#146 – Michael Mina: Rapid Testing, Viruses, and the Engineering Mindset

Michael Mina is an immunologist, epidemiologist, and physician at Harvard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Brave : https://brave.com/lex – Athletic Greens : https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil – ExpressVPN : https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free – Cash App : https://cash.app/ and use code LexPodcast to get $10 EPISODE LINKS: Michael’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelmina_lab Michael’s Time article: https://time.com/5912705/covid-19-stop-spread-christmas/ Rapid Tests: https://www.rapidtests.org/ PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (07:28) – Interacting between viruses and bacteria (11:42) – Deadlier viruses (15:13) – Will COVID-19 mutate? (16:47) – Rapid testing (34:11) – PCR vs rapid antigen tests (43:55) – Medical industrial complex (47:47) – Lex takes COVID test (54:32) – FDA and cheap tests (57:17) – Explanation of Elon Musk’s positive COVID tests (1:04:25) – Role of testing during vaccine deployment (1:07:54) – Public health policy (1:17:34) – A weather system for viruses (1:34:26) – Can a virus kill all humans? (1:40:05) – Engineering a deadly virus (1:44:47) – AlphaFold 2 and viruses (1:50:42) – Advice for young people (1:58:50) – Time as a Buddhist monk (2:04:54) – Meditation (2:12:32) – Meaning of life