jonathan r goodman
@jonathanrgoodman.bsky.social
Social scientist at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, research associate at Cambridge, and science writer (INVISIBLE RIVALS out now with Yale UP)
interests: human social evolution, trust, inequality, public health
http://jonathanrgoodman.com
interests: human social evolution, trust, inequality, public health
http://jonathanrgoodman.com
Great blog post from the @nuffieldbioethics.bsky.social showcasing how utilitarian decision-making around vaccination combined with poor communication is a terrible recipe if you want to maintain public trust:
www.nuffieldbioethics.org/news-blog/ch...
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www.nuffieldbioethics.org/news-blog/ch...
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Changes to NHS COVID-19 vaccine eligibility: a fair allocation of health resources or a risk to public trust? - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Susan Tansey, Member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, reflects on recent changes to the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and how the management of this could impact on public trust in decision makers...
www.nuffieldbioethics.org
October 29, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Great blog post from the @nuffieldbioethics.bsky.social showcasing how utilitarian decision-making around vaccination combined with poor communication is a terrible recipe if you want to maintain public trust:
www.nuffieldbioethics.org/news-blog/ch...
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www.nuffieldbioethics.org/news-blog/ch...
🧪
Reposted by jonathan r goodman
EXCLUSIVE: Thousands of leaked messages show leaders of Young Republican groups joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape in a private Telegram chat.
Inside rising GOP leaders’ racist chats — obtained by POLITICO and spanning more than 7 months👇
Inside rising GOP leaders’ racist chats — obtained by POLITICO and spanning more than 7 months👇
‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat
Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.
www.politico.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:22 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Thousands of leaked messages show leaders of Young Republican groups joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape in a private Telegram chat.
Inside rising GOP leaders’ racist chats — obtained by POLITICO and spanning more than 7 months👇
Inside rising GOP leaders’ racist chats — obtained by POLITICO and spanning more than 7 months👇
Reposted by jonathan r goodman
In 2018, Charles Murray challenged me to a bet: "We will understand IQ genetically—I think most of the picture will have been filled in by 2025—there will still be blanks—but we’ll know basically what’s going on." It's now 2025, and I claim a win. I write about it in The Atlantic.
Your Genes Are Simply Not Enough to Explain How Smart You Are
Seven years ago, I took a bet with Charles Murray about whether we’d basically understand the genetics of intelligence by now.
www.theatlantic.com
October 13, 2025 at 1:33 PM
In 2018, Charles Murray challenged me to a bet: "We will understand IQ genetically—I think most of the picture will have been filled in by 2025—there will still be blanks—but we’ll know basically what’s going on." It's now 2025, and I claim a win. I write about it in The Atlantic.
Reposted by jonathan r goodman
Most of the power authoritarians have is freely given. We should not comply with them in advance.
Trump is far weaker than he looks. So is the GOP. We should draw them out, drain them at every opportunity, and fight for people’s wellbeing at every turn.
We have been sent here to fight for people.
Trump is far weaker than he looks. So is the GOP. We should draw them out, drain them at every opportunity, and fight for people’s wellbeing at every turn.
We have been sent here to fight for people.
AOC: I think there's two things that are happening at once: One, there absolutely is an unprecedented abuse of power, destruction of norms, erosion of our government and our democracy in order to prop up an authoritarian style of governance
However, they are weaker than they look…
However, they are weaker than they look…
October 1, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Most of the power authoritarians have is freely given. We should not comply with them in advance.
Trump is far weaker than he looks. So is the GOP. We should draw them out, drain them at every opportunity, and fight for people’s wellbeing at every turn.
We have been sent here to fight for people.
Trump is far weaker than he looks. So is the GOP. We should draw them out, drain them at every opportunity, and fight for people’s wellbeing at every turn.
We have been sent here to fight for people.
The not so distant future of the US?
From Adam LeBor’s The Last Days of Budapest
From Adam LeBor’s The Last Days of Budapest
September 10, 2025 at 12:19 PM
The not so distant future of the US?
From Adam LeBor’s The Last Days of Budapest
From Adam LeBor’s The Last Days of Budapest
Fantastic resource for running conjoint analysis in R by @andrew.heiss.phd
www.andrewheiss.com/blog/2023/07...
www.andrewheiss.com/blog/2023/07...
