The Skeptics Guide #1052 - Sep 6 2025
September 6, 2025
A new paper outlines four specific technosignatures – acceleration anomalies, strange colors/spectra, odd shapes, and transmissions/emissions – that would indicate genuine extraterrestrial technology in interstellar objects, moving beyond speculative claims.
The Skeptics Guide 1051 Aug 30 2025
August 30, 2025
The podcast discussed the discovery of a new moon around Uranus and the naming conventions for celestial bodies.
The Skeptics Guide 1050 Aug 23 2025
August 23, 2025
Older adults (50-97) are using AI technologies, primarily for home security and voice assistants, with chatbots being less popular, indicating a need to consider AI's role across all age demographics.
The Skeptics Guide 1049 Aug 16 2025
August 16, 2025
Grizzly bears and brown bears are the same species, Ursus arctos, with 'grizzly' often referring to inland brown bears, while coastal brown bears, particularly Alaskan ones like the Kodiak, are generally larger due to a diet rich in salmon.
The Skeptics Guide 1048 Aug 9 2025
August 9, 2025
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to redirect $500 billion from mRNA research to other vaccine development is based on scientifically inaccurate claims and represents a significant setback for public health.
The Skeptics Guide 1047 Aug 2 2025
August 2, 2025
The podcast discusses the potential of a new gyrotron-based drilling technology for geothermal energy, which could make geothermal energy accessible globally.
The Skeptics Guide 1046 Jul 26 2025
July 26, 2025
The podcast episode covered Steve's recent trip to Sicily and Malta, discussing historical sites, cultural influences, and personal experiences.
The Skeptics Guide 1045 Jul 19 2025
July 19, 2025
The current US administration is actively dismantling healthcare infrastructure and scientific institutions, particularly concerning vaccine policy and data reporting.
The Skeptics Guide 1044 Jul 12 2025
July 12, 2025
The podcast discussed the challenges and potential solutions for traffic congestion, including banning left turns and the use of roundabouts.
The Skeptics Guide 1043 Jul 5 2025
July 5, 2025
Navigating customer service and technical issues with large companies like Verizon can be an extremely frustrating and time-consuming experience due to complex software, legacy systems, and poor error handling.
The Skeptics Guide 1042 Jun 28 2025
June 28, 2025
The podcast discusses the concerning trend of declining childhood vaccination coverage globally, attributing it to factors like misinformation, distrust, and disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Skeptics Guide 1041 Jun 21 2025
June 21, 2025
Websites can track user activity through methods like browser fingerprinting and linking accounts to browsing history, but secretly activating microphones without permission is illegal.
The Skeptics Guide 1040 Jun 14 2025
June 14, 2025
The podcast discusses the political and social unrest in Los Angeles, highlighting the media's role in shaping public perception versus the reality on the ground.
The Skeptics Guide 1039 Jun 7 2025
June 7, 2025
Quantum computing poses a significant threat to current encryption methods, necessitating the development of quantum-resistant algorithms based on physical phenomena.
The Skeptics Guide 1038 May 31 2025
May 31, 2025
The podcast "The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe" featured a discussion on recent scientific advancements, including infrared contact lenses and potential tree communication during solar eclipses, alongside a deep dive into the concept of affective polarization in political science.
The Skeptics Guide 1037 May 24 2025
May 24, 2025
The podcast "The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe" discussed recent scientific discoveries, including a new fossil of the radiodont Mosura fentona and an exceptionally preserved Archaeopteryx specimen.
The Skeptics Guide 1036 May 17 2025
May 17, 2025
The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe podcast has officially completed 20 years of broadcasting, marking a significant milestone in their consistent production of episodes.
The Skeptics Guide 1035 May 10 2025
May 10, 2025
Kara's trip to Vietnam and China provided a unique perspective on cultural differences and historical perceptions, highlighting the warmth of the Vietnamese people and the complexities of international relations.
The Skeptics Guide 1034 May 3 2025
May 3, 2025
AI is increasingly being used to discover novel scientific solutions, sometimes producing designs that are incomprehensible to humans but demonstrably superior.
The Skeptics Guide 1033 Apr 26 2025
April 26, 2025
The James Webb Telescope has detected dimethyl sulfide (DMS) on exoplanet K2-18B, a potential biosignature, but further evidence is needed to confirm its origin as biological rather than abiotic.
The Skeptics Guide 1032 Apr 19 2025
April 19, 2025
New research suggests that the Earth's water may have originated from hydrogen chemically bonded to sulfur within the planet's building blocks, challenging the long-held theory of delivery by comets and asteroids.
