Science Facts & Fallacies

GLP podcast and video: How marriage impacted human evolution; ‘Tech bros’ back RFK, Jr. for president; Ban milk to slow climate change?


Listen Later

Marriage is a major milestone for many people, but how has the institution influenced human evolution? A growing list of Silicon Valley billionaires has endorsed Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (RFK, Jr.) for president. Why does this incendiary figure attract support from so many tech luminaries? A new study shows that milk's positive nutritional impact more than offsets its contribution to climate change.
Podcast:

Video:


Join hosts Dr. Liza Dunn and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 228 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Pair bonding: How wedding vows have contributed to human evolution

Marriage is an important cultural and legal institution around the world, and every society throughout history has maintained the custom in some form. It's universality prompts an important question: how has marriage impacted human evolution? A large but often overlooked body of research indicates that marriage has helped maintain order in society by encouraging monogamy, promoting stability at home and improving individual well being. What insights can we glean from these observations about marriage and evolution today?

* Prominent tech-investors throw support behind vaccine-rejectionist RFK, Jr.’s campaign for Dem nomination

RFK, Jr.'s outsider presidential campaign has generated broad support from people across the political spectrum. But Kennedy has attracted endorsements and donations from one group that seems puzzling to many observers: Silicon Valley billionaires, or 'tech bros' as they're sometimes called. This demographic is wealthy, well educated and intimately familiar with the latest developments in biomedicine, a field which RFK, Jr., has harshly criticized as a leading vaccine critic. Why does this group of science-literate investors have a soft spot for a rebellious character like Kennedy? His anti-establishment rhetoric may lead us to the answer.








Follow the latest news and policy debates on sustainable agriculture, biomedicine, and other ‘disruptive’ innovations. Subscribe to our newsletter.










SIGN UP












* Rethinking sustainability: Does nutritional value of dairy offset environmental impacts of milk production?

Animal agriculture is routinely lambasted for its supposedly significant contribution to climate change; many high-profile figures have even declared that we must end our dependence on animals as a food source to slow climate change. However, recent research could throw a wrench in their plans, in particular a new study showing that the dairy industry produces more than enough nutrients to offset its actually modest greenhouse emissions. Ridding the world of dairy would yield insignificant climate benefits while depriving billions of people of an important source of esse...
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Science Facts & FallaciesBy Cameron English

  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2

4.2

26 ratings


More shows like Science Facts & Fallacies

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

91,032 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,111 Listeners

Real Time with Bill Maher by HBO Podcasts

Real Time with Bill Maher

16,417 Listeners

WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch by Paul Gigot, The Wall Street Journal

WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

2,840 Listeners

Skeptoid by Brian Dunning

Skeptoid

2,663 Listeners

Making Sense with Sam Harris by Sam Harris

Making Sense with Sam Harris

26,329 Listeners

EconTalk by Russ Roberts

EconTalk

4,276 Listeners

Pivot by New York Magazine

Pivot

9,529 Listeners

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta by Colabra

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta

273 Listeners

Science Magazine Podcast by Science Magazine

Science Magazine Podcast

822 Listeners

Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,366 Listeners

Science In Action by BBC World Service

Science In Action

353 Listeners

The Michael Shermer Show by Michael Shermer

The Michael Shermer Show

931 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

4,178 Listeners

ACSH Science Dispatch by ACSH

ACSH Science Dispatch

7 Listeners