The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe The Skeptics Guide #1087 - May 9 2026
36 snips
May 9, 2026 
David Kyle Johnson, a philosopher focused on critical thinking and philosophy of science, joins to untangle authority versus expertise. Conversation covers when expert consensus matters and how appeals to authority get misused. They probe ad hominem nuances, incentives shaping trust, and when to rely on experts versus fiat claims.
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Prompt Framing Exposes LLM Fragility
- Novella demonstrated LLM fragility with prompts about walking vs driving 100 meters, revealing inconsistent answers caused by phrasing.
- He used this to argue LLMs mimic language patterns rather than understand underlying intent.
Iron Flow Battery Advance Was Hype Not Revolution
- Evan explained iron flow batteries (rust batteries) and criticized clickbait headlines that conflated iron vs iron flow batteries.
- He traced the real advance: a new electrolyte reducing leakage and dendrite formation for grid storage.
Shared Recreational Fear Creates Immediate Bonding
- Recreational fear can act as social glue when paired with moderate fear and high enjoyment.
- Bob Novella reported the study found shared fear plus physical contact predicted immediate feelings of closeness among haunt attendees.
