Episode Details

Learn how the mathematical mistake of exponential growth bias makes people underestimate the spread of COVID-19, how crocodiles have survived since the dinosaurs, and how puns activate both sides of the brain.  "Exponential growth bias" can make people underestimate COVID-19 by Steffie Drucker Robson, D. (2020). Exponential growth bias: The numerical error behind Covid-19. BBC.Com. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200812-exponential-growth-bias-the-numerical-error-behind-covid-19  Shlomo Benartzi. (2019, June 17). If You Don’t Save Enough, Perhaps You Have ‘Exponential Growth Bias.’ WSJ; The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/if-you-dont-save-enough-perhaps-you-have-exponential-growth-bias-11560737101  Dispatch 1: Numbers | Radiolab | WNYC Studios. (2020). WNYC Studios. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/dispatch-numbers  ‌Lammers, J., Crusius, J., & Gast, A. (2020). Correcting misperceptions of exponential coronavirus growth increases support for social distancing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(28), 16264–16266. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2006048117  ‌Banerjee, R., Bhattacharya, J., & Majumdar, P. (2020). Exponential-growth prediction bias and compliance with safety measures in the times of COVID-19. ArXiv.Org. https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.01273 Crocodiles Are Prehistoric Monsters Who Survived The Dinosaur's Extinction by Reuben Westmaas Pappas, S. (2017, July 5). Super Croc with T. Rex Teeth May Have Chowed Down on Dinosaurs. Livescience.Com; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/59697-super-croc-with-t-rex-teeth-ate-dinosaurs.html  ‌Osborne, H. (2017, July 4). Ancient Giant “Ghost” Crocodile With T-Rex-Sized Teeth Discovered in Madagascar. Newsweek; Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-giant-crocodie-t-rex-teeth-madagascar-631590  Nova. (1998, April 28). The Extraordinary Lives of Crocs. Pbs.Org; Nova. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/extraordinary-lives-of-crocs/  “Getting” Puns Means Both Sides of Your Brain Are Working Together by Reuben Westmaas Original episode: https://www.curiositydaily.com/nasa-cryosleep-chambers-your-brain-on-puns-why-red/  Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Ashley Hamer and Natalia Reagan (filling in for Cody Gough). You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.