Insult My Intelligence

Tim Dowling speaks with Managing Director of the charity organisation GiveWell Buddy Shah all about effective altruism. What it is, how GiveWell implements it and why we should be more effective in our altruism. He also speaks with Bastian Jaeger a psychology professor who has been studying why people tend to be so ineffective when giving to charity. 

Tim Dowling speaks with research leader of human evolution at the London Natural History Museum Chris Stringer and archaeologist Dr Rebecca Wragg about Neanderthals. They explain the difference between the lives and looks of early Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals. They also explain which are the most credible explanations for the disappearance of Neanderthals.

In this episode Tim Dowling speaks with biologist Mario Moura and explore Kristofer Helgen about the millions of animals that aren’t currently known to science. Helgen explains how, in 2013, he discovered the Olinguito, the most recently discovered predator. Mario Moura explains where the best places are to look when trying to discover new mammals.

Tim Dowling investigates the history of weather control, with the help of guests Dr Kristine Harper and Jim Fleming. Starting with the con men in the 19th century, through to the government sponsored weather control of the 20th century and even what the future of weather control and climate change could look like. Despite a history littered with weather control failures governments have continued to invest huge amounts to control the skies.

Tim Dowling interviews Rachel Bronson the CEO of the Bulletin of The Atomic Scientists, the organisation in charge of setting the Doomsday Clock. They discuss the Doomsday Clock's history and origins and how it has changed in the last 75 years. They also question whether the current time of 100 seconds to midnight is where it should be.

Tim Dowling speaks with Law Professor Jennifer Jenkins who is Director of The Center for the Study of the Public Domain, about the confusing and messy state of copyright law. He also speaks with veteran youtuber Tom Scott on how the internet and youtube in particular have broken copyright.

Tim Dowling speaks with aerodynamics and fluid mechanics experts as well as cricket journalist Emma John to learn all about swing bowling. How it happens, the emergence of reverse swing and its controversies and how weather conditions impact swing?

Tim Dowling investigates the idea that we should get rid of the penny. Speaking to an economics professor about what the impact could be and to a Canadian economist to find out what happened when Canada got rid of its penny back in 2013.

Tim Dowling speaks with Dr Chris Cockel  from Kew Botanical Gardens about the problems facing the Cavendish banana crop and a Professor from the Queensland University of Technology about his work to genetically modify the banana, all trying to answer the questions, how we lost the Gros Michel banana? Will we lose the Cavendish banana? and how could we save the banana industry?

NFTs experienced a huge boom earlier this year particularly after artist Beeple sold his artwork for $69 million, but his artwork was just a jpeg available for everyone to see. So what is an NFT? And why are they selling for so much? Tim Dowling talks to billionaire Mark Cuban, journalist David Gerard, Professor Charlie Gere and digital art curator Chloe Diamond to find out.

Tim Dowling learns about the future of linguistic diversity around the world. With thousands of languages projected to die out over the next 100 years, guests Ghil'ad Zuckermann and Julia Sallabank explain how languages can be revitalised.

Tim Dowling finds out what makes people left-handed. Also what advantages and disadvantages left-handedness can bring. With Professor Chris McManus and Ed Wright.

Tim Dowling learns about the Planet 9 theory from one of its originators Professor Konstantin Batygin. The theory is that way beyond Neptune and Pluto, on the outer reaches of the Solar System a 9th planet, 5 times the mass of Earth is orbiting the Sun once every 10,000 years. We also hear from Professor Samantha Lawler, who is not as convinced by the evidence for the existence of Planet 9.

Tim Dowling speaks to three of the leading dog cognition experts in the world to learn all about dog intelligence. He attempts to find out how smart are dogs compared to other animals? How smart are the worlds smartest dogs? And how smart is his dog?

Introduction to Tim Dowling's new podcast Insult My Intelligence.