International Skeptics United

It's episode 270 of The Reality Check and the gang is back with another solid dose of skepticism. Darren starts things off with an interesting look into the Effective Altruism movement and how one can be most effective when trying to do good. Adam then presents a segment on whether or not you should drink while eating. Elan closes out the show by answering if the coloured square on the bottom of a toothpaste tube indicates the composition of the toothpaste.

An experiment with extra content.   Darren's appearance on the Ron Corbett show "Unscripted" on Halloween.   Let us know what you think!

Many of us who are science-minded, or are champions of rational thought, may lament the fact that our messages often fall upon the deaf ears of a populace seemingly without the patience, nor care, for science literacy. Past Skepticality guest, Randy Olson, has spent his time working on ways to help people to understand and communicate information to a broad audience. Teaming with actors Dorie Barton and Brian Palermo, he has formed a well-proven storytelling methodology, which anyone can learn to use, to engage an audience and help people better understand complex information. In this episode of Skepticality, Derek sits down with Randy, Brian and Dorie to discuss their work, its origins, and how anyone can learn to become a better storyteller.

From detecting tumour DNA in our bloodstreams to making cancer cells stand out in an MRI scan, this week, coinciding with the NCRI Cancer Conference, we explore how best ways to detect cancer and monitor tumours during treatment. Plus, in the news, what a dog's wagging tail can tell you about its mood, the chemistry behind fireworks, how wind farms could be made up to 30% more efficient just by moving the turbines around, and the electronic blood that could help to shrink supercomputers...

Was it Columbus, the Vikings, the Chinese, the Muslims, or the British? We examine the 5 most popular claims to be first to the New World by sea.

Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:15 Science Teachers' Association of New South Wales Inc. Young Scientist Awards  Richard Saunders takes a trip to the city of Wollongong to help present the 2013 Young Scientist Awards. 0:13:40 Mind Body Spirit Join Richard Saunders has he wonders around the maze of newage stalls at Sydney's Mind Body Spirit. 0:21:30 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. 0:24:00 Maynard's Spooky Action... Maynard visits SkeptiCamp Sydney and interviews a wide range of people about all sorts of things. Highlights include a chat with Kate and Robin.

This Day in Skepticism: Charles Van Doren; News Items: Ghost Story, Lorenzo's Oil, Li Fi, Space Ports, Gender; Who's That Noisy; Live Questions: Getting Involved in Skepticism; Science or Fiction

Rose George is the author of A Life Removed: Hunting for Refuge in the Modern World (longlisted for the Ulysses Reportage Prize) andThe Big Necessity: Adventures in the World of Human Waste (shortlisted for the BMA Book Prize and an Economist Top Ten Book of the Year). She has written for the New York Times, Guardian, Independent, London Review […]

If you like well produced and thought provoking podcasts, then episode 269 of The Reality Check is the show for you! Pat leads things off with a fascinating interview with Stephan Guyenet where they discuss Gary Taubes' model of good vs. bad calories and how the evidence for it stacks up compared to the calories in / calories out model. Elan then hosts a fun game of Science Fact or Science Fiction, with all questions of a monetary theme. Adam closes things out by answering the question of whether or not 50 Shades of Grey is Twilight Fan Fiction.

Greek journalist Yiannis Baboulias talks about the resurgence of fascism in Europe.

OooooooOOOOOooOooooOOoooo it’s the spooky Halloween episode of Skeptics with a K! Featuring poisonous venom infections, petrified giants, trick or treaters and, er, promiscuous students. Plus the Flash Bathroom Cleaner… of death! A dark and sinister bird… with giant mutant feet! And most terrifying of all… a ropey pun from Marsh. Tickets for QED 2014 are […]

“I know what I saw.” So say many witnesses to the bizarre and unusual—and even the mundane. But do you really know what you saw? In this special episode of MonsterTalk, memory expert Elizabeth Loftus and psychologist Richard Wiseman explain how perilous and frail are the tools and materials we use to build our fortresses of certitude. READ the episode notes

Live on location at the Cambridge Science Centre, Chris Smith, Dave Ansell, Ginny Smith and guests James Jackson, an Earth Scientist, Tehnuka Ilanko, a volcanologist, and Arwen Deuss, a seismologist, pit their wits against the assembled public as they tackle the extreme Earth. Plus Dave and Ginny make a flame tornado, a volcanic crater and explain why acid rain can be so damaging...

The Tasmanian Tiger was a predatory marsupial, now considered extinct. But some believe it might still live in remote regions. Is this true?

Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:15 A chat with Gunnar Roland Tjomlid  'Placebo Defekten' is a new book from this Norwegian author. 0:21:30 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. 0:24:34 The Think Tank  In the Think Tank this week are Eran Segev, Joanne and Marcos Benhamu, Dr Rachael Dunlop, Richard Saunders and Margaret-Ann Tait.