The ultimate practical guide to conjoint analysis with R | Andrew Heiss
Learn how to use R, {brms}, and {marginaleffects} to analyze conjoint data and find causal and descriptive quantities of interest, both frequentistly and Bayesianly
www.andrewheiss.com
September 4, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Fantastic resource for running conjoint analysis in R by @andrew.heiss.phd
www.andrewheiss.com/blog/2023/07...
www.andrewheiss.com/blog/2023/07...
Reposted by jonathan r goodman
You’ve been badly misled over COVID origins theconversation.com/how-conspira...
How conspiracy theories about COVID’s origins are hampering our ability to prevent the next pandemic
The COVID pandemic likely began when the virus jumped from animals to humans, and didn’t start in a lab. But false narratives continue to circulate.
theconversation.com
July 29, 2025 at 8:53 PM
You’ve been badly misled over COVID origins theconversation.com/how-conspira...
Instead of trying to extend the lives of a privileged few, we should invest in improving the lives of all people today.
A piece for @undark.org on transhumanism, oligarchy, and biology
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undark.org/2025/07/23/o...
A piece for @undark.org on transhumanism, oligarchy, and biology
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undark.org/2025/07/23/o...
Transhumanism Should Focus on Inequality, Not Living Forever
Opinion | Instead of trying to extend the lives of a privileged few, we should invest in improving the lives of all people today.
undark.org
July 23, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Instead of trying to extend the lives of a privileged few, we should invest in improving the lives of all people today.
A piece for @undark.org on transhumanism, oligarchy, and biology
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undark.org/2025/07/23/o...
A piece for @undark.org on transhumanism, oligarchy, and biology
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undark.org/2025/07/23/o...
Without a proper understanding of human nature, we are at the mercy of our biological heritage. A feature on cooperation, competition, and invisible rivalry for @newscientist.com:
www.newscientist.com/article/2486...
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www.newscientist.com/article/2486...
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Evolution has made humans both Machiavellian and born socialists
Humanity’s innate treachery is behind social ills ranging from inequality to abuse of power. Lessons from our ancestors can help defeat the enemy within
www.newscientist.com
July 10, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Without a proper understanding of human nature, we are at the mercy of our biological heritage. A feature on cooperation, competition, and invisible rivalry for @newscientist.com:
www.newscientist.com/article/2486...
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www.newscientist.com/article/2486...
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Reposted by jonathan r goodman
Excellent and considered post. A must read
How did the pandemic start?
I have avoided publicly commenting on this for 5 years. Here's my take as someone who has no stake at all in the game.
gidmk.substack.com/p/pandemic-r...
I have avoided publicly commenting on this for 5 years. Here's my take as someone who has no stake at all in the game.
gidmk.substack.com/p/pandemic-r...
Pandemic Revisionism, Part One: COVID-19 Origins
Because people keep getting this very wrong.
gidmk.substack.com
July 8, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Excellent and considered post. A must read
In a follow-up to our study on accent mimicry last year, we've found that natives are the best at detecting accent mimicry.
People from other English speaking countries were, however, worse at mimicry detection than were native listeners.
@robfoley.bsky.social
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
People from other English speaking countries were, however, worse at mimicry detection than were native listeners.
@robfoley.bsky.social
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
July 1, 2025 at 8:41 AM
In a follow-up to our study on accent mimicry last year, we've found that natives are the best at detecting accent mimicry.
People from other English speaking countries were, however, worse at mimicry detection than were native listeners.
@robfoley.bsky.social
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
People from other English speaking countries were, however, worse at mimicry detection than were native listeners.
@robfoley.bsky.social
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by jonathan r goodman
Talking yesterday evening with @jonathanrgoodman.bsky.social at the launch of his new book Invisible Rivals (yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300... )
June 19, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Talking yesterday evening with @jonathanrgoodman.bsky.social at the launch of his new book Invisible Rivals (yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300... )
Reposted by jonathan r goodman
SO excited to announce that INVISIBLE RIVALS by the brilliant @jonathanrgoodman.bsky.social publishes today!
'Working across philosophy, evolutionary biology, public policy, and politics, Invisible Rivals is unlike any other book I’ve read.’ - Devi Sridhar
'Working across philosophy, evolutionary biology, public policy, and politics, Invisible Rivals is unlike any other book I’ve read.’ - Devi Sridhar
June 17, 2025 at 9:40 AM
SO excited to announce that INVISIBLE RIVALS by the brilliant @jonathanrgoodman.bsky.social publishes today!
