Curiosity Theory
A podcast about sharpening your curiosity through science, stories, and bold questions. With Astrophysicist Dr. Dakotah Tyler & STEM Educator Justin Shaifer.
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Curiosity Theory
Questionable Content: An MIT Fusion Scientist Was Shot & Conspiracies Followed Immediately
On this episode of Questionable Content, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) explore how science, violence, evolution, and culture intersect.
The conversation begins with the killing of an MIT fusion scientist and why scientific tragedies so often spark conspiracy theories. They discuss nuclear fusion, corporate incentives, and rational explanations before widening the lens to gun violence, school shootings, media incentives, and personal perspectives on self-defense and parenting.
The second half of the episode dives deep into evolutionary biology. From bower birds and sexual selection to polar bears, epigenetics, and The Selfish Gene, the hosts explore how attraction, culture, and intelligence evolve. The episode closes with a thought-provoking discussion about alien life, consciousness, and whether efficiency or extravagance drives evolution.
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Hosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer
Stay curious.