All episodes of No Stupid Questions

No Stupid Questions · 2025-08-10 · 36 min · 6,266 words

34. Are Humans Smarter or Stupider Than We Used to Be?

Listen to the original audio · Transcribed with NVIDIA Parakeet · Why times can differ in your player

What if it's so exciting that I pee my pants? I'm Angela Duckworth. I'm Steven Dubner. And you're listening to No Stupid Questions. Today on the show, are humans becoming smarter or stupider?

Don't read so much because you'll have to wear glasses and then you'll be ugly. Also, can you increase your aptitude for curiosity? Was it Shakespeare said curiosity killeth the cat? Stephen. Angela.

Guess whether we are smarter or stupider as a species now compared to 100 years ago. Hmm. Unless this is a trick question. It is not a trick question. Unless you have some very surprising definition of smart and stupid, I cannot imagine that we're not on average smarter now than compared to 100 years ago.

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