I'm Alan Olga and this is Clear and Vivid, conversations about connecting and communicating.

We define bullshit as language, statistical figures, data graphics, other forms of presentation

that are intended to persuade someone by overwhelming them or impressing them with a blatant disregard

for truth or logical coherence.

So the key is I'm trying to rather than inform you about something, I'm just trying to make

you think, wow, that guy is so smart or wow, I can't possibly question him or whatever,

you know, instead of actually trying to help you understand the world better.

That's bullshit.

That's Carl Bergstrom.

These are biologists who's fascinated with how birds tell the difference between lies

and truth on subjects like sex and food.

Interestingly, that led them to wonder how we humans struggle through the avalanche

of misinformation available online.

He's now a leading figure in a growing army of researchers who are studying misinformation

and trying to figure out how to stop it.

These researchers come from disciplines as disparate as biology, physics, sociology and psychology.

A few years ago, we co-authored a sort of how-to guide on the subject called calling bullshit,

and the book itself is a great example of the value of collaboration across disciplines.

The example of that that sticks in my mind is the story of you and your co-author,

Kevin West, when he told you on the phone that he was thinking of preparing a new course, how did that go?

Well, so yes, the way all of this got started is that my co-author, Kevin West, is in the

Information School here at the University of Washington.

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