Dr Karl Kruszelnicki reveals he was once a doomsday prepper who fled to the Blue Mountains because he believed a massive tidal wave would swamp Sydney
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki has spent much of his career destroying fallacies with facts.
But the physician and television personality, who is dubbed 'the people's scientist', has fallen victim to conspiracy theories in the past.
In an interview with The Australian on Saturday, the 74-year-old admitted that in the early 1970s, he fled Sydney in fear of a tidal wave.
Past: Dr Karl Kruszelnicki (pictured) has spent much of his career destroying fallacies with facts. But the physician and television personality, who is dubbed 'the people's scientist', has fallen victim to conspiracy theories in the past
He and a group of 'hippy' friends hid out in the Blue Mountains - armed only with rice, water and kerosene - awaiting a disaster that never came.
'I believed simply because my friends told me about it. That was enough; because my friends were so convinced, I took that as a very high authority,' he said.
The doctor says because of that experience, he now understands how people fall for wild conspiracy theories.
Fears: In an interview with The Australian on Saturday, the 74-year-old admitted that in the early 1970s, he fled Sydney in fear of a tidal wave
Memories: He and a group of 'hippy' friends hid out in the Blue Mountains - armed only with rice, water and kerosene - awaiting a disaster that never came. Pictured around that time
'I wasn't thinking. Trusting information from a friend [rather than an expert] is a well-known factor in psychology,' he told the paper.
'It's why peer recommendations are more persuasive than advertising. It's because we are social animals and we have to get along in order to survive.
'I was a smoker back then too and I'd heard about the Surgeon General's health warning but I didn't accept the science until a friend advised me to quit.'
'I believed simply because my friends told me about it. That was enough; because my friends were so convinced, I took that as a very high authority,' he said. The doctor says because of that experience, he now understands how people fall for wild conspiracy theories
Dr Karl is well known for bringing scientific knowledge to the layperson, and has been active in debunking Covid conspiracies in his popular TikTok videos.
He also recently went viral with videos which shared surefire tips for recovering from hangovers and reasons why you should never flush your toilet with the lid up.
Dr Karl says while having another drink will alleviate symptoms in the short run, time is the greatest - and safest - healer.
The media personality, who has degrees in medicine and biomedical engineering, also said flushing with the lid up releases a 'polluted plume of bacteria and water vapour'.
'I wasn't thinking. Trusting information from a friend [rather than an expert] is a well-known factor in psychology,' he told the paper
Most watched News videos
- Shocking moment bike opens fire on Turkish restaurant in Dalston
- Hillary Clinton reacts to Donald Trump verdict with a wry smile
- Moment police officer is dragged down by car driver in tactical stop
- Moment woman kills pensioner with Alzheimer's in 'red mist' shove
- 16-year-old student asks Rishi Sunak why he 'hates' young people
- Protest march organised by Tommy Robinson held in Parliament Square
- Biden shares new ceasefire plan Israel is proposing to Hamas
- Thousands join Tommy Robinson for far-right demo in central London
- Shocking moment bike opens fire on Turkish restaurant in Dalston
- Moment police arrest Tommy Robinson protester at London demonstration
- Hamas publishes horrifying 'psychological terror' video of hostage
- Nigel Farage says he backs Trump 'more than ever' after conviction