
Something You Should Know The Science of Morbid Curiosity & The Dirty Secrets of Clean Energy
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Oct 20, 2025 Colton Scrivener, a behavioral scientist and horror entertainment producer, delves into why we are morbidly curious, exploring how this fascination with danger helps us learn in a safe context. He reveals the psychology behind our attraction to horror and true crime. Meanwhile, Ernest Scheyder, a Reuters senior correspondent, exposes the hidden ecological costs of so-called clean energy, detailing the mining of critical minerals like lithium and copper. He discusses the environmental impact of these essential materials for modern technology, challenging perceptions of 'clean' energy.
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Horror Fans Tend To Be Empathetic
- High morbid curiosity doesn't imply low empathy or greater danger.
- Empirical data shows morbidly curious people are as compassionate as others.
Learn Safety By Watching Bad Choices
- Watch horror to learn by witnessing poor choices because we learn best from observed mistakes.
- Horror films show unsafe actions (split up, go to basements) so viewers internalize avoidance lessons.
Green Energy Has Dirty Inputs
- 'Green' energy still involves dirty processes: mining critical minerals brings environmental and social costs.
- The assumption that green = clean overlooks extraction impacts.





