International Skeptics United

Interview with Marty Klein; This Day in Skepticism: Chicago Fire; News Items: 2013 Nobel Prizes, Kansas Citizens Oppose Science, Open Access Journals, Smart Metals; Who's That Noisy; Science or Fiction

Episode 266 is awesome!   First Elan responds to a listener request to look into whether you should let your young children watch television, next Pat leads us in a game of "Name That" with a famous scientists theme.    Lastly, Darren tells us about the leading cause of bird deaths in Canada.   For show notes or to comment on this episode, please visit trcpodcast.com

In the 10th Anniversary Year of the Science Council Baroness O’Neill of Bengarve gave the lecture on the topic of "Why Science needs Ethics: why science cannot and should not aspire to be value free" on Tuesday 8th October. The lecture explored how decisions are made in science and what influences them, an important issue for all scientists and science users, and an especially relevant question for the professional practice of science.

This week Derek spends some time talking with Julia Galef, the president of the Center for Applied Rationality, (CFAR). Along with her impressive work heading up an entire think tank dedicated to rational thinking, she also is the co-host of the popular podcast, 'Rationally Speaking' along with Massimo Pigliucci. Find out more about how something like CFAR came to be, and how Julia and her group and aiming to spread critical thinking to the masses.

Molly Oldfield studied Modern History at Oxford before becoming a writer and researcher on the BBC television show QI. She has worked on a string of bestselling QI books, writes the weekly QI column for the Daily Telegraph and is a researcher on a BBC Radio 4 show, The Museum of Curiosity. She is also the author of The Secret Museum, which looks […]

Some people who enjoy raw milk also make up false claims that regular milk is more dangerous. Why not enjoy it for what it is, rather than making up bad science as well?

Live on location at the Cambridge Science Centre, Chris Smith, Dave Ansell, Ginny Smith and guests Rod Jones, an atmospheric chemist, Margaret Stanley, an HPV cancer researcher, and Caroline Goddard, jet engine metallurgist, pit their wits against the assembled public. Plus Dave and Ginny make crisp packet fireworks, prove you can't be heard screaming in space and make an elastic-band-powered fridge...

Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:30 Dr Rachie Reports  A recently identified link between a toxic amino acid found in blue-green algae and several motor neuron diseases could help researchers devise a therapy for the fatal conditions. 0:15:00 Dr Rachie Reports An interview with Warren Bonnet from Embiggen Books, followed by the launch of the book "The Explainer - From Deja Vu to Why the Sky Is Blue, and Other Conundrums" with Dr Mick Vagg and Dr Rachie. 0:26:15 A message from Susan Gerbic Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia The mission of the Guerrilla Skepticism editing team is to improve skeptical content of Wikipedia. We do this by improving pages of our skeptic spokespeople, providing noteworthy citations, and removing the unsourced claims from paranormal and pseudoscientific pages. Why? Because evidence is cool. We train – We mentor – Join us. 0:30:10 Saunders on the Radio From the vault, Richard Saunders talks about the Mind-Body-Spirit Expo in Sydney. 0:42:40 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. 0:48:40 George Hrab "Small Comfort" For Adele, a little Tabby cat who lived in Sydney, Australia.

This Day in Skepticism: World Teacher Day; News Items: New IPCC Report, Photographic the Soul, Chiropractor Breaks Baby's Neck, Black Hole Explosions and Hair; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Monsanto, Overpowered Studies; Science or Fiction

The gang is joined by former TRC host Jon Abrams for a doozy of an episode. Darren leads things off by discussing a recent paper on motivated numeracy. Adam then looks into if cat purring heals bones. Jon closes things out by challenging Adam's claim from a previous episode that when you eat Chinese food you will get hungry again in an hour. Elan and Pat do their best to contribute. Enjoy!

Flowers, travel sickness, food banks and the European Union. Plus Julius Caesar, the abolition of Income Tax and the return of Question of the Week! Though Mike is still in Texas, it is Skeptics with a K. Question of the Week On the assumption that donating to a food bank is a Good Thing, should […]

John Rogers is a writer and film-maker, author of This Other London – Adventures in the Overlooked City, and director of The London Perambulator and Make Your Own Damn Art – the world of Bob and Roberta Smith. He was also co-presenter and producer of Ventures and Adventures in Topography on Resonance fm. He writes the excellent Lost Byway blog.

Infamous legends tell of a maelstrom that devours ships and men. Does such a whirlpool actually exist? And are your basic notions about whirlpools even true?

What's the best way to catch 40 winks? We investigate the science of sleep, including why we need it and why do some people fall asleep at the wrong times? Jason Rhiel tell us how he investigates what makes us sleepy using zebrafish and Mick Hastings explains the effects of shift work on our health. Plus, in the news, nanoparticles deliver vaccines without needles, the 4,000 year old body perfectly preserved in a bog, an animal that can keep track of tides, a new nose grown on a forehead, and nurturing new neurones to treat Parkinson's...

Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:15 Mr. George Hrab  What's it like to MC 'The Amazing Meeting'? How cool is it to lead a band? These are some of the questions we put to singer and podcaster George Hrab. 0:36:40 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. 0:39:25 Dr Stefan Sojka "Mind Your Back" is the new hit single from 'Dr' Sojka. Download the song and support this important message. 0:45:23 Bad Science Watch Canada We chat to Michael Kruse from Bad Science Watch and learn about their battle against homeopathy and other quackery.