The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

The Skeptics Guide #1075 - Feb 14 2026

February 14, 2026

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  • The passing of pseudoscience proponent Erich von Däniken marks the end of an era, highlighting the enduring cultural impact of ancient astronaut theories despite their lack of scientific rigor. 
  • A recent umbrella review of ADHD treatments confirms that medications, particularly methylphenidate (Ritalin), provide medium to large reductions in symptoms in the short term, while non-drug interventions like CBT show less robust evidence, especially in children. 
  • The EPA's elimination of the 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding by the Trump administration is a significant regulatory rollback that will likely lead to legal challenges and increased regulatory complexity across individual states. 
  • The political instability caused by frequent policy reversals in the executive branch creates significant negative consequences and unpredictability for industry, highlighting a failure in the system of checks and balances. 
  • The current political environment is exacerbated by Congress shirking its responsibility to legislate clearly, allowing agencies excessive leeway which the executive branch then exploits to make sweeping changes. 
  • The 'Turkey Illusion' describes the cognitive bias of extrapolating a trend indefinitely without understanding its underlying cause, leading to inevitable failure when the trend breaks (e.g., a turkey expecting daily feeding to continue forever). 

Segments

Guest Introduction and Tech Support Anecdotes
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(00:00:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Guest Parrish Knight is a computer desktop support technician who has worked for agencies including NIH, NASA, and the Mint.
  • Summary: Parrish Knight, a patron of the SGU, joined the episode as a guest host due to Kara’s illness. He works as a computer desktop support technician in the Washington, D.C. area, having supported systems at NASA and the Mint. One notable tech support incident involved a customer emailing him for help because she couldn’t send email.
Remembering Erich von Däniken’s Legacy
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(00:03:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Erich von Däniken’s 1968 book, Chariots of the Gods, launched the genre of ancient astronaut speculation by reinterpreting ancient artifacts as evidence of extraterrestrial engineering.
  • Summary: Evan Bernstein noted the recent death of Erich von Däniken on January 10, 2026. Von Däniken popularized the idea that ancient civilizations were influenced by extraterrestrial visitors, a concept heavily criticized by scientists and historians. His work is cited as influencing modern figures like Joe Rogan and the content found on channels like The History Channel.
Review of ADHD Treatment Efficacy
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(00:11:30)
  • Key Takeaway: An umbrella review of ADHD treatments found that medications provide medium to large reductions in symptoms in children and adolescents over the short term (less than one year).
  • Summary: The review synthesized data from meta-analyses, organizing results on an accessible online platform to aid decision-making. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) showed the best evidence and tolerability among medications, while Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was the only non-drug intervention with reasonable evidence, applicable only to adults. Long-term data (over one year) for all interventions remains scarce due to study limitations and participant dropout.
Religious Nones Demographics and Beliefs
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(00:24:39)
  • Key Takeaway: The fastest-growing religious group in the US, the ’nones’ (28% of the population), is diverse, with 35% believing in God and their social views often aligning with religious conservatives.
  • Summary: The Pew Research Center data shows that within the religiously unaffiliated group, only 16% identify as atheist, while a significant portion (28%) still believes in a higher power. This indicates that the rise of the ’nones’ reflects a rejection of organized institutions rather than a universal shift toward atheism or liberal social views.
Physics of Figure Skating Jumps
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(00:29:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Figure skater Ilya Malinin’s quad axle requires 4.5 rotations, achieved by maximizing angular momentum through extreme body tightening, which generates centripetal forces of about 200 pounds per arm.
  • Summary: The quad jump requires approximately 500-550 pounds of force upon takeoff, and the conservation of angular momentum dictates that pulling mass closer to the axis of rotation increases spin speed significantly. A quintuple jump (five rotations) would require 400-500 revolutions per minute and an estimated 600 pounds of takeoff force, which biomechanics experts suggest may be the physical limit for humans.
Ski Jumping ‘Crotchgate’ Controversy
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(00:45:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The ‘Crotchgate’ rumor alleges male ski jumpers are injecting hyaluronic acid into their genitals to slightly increase body dimensions, allowing them to wear slightly larger, aerodynamically advantageous suits.