The Skeptics Guide 1031 Apr 12 2025
April 12, 2025
The podcast discusses the de-extinction of the dire wolf, highlighting the scientific process, ethical considerations, and media portrayal of the event.
The Skeptics Guide 1030 Apr 5 2025
April 5, 2025
The podcast discussed the concept of 'enantiodromia,' the tendency of things to change into their opposites, and its relevance to personal psychology and current political situations.
The Skeptics Guide 1029 Mar 29 2025
March 29, 2025
Constructed languages like Esperanto and Klingon are processed by the brain similarly to natural languages, unlike computer code which engages different cognitive areas.
The Skeptics Guide 1028 Mar 22 2025
March 19, 2025
SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts Nick Hague and SUNY Williams safely returned to Earth after a nine-month mission on the ISS, highlighting the physiological challenges of long-duration spaceflight.
The Skeptics Guide 1027 Mar 15 2025
March 15, 2025
Kara Santa Maria successfully passed her licensing exam for professional psychology, marking a significant milestone in her career.
The Skeptics Guide 1026 Mar 8 2025
March 5, 2025
The podcast episode covered various scientific and societal topics, including the end of a medical fellowship, climate change predictions, a measles outbreak, advancements in gene editing, the importance of blood donation, the origin of cosmic rays, AI communication, and the concept of societal resilience.
The Skeptics Guide 1025 Mar 1 2025
March 1, 2025
The podcast discussed the death of Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, at the age of 39.
The Skeptics Guide 1024 Feb 22 2025
February 22, 2025
The podcast discussed the scientific understanding of dwarf planets, including Pluto and its moons, and the ongoing debate about planetary classification.
The Skeptics Guide 1023 Feb 15 2025
February 15, 2025
The podcast discussed the prevalence and impact of misinformation, highlighting that analytical thinking is a stronger predictor of accuracy than education level.
The Skeptics Guide 1022 Feb 8 2025
February 8, 2025
The podcast discusses the potential impact of technology, including AI and the internet, on human memory and cognitive abilities, suggesting it may alter skills rather than cause a general decline.
The Skeptics Guide 1021 Feb 1 2025
February 1, 2025
Iceland offers stunning natural beauty, including the Northern Lights and unique geothermal landscapes, making it a popular tourist destination.
The Skeptics Guide 1020 Jan 25 2025
January 25, 2025
The podcast discussed the prevalence of unexpected findings in scientific research, highlighting that a significant portion of studies yield results not initially planned for.
The Skeptics Guide 1019 Jan 18 2025
January 18, 2025
Meta is planning to replace its third-party fact-checking program with a crowdsourced system inspired by Twitter's Community Notes, a move that raises concerns about the potential proliferation of misinformation.
The Skeptics Guide 1018 Jan 11 2025
January 11, 2025
Wildfires in Los Angeles are currently severe, with multiple large fires burning with zero containment, exacerbated by strong winds and dry conditions.
The Skeptics Guide 1017 Jan 4 2025
January 4, 2025
Psychics' predictions for 2024 were largely vague, inaccurate, or simply restatements of current trends, while the podcast hosts' predictions showed a higher degree of accuracy.
The Skeptics Guide 1016 Dec 28 2024
December 28, 2024
The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe podcast celebrated its 20th year-end show in 2024, marking milestones like their 1000th episode and successful live events, including an eclipse viewing.
The Skeptics Guide 1015 Dec 21 2024
December 21, 2024
The podcast discusses the psychological and business implications of digital tipping, highlighting how reduced tipping privacy can negatively impact customer loyalty and business reputation, despite potentially increasing immediate tips.
The Skeptics Guide 1014 Dec 14 2024
December 14, 2024
The increasing sophistication of AI video generation tools like Sora raises significant concerns about the future of distinguishing real from fake content, potentially impacting societal trust and information integrity.
The Skeptics Guide #1013 - Dec 7 2024
December 7, 2024
A new study suggests that Venus may have always been inhospitable, with its interior being as dry as its surface, challenging theories of a past temperate and Earth-like history.
The Skeptics Guide #1012 - Nov 30 2024
November 30, 2024
Astronomers may have found a new source for ultra-high energy cosmic rays in nearby micro quasars, potentially rewriting our understanding of particle acceleration in the universe.
The Skeptics Guide #1011 - Nov 23 2024
November 23, 2024
The proposed acquisition of InfoWars by The Onion is facing a legal challenge from an Alex Jones affiliated company, potentially delaying the deal.