'Working across philosophy, evolutionary biology, public policy, and politics, Invisible Rivals is unlike any other book I’ve read.’ - Devi Sridhar
'Working across philosophy, evolutionary biology, public policy, and politics, Invisible Rivals is unlike any other book I’ve read.’ - Devi Sridhar
In an article for @theguardian.com, I argue that we have a proclivity for blindly trusting success, leading us open to exploitation by autocrats.
To counter this, we have a collective need to support others' capacity to think both critically and ethically.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
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To counter this, we have a collective need to support others' capacity to think both critically and ethically.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
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Are we hardwired to fall for autocrats?
It’s human nature to trust strongmen, but we’ve also evolved the tools to resist them
www.theguardian.com
May 19, 2025 at 8:14 AM
In an article for @theguardian.com, I argue that we have a proclivity for blindly trusting success, leading us open to exploitation by autocrats.
To counter this, we have a collective need to support others' capacity to think both critically and ethically.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
🧪
To counter this, we have a collective need to support others' capacity to think both critically and ethically.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
🧪
Excited to say that an advance copy of Invisible Rivals has arrived!
Thanks so much to @agentbal.bsky.social and Jean Black of @yalepress.bsky.social for making this a reality – it's a funny feeling holding 5 years of work in your hands!
Preorder available here: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
Thanks so much to @agentbal.bsky.social and Jean Black of @yalepress.bsky.social for making this a reality – it's a funny feeling holding 5 years of work in your hands!
Preorder available here: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
May 15, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Excited to say that an advance copy of Invisible Rivals has arrived!
Thanks so much to @agentbal.bsky.social and Jean Black of @yalepress.bsky.social for making this a reality – it's a funny feeling holding 5 years of work in your hands!
Preorder available here: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
Thanks so much to @agentbal.bsky.social and Jean Black of @yalepress.bsky.social for making this a reality – it's a funny feeling holding 5 years of work in your hands!
Preorder available here: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
Reposted by jonathan r goodman
🎯 Our next #GenomicsLite session with
@jonathanrgoodman.bsky.social will explore: Why trust #science?
We'll be discussing the importance of #trust and what scientists can do to build trust with communities.
📅 Thurs 22 May, 3pm BST
🔗 cstu.io/28697e
@jonathanrgoodman.bsky.social will explore: Why trust #science?
We'll be discussing the importance of #trust and what scientists can do to build trust with communities.
📅 Thurs 22 May, 3pm BST
🔗 cstu.io/28697e
May 15, 2025 at 9:30 AM
🎯 Our next #GenomicsLite session with
@jonathanrgoodman.bsky.social will explore: Why trust #science?
We'll be discussing the importance of #trust and what scientists can do to build trust with communities.
📅 Thurs 22 May, 3pm BST
🔗 cstu.io/28697e
@jonathanrgoodman.bsky.social will explore: Why trust #science?
We'll be discussing the importance of #trust and what scientists can do to build trust with communities.
📅 Thurs 22 May, 3pm BST
🔗 cstu.io/28697e
Reposted by jonathan r goodman
A fab few days listening to great research and catching up with old friends @jonathanrgoodman.bsky.social
@judithbeier.bsky.social and prize winner 🏆@hannesrathmann.bsky.social at #HumanEvo25
@judithbeier.bsky.social and prize winner 🏆@hannesrathmann.bsky.social at #HumanEvo25
April 30, 2025 at 1:55 PM
A fab few days listening to great research and catching up with old friends @jonathanrgoodman.bsky.social
@judithbeier.bsky.social and prize winner 🏆@hannesrathmann.bsky.social at #HumanEvo25
@judithbeier.bsky.social and prize winner 🏆@hannesrathmann.bsky.social at #HumanEvo25
After a few years in the making, our podcast Streets in the Sky is out!
As global warming contributes to increasingly unsafe living environments, new housing developments that fail to account for local needs risk becoming public health crises.
open.spotify.com/show/1pCB1qR...
@cph.bsky.social
As global warming contributes to increasingly unsafe living environments, new housing developments that fail to account for local needs risk becoming public health crises.
open.spotify.com/show/1pCB1qR...
@cph.bsky.social
Streets In The Sky
Podcast · Cambridge Public Heath · We explore the public health implications of modern housing. With global warming creating unsafe living environments across the world, new tower blocks that do not a...
open.spotify.com
April 29, 2025 at 9:45 AM
After a few years in the making, our podcast Streets in the Sky is out!
