#146 – Michael Mina: Rapid Testing, Viruses, and the Engineering Mindset

Michael Mina is an immunologist, epidemiologist, and physician at Harvard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

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EPISODE LINKS:

Michael's Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelmina_lab

Michael's Time article: https://time.com/5912705/covid-19-stop-spread-christmas/

Rapid Tests: https://www.rapidtests.org/

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OUTLINE:

Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.

(00:00) - Introduction

(07:28) - Interacting between viruses and bacteria

(11:42) - Deadlier viruses

(15:13) - Will COVID-19 mutate?

(16:47) - Rapid testing

(34:11) - PCR vs rapid antigen tests

(43:55) - Medical industrial complex

(47:47) - Lex takes COVID test

(54:32) - FDA and cheap tests

(57:17) - Explanation of Elon Musk's positive COVID tests

(1:04:25) - Role of testing during vaccine deployment

(1:07:54) - Public health policy

(1:17:34) - A weather system for viruses

(1:34:26) - Can a virus kill all humans?

(1:40:05) - Engineering a deadly virus

(1:44:47) - AlphaFold 2 and viruses

(1:50:42) - Advice for young people

(1:58:50) - Time as a Buddhist monk

(2:04:54) - Meditation

(2:12:32) - Meaning of life