The Skeptics Guide #1010 - Nov 16 2024
November 16, 2024
Kyrgyzstan has enacted legislation prohibiting the advertising of occult and mystical services, aligning with religious tenets and aiming to protect citizens from fraud, with potential implications for other countries.
The Skeptics Guide #1009 - Nov 9 2024
November 9, 2024
The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe podcast, recorded shortly after a US election, acknowledges the political climate and its potential impact on science-based policy, while emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and constructive disagreement within the skeptical community.
The Skeptics Guide #1008 - Nov 2 2024
November 2, 2024
Researchers are exploring machine learning to potentially predict major earthquakes months in advance by analyzing subtle seismicity patterns.
The Skeptics Guide #1007 - Oct 26 2024
October 26, 2024
The podcast "The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe" features discussions on a wide range of topics, from personal anecdotes about aging and hobbies to scientific advancements and cognitive biases.
The Skeptics Guide #1006 - Oct 19 2024
October 19, 2024
Large Language Models (LLMs) excel at processing and disseminating vast amounts of information but lack the common sense reasoning and flexible thinking required for true artificial general intelligence (AGI).
The Skeptics Guide #1005 - Oct 12 2024
October 12, 2024
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for the discovery of microRNA and its role in gene regulation, a fundamental process with significant implications for understanding and treating diseases.
The Skeptics Guide #1004 - Oct 5 2024
October 5, 2024
The new schizophrenia drug Cobenfi represents a novel approach by targeting acetylcholine in the brain, distinct from previous dopamine-focused treatments, and shows promise in reducing both positive and negative symptoms with fewer side effects.
The Skeptics Guide #1003 - Sep 28 2024
September 28, 2024
Political forecasting and polling, despite a veneer of scientific legitimacy, face significant challenges due to limited data, inherent biases, and the complex, evolving nature of political systems, making their long-term reliability scientifically unproven.
The Skeptics Guide #1002 - Sep 21 2024
September 21, 2024
The Earth will temporarily capture a 10-meter asteroid, designated 2024 PT5, as a mini-moon for approximately 56.6 days starting September 29th, before it continues its orbit around the Sun.
The Skeptics Guide #1001 - Sep 14 2024
September 14, 2024
The 23rd anniversary of 9/11 prompts a discussion on how to explain the event's complexities and motivations to children, highlighting the difficulty of answering 'why would anyone do this?'
The Skeptics Guide #1000 - Sep 7 2024
September 7, 2024
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe (SGU) is celebrating its 1000th episode, reflecting on its 20-year journey of promoting critical thinking, scientific literacy, and media savvy.
The Skeptics Guide #999 - Aug 31 2024
August 31, 2024
The word 'bunk' (and 'debunk') has an interesting etymology originating from a politician's speech for 'bunkum' in 1820, meaning meaningless political claptrap, and was later popularized by a journalist coining 'debunk'.
The Skeptics Guide #998 - Aug 24 2024
August 24, 2024
The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe podcast celebrated episode 998 with a recap of a successful live event in Chicago, highlighting engaging audiences and notable guests like Bill Nye and Richard Wiseman.
The Skeptics Guide #997 - Aug 17 2024
August 17, 2024
Routine childhood immunizations in the US between 1994 and 2023 are estimated to have prevented over 500 million illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations, and over 1.1 million deaths, representing a significant public health and economic benefit.
The Skeptics Guide #996 - Aug 10 2024
August 10, 2024
The discovery of phosphine on Venus, initially presented as a potential biosignature, has faced scientific scrutiny due to data noise and calibration issues, leading to a retraction of strong claims by the IAU.
The Skeptics Guide #995 - Aug 3 2024
August 3, 2024
The CAS review's recommendations regarding gender-affirming care, particularly for puberty blockers, are being widely misinterpreted, with the review primarily calling for more research rather than outright banning treatments.
The Skeptics Guide #994 - Jul 27 2024
July 27, 2024
The New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle featured a theme of logical fallacies, with clues like "no true Scotsman" and "post hoc ergo propter hoc."
The Skeptics Guide #993 - Jul 20 2024
July 20, 2024
The moon's surface presents significant environmental hazards including extreme temperature variations, dangerous radiation levels, micrometeorite impacts, and abrasive lunar dust, making underground lava tubes a promising location for future lunar bases.
The Skeptics Guide #992 - Jul 13 2024
July 13, 2024
A new twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, has shown near 100% effectiveness in clinical trials, offering a significant advancement over daily pills and monthly injections.