As global warming contributes to increasingly unsafe living environments, new housing developments that fail to account for local needs risk becoming public health crises.
open.spotify.com/show/1pCB1qR...
@cph.bsky.social
As global warming contributes to increasingly unsafe living environments, new housing developments that fail to account for local needs risk becoming public health crises.
open.spotify.com/show/1pCB1qR...
@cph.bsky.social
A few thoughts about dire wolves, credulity, and trust for the @newscientist.com
@engagewcs.bsky.social
www.newscientist.com/article/2477...
@engagewcs.bsky.social
www.newscientist.com/article/2477...
Why claims about "resurrecting" dire wolves are the tip of the iceberg
Colossal Biosciences’s "de-extinction" news is just the latest in a slew of eyebrow-raising claims by privately funded researchers. Is the bar for belief lower when those making the claims have a lot ...
www.newscientist.com
April 17, 2025 at 12:42 PM
A few thoughts about dire wolves, credulity, and trust for the @newscientist.com
@engagewcs.bsky.social
www.newscientist.com/article/2477...
@engagewcs.bsky.social
www.newscientist.com/article/2477...
Reposted by jonathan r goodman
Out this week @cogscisociety.bsky.social! @samhforbes.bsky.social & I ”urge extreme caution in the use of LLMs in classrooms lest we further normalize: pupils losing their privacy, reducing contact between learner and educator, deskilling teachers & polluting the environment”
doi.org/10.1111/cogs...
doi.org/10.1111/cogs...
To Improve Literacy, Improve Equality in Education, Not Large Language Models
Huettig and Christiansen in an earlier issue argue that large language models (LLMs) are beneficial to address declining cognitive skills, such as literacy, through combating imbalances in educationa...
doi.org
April 5, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Out this week @cogscisociety.bsky.social! @samhforbes.bsky.social & I ”urge extreme caution in the use of LLMs in classrooms lest we further normalize: pupils losing their privacy, reducing contact between learner and educator, deskilling teachers & polluting the environment”
doi.org/10.1111/cogs...
doi.org/10.1111/cogs...
Great piece in @undark.org on hereditarianism and ethical questions around open science
Thanks to @rjmilne.bsky.social for sharing!
undark.org/2025/03/26/u...
Thanks to @rjmilne.bsky.social for sharing!
undark.org/2025/03/26/u...
In Genetics, a Tense Coexistence of Mainstream and Fringe Views
In an era of open data, genome-wide association studies have become entangled with efforts to prove Black inferiority.
undark.org
April 1, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Great piece in @undark.org on hereditarianism and ethical questions around open science
Thanks to @rjmilne.bsky.social for sharing!
undark.org/2025/03/26/u...
Thanks to @rjmilne.bsky.social for sharing!
undark.org/2025/03/26/u...
Reposted by jonathan r goodman
1. What's at risk by disrupting NIH? With only a bit of hyperbole: a mechanistic understanding of life itself, & therefore better treatments for cancer, dementias, autoimmune disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, birth defects, aging & more 🧪
Notes on a revolution interrupted 🧵
Notes on a revolution interrupted 🧵
March 23, 2025 at 8:46 PM
1. What's at risk by disrupting NIH? With only a bit of hyperbole: a mechanistic understanding of life itself, & therefore better treatments for cancer, dementias, autoimmune disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, birth defects, aging & more 🧪
Notes on a revolution interrupted 🧵
Notes on a revolution interrupted 🧵
Can’t recommend enough @robfoley.bsky.social’s book of essays on modern higher ed, Notes from Ivory Flats, which you can order here:
www.amazon.co.uk/Notes-Ivory-...
Find out, for example, what the risk assessment for Darwin’s Beagle would look like today — and what it says about academic life now
www.amazon.co.uk/Notes-Ivory-...
Find out, for example, what the risk assessment for Darwin’s Beagle would look like today — and what it says about academic life now
March 25, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Can’t recommend enough @robfoley.bsky.social’s book of essays on modern higher ed, Notes from Ivory Flats, which you can order here:
www.amazon.co.uk/Notes-Ivory-...
Find out, for example, what the risk assessment for Darwin’s Beagle would look like today — and what it says about academic life now
www.amazon.co.uk/Notes-Ivory-...
Find out, for example, what the risk assessment for Darwin’s Beagle would look like today — and what it says about academic life now