Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning

Mike White, a genetics researcher at Washington University who studies regulatory DNA with functional genomics and deep learning. They discuss politicization of academia and how medical schools differ. The conversation then moves to the vast noncoding genome, challenges in interpreting regulatory sequences, advances since the human genome draft, and emerging technologies reshaping genomics.

Aaron Renn, writer and urban analyst who studies American cities and religious life. He talks about the role of management consulting and how AI may reshape implementation work. He explores Midwest urbanism, Carmel’s civic design, and why the Heartland’s history shapes its future. He also discusses evangelical cultural shifts, institutional decline, and efforts to engage younger men in faith communities.

Daniel Tabin, a Ph.D. student in David Reich's lab studying ancient DNA and population history of Central and East Asia. He examines data contamination and damage in paleogenomics. They discuss validation steps for ancient DNA, sequencing and variant-calling pitfalls, puzzling signals like Population Y, and surprising deep lineages across Eurasia.

Peter Nimitz, historian behind the Nemets Substack, blends archaeology, paleogenetics and climate data to retell Eurasian deep history. He maps proto‑Slavic origins in Corded Ware zones and traces Bronze Age shocks, migrations and demographic replacements. He discusses how low‑tech Slavic societies expanded after 500 CE and how later political and ecological shifts shaped modern Slavic diversity.

Jesse Arm, VP of External Affairs at the Manhattan Institute and public opinion researcher, discusses Gen Z Republicans in Nashville. He explores their economic anxiety, entrepreneurial and creator-culture comfort, high religiosity but delayed relationships, appetite for entertaining, reality-TV style politics, influencer power, meme-shaped beliefs, and how social media reshapes political paths.

Davide Piffer, an independent researcher and Substack author who analyzes ancient DNA and polygenic scores. He explains technical challenges of scoring ancient genomes and imputation. He traces how modern European light pigmentation emerged from admixture plus selection. He highlights a marked acceleration toward lighter skin, hair and eyes beginning around the Iron Age.

Aneil Mallavarapu, a scientist and tech leader with roots in biochemistry, systems biology, and AI startups, argues that intelligence and consciousness are distinct. He discusses why classical computation cannot explain unified conscious experience, presents the Simultaneity Problem and quantum nonlocality as a possible route, and considers which organisms might truly possess consciousness and the ethical fallout.

Richard Hanania, a political commentator with a Ph.D. and author of *The Origins of Woke*, discusses his evolving views on populism and his new book *Kakistocracy*. He explores the rise of anti-Indian nativism, the impact of social media on political discourse, and the consequences of populism for Jewish conservatives. Hanania reflects on personality traits linked to success and debates the effectiveness of authoritarian regimes compared to democracies. The conversation touches on cancel culture and the implications of the James Damore memo.

In a captivating discussion, historian Francis Young explores Baltic paganism and its modern implications. With a rich background in religion and belief, he highlights how Christianity shaped pagan practices in Northern Europe. Young delves into the unique pre-Christian traditions of Lithuanians and Estonians, discussing the survival of animist beliefs even during Soviet repression. He also addresses the rise of neo-pagan movements today, considering their modern constructs. Young's insights shed light on the complex interplay between identity, heritage, and contemporary religious practices.

Eric Cline, an archaeologist and professor at George Washington University, explores the fascinating world of the Late Bronze Age. He discusses the decipherment of cuneiform and the complexities of ancient diplomacy revealed through the Amarna Letters. Cline highlights the tense relationships among Egypt, Assyria, and other regional powers, showcasing how these petty states navigated a web of alliances and conflicts. He also delves into the gritty reality of 19th-century archaeology, marked by competition with treasure hunters and the challenges of translating a language long forgotten.