Skeptoid #1005: Debugging Done Diligently
September 9, 2025
Skeptoid actively corrects past errors to maintain its accuracy as a resource, demonstrating a commitment to scientific integrity.
Skeptoid #1004: Dating the White Sands Footprints
September 2, 2025
Fossilized human footprints discovered in White Sands, New Mexico, suggest humans were present in the Americas much earlier than previously accepted timelines, potentially challenging established paleoanthropological models.
Skeptoid #1003: History's Weirdest Science Findings
August 26, 2025
Counterintuitive scientific findings, such as black robes being cooler in the desert or woolly mammoths coexisting with pyramid construction, challenge common assumptions and highlight the importance of rigorous research.
Skeptoid #1002: A Feast of Feedback
August 19, 2025
Feedback and follow-ups on previous Skeptoid episodes can refine understanding of topics like the "dingo ate my baby" phrase, earthquake prediction technology, and the Loveland Frogman.
Skeptoid #1001: The Phantom Clown Panic
August 12, 2025
The 2016 "phantom clown" panic, fueled by social media and latent fears, was largely a social delusion or mass hysteria, with no credible reports of actual harm to children, despite widespread fear and school lockdowns.
Skeptoid #1000: Candle on the Water
August 5, 2025
Skeptoid episode 1000 celebrates the podcast's 19-year journey of promoting science and critical thinking, highlighting its consistent presence in top podcast charts.
Skeptoid #999: Day of the Medieval Dead
July 29, 2025
William of Newborough, a 12th-century monk, documented accounts of walking corpses, which modern analysis suggests may be explained by natural post-mortem phenomena, sleep paralysis, and folklore influenced by societal anxieties and beliefs.
Skeptoid #998: The Manifestation Trap: OCD and the Law of Attraction
July 22, 2025
The principles of the law of attraction, which suggest that focusing on desires will manifest them, can be particularly detrimental to individuals with OCD by reinforcing their belief that their thoughts directly influence reality and can cause harm.
Skeptoid #997: Sounds of the Aurora
July 15, 2025
The sounds sometimes attributed to auroras are unlikely to be generated by the aurora itself due to insufficient energy and the anacoustic zone at high altitudes.
Skeptoid #996: Murder in Hex Hollow
July 8, 2025
The Hex Hollow murder, while sensationalized by media, highlights the persistence of folk magic and the dangers of moral panics fueled by sensationalism and fear of the 'other'.
Preview — Douglas Adams: The Ends of the Earth on The Internet We Didn’t Get
July 2, 2025
Douglas Adams possessed a remarkably prescient vision of the internet's potential, foreseeing concepts like user-generated content, networked information, and personalized digital experiences long before they became mainstream.
Skeptoid #995: The Eugenic History of the Body Type Diet
July 1, 2025
The concept of somatotypes (ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph) originated from eugenics and was used by William Sheldon to link physical appearance to personality traits, a practice now largely discredited due to racist undertones and fraudulent research methods.
Skeptoid #994: Making AI Environmentally Friendly
June 24, 2025
The increasing demand for AI computing resources is placing a significant strain on global power grids, mirroring concerns previously raised by cryptocurrency mining.
Skeptoid #993: How to Decide What to Eat
June 17, 2025
Fear-based marketing is a common tactic used to sell food products, and consumers can often ignore terms like "organic," "natural," and "processed" as they are not inherently meaningful for nutrition or safety.
Skeptoid #992: The Case of the Missing Beaumont Children
June 10, 2025
The disappearance of the Beaumont children in Adelaide in 1966 is Australia's most prominent cold case involving a psychic detective, highlighting the challenges and controversies of integrating paranormal claims into official investigations.
Skeptoid #991: Real Sea Monsters
June 3, 2025
The podcast explores the concept of "real sea monsters" by comparing modern marine predators and extinct prehistoric creatures, highlighting that many of the most fearsome creatures are extinct.
Skeptoid #990: Rethinking Science Education
May 27, 2025
Effective science education should prioritize teaching the critical thinking and information literacy skills necessary to navigate a complex world, rather than just memorizing facts.
Skeptoid #989: Are $1,000,000 Paranormal Challenges Effective?
May 20, 2025
Paranormal challenges, while often sensationalized, have historically served as a tool to expose fraud and promote skepticism, though their effectiveness varies across different categories of claimants.
Skeptoid #988: Chocolate Myths
May 13, 2025
Many popular beliefs about chocolate, such as its impact on acne, heart health, and weight gain, are myths or significantly exaggerated, with overall diet and individual factors playing a larger role.
Skeptoid #987: More than a Magician's Assistant
May 6, 2025
Rose Mackenberg was a pioneering female private detective and a highly effective investigator who worked undercover to expose fraudulent spiritualists and mediums, significantly contributing to Harry Houdini's crusade against deception.
A Brief Shake-Up at Skeptoid
May 5, 2025
Skeptoid is offering an exclusive three-day exploration of Death Valley from October 21st to 24th, including transportation, lodging, and meals, guided by Brian Dunning and geologist Andrew Dunning.