409. The Side Effects of Social Distancing

New York City’s mayor called them “public enemy number one.” History books say they caused the Black Death — although recent scientific evidence disputes that claim. In an updated episode from 2025, we ask: Is the rat a scapegoat? And what does our rat hatred say about us? SOURCE ...  Show more

One possibility: a leading hypothesis pursued by researchers (and funders) was built on science that now appears to be fraudulent. Stephen Dubner speaks with the scientist and the journalist who blew the whistle. SOURCES: Charles Piller, investigative journalist for Science, auth ...  Show more

We are witnessing the rapid expansion of a pandemic, the decline of the global economy, the incredible power of community, and the shameful behavior that is a symptom of a capital-driven society. Linda discusses what will be left in the wake of COVID-19 and how will we tend to th ...  Show more

Every day, the havoc wrought by the coronavirus pandemic on public health and on the global economy worsens. Economic activity beyond the barest of essentials has been frozen in much of the world. What on Earth will the economic landscape look like when this is over? Stephen Sack ...  Show more

In a few short months the coronavirus has turned the world upside down. Alongside the tragedy of hundreds of thousands of deaths, the world is now bracing itself for a brutal economic impact. Whether it is components for manufacturing, our food and medical supplies or the content ...  Show more

Lo mejor de TED en Español, publicado originalmente el 27 de agosto de 2020. ¿Cómo cambian nuestras conductas en situaciones extremas como la de la pandemia del coronavirus? ¿Y cómo hacemos, como sociedad, para tomar las decisiones más difíciles?. Las cuarentenas y el distanciami ...  Show more