Brain-eating amoebas, climate change, economists, and Leonardo da Vinci’s robot lion all collide in this week’s episode. We dig into how warming freshwater is helping dangerous amoebas spread into new places, why these rare but terrifying organisms are linked to water going up the nose, and what that means for swimmers, public health, and the very specific fear of warm lakes. It is science, climate, and nightmare fuel all in one neat package.

We also unpack a strange finding from economics research. The more economists agree with each other, the more their views can drift away from the general public. It is a fascinating look at expert consensus, groupthink, public opinion, and why economic theory can sometimes feel completely detached from real life. If you have ever wondered why economists sound like they are living on a different planet, this one may help.

Then we head back to the Renaissance for one of the greatest flexes in science and engineering history. Leonardo da Vinci reportedly built a mechanical robot lion that could walk and reveal flowers from its chest, blending robotics, invention, art, and spectacle centuries before modern technology caught up. If you love weird science, history, innovation, robots, and bizarre true stories, this episode is for you.

 

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction

01:10 Brain-Eating Amoeba Basics

02:43 How It Infects You

03:57 Warming Spreads the Risk

04:39 Economists vs Everyone

10:10 Assumptions and Governance

11:03 Medici Exile Storytime

12:23 Bologna Power Play

13:07 Medici Politics Banter

14:32 Da Vinci Gift Idea

16:46 Robot Knight Blueprint

18:48 Building the Lion

19:44 Courtroom Lion Reveal

23:22 Modern Art Machines

24:43 Ratings and Farewell

 

SOURCES:

https://www.aeaweb.org/articles/pdf/doi/10.1257/aer.103.3.636

https://www.sciencealert.com/brain-eating-amoebas-may-pose-a-growing-global-threat-scientists-warn

https://www.history.com/articles/da-vinci-robotic-lion

https://www.history.com/articles/7-early-robots-and-automatons

Brain-eating amoebas, climate change, economists, and Leonardo da Vinci&rsquo;s robot lion all collide in this week&rsquo;s episode. We dig into how warming freshwater is helping dangerous amoebas spread into new places, why these rare but terrifying organisms are linked to water going up the nose, and what that means for swimmers, public health, and the very specific fear of warm lakes. It is science, climate, and nightmare fuel all in one neat package.
We also unpack a strange finding from economics research. The more economists agree with each other, the more their views can drift away from the general public. It is a fascinating look at expert consensus, groupthink, public opinion, and why economic theory can sometimes feel completely detached from real life. If you have ever wondered why economists sound like they are living on a different planet, this one may help.
Then we head back to the Renaissance for one of the greatest flexes in science and engineering history. Leonardo da Vinci reportedly built a mechanical robot lion that could walk and reveal flowers from its chest, blending robotics, invention, art, and spectacle centuries before modern technology caught up. If you love weird science, history, innovation, robots, and bizarre true stories, this episode is for you.
&nbsp;
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
01:10 Brain-Eating Amoeba Basics
02:43 How It Infects You
03:57 Warming Spreads the Risk
04:39 Economists vs Everyone
10:10 Assumptions and Governance
11:03 Medici Exile Storytime
12:23 Bologna Power Play
13:07 Medici Politics Banter
14:32 Da Vinci Gift Idea
16:46 Robot Knight Blueprint
18:48 Building the Lion
19:44 Courtroom Lion Reveal
23:22 Modern Art Machines
24:43 Ratings and Farewell
&nbsp;
SOURCES:
<a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles/pdf/doi/10.1257/aer.103.3.636">https://www.aeaweb.org/articles/pdf/doi/10.1257/aer.103.3.636</a>
<a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/brain-eating-amoebas-may-pose-a-growing-global-threat-scientists-warn">https://www.sciencealert.com/brain-eating-amoebas-may-pose-a-growing-global-threat-scientists-warn</a>
<a href="https://www.history.com/articles/da-vinci-robotic-lion">https://www.history.com/articles/da-vinci-robotic-lion</a>
<a href="https://www.history.com/articles/7-early-robots-and-automatons">https://www.history.com/articles/7-early-robots-and-automatons</a>

From tales of historical idiocracy and scientific genius to weird and wacky cultural phenomena, Dr Rod Lamberts and Dr Will Grant are here to take you on a wild conversational journey, deep diving into the crevices of science, history and culture that you never knew existed. 

From tales of historical idiocracy and scientific genius to weird and wacky cultural phenomena, Dr Rod Lamberts and Dr Will Grant are here to take you on a wild conversational journey, deep diving into the crevices of science, history and culture that you never knew existed.

Bizarre science history from academics with beers