Podcast Summary
Doctor Weinstein's coronavirus experience and new podcast topics: Doctor Weinstein shares his coronavirus experience, warns about the virus's circulation, and discusses new podcast topics on Rumble and Locals. MD Hearing offers affordable, high-quality hearing aids without prescriptions, featuring the new Neo model at $414.99 for a pair.
Doctor Brett Weinstein had a serious experience with what he believes to be coronavirus despite testing negative. He urges caution as the virus is still circulating and not pleasant to experience. The podcast will be focusing on various topics including cows and will be streaming on Rumble and Locals, which are platforms that prioritize the freedom of speech. The sponsor of the week is MD Hearing, which provides high-quality, affordable hearing aids without the need for a prescription. The new Neo model is the smallest and most affordable hearing aid from MD Hearing, with features like rechargeable batteries, water resistance, and no middleman involved in the sale. The hearing aids are priced at $414.99 for a pair. The podcast will also have a private monthly Q&A session upcoming Sunday on Locals.
Nio Hearing Aids: Affordable Comfort and Sound Quality: Nio Hearing Aids offer impressive comfort, stability, and sound quality at a lower price than high-end aids, despite lacking individual audiogram programming and smartphone integration.
The Nio hearing aids offer impressive comfort, stability, and sound quality at a significantly lower price compared to high-end hearing aids. These aids passed various tests, including voice chats and conversations in noisy environments. While they don't have individual audiogram programming and smartphone integration, their overall performance and affordability make them an excellent value. For those seeking MD Hearing's smallest hearing aid, use promo code "dark horse" to get their buy 1 get 1 deal. Another sponsor worth mentioning is Sundays, a brand that produces human-grade air-dried dog food. Initially, we were skeptical about our Labrador's interest in Sundays, given her tendency to eat anything. However, we were wrong. Sundays' food is Maddie's favorite, and she shows clear disappointment when given her previous high-end kibble. The air-drying process preserves nutrients and tastes better than cooked methods, while also including a kill step to eliminate pathogens. This unique approach provides a nutritious, tasty, and convenient option for dog owners, with no artificial additives or synthetic binders. Sundays' food outperformed leading competitors in a blind taste test, and our personal experience with Maddie's enthusiasm further supports its quality. Try Sundays for a healthier and happier dog. Our listeners can receive a 35% discount on their first order by visiting sundaysfordogs.com/darkhorse or using the code "darkhorse" at checkout.
Supporting gut and skin health through sleep and daily synbiotic: Regular sleep and Seed's daily synbiotic can improve gut and skin health by optimizing gut immune system function and maintaining viable probiotics through the digestive tract
Prioritizing regular sleep and taking Seed's daily synbiotic can significantly support the health of your gut immune system. The gut microbiome, which directly impacts the development and function of the immune system, can be influenced by our daily habits, including sleep patterns. Seed's probiotic, designed differently from others, actually works by improving the health of your gut microbiome. Additionally, your skin, like your gut, has its own microbiome, and Seed supports both gut and skin health. Seed's daily symbiotic, which is plant-based, contains 24 clinically or scientifically studied strains, 16 of which are specifically geared towards digestive health, and 4 of which promote healthy skin. Seed is free from 14 major classes of allergens and is engineered to maintain viability through the digestive tract until it reaches the colon. Prioritizing regular sleep, especially during planned power outages, can help keep your gut immune system healthy by allowing it to function optimally.
New study challenges assumptions about the origin of cattle in the Americas: A recent study published in Scientific Reports revealed that contrary to popular belief, there were no native cattle in the Americas at the time of the first peoples' arrival. Instead, bison and other large herbivores were present. This finding challenges our understanding of cowboys and their connection to cattle.
There have been significant improvements reported in health within 24 to 48 hours after using Seed's daily symbiotic. If you're looking to start a new healthy habit, consider visiting seed.com/darkhorse and using the code DARKHORSE to redeem 25% off your first month. During the discussion, there was a mention of the mainstream media losing its focus on journalism and the proliferation of new scientific journals. One particular study published in Scientific Reports, a Nature property, caught the speaker's attention due to its intriguing findings about the origin of cattle in the Americas. Contrary to popular belief, there were no native cattle in the Americas. Instead, bison, water buffalo, and other large herbivores were present. The speaker noted that bison were abundant at the time of the first peoples' arrival and even when Europeans arrived several hundred years ago. However, bison and domesticated cattle are distinct. The findings challenge our understanding of cowboys and their connection to cattle. This study is a reminder that scientific research continues to uncover new knowledge and challenge our assumptions. It's essential to maintain a critical perspective on sources of information and to keep an open mind to new discoveries.
