International Skeptics United

Recorded at the Royal Institution, Helen Czerski was joined by Marcus Brigstocke, Bruce Hood, Barry Smith and Felicity Mellor to discuss what scientists should know about the dark arts of persuasion, and whether they should ever use them.

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:30 SOAP!  An interview with Dr Krissy Wilson about talking how to get into SOAP or the Science of Anomalistic Phenomena. 0:30:14 Maynard's Spooky Action..  Science in the Pub - Join Maynard in Newcastle for Science and beer! 0:30:14 A Chat with Dr Paul Willis  What's the latest inside news about the end of the dinosaurs? Let's ask Dr Paul Willis from the Royal Institution of Australia.

Love is... neurochemistry? This week, we look at love from a scientific perspective. We go looking for love in the brain and explore the chemistry behind falling, and staying, in love! Plus, how ovaries become damaged with age, and the new virus strain with pandemic potential.

A longer cut of Joe's interview with Rachel Aldred.

A longer cut of Liz's interview with Helen Czerski.

This week on Skepticality, Derek interviews Massimo Pigliucci about his latest book, Answers for Aristotle: How Science and Philosophy Can Lead Us to A More Meaningful Life, discussing what lead him to write the book, and getting his personal take on the modern skeptical movement.

Chaired by Dr Richard Dawkins, the 2013 British Humanist Association Darwin Day lecture was delivered by Sir Tom Blundell, Professor Emeritus and Director of Research, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge on the topic of: ‘The emergence of drug resistance: Molecular evolution and new medicines for cancer and tuberculosis’.

A list of ten Hollywood celebrities who have leveraged their fame to proactively create new resources promoting good science and critical thinking.

Episode 231 of The Reality Check has it all: science, sex, celebrities, technology... you name it, this episode's got it! The show starts off with Darren looking into various comparisons of sex drives between men and women. Pat then introduces a story of successful skeptical activism in Ottawa and interviews Ottawa Skeptics big wig Chris Hebbern to tell us about it. Elan closes out the show by looking into whether Al Gore invented the internet.

Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:20 Penny Chan with 'A Penny for your thoughts'.  We catch up with Penny and find out about her trip to Hong Kong. Did she discover any 'Woo'? 0:23:55 AN HONEST LIAR - The Amazing Randi Story  0:30:14 Maynard's Spooky Action..  A chat with Ben Newsome, Director of the science outreach program, Fizzics Education - Science shows & educational products with real WOW factor! 0:42:00 Maynard at Skeptics in the Pub  And the big question this month is... "What do you think intuition is?"

This Day in Skepticism: Space Medicine; News Items: Russian Lake Monster, Bones of Richard III, Scientific Genius, Without Fear, Feathered Dinosaurs; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Tuesday Boy; Interview with George Hrab; Science or Fiction

David Quammen is a recipient of the Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the author of several acclaimed natural history titles. His book, The Song of the Dodo, won the BP Natural World Book Prize in 1996. His most recent book is Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic.

Cancer, cabbage, chem-trails and creationism. Plus serial killers, bacon, more cancer and mormons. Using social engineering in a multiple choice exam, it’s Skeptics with a K.

We're analysing asteroids in this edition of the Naked Scientists, as Earth is due a very near miss next week! We'll also meet the asteroid miners - companies looking to go prospecting in outer space - to find out how to mine an asteroid. Plus, the new material that can generate electricity from the heat in your hand, and what will the Large Hadron Collider be looking for next...

London of the 1830s was terrorized by an astonishing figure—a caped man with long sharp metallic claws who spouted blue fire from his mouth and leaped over rooftops. Surely such a creature could be no more than myth, right? Or was there a mysterious aristocrat playing tricks on the working class? In this week’s episode of MonsterTalk, we talk with historian Mike Dash about the legendary figure known as Spring Heeled Jack. READ episode notes