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

Lex Fridman Podcast

Michael Mina is an immunologist, epidemiologist, and physician at Harvard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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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:
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– 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