International Skeptics United

Interview with Cara Santa Maria; This Day in Skepticism: Paul Ehrlich; News Items: Energized Water, Probiotics for Mental Health, Death by Iridology, Immortality; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Authority; Science or Fiction

Episode 260 of TRC is a thrill ride.   First Darren investigates whether wood fires pose a danger to your health.   Then the gang takes on not one but two listener requests!   Elan looks into the question of whether it is better to sit or squat when going to the bathroom and Pat tackles the question of whether cracking your knuckles leads to arthritis.  

This week, we have a final show from Perth in Western Australia. Chris Smith and Victoria Gill find out how camouflage wetsuits might help protect surfers from sharks, hear about a new development in muscular dystrophy treatment, how sea sponges can be used to mend fractures and whether the chemicals that a cell produces just before death can help us reverse the damage caused by stroke. In the news, why money makes the world go round, the comet that will be lighting up the skies in November, the eniromentally green military flares that could result in clearer firework displays and the scientists that have produced the world's most accurate clock.

This week Derek releases one of the interviews that he recorded while at The Amazing Meeting. On the first day of TAM, the new book penned by Daniel Loxton and Donald Prothero, 'Abominable Science', made its debut. So, Derek stole some time with Daniel and Donald to talk a bit about their latest collaboration, and get some of their impressions from their time doing the research into the many Cryptozoological topics packed into the informative tome.

Skeptoid answers student questions about hangovers, horse milk and manuka honey as miracle cures, car batteries stored on cement, translatability of ancient texts, and probiotics.

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:00 Julie Lada the Skeptical Vet  We catch up with Julia Lada who tells us about her adventures and encounters with woo woo in becoming a vet. 0:21:00 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’. 0:25:00 Maynard’s Spooking Action... Maynard interviews Marlowe Cassetti about the early days of NASA and his thoughts on the so-called "moon landing hoax". 0:51:05 Eugenie Scott inducted into the IIG Hall of Honor The audio of a video shown at the CFI in Hollywood, CA on July 29th, 2013 during the IIG Awards for Eugenie Scott's induction into the IIG Hall of Honor.

On the heels of celebrating 5 years as a podcast, TRC delivers another great episode.    Adam takes a look at area 51 in the wake of the CIA admitting it exists, Elan investigates the accuracy of weather reports and Darren complains about Vector cereal.      

Interview with Sanal Edamaruku; This Day in Skepticism: Vesuvius; News Items: No Proof of Creation, Area 51, Hydrating Beer, Indian Rationalist Shot Dead, Free Roaming Planets; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Sugar and Hyperactivity; Science or Fiction

Atheists, psychics, mental illness and mice. Plus homicide, teen pregnancy, mass shootings and street preachers. With the return of Colin, it’s Skeptics with a K.

Skeptoid 5: Massacres, Monsters, and Miracles is a collection of 50 of the best episodes of the Skeptoid podcast, adapted for print. It will be fully indexed and referenced. But most of all, each of its 50 chapters will be a fascinating peek behind the urban legends we've all heard, to see what's truly going on.

This week, we have another special show from Perth in Western Australia. Chris Smith and Victoria Gill go in search of dolphins, find out how DNA sequencing technology has allowed us to find out what was on Australia's first barbecue, and give a science lesson to children in the outback. In the news, how glucose affects our willpower, why the Antarctic oceans are so different from the rest of the world, and the batteries that store power from renewable energy farms.

Salt therapy is being touted as a new miracle treatment for just about anything. You relax in a cave made of salt and breathe salt dust. Why?

Introduction Richard Saunders and Maynard at the Doctor Who exhibit, ABC centre in Sydney. 0:04:50 Science Week at the Australian Museum  Interviews with science presenters doing outreach to students. 0:20:00 More Doctor Who Richard Saunders and Maynard at the Doctor Who exhibit, ABC centre in Sydney. 0:24:00 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’. 0:27:15 More Doctor Who Richard Saunders and Maynard at the Doctor Who exhibit, ABC centre in Sydney. 0:32:15 Another Big Psychic Show Rolls into Town By Mal Vickers with assistance from Martin Hadley Never has any psychic ever passed a rigorous scientific test of their claimed ability. While most skeptics are well aware of this, you’d think the media and society in general knew nothing of it. 0:43:40 More Doctor Who Richard Saunders and Maynard at the Doctor Who exhibit, ABC centre in Sydney.

Episode 258 of The Reality Check is a special one as the gang celebrates the five year anniversary since episode #1 was released. After a bit of navel gazing, Darren discusses how to debate skeptical topics and Elan hosts a game of Science Fact or Science Fiction. The show ends with a couple voices from the past.

This Week in Skepticism:Hazel Bishop; News Items: NDE Explained, TV Watching, Labor and Autism, Magenta Planet, Spontaneous Baby Combustion; Special Report: Onionated; Who's That Noisy; Name That Logical Fallacy; Science or Fiction