Summary of La noche temática - La fábrica de ignorancia

00:00:00 - 00:50:00

This video discusses the role of science in society, and how it is often used to further the interests of those in power. It argues that the public must be aware of the ways in which ignorance is produced in order to protect themselves from it. The video also discusses the importance of exploring all areas of science, even those that are less popular or less profitable in the short term.

• 00:00:00 In this video, the narrator talks about how, in the 21st century, there are more questions than ever before, and how the industrial world has become toxic. People are increasingly concerned about the industry's hiding of the truth, and so the science community asks researchers to be their judges. They ask for the public's help in identifying these attacks, and to let the science be the arbiter in these new, contested confrontations. In order to do this, the public must be aware of the machinery used to keep them in the dark, and understand why those in power want to keep this ignorance in place. This requires understanding who these people are and how they operate, and getting to the bottom of why the public participates in disseminating this deliberate ignorance. Ultimately, this involves investigating the factory of ignorance itself- in Greece, as in most developed countries, a bee massacre is affecting bee colonies. Scientists have known about this for years, but the public is only now being asked to help find the answers. Part 1 of the investigation leads to an unsolved mystery- why are so many bee colonies losing their bees, even in the face of widespread media coverage? Part 2 introduces a new suspect- a new generation of insecticides that are being used in fields. Part 3
• 00:05:00 The video, La noche temática - La fábrica de ignorancia, follows reports of the health effects of neonicotinoids, a class of pesticides, on bees. Experts agree that there is a link between neonicotinoids and the bees' disappearance, but no consensus has been reached on the cause of the bees' decline. In order to get a full understanding of the situation, a meticulous observer must be kepttrack of the development of studies from the very beginning, when observation of the health problems in the bees' ears began. However, over the past 20 years, there has been no unified acceptance of the link between neonicotinoids and the bees' decline. This is because, to date, only studies that suggest a link have been published, and no consensus has been reached about the cause of the bees' decline. In order to understand the full picture, additional studies on other potential causes of the bees' decline, such as viruses, climate change, loss of habitat, over-lighting of the environment at night, Asian honeybees, and other invasive species, must be conducted. At this point, it appears that the bees' decline is caused by multiple factors, and no single solution will solve the problem.
• 00:10:00 The tobacco industry is involved in scientific research. They create friends to ensure smokers' pleasure and their safety by funding research centers that are in the forefront of modern science. Chesterfield, which is known for its research on cancer, has led the way in this field. Their goal is not only to produce knowledge, but also to produce knowledge that goes against established scientific facts in order to use scientific methods to discredit science itself. This use of science against science is called "investigation of distraction." By funding research projects that address topics like lung cancer in nonsmokers, tobacco companies are attempting to divert attention from the real causes of the disease. This strategy has been successful in the past, as cancer can be explained by a combination of factors that can only be identified through a variety of research methods. They have also been successful in spreading disinformation by funding dozens of research projects that are useful, such as the search for cancer precursors. However, some of these projects are quite outlandish and need to be stopped. For example, the study linking cancer to baldness has been discredited by recent research. Furthermore, the use of science to mislead the public has been a successful strategy for the tobacco industry for over 40 years. We have seen this strategy used multiple times in the past
• 00:15:00 The video discusses the recent release of documents that suggest that the tobacco industry has been manipulating scientific research for many years in order to keep their products popular. The auther discusses the implications of this revelation on the field of science and the need for doubt in order to advance knowledge. The video also discusses the creation of the field of "agnology" - the study of ignorance - which has arisen as a result of the revelations.
• 00:20:00 This video discusses how to study ignorance, which can be difficult, and how it advances in a systematic way. It is fascinating to study ignorance because it sheds light on how our understanding of the world is shaped. The disciplines of psychology, sociology, history, science, and cognitive sciences can all help us understand how ignorance is produced and how to protect ourselves from it. This awareness campaign has just begun, and there is a long way to go before it is completely realized.
• 00:25:00 The video discusses the 25,000-fold difference between the safe dose of a chemical that up to that point was considered innocuous and a significant conmocion when it was found that a small amount of the substance can have more important effects in tiny doses than in higher doses. One reason for this is that toxicology regulatory guidelines only consider toxicity in high doses, and never radiologically if more exposure is not possible. This has created a seismic shift in the field of toxicology, as scientists have long been rejecting the dogma of their community of toxicologists. The resistance of toxicologists was justified and proved to be providential for the manufacturers of plastic, as sometimes without knowing it, some people can serve the interests of those who want to produce ignorance strategically. There are many ways to produce ignorance maliciously, unintentionally, or with good intentions at first, so it is important for us to study all forms of how it is produced, as those who produce it are not necessarily bad, but some may have financial interests in supporting research that contradicts the industry's dogma. So far, research funded by the industry has failed to show that low doses of bisphenol-a are safe, and eventually discovers the main reason for that difference in rhetoric- the industry is using
• 00:30:00 The video discusses the issue of whether or not the use of certain chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), is harmful to human health. It interviews researchers who study this topic, and reveals that there is a large divide in opinion among the scientific community about the effects of these chemicals. Some believe that they are harmful, while others believe that they are not harmful and are instead simply useful for certain industries. A law proposing to ban the use of bisphenol A in France has been met with protests from the industry, which argues that the substance is safe. If this law is passed, it will be the first time that a country has made such a ban. The video then transitions to a discussion of the use of social media to debate scientific issues. It points out that, while many people are hyperactive on social media and tend to share information quickly and broadly, there is also a group of people who are very skeptical of scientific consensus on issues and who are actively trying to balance the debate. These people are known as "escépticos."
• 00:35:00 This video discusses the role of science in the current political climate, and how some scientists are skeptical of climate change. It interviews a number of prominent scientists who are skeptical of climate change, and points out that their skepticism is not based on financial gain, but on ideological reasons. Despite this, they continue to fight the scientific consensus on climate change.
• 00:40:00 This video discusses how certain beliefs, such as the belief that humans are causing climate change, are formed through cognitive dissonance. People may hold these beliefs despite scientific evidence to the contrary, because they're uncomfortable with the idea of changing their lifestyle. This experiment asked participants to evaluate scientific consensus and political orientation, and found that those with political opinions that are opposed to scientific consensus are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories about science.
• 00:45:00 The video discusses the idea that there is a hidden conspiracy among scientists to reach a consensus on climate change. It argues that this conspiracy is real and that it is threatening the scientific community's view of the world. It shares a story of two scientists who were fighting against each other, until one of them lost interest in his research and allowed the other to win. This demonstrates the power of the capitalist system over science.
• 00:50:00 The video discusses the difference between the terms "genetics" and "nanotechnology" in the early 2000s and how to say them correctly in 2010. By 2020, the term "intelligence artificial" should be used instead of "genetics." The video also discusses the current trend of science being focused in a specific direction and how the field of science has improved in recent years. However, some areas of science remain unexplored due to them being less popular or not profitable in the short term. The video also discusses how the public can be a powerful force in science by developing the tools and methods needed to protect a common good, such as science.