How Science Created Morons

Science Vs

Spotify Studios

Education, Science, Health & Fitness

4.4 • 12.4K Ratings

🗓️ 8 April 2021

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, how one of the worst ideas in science got a big push from a bad study… and intellectuals of the day lapped it up. We speak to science writer Carl Zimmer and Prof. J. David Smith, whose research helped get to the bottom of this disturbing story. UPDATE 05/25/18: This episode has been updated. A previous version said that the 'good' side of the Kallikak family included someone who had signed the Declaration of Independence. It now says that the 'good' Kallikak family member married into the family with the relative who signed the Declaration of Independence. Check out the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2sak22y To find a list of our sponsors and show-related promo codes, go to gimlet.media/OurAdvertisers Selected readings: Carl Zimmer's book 'She Has Her Mother's Laugh' Henry Goddard’s book about the Kallikak familyJ. David Smith’s article on the truth about Emma’s familyThe sad story of Carrie Buck and forced sterilization This episode was produced by senior producer Kaitlyn Sawrey, Wendy Zukerman, Romilla Karnick with help from Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler, and Shruti Ravindran. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell, extra editing help from Alex Blumberg and PJ Vogt. An extra thanks to Phoebe Flanagan as well as Emily Ulbricht for help with German translations. Fact checking by Michelle Harris and Meryl Horn. Mix and sound design by Emma Munger. Music written by Bobby Lord and Emma Munger. Thanks also to Professor Peter Visscher, the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm Wendy Zuckerman and you're listening to Science Fursus from Gimla.
0:06.0	Recently, we've been watching a lot of science happen in real time.
0:10.0	And sometimes, it got messy.
0:19.0	During the pandemic, we've seen experts tell us things about whether we should wear masks
0:24.0	or how dangerous surfaces are.
0:26.0	And then, seem to flip-flop as more evidence came in.
0:30.0	And this back and forth, it can be confusing.
0:34.0	But it's also how science is supposed to work.
0:37.0	Scientists pushing each other, making sure that the evidence really holds up.
0:42.0	And it's confusing as it is to be in the middle of it.
0:45.0	What's worse is when science doesn't work this way.
0:49.0	And that's the story we're telling you about today.
0:52.0	It's a cautionary tale.
0:54.0	Of what happens when the nerds fall down on the job.
0:58.0	When one voice, a scientist with a very bad idea, gets amplified and goes basically unchallenged.
1:07.0	And there are terrible consequences.
1:17.0	It all starts here more than 100 years ago.
1:21.0	They should put a pluck up here.
1:23.0	He lies bad science.
1:25.0	I think we'll just walk around the perimeter, right?
1:28.0	I don't know if today's the day to get arrested.
1:30.0	Well, let's see. Right?
	...

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