  • Summary: Ski jumping suits are strictly regulated, allowing a maximum of four centimeters of fabric surface area larger than the body measurement to prevent illegal aerodynamic lift. While suit tampering is a known issue, there is currently no evidence supporting the rumor that hyaluronic acid injections are being used for this purpose, and WADA has dismissed the claim.
EPA Greenhouse Gas Finding Reversal
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(00:54:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The Trump administration eliminated the 2009 EPA endangerment finding, which scientifically concluded that greenhouse gases endanger public health and the environment, jeopardizing federal climate regulations.
  • Summary: The 2009 finding, previously upheld in court, justified EPA regulation of fossil fuel emissions, which are distinct from the natural carbon cycle involved in human respiration and plant growth. This reversal is expected to be challenged in court and could force companies to navigate 50 separate state guidelines instead of a single federal standard.
Political Policy Whiplash
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(01:01:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Inconsistent executive branch policy reversals, often based on questionable scientific grounds, destabilize industry predictability and highlight systemic failures in governmental checks and balances.
  • Summary: Frequent, four-year policy reversals create terrible instability for businesses that rely on predictable regulatory environments. This issue stems from Congress deferring its legislative duties, allowing agencies too much interpretive power. Codifying essential rules into law is necessary to prevent this executive branch whiplash.
Who’s That Noisy Reveal
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(01:07:18)
  • Key Takeaway: The sound that stumped listeners was produced by two South American giant river otters enjoying their nightly feeding.
  • Summary: No listener correctly identified the sound from the previous week, which was described as an aquatic mammal noise. The actual source was two South American giant river otters making entertaining noises while eating. The contributor noted the sounds reminded them of Wookiees.
Upcoming SGU Events Schedule
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(01:10:56)
  • Key Takeaway: The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe has numerous live events scheduled, including shows in Madison, Wisconsin, and the Nauticon conference in Sydney, Australia.
  • Summary: Live events include a private show and extravaganza in Madison, Wisconsin, on May 29th and 30th. The Nauticon conference in Sydney, Australia, is scheduled for the weekend of July 20th, featuring private shows and an extravaganza. Dr. Carl will participate in the Nauticon events.
George Hobb’s 118 Elements Concert
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(01:16:29)
  • Key Takeaway: George Hobb is performing a unique 90-minute concert featuring 118 distinct, short songs, one for every element on the periodic table, backed by a full band.
  • Summary: The performance, scheduled for March 7th in Bethlehem at the Ice House, showcases 118 songs covering every musical style, from punk to classical. This is the first time Hobb is performing the complete work with a full band, rather than solo. Tickets are available via 118elements.eventbright.com.
Yellow Sun Email Correction
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(01:19:22)
  • Key Takeaway: The blue light scattered from sunlight, which makes the sky blue, is the same light that, when combined with the remaining light, confirms the sun’s total output hitting the ground is white light.
  • Summary: Listeners corrected the previous discussion about the sun appearing yellow despite being a white star. The scattered blue light contributes to the sky’s color, while the remaining light reaching the ground combines with that scattered blue light to account for the full spectrum of white light.
Turkey Illusion Cognitive Bias
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(01:20:32)
  • Key Takeaway: The Turkey Illusion illustrates the danger of inductive reasoning when one fails to understand the context or underlying cause of a trend, leading to catastrophic misprediction.
  • Summary: The bias is exemplified by a turkey observing daily feeding and assuming the trend continues indefinitely until it is killed for food. The fallacy lies in extrapolating the trend without recognizing the context (being fattened for slaughter). This differs from the hot hand fallacy because a genuine trend exists, but its termination point is unknown due to lack of context.
Science or Fiction: Astronomy Edition
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(01:25:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Astronomers confirmed the presence of a lava tube (pyroduct) on Venus by reanalyzing 1990s Magellan spacecraft radar data using modern imaging techniques.
  • Summary: The confirmed science item involved finding a massive lava tube on Venus, characterized by a kilometer-wide diameter and deep void, using advanced analysis of old SAR data. The other two items—a quiet stellar collapse into a black hole and an inside-out planetary system—were deemed fiction or highly improbable by the panel, though the quiet collapse was later confirmed as science. Lava tubes are highly relevant for future lunar and Martian habitats due to radiation shielding.