Episode
Part One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
1:09:17
Published: Tue Nov 13 2018
Description
In episode 31, Robert is joined by comedian Max Silvestri to talk about a Russian scientist named Trofim Lysenko. He set out to feed the world, but in reality, Lysenko wound up starving it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapters
This text contains two podcast promotions.
00:00 - 02:16 (02:16)
Summary
This text contains two podcast promotions. The first one is Silenced, a podcast season about the history of radio murders. The second one is the second season of a podcast that will challenge your perception of trans people.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
In the 1900s, California used radiation to control their fly population by breeding more flies, sterilizing them, and then releasing them so that for six months, there would be more flies but they would not reproduce, while today, scientists experiment with spreading a disease through mosquitoes to wipe out all the pests in South America.
02:16 - 06:52 (04:36)
Summary
In the 1900s, California used radiation to control their fly population by breeding more flies, sterilizing them, and then releasing them so that for six months, there would be more flies but they would not reproduce, while today, scientists experiment with spreading a disease through mosquitoes to wipe out all the pests in South America.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
The differences in ethical considerations of scientific experimentation between the West and Soviet Union are discussed in this podcast, with a particular focus on the use of animal sperm in human intervention testing.
06:52 - 12:43 (05:51)
Summary
The differences in ethical considerations of scientific experimentation between the West and Soviet Union are discussed in this podcast, with a particular focus on the use of animal sperm in human intervention testing.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
Nikolai Vavilov, a renowned Russian agricultural scientist, traveled the world to learn from traditional farmers and collect and study seeds.
12:43 - 16:08 (03:24)
Summary
Nikolai Vavilov, a renowned Russian agricultural scientist, traveled the world to learn from traditional farmers and collect and study seeds. He built the world's largest seed bank with over 250,000 different seeds.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
Soviet agronomist Leshenko aimed to grow spring wheat in winter by soaking seeds in cold water, getting them ready for cold weather, and grow them like spring wheat.
16:08 - 18:26 (02:17)
Summary
Soviet agronomist Leshenko aimed to grow spring wheat in winter by soaking seeds in cold water, getting them ready for cold weather, and grow them like spring wheat. He believed it would turn the Caucasus Mountains green in the winter and feed the Soviet people through the coldest months of the year.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
The concept of "new Soviet man" in the 20th century aimed to create an ideal, improved society through a singular vision of culture and proper behavior.
18:26 - 23:03 (04:36)
Summary
The concept of "new Soviet man" in the 20th century aimed to create an ideal, improved society through a singular vision of culture and proper behavior. This same concept can be seen today in the desire to create a better society through the shaping of values and behaviors.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
The famine in Soviet Union was caused by a number of factors, including Stalin's obsession with destroying the rich land-owning peasants or kulaks and the willful starvation genocide of the Ukrainians.
23:02 - 27:16 (04:13)
Summary
The famine in Soviet Union was caused by a number of factors, including Stalin's obsession with destroying the rich land-owning peasants or kulaks and the willful starvation genocide of the Ukrainians. Tens of millions of farmers had their land taken from them and smushed together into gigantic collective farms.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
The Soviet Union deliberately starved people in Ukraine while plenty of food was available, and most of the talented scientists in the Soviet Union grew up wealthier because they were able to afford to go to college.
27:16 - 34:26 (07:10)
Summary
The Soviet Union deliberately starved people in Ukraine while plenty of food was available, and most of the talented scientists in the Soviet Union grew up wealthier because they were able to afford to go to college. The science on the issue is not as settled as some might suggest.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
The ideology of Lysenkoism affected Soviet agriculture and biology for decades, leading to failures and damaging effects and hindering scientific progress.
34:26 - 37:50 (03:24)
Summary
The ideology of Lysenkoism affected Soviet agriculture and biology for decades, leading to failures and damaging effects and hindering scientific progress. Despite a lack of scientific evidence, the government's adherence to Lysenkoism and persecution of dissenting scientists had far-reaching consequences.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
This transcript ranges from the description of the beautiful Koh Tao Island to Elon Musk's ambitious plans and dark comments on human hybrids.
37:50 - 42:03 (04:13)
Summary
This transcript ranges from the description of the beautiful Koh Tao Island to Elon Musk's ambitious plans and dark comments on human hybrids.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
The communication among scientists has always been essential for the progress of science, and even during the Cold War, Russian scientists were communicating with the rest of the world.
42:03 - 47:07 (05:04)
Summary
The communication among scientists has always been essential for the progress of science, and even during the Cold War, Russian scientists were communicating with the rest of the world. The character played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the movie "Rampage" is portrayed as a charming and humorous person, making it difficult to believe that he is not a people person.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
Trofim Lysenko's unproven methods of agriculture resulted in disastrous consequences such as famine in the Soviet Union.
47:08 - 50:04 (02:55)
Summary
Trofim Lysenko's unproven methods of agriculture resulted in disastrous consequences such as famine in the Soviet Union.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
The Soviet Union is in the middle of a major purge which is sweeping out many legitimate scientists who may not have been useful for the Soviet State.
50:04 - 54:42 (04:38)
Summary
The Soviet Union is in the middle of a major purge which is sweeping out many legitimate scientists who may not have been useful for the Soviet State. Although some of those being purged may have deserved it, many innocent individuals engaged in legitimate research are also being swept up in the wave.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
The seed bank in St. Petersburg, despite being laid siege to during World War II, has managed to preserve a couple hundred thousand seeds which could have saved lives had they known about it back then, and now has enough to actually make a difference in the present day.
54:42 - 1:01:35 (06:53)
Summary
The seed bank in St. Petersburg, despite being laid siege to during World War II, has managed to preserve a couple hundred thousand seeds which could have saved lives had they known about it back then, and now has enough to actually make a difference in the present day.
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
The podcast discusses how Trofim Lysenko helped kill 30 million people with his faulty theory of genetics, and also makes inappropriate jokes about literal dirt due to the farming-based episode.
1:01:35 - 1:06:05 (04:29)
Summary
The podcast discusses how Trofim Lysenko helped kill 30 million people with his faulty theory of genetics, and also makes inappropriate jokes about literal dirt due to the farming-based episode.