Science Fictions

In this special end-of-year episode, the hosts of The Studies Show discuss the positive science news from 2023, including the approval of a new malaria vaccine and a game-changing affordable prevention drug. They also touch upon the potential downsides of the slim fit diet, the exponential growth of electric vehicles, advancements in battery technology and solar energy, and the exciting advancements in medical science, particularly in the treatment of cancer.

The hosts delve into the controversy surrounding falling sperm counts, exploring various studies and their limitations. They discuss potential causes including endocrine-disrupting chemicals and cultural factors. The chapter also touches on vaccine perception, improvements in the world, and the challenges of studying sperm count decline.

The podcast discusses the hyped microbiome, its impact on health including mental health disorders, challenges in measuring the microbiome, questioning the claim of eating 30 different plants, benefits of fecal microbiome transplants for C diff infections, the gut-brain connection and mood disorders, controversy surrounding force-feeding animals for foie gras, and confident claims about the microbiome.

The podcast discusses the intersection between science and politics, debating whether it's appropriate for scientists and scientific journals to express political opinions. They explore the potential impact on scientific credibility and address the concept of publication bias. The hosts also examine the moral implications of eugenics and selective breeding. Overall, they stress the importance of maintaining objectivity in scientific research and separate personal politics from scientific discourse.

In this adults-only episode, the podcast explores the motivations behind 'No Nut November' and the negative consequences of pornography. It also discusses culture-bound syndromes affecting men's perception of sexual health.

Teaching children to read using systematic phonics is the best approach, but a prominent phonics skeptic's arguments are compelling. The podcast explores the debate between phonics and whole language learning, the controversy surrounding meta-analysis, and the effectiveness of phonics teaching in English schools. The hosts also discuss the challenges of teaching reading and the flaws and inconsistencies in research studies on systematic phonics.

The podcast discusses the errors made in previous episodes, including cultural references and location descriptions. It also covers the reanalysis of a meta-analysis on cash transfers and the link between football and dementia. The importance of correcting mistakes in scientific papers is highlighted.

Exploring the negative effects of technology on our attention spans. Discussing the impact of smartphones on focus and flow state. Sharing experiences, promoting a magazine, and discussing architecture. Exploring the false dichotomy of modernist and traditionalist architecture. Delving into the impact of distractions and technology on attention. Discussing addiction, habits, and mindful usage of technology.

The podcast discusses the controversies surrounding the amyloid theory of Alzheimer's disease, explores the challenges in diagnosing and researching Alzheimer's, uncovers scientific fraud in previous research, explores the harmful effects of misinformation on disease research, discusses the concept of grief for familiar faces on screen, examines recently licensed drugs for Alzheimer's treatment, and highlights the significance of practical improvements in patients' daily lives.

Tom and Stuart discuss telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition. They explore recent attempts to prove psychic phenomena. They question the credibility of scientific journals. They discuss a parapsychology study that may be the best psychology study ever. They mention meta-analyses supporting the existence of psychic powers.