Tale of the Distribution

Big Picture Science

Science, Technology

4.5 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 4 April 2016

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

We all have at least some musical talent. But very few of us can play the piano like Vladimir Horowitz. His talent was rarefied, and at the tail end of the bell curve of musical ability – that tiny sliver of the distribution where you find the true outliers. Outliers also exist with natural events: hurricane Katrina, for example, or the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs. Such events are rare, but they often have outsized effects. In this hour we imagine the unimaginable – including the unexpected events labeled “black swans” – and how we weigh the risk for any of them. Also, how a supervolcano explosion at Yellowstone National Park could obliterate the western U.S. but shouldn’t stop you from putting the park on your vacation itinerary. Guests: Donald Prothero – Paleontologist, geologist, author of many books, among them, Catastrophes!: Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Tornadoes, and Other Earth-Shattering Disasters Dawn Balmer – Ornithologist at the British Trust for Ornithology Jake Lowenstern – Geologist, USGS, Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Hank Heasler – Yellowstone National Park geologist Andrew Maynard – Director of the Risk Science Center at the University of Michigan First released October 19, 2014. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	You're listening to an Airwave Media Podcast.
0:05.0	This episode is brought to you by Revolute.
0:07.8	Revolute is your perfect travel companion for all things money.
0:11.3	You can spend in over 150 currencies with great exchange rates
0:15.2	and withdraw from ATMs all over the world with no charges from Revolute
0:19.3	within your plan allowance. Sign up to Revolute at Revolute.com slash Podcast reward and receive
0:24.8	20 pounds when you make your first purchase with Revolute.
0:28.1	Until 18th of June 2024, 18 plus, T's and C's apply, exchange fees and fair usage limits supply.
0:33.8	It seems like everyone is either starting a side hustle or becoming their own boss.
0:40.8	And you know what they're hearing a lot? It's the sound of another sale on Shopify.
0:46.0	The all in one commerce platform to start, run and grow your business.
0:51.0	Sign up for a one pound per month trial period at Shopify.co. UK slash sell
0:56.6	23 all lowercase. Whether you're selling loafers or piece lilies Shop Shopify is selling online and in person.
1:05.1	Covering all sales channels from a Shop Front, POS system, to its all in one e-commerce
1:10.6	platform. Shopify even gets you selling across social media
1:14.2	marketplaces with their 24-7 help and extensive business course library. Shopify
1:19.8	is ready to support your success every step of the way.
1:23.0	Go to Shopify.co. UK slash cell 23
1:27.0	to take your business to the next level today.
1:29.0	That's Shopify. co. UK slash sell 23. If you might
1:37.0	see a bunch of swans swimming in a pond, you might admire the scene, but otherwise not think much of it. But if one of the swans were
1:44.3	black well you'd stop and stare. A black swan after all is a phenomenally rare
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Big Picture Science, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Big Picture Science and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.