This Week in Science – The Kickass Science Podcast · Dr. Kirsten Sanford Science Media

Guided by Science

·2 hr 19 min·5 clips

Why would anyone believe the Earth is flat? Dr. Matthew Facciani reveals the surprising social forces behind this belief.

Dr. Kiki hosts this episode of This Week in Science, joined by guest Dr. Matthew Facciani, a postdoctoral researcher and author who studies misinformation. The conversation explores the psychological and social forces behind why people believe and spread false information. Dr. Facciani defines misinformation as false or misleading information, distinguishing it from disinformation, which involves intentional deception. He references the documentary *Behind the Curve* to illustrate how flat earth beliefs are sustained by community and identity. His research examines cognitive styles, noting that analytical thinking can reduce susceptibility to misinformation. He discusses strategies for one-on-one conversations, like connecting through shared identities and asking "how" questions to understand another's reasoning. A key insight is that beliefs tied to a narrow set of social identities are harder to change, as updating them can threaten a person's self-esteem and community belonging. The discussion links loneliness and social isolation to increased vulnerability to misinformation, as people may over-rely on online groups for connection. Dr. Facciani explains that social media amplifies existing psychological processes by making it easy to find reinforcing echo chambers. He addresses the role of political elite cues, where followers may update beliefs to align with a leader's shifting statements. The episode notes that rebuilding trust in scientific institutions requires changing academic incentives to value public communication. Dr. Facciani advocates for sustainable funding for professional science communicators, not just academics. He emphasizes that while social media accelerates misinformation, the core drivers are long-standing human social and cognitive tendencies. The tone is conversational and educational, blending interview questions with explanatory segments. Listeners interested in psychology, sociology, or science communication will find this episode engaging. Those seeking purely breaking science news or narrative storytelling might find the theoretical discussion less compelling.

As heard by us

A skeptical discussion of how science revises itself and how AI can magnify misinformation.

Twists: This Week in Science, episode 1023, treats science as a field that keeps revising its own assumptions, from Earth-centered ideas to newer views of the Milky Way and the wider universe.

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Why you'd press play

If you want skeptical science with momentum and a very human edge.

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