NeoAcademia is a biweekly exploration of the shifting walls of the ivory tower.

This week Natasha explores the utility of conspiracies with science historian and best-selling author Michael Shermer. Michael's new book Conspiracy lays out the research on conspiracies and those who theorize. He provides some explanations for why we believe seemingly irrational things and encourages us to understand our natural propensity toward suspicion.

Conspiracy demonstrates that the information explosion in recent years has made many ideas mainstream, and on this show, Natasha and Michael consider how we might be able to harness creative conspiratorial thinking to innovate.

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