Bison and Cattle: Different Origins and Characteristics: Bison are native to the Americas and were hunted, while cattle have two separate domestication events in the Old World. Modern cattle emerged from these events, while bison remain distinct.
Bison and cattle are distinct animals with different origins and characteristics. Bison are native to the Americas and were never domesticated, whereas cattle have two separate domestication events in the Old World. The phylogeographic history of cattle can be described through two main branches: maternal lineages defined by mutations to the mitochondrial genome and paternal lineages described by divergences in part of the y chromosome. Modern cattle emerged from these two separate domestication events, with aurochs being the first domesticated in Southwest Asia and zebu being domesticated later in South Asia. Bison, on the other hand, are phylogenetically, physiologically, and ecologically distinct and were hunted rather than domesticated by local people across their range in the New World. It's important to remember that the distribution and impact of these animals on ecosystems are not interchangeable. While cattle and bison may look similar, their histories and characteristics are vastly different.
The significance of domesticated animals in human civilization: The availability and ease of transporting domesticated animals played a major role in the development and power of civilizations, with East Asia having a high number of useful animals due to its stable climate.
The ability to domesticate animals played a significant role in the development of different civilizations around the world. Jared Diamond argues in his book "Guns, Germs, and Steel" that the availability of domesticated animals in certain regions was a major factor in the wealth and power of human groups. For example, East Asia had a high number of useful and domesticable animals, which could be easily transported from east to west due to the relatively stable climate. On the other hand, moving animals north or south was much more challenging due to the extreme climate changes. Bison in the New World were not domesticated, but if they had been, they could have been just as useful as horses or other domesticated animals. However, their temperament and environment made them impossible to domesticate. The domesticability of animals was a crucial factor in the interaction and clash of human groups across the world. Columbus introduced cattle from the Old World to the New World in 1493, which became a major transformational species in the new world due to their cultural and economic significance.
New evidence challenges the widely accepted story of New World cattle origins: New research suggests African cattle were present in the Americas before Columbus, challenging the belief that all New World cattle came from Europe and the narrative of African laborers only providing unskilled labor in cattle management.
The history of cattle in the Americas may need to be rewritten based on new genetic research. For a long time, it was believed that the majority of New World cattle came from Europe, but new evidence suggests that cattle were brought from Africa much earlier than previously thought. This discovery challenges the widely accepted story that the first cattle in the New World were brought by Columbus in 1493 and that African cattle were introduced later and only mixed with European cattle. The research, which looks at mitochondrial DNA and changes in the y chromosome, indicates that African cattle were present in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans. This discovery could have significant implications for our understanding of the early history of the New World and the role of African cattle in shaping the agricultural landscape. Additionally, it challenges the narrative that African laborers only provided unskilled labor in the management of cattle in the New World.
The introduction of cattle to the Americas was more complex than previously thought: New evidence suggests African workers brought cattle from Africa to the Americas a century after European introduction, challenging traditional narratives of European colonization and the emergence of cattle ranching.
The introduction of cattle into the Americas was a more complex process than previously thought. While the first cattle were brought from Europe in the late 1400s, new evidence suggests that cattle were also introduced from Africa a century later. This discovery holds significant historical importance, as it highlights the central role of African workers in the development of the ranching industry in the colonial Americas. The archaeological genetic evidence parallels historical records of the early Spanish empire, the organization of the colonial labor system, and the timing of the African slave trade. African workers, who were skilled ranchers and herders, were likely brought to the Americas alongside cattle to manage the growing herds. This new information challenges the traditional narrative of European colonization and the emergence of cattle ranching in the Americas, suggesting that African and African American peoples may have been the first cowboys in the new world. Despite the limitations of the available data, this hypothesis adds an intriguing layer to our understanding of the history of cattle ranching and the role of African labor in the Americas.
Importing expertise with cattle: Bringing in European cattle led to increased productivity and survival rates due to expert management, but the limited number of animals brought over created a less diverse population and bottleneck effect.
