The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

A lively dive into confirmation bias and ways to spot motivated reasoning. NASA’s new plans for a sustained Moon presence and nuclear-electric propulsion are unpacked. Reports on limits of mammalian cloning and why prehistoric insects grew huge get discussed. A Vatican exorcism summit and risks of misattributing medical issues are examined. Listener audio mystery and a global nutrition quiz add fun segments.

Professor Kristian Andersen, director of infectious disease genomics at Scripps Research, discusses his work on viral emergence and the origins of SARS-CoV-2. He covers evidence pointing to the Huanan market, why finding an intermediate host is hard, shifts in his thinking from lab-leak to zoonosis, challenges from missing data and limited transparency, and strategies to prevent future spillovers.

A lively mix of science and skepticism. They unpack cognitive bias with a clear take on the fundamental attribution error. Deep dives into photosynthesis improvements, Rubisco breakthroughs, and potential crop yield gains. Astronomy talk covers magnetars and superluminous supernovae. They debunk bioweapon claims about Lyme disease and examine chatbot-driven medical misinformation. Quick rounds on logical fallacies and climate trend questions.

A tour through face perception and the Thatcher illusion. Growing chickpeas in lunar regolith simulant and what it means for off‑Earth farming. New research suggesting sea level rise estimates may be underestimated in some regions. A skeptical critique of a Reiki clinical trial and neurons-on-a-chip playing Doom. A round of medieval science-or-fiction myths.

They walk through IRS tax scams and AI-driven refund phishing to show how fraud works. A new nasal respiratory vaccine in mice and debate over COVID origins are discussed. Researchers propose using accelerators to transmute spent nuclear fuel. A study links bird-identification expertise to brain changes. Practical tips for starting a local skeptical group and a vaccines-themed science-or-fiction quiz close out the show.

They discuss the race to protect commercial bananas from a devastating fungal disease and genetic strategies to breed resistance. A debate on direct-to-consumer drug advertising examines harms, benefits, and middle-ground solutions. Advances in AI-driven prosthetics and long-term laser-written glass data storage get technical treatment. NORAD balloon encounters and surprising everyday sounds round out the show.

A quick obituary note and viral rumor debunking lead into a roundup of newsy science and policy. A major review of ADHD treatments and drug evidence gets unpacked. The physics and human limits behind quad and potential quintuple jumps are explained. EPA rule rollback and its legal fallout get analyzed. A noisy otter reveal and a science-or-fiction quiz round out the show.

A lively mix of science and skepticism. They debate renewable grids, nuclear and storage hurdles, and materials and policy tradeoffs. A segment explores pink noise, earplugs, and sleep studies. Tech talk covers AI-agent social networks and their security risks. Other bits include RFK Jr.'s faith-based treatment ideas, 8K TV decline, a hippo noise reveal, and corrections to space-mission anecdotes.

They discuss Artemis mission prep and astronaut quarantine timelines. A 165-year fossil mystery may be solved with a new extinct eukaryotic lineage. The lasting value of Wikipedia and how volunteer editing shapes knowledge. Research shows ideological bias can steer statistical choices. Debate over expanding habitable zones for tidally locked planets. Fun segments include a noisy sourdough starter and science-or-fiction puzzles.

A lively rundown of a classroom moon-landing hoax and how schools should correct misinformation. A UK study on small sleep, diet and activity tweaks tied to longer healthspan. A speculative AI 2027 paper and debates on arms races, alignment, and regulation. New bleeding-control spray-on powder and tests. AI-generated monkey photos, deep reading as a defense against misinformation, and reading habit tips.