Learn about the benefits of Googling symptoms; truly random number generation; and why science is about storytelling. Googling symptoms makes patients better at self-diagnosis by Steffie Drucker A visit to “Dr. Google” makes patients better at diagnosis. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/bawh-avt032621.php Levine, D. M., & Mehrotra, A. (2021). Assessment of Diagnosis and Triage in Validated Case Vignettes Among Nonphysicians Before and After Internet Search. JAMA Network Open, 4(3), e213287. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.3287 Why this doctor wants you to consult with “Dr. Google” to help diagnose your symptoms. (2021, April). CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-tuesday-edition-1.5969736/why-this-doctor-wants-you-to-consult-with-dr-google-to-help-diagnose-your-symptoms-1.5971609 Why Computers Can Never Generate Truly Random Numbers by Ashley Hamer Mads Haahr. (n.d.). Introduction to Randomness and Random Numbers. Random.org. https://www.random.org/randomness/ DeMichele, T. (2015, November 21). Computers Can Generate True Random Numbers - Fact or Myth? Fact / Myth. http://factmyth.com/factoids/computers-can-generate-true-random-numbers/ Additional resources from Chanda Prescod-Weinstein: Pick up "The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, & Dreams Deferred" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/32JjzDu Website: http://www.cprescodweinstein.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/IBJIYONGI Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY
Learn about the benefits of Googling symptoms; truly random number generation; and why science is about storytelling.
Googling symptoms makes patients better at self-diagnosis by Steffie Drucker
Why Computers Can Never Generate Truly Random Numbers by Ashley Hamer
Additional resources from Chanda Prescod-Weinstein:
Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY
Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/go-ahead-google-your-symptoms
CODY: Hi! You’re about to get smarter in just a few minutes with Curiosity Daily from curiosity-dot-com. I’m Cody Gough.
ASHLEY: And I’m Ashley Hamer. Today, you’ll learn about how Googling symptoms makes patients better at self-diagnosis; and why computers can’t generate truly random numbers. Then, physics professor and author Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein [(hard ch) CHOHN-duh PRESS-cod WINE-stine]) will explain why science is all about storytelling.
CODY: Let’s satisfy some curiosity.
We’ve all done it: As soon as something feels slightly off in your body, you ask the Internet what the problem could be. Suddenly that slight ache could be a sign of cancer, and your anxiety goes through the roof. So for that reason, many people — doctors included — discourage consulting Dr. Google. But a new study suggests that Googling your symptoms might not be a bad idea — and it could actually improve your diagnostic skills!
For the study, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School had 5,000 people read through a hypothetical set of symptoms and pretend the patient was someone they’re close to. The symptoms ranged from mild to severe and were associated with common medical problems like viral infections, heart attacks, and stroke. Then, with no help from the internet, the participants were asked to make a diagnosis and decide how urgently their loved one needed treatment. Only then were they allowed to Google. After researching the symptoms online, the participants could make a new diagnosis and give updated treatment advice. They also reported how anxious they felt before and after heading online.
The good news? Their diagnoses were right slightly more often the second time around. Even better, the online research didn’t make them feel any more anxious. The researchers admit the participants’ anxiety levels might be different if they were diagnosing their own medical problems, though.
The one thing that didn’t improve with a search was their ability to gauge the proper level of treatment. That isn’t too alarming, though, seeing as three quarters of the participants got this correct before they ever used the internet — even more if the case was really serious. But the fact that an internet search didn’t lead the participants to overreact suggests that Google probably isn’t making people overburden the healthcare system with minor problems.
So if you’ve got a nagging problem, go ahead and Google it. It won’t hurt, and it might even make you a more informed patient.
If you needed to make a choice at random, you might flip a coin or roll a die. If you did, you’d have a leg up on your computer. That’s because computer software can never generate a truly random number. That’s not so important when you want to play a favorite album on shuffle, but when it comes to high-stakes areas like security and gambling, it can mean everything.
Modern computers can do some pretty amazing things. So why can’t they do something as simple as simulating a dice roll? It all comes down to the way computers are programmed. Computers follow algorithms, which are essentially just lists of instructions on how to carry out tasks. They’re bound by their instructions, so they’re completely predictable. Still, engineers are pretty savvy, and they’ve come up with a few different ways to make computers generate something very close to random numbers, even if they can’t generate true randomness.
One way to come up with seemingly random numbers is with a pseudo-random number generator. Those algorithms use things like mathematical formulas or predetermined number tables to create number sequences that appear random. These days, the algorithms that generate pseudo-random numbers are so good that it would take some real detective work to determine that the numbers aren’t actually random. Still, it’s possible. With the right programming chops, you could reverse-engineer the pseudo-random numbers used to run an online poker game or encrypt sensitive data and come out with a lot of other people’s money.
Another way is with a true random number generator. Sounds good, right? You could even argue that true random number generators actually do produce randomness, but I’d have to get you on a technicality there. Here’s why: true random number generators use physical phenomena to extract actual randomness, which they then use to generate a random number. Those physical phenomena could be as simple as a roll of real dice, but they’re more often easier-to-measure things like radioactive decay, background noise in the atmosphere, or even the amount of time between a person’s keystrokes. But that just provides the seed. There are still algorithms involved in true random number generators, and algorithms are never truly random.
So if the robot apocalypse ever comes, maybe all we need to fight it is just a flip of a coin! Or maybe a roll of my 20-sided die… I do have a +13 bonus to my knowledge: hacking skill…
ASHLEY: Physics could stand to be a little more diverse. Fewer than 100 Black American women have ever earned a PhD from a department of physics — and you're about to hear from one of them about why that's important. Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein [(hard ch) CHOHN-duh PRESS-cod WINE-stine]) is an assistant professor of physics and astronomy and core faculty in women's and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire. She's also the author of the new book, "The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, & Dreams Deferred." To start our conversation, Cody asked her to tell us what the book was about.
[CLIP 3:20]
CODY DROP at 1:20 marker: So if we bring our humanity in with us, like you said, can science ever really be objective?
ASHLEY: Again, that was Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy and core faculty in women's and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire, and the author of the new book, "The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, & Dreams Deferred." She'll be back tomorrow to talk about what happens when the pursuit of knowledge gets in the way of the pursuit of everything else.
Let’s recap the main things we learned today
[ad lib optional]
ASHLEY: Today’s first story was written by Steffie Drucker.
CODY: Our managing editor is Ashley Hamer, who was also a writer and audio editor on today’s episode.
ASHLEY: Our producer and audio editor is Cody Gough.
CODY: Google the symptoms of CURIOSITY. And if you have them, then here’s your prescription: Join us again tomorrow to learn something new in just a few minutes.
ASHLEY: And until then, stay curious!