The importation of cattle from Europe to the Americas during the colonial period was not just about bringing in the animals themselves, but also about bringing in experts who knew how to manage them effectively. The high cost of transporting live creatures, especially those that consume large resources, could be justified by the increased productivity and survival rates of the herds under the care of these experts. This expertise was passed down through the generations, not just genetically but culturally, as the animals interacted with their managers and their offspring learned from them. However, the limited number of cattle brought over initially created a bottleneck effect, leading to a less diverse and slower-adapting population that was more vulnerable to disease. Despite this, the people in question may not have had a scientific understanding of these concepts, instead using phrases like "we need some new blood" to describe the need for fresh genetic material. Overall, the importation of cattle was a complex process driven by both biological and cultural factors.
Africans' Role in Cattle Ranching in the Americas: Africans and their descendants played a crucial role in the establishment and development of open range cattle ranching in the Americas, contributing essential techniques like saddle horns, lassos, and open range herding. Their innovations were necessary due to the challenges of transporting cattle and racially biased laws.
The role of African people in the establishment and development of open range cattle ranching in the Americas has been underestimated. Contrary to the assumption that Europeans brought over large populations of cattle and had all the knowledge and innovation, there is evidence suggesting that Africans and their descendants had antecedent knowledge of important techniques such as saddle horns, lassos, and open range cattle herding. This knowledge was essential for the success of cattle ranching in the New World, especially when transporting cattle over long distances was difficult and punitive laws against certain tools made non-lethal alternatives necessary. The paper by Sloiter in 2015 provides substantial evidence for this argument, including the use of the desharatadera pole and the motivation for Africans to innovate to avoid racially biased punishments. This evidence challenges the dominant narrative of European superiority in the development of cattle ranching in the Americas and highlights the significant contributions of Africans and their descendants.
The underappreciated role of enslaved Africans in American history: Recent research reveals that enslaved Africans brought African cattle to the Americas earlier than thought, contributing to the emergence of cowboys and agriculture, but historical narratives often overlook their innovative and problem-solving abilities.
The innovations and contributions of enslaved Africans in the Americas, including the importation of African cattle and the emergence of the first cowboys, have been underrepresented and misunderstood in historical narratives. Slavery is often portrayed as a system that relied on the labor of unintelligent and brutish individuals, but in reality, enslaved people were sources of innovation, problem-solving, and insight. The recent scientific research discussed in this conversation, which found that African cattle were imported to the Americas earlier than previously believed, has been misrepresented in a science news article, which focused on the cowboys angle instead of the historical significance of African contributions. This misrepresentation highlights the challenges of getting an unbiased, analytical read on evidence when it touches on sensitive and charged topics like exploitation, racism, and slavery.
Third-party vendor recommendations in scientific research raise concerns: The lack of transparency in why third-party vendors recommend certain analysis methods in scientific research can call into question the validity and reliability of the results.
A significant amount of high-tech scientific research relies on recommendations from third-party vendors for analysis methods, but the lack of transparency regarding the reasoning behind these recommendations raises concerns about the validity and reliability of the results. During a discussion about a recent molecular systematics study, it was noted that the authors had outsourced their analysis to a vendor and had chosen a specific method based on the vendor's recommendation. While the efficiency of the method was not disputed, the lack of information about why the vendor recommended it and the potential for bias or financial incentives raised questions about the trustworthiness of the analysis. The speaker emphasized the importance of complete attribution and transparency in scientific research, allowing others to assess the basis for decisions and build upon the work.
Scientists facing attacks and influence from vendors: Scientists should stay focused on their work despite attacks and potential influence from vendors, as these are often for political gain.
There's a growing culture in modern science where the recommendations of vendors can influence research methods without proper disclosure or scrutiny. This was highlighted in a discussion about a paper and the reaction to it from a scientist named Peter Hotez. Hotez, a vaccine specialist, has spoken out against misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic and has faced attacks for his political views. He recently published a book, "The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science," where he discusses the threats against science and scientists. In the interview, Hotez advised scientists not to be demoralized by the attacks, as they are often for someone else's political gain. The nature group, which published the controversial paper, also faced criticism for publishing a hit piece on itself in the form of a review of Hotez's book. Despite these challenges, it's important for scientists to continue their noble work and not let the attacks discourage them. The interviewee also mentioned two other science-related news stories that might need some translation for the audience.
Ralph Barric's hypothesis on pangolins as intermediate host for SARS-CoV-2 transmission: Researcher Ralph Barric proposes a new hypothesis suggesting pangolins or other rare wildlife species could have transmitted SARS-CoV-2 to humans, but this theory lacks solid evidence and ecological explanation and goes against the widely accepted scientific consensus.
