The Mummy's Curse (Halloween Classic)
Summary
Tim Harford explores the "Curse of the Pharaohs," debunking the legend of deaths linked to Tutankhamun’s tomb through rational analysis. He explains that perceived patterns are largely due to selection bias, the nocebo effect, and journalistic embellishment rather than supernatural forces. The episode also covers the history of mesmerism and the placebo effect, illustrating how belief can influence physical health. Harford concludes by verifying that the "unlucky mummy" coffin never sank with the Titanic, remaining safely in the British Museum.
Topics discussed
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Sponsor: Whoop fitness tracker
Sponsor: Optum healthcare
Intro: Halloween special and episode recap
The legend of the unlucky mummy and the Titanic
Discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922
Lord Carnarvon's death and the curse warnings
List of victims and deaths attributed to the curse
Scientific explanations: toxins and radiation
Sponsor: ChatGPT Work
Sponsor: Chase Business Checking
Mesmerism and Benjamin Franklin's investigation
The placebo and nocebo effects
Applying nocebo to the curse of the Pharaohs
Selection bias and the Target pregnancy story
Sponsor: ChatGPT Work and Chase Business
Sponsor: Chase Business Checking
Epidemiological analysis of the curse's victims
Debunking specific myths: dog, canary, and jackal
The truth about the unlucky mummy and Titanic
Outro, sources, and sponsor reads
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