to happiness.

Exploring the concept of forgetting learned information over time, the podcast questions traditional strategies for retaining knowledge and emphasizes the role of emotions in memory. It also discusses the importance of vibes in problem-solving and education, highlighting the challenges of learning a new language and the significance of persistence.

Exploring the replication crisis in psychology, questioning the validity of findings. Discussing the importance of discerning impactful psychological studies and the mysteries of the universe. Reflecting on human ignorance throughout history and stealing nature's vaults of knowledge.

Exploring society's productivity obsession and its impact on mental health, questioning the concept of laziness. Discussing cultural influences on problem-solving and challenges. Addressing struggles with passion and finding joy in writing scientific papers through the Pomodoro technique.

A look into the complex relationship between intelligence and happiness, challenging the notion that smarter people should be happier. Exploring different types of intelligence, the limitations of traditional IQ tests, and the importance of wisdom in solving poorly-defined problems.

The podcast discusses the frustration of encountering badly designed public restrooms and appliances, and questions why good design often loses. It explores deciphering confusing clothing tags, technological and psychological engineering in design, and the impact of psychological engineering on design, including the challenges of unintuitive doors and the necessity of inclusive design.