Ralph Barric, a researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has published a paper reviving the hypothesis that pangolins could have been the intermediate host for SARS-CoV-2 transmission to humans. This hypothesis was previously discredited due to lack of ecological explanation and no solid evidence. However, Barric's new hypothesis suggests that individual pangolins or other rare wildlife species could have been infected and served as a nearly untraceable passage for the virus to humans. He also suggests that early human cases might have been immunosuppressed, leading to complex mutational variants during persistent infections. This hypothesis, while theoretically possible, is not scientifically sound and seems to be an attempt to exonerate the lab as a possible source of the virus without leaving any evidence. It's important to note that this hypothesis goes against the most widely accepted scientific consensus that the virus originated from a natural reservoir in bats and was transmitted to humans through an intermediate host, likely a market in Wuhan, China.
The origins of COVID-19 are more complex than often portrayed: The process of a virus jumping between species requires specific conditions and the focus on pangolins as a vector may be an attempt to shift blame from laboratories
The idea of jumping between species, specifically regarding the origins of the COVID-19 virus, is much more complex than some scientists and media outlets have led us to believe. The process requires specific periods of evolution for the virus to effectively infect and jump between different species. The recent focus on pangolins as a potential vector is seen as an attempt to exonerate laboratories and cover their potential legal liabilities. Meanwhile, the notion that bats are the primary reservoir for human diseases, as suggested in a Scientific American article, is also questioned. Bat conservationist Merlin Tuttle has previously argued against this idea, pointing out that the notion is often used to generate grant money and stoke fear, rather than being based on solid scientific evidence. Ultimately, the origins of the COVID-19 virus remain a complex and ongoing area of research, and it's important to approach any simplistic explanations with a critical eye.
Misconceptions about Jamaican fruit bats and proposed experiment: Proposed bat experiment may not yield useful results due to misconceptions, focusing on wrong virus, and potential gain of function risks.
The capture of 4 dozen Jamaican fruit bats for an experiment in the US, while well-intentioned, may not yield useful results due to the misconception that all bats carry diseases that pose a threat to humans. Jamaican fruit bats, specifically Artibius jamaisensis, are dedicated fruit eaters and do not live in large aggregations. The proposed experiment involves infecting the bat with influenza, but influenza is not the virus of concern when it comes to diseases transmitted from bats to humans. Furthermore, the researchers may not even be aware that their experiment could contribute to the gain of function of influenza, potentially creating a new threat to humans if the virus were to escape. The mislabeling and conflation of different categories, such as bats, viruses, and vaccines, have led to unnecessary tragedy and risks in the name of science. It is crucial to ensure that research is focused on the correct species and viruses to prevent the creation of new threats.
Study on bats as primary transmitters of deadly viruses debunked: The focus on sensationalist studies about bats transmitting deadly viruses to humans may have led to misinformation and unnecessary risks. The real culprits could be scientists and researchers whose grant applications and publications perpetuated this belief, creating conditions for pandemics.
The blame for the origins of the pandemic being placed on bats may be misguided, and the scientific community's focus on sensationalist studies can lead to misinformation and unnecessary risks. The 2017 study that claimed bats are primary transmitters of deadly viruses to humans received widespread attention, despite a more thorough study concluding that bats do not harbor more viruses than other animals. The 2017 study, led by Peter Daszak, was used as evidence to blame bats for the pandemic, but it has since been debunked. The real culprits may be the scientists and researchers, including Fauci and Daszak, whose grant applications and publications promoted the belief that their work could prevent pandemics, leading to the creation of the conditions for the pandemic to occur. The cover-up and denial of the true origins only ensure that another pandemic could happen in the future. It's essential to hold those responsible accountable and learn from the past to prevent future pandemics.
Join the team for a Q&A session and check out their book at Darvill's: The team is hosting a Q&A session and their book is selling well at Darvill's, but signed copies are currently unavailable due to ferry issues.
The team will be back with another livestream on Saturday, and they encourage listeners to join them for a private Q&A session at their locals. The team also mentioned that their book, "The Hunter Gatherer's Guide to 21st Century," is selling well at Darvill's in the San Juan Islands, but currently, there are no signed copies available due to ferry issues caused by the Washington state governor. Listeners can still get the book signed at Darvill's in the future. The team also thanked their sponsors, MD Hearing, Sundays, and SEED, and reminded everyone to check the show notes for links to everything discussed. They encouraged listeners to be good to those they love, eat good food, and get outside. The team is grateful for their audience's support and encourages them to subscribe to Rumble and join them on Locals.
