GLP Podcast: Illegal GMOs in India; Anti-aging myths; Can social media ‘brainwash’ us?

Cameron English, Kevin Folta | March 10, 2022

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Farmers in India are growing illegal GE eggplant in hopes of overturning the country’s ban on the insect-resistant crop. Anti-aging research has made very limited progress in recent years, but that hasn’t stopped some companies from marketing products they say can increase “longevity.” How does brainwashing actually work? And can the content we consume on social media brainwash us?

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Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 159 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

Viewpoint: ‘I live in India and I am launching a civil disobedience movement against the moratorium on GMO insect resistant eggplant.’ Here’s why

Not only do many farmers in developing countries want to grow biotech crops, they’re willing to break the law in order to gain access to the enhanced seeds. In India, grower and political activist Anil Ghanwat is leading a protest movement aimed at forcing the government to overturn its existing moratorium on new genetically engineered crops. Ghanwat and his colleagues have announced plans to plant insect-resistant Bt brinjal (eggplant), which is currently illegal, though it’s widely grown across the border in Bangladesh. The protestors say the ban, sustained by lobbying from Greenpeace and other activist groups, makes no scientific sense.

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Science vs. sales: The antiaging field is booming–with both promise and charlatans

Can we slow the aging process? Preliminary research suggests that it might one day be possible. Unfortunately, some companies and scientists in the booming anti-aging industry have exaggerated the significance of these early data to sell extreme dieting programs, supplements and even stem cell therapies to customer hoping to boost their longevity. What does the science really tell us? And what explains the unethical behavior in this industry?

Viewpoint: From forced confessions to believing that vaccines cause autism, brainwashing has a harsh history

The shocking history of brainwashing is a case study of just how far governments, cult leaders and other influencers will go to manipulate people’s perceptions. With social media becoming such a powerful force in our culture, researchers are beginning to investigate how platforms like Twitter and Facebook may be used to brainwash the public. Can these widely used websites really exert that much influence over how we think, and if so, what can be done about it?

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter @kevinfolta

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow ACSH on Twitter @ACSHorg