#216 – Vincent Racaniello: Viruses and Vaccines
Lex Fridman Podcast 
Open in Clue About this episode
<p>Vincent Racaniello is a virologist, immunologist, and microbiologist at Columbia. He is a co-author of the textbook Principles of Virology and co-host of This Week in Virology podcast. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:<br /> – <b>Privacy</b>: <a href="https://privacy.com/lex">https://privacy.com/lex</a> to get $5 added to your account<br /> – <b>Justworks</b>: <a href="https://justworks.com">https://justworks.com</a><br /> – <b>Sun Basket</b>: <a href="https://sunbasket.com/lex">https://sunbasket.com/lex</a> and use code LEX to get $35 off<br /> – <b>The Information</b>: <a href="https://theinformation.com/lex">https://theinformation.com/lex</a> to get 75% off first month<br /> – <b>Athletic Greens</b>: <a href="https://athleticgreens.com/lex">https://athleticgreens.com/lex</a> and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil</p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Vincent’s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/profvrr">https://twitter.com/profvrr</a><br /> Vincent’s YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/vincentracaniello">https://www.youtube.com/c/vincentracaniello</a><br /> Vincent’s Podcast: <a href="https://www.microbe.tv/">https://www.microbe.tv/</a><br /> Vincent’s Website: <a href="http://www.virology.ws/">http://www.virology.ws/</a><br /> Vincent’s Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/profvrr">https://www.instagram.com/profvrr</a></p> <p><b>PODCAST INFO:</b><br /> Podcast website: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast</a><br /> Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr</a><br /> Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8</a><br /> RSS: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/</a><br /> YouTube Full Episodes: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexfridman">https://youtube.com/lexfridman</a><br /> YouTube Clips: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexclips">https://youtube.com/lexclips</a></p> <p><b>SUPPORT & CONNECT:</b><br /> – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast<br /> – Support on Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman">https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman</a><br /> – Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/lexfridman">https://twitter.com/lexfridman</a><br /> – Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman">https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman</a><br /> – LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman</a><br /> – Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman">https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman</a><br /> – Medium: <a href="https://medium.com/@lexfridman">https://medium.com/@lexfridman</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.<br /> (00:00) – Introduction<br /> (10:24) – Microbiology by numbers<br /> (15:47) – From bacteria to an organism<br /> (23:46) – AlphaFold 2<br /> (27:44) – Simulating an evolutionary arms race<br /> (53:11) – The most terrifying virus<br /> (1:14:54) – SARS-CoV-2<br /> (1:29:38) – Coronaviruses and Influenza. What’s the difference?<br /> (1:35:45) – Vaccines<br /> (1:41:43) – Lex on his reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine shot<br /> (1:47:39) – Modern vaccines<br /> (1:52:39) – How does mRNA vaccine work?<br /> (1:55:26) – Are mRNA vaccines safe?<br /> (2:21:52) – Lex on trust in authority<br /> (2:36:59) – Ivermectin<br /> (2:43:39) – Hydroxychloroquine<br /> (2:48:22) – Variants and mutations<br /> (2:55:20) – Testing<br /> (3:03:27) – How does COVID-19 spread?<br /> (3:06:37) – Masks<br /> (3:15:05) – Bret Weinstein vs Sam Harris<br /> (3:18:39) – This Week in Virology<br /> (3:28:19) – Advice for young people<br /> (3:30:42) – Meaning of life</p>
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