International Skeptics United

Guest Rogue: Brian Brushwood; Interview with Joe Anderson; This Day in Skepticism: Ulugh Beg; News Items: Waking from Coma with Psychic Powers, Cosmic Inflation, 24-192 audio; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Cartouche Again, Jet Stability; Science or Fiction

Zoe Pilger is an art critic for the Independent and won the 2011 Frieze International Writer’s Prize. She is currently working on a PhD at Goldsmith’s college. Eat My Heart Out is her first novel. Also this week, writer Frank Swain on Gattaca.

Since Skepticality took a break last episode, Derek comes back with two interviews to fill the void of having no show for a full month. The first is with Dale McGowan; author, speaker, philanthropist, and founder of 'Foundation Beyond Belief'. They discuss how the Foundation came to be, what the current goals are, and how people can get involved worldwide. After Dale, Derek has a discussion with Karen Stollznow; writer, linguist, and author of several books which have a skeptical slant. Derek talks with her about one of her latest books, 'God Bless America', which takes a look at some of the unusual religious practices and beliefs across the United States of America.

Pit your wits against the combined brain power of the Naked Scientists, in this question and answer Special as the team try to find out the truth behind the age of the Milky Way? Whether plants die of old age, and how cats make their fur stand on end? Plus, in the news, contagious yawns, and how the number of takeaways on the way to work affects your risk of weight gain...

American band leader Glenn Miller disappeared on a short flight during World War II, so of course a variety of theories have arisen to explain what happened.

Introduction Richard Saunders   0:06:30 An interview with Daniel Loxton Daniel joins us to chat about his new book, Plesiosaur Peril (Tales of Prehistoric Life). A group of plesiosaurs -- ocean-dwelling cousins of the dinosaurs -- keeps safe by swimming in a family pod. But then one baby plesiosaur swims too far from its mother and attracts the attention of something very large and very hungry, and the struggle for survival is on. A unique blend of digital artwork and landscape photography illustrates this thrilling encounter.   0:21:43 A Week in Science The Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) is a national scientific not-for-profit organisation with a mission to bring science to people and people to science.   0:25:37 Dr Rachie Reports with Dr Rachael Dunlop Who are the "Australian Vaccination-skeptics Network"? Find out with Dr Rachie.   0:36:13 Maynard's Spooky Action...  Maynard takes Richard on a tour of a local record bar, just for fun!

Here we go again, but now we’ve reached the “maverick gospel,” the Gospel of John. Unlike in the synoptics where Jesus likes to keep his Messiahship a secret, in John the guy cannot shut up about himself. He’ll blab about how he’s the Son of God to anyone who’ll listen. Add in a few “signs,” […]

Interview with Jennifer Ouellette; This Day in Skepticism: Ides of March; News Items: Flight 370 Mystery, Earth's Shields, Meat Study; Who's That Noisy; Science or Fiction

Rana Dasgupta won the 2010 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book for his debut novel Solo. He is also the author of a collection of urban folktales, Tokyo Cancelled, which was shortlisted for the 2005 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. Capital: A Portrait of Twenty-First Century Delhi is his first work of non-fiction. Born in Canterbury in 1971, he has lived […]

Episode 288 of The Reality Check is a prime example of why podcasting was invented. Elan leads off the show with an exploration into the claim that Andy Kaufman is still alive. Next, Adam answers whether or not there is a conspiracy by fishermen that has led to many people eating fish on Fridays. Pat closes out the show with a segment on a factual misrepresentation in ads for Sheri's Berries.

Mobile phones, mugging, mormons and more homeopathy.  Plus God’s patents, Advertising Standards and pamphleteer.  With porridge that’s just right, it’s Skeptics with a K.

In this episode of MonsterTalk, Blake interviews Junior Skeptic author/artist Daniel Loxton on the final book in his prehistoric animal thrillogy, Plesiosaur Peril. We talk about dinosaur names, raising kids with science literacy, and the reboot of Cosmos. READ the episode notes

With climate change expected to bring more bouts of extreme weather and longer periods of drought and flooding, this week we take a look at ways to turn the tide on the looming water crisis. Plus, in the news, the schoolboy who's become the youngest person yet to achieve nuclear fusion, the pedicure-inspired tags which are helping track turtles, the new gene therapy breakthrough for treating HIV and, what's worse for you, cigarettes, or sausages?

Essential oils are the distilled scents from certain flowers or herbs that smell pleasant. But some believe they also secretly harbor amazing healing powers.

Introduction Richard Saunders   0:03:25 An interview with Dr Besh Saab We chatch up with the man who hopes to one of the first people on Mars.   0:22:30 A Week in Science The Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) is a national scientific not-for-profit organisation with a mission to bring science to people and people to science.   0:25:40 Maynard's Spooky Action...  Maynard takes us into the operation theatre of his local vet. Will Tinkerbell the 19 year old cat pull through?   0:40:49 Picking the Cosmos Winners Just how do we come up with a number between 1 and 1,000,000,000? Find out!   0:44:53 Sydney Skeptics in the Pub Chatting with pubbers... The question this time is what should the AVN be called now?