Skeptically Speaking

#213 Bird Brains

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:29 +0000

This week, we’re looking at birds, and what the study of their behavior and anatomy can tell us about ourselves. We’ll talk to Dr. John Marzluff, professor of Avian social ecology and demography at the University of Washington, about his book Gifts of the Crow: How Perception, Emotion, and Thought Allow Smart Birds to Behave Like Humans. And we’ll speak to artist and illustrator Katrina van Grouw about The Unfeathered Bird, her book that looks at bird anatomy below the feathery surface.

Big thanks to Susan Gerbic and the team at Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia!

Listen or Download This Episode

#212 Star Stuff

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:12 +0000

This week, Skeptically Speaking looks to the stars that light up the night sky, and fuse hydrogen and helium into the elements that make life possible. Science writer Jennifer Ouellette examines the possible evidence of ancient supernovae in bacterial fossils. Astrophysicist Ethan Siegel explains the controversy surrounding the so-called black hole firewall paradox. And astronomer Pamela Gay of CosmoQuest discusses the impact of U.S. sequester budget cuts on her research and outreach.

Listen or Download This Episode

#211 The Year Without Summer

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:08 +0000

This week, we’re looking at the explosive geology of volcanoes, and how they shape our world both physically and politically. We’ll speak to climate researcher Nicholas Klingaman, about his book The Year Without Summer: 1816 and the Volcano That Darkened the World and Changed History. And we’re joined by geologist Jacob Lowenstern, Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, about the massive volcano that drives the geologic activity of the Yellowstone Caldera.

Listen or Download This Episode

#210 Spillover

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:00:01 +0000

This week, we take a sobering look at infectious diseases in animals, and the scary things that happen when those infections spread to humans. Guest host Marie-Claire Shanahan talk to journalist David Quammen about his book Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic. And science journalist Maryn McKenna returns to give as an update on the H7N9 bird flu, and how it’s being reported by the media.

Listen or Download This Episode

#209 Drinking Water

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:00:50 +0000

This week, we’re looking at the science and the history of the water that makes life and society possible. We’ll speak to law and environment professor James Salzman, about his book Drinking Water: A History. And we’re joined by Juewen Liu, chemistry professor at the University of Waterloo, to talk about his work using DNA to detect water-borne impurities that could make water unsafe.

Listen or Download This Episode

For more information on Logicon 2013, visit Logicon.ca.

#208 Brain On Fire

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:00:04 +0000

This week, we’re learning about the brain, and the fascinating – and devastating – things that can happen when its functions are disrupted. We’ll speak with journalist Susannah Cahalan, about her bestselling memoir Brain On Fire: My Month of Madness. And we’re joined by Dr. Rob Tarzwell, to talk about neurological disorders that mimic psychiatric conditions.

Listen or Download This Episode

#207 Paleofantasy

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:00:29 +0000

This week, we’re taking a look at the past, present and future of food, and what science has to say about some popular health trends. We’re joined by biology professor Marlene Zuk, to talk about her new book Paleofantasy: What Evolution Really Tells Us about Sex, Diet, and How We Live. And guest host Rachelle Saunders talks to Koert Van Mensvoort, director of the Next Nature Network, about the cultural implications of lab-grown meat products.

Listen or Download This Episode

#206 Frankenstein’s Cat

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:55:35 +0000

This week, we’re looking at how biotechnology is super-charging the toolkit for customizing our pets, affecting the use of animals in medicine and livestock, and changing our relationship with the animal world. We’re joined by science writer Emily Anthes, to talk about her book Frankenstein’s Cat: Cuddling Up to Biotech’s Brave New Beasts. And guest host Rachelle Saunders talks to futurist George Dvorsky, Director of the Rights of Non-Human Persons program at The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, about legal and scientific efforts to expand basic rights to animals other than humans.

Listen or Download This Episode

#205 Rat Island

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:00:48 +0000

This week, we’re looking at invasive predators, changing ecosystems, and the ethical questions raised by killing one species to save another. We’ll speak to science journalist Will Stolzenburg, about his book Rat Island: Predators in Paradise and the World’s Greatest Wildlife Rescue. And researcher and blogger Bug Girl returns to educate us about insect conservation.

Listen or Download This Episode

#204 Mars Rocks!

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:00:43 +0000

This week, we’re looking one orbit outward, at the little red planet that’s inspired so much science and science fiction. Guest host Marie-Claire Shanahan talks to University of Tennessee geologist Linda Kah, about her work as part of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission, analyzing the images sent back by the Curiosity rover. And she’ll speak to geologist Chris Herd, curator of the University of Alberta’s meteorite collection, about using rare meteorites from Mars to study the planet’s composition and atmosphere.

Listen or Download This Episode

#203 The Genius of Dogs

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:00:59 +0000

This week, we’re taking a look at man’s best friend through the lens of current research. We’ll talk to Brian Hare, director of the Duke Canine Cognition Center and co-founder of Dognition, about his book The Genius of Dogs: How Dogs Are Smarter than You Think. Science writer Virginia Hughes breaks down the genetic history separating dogs from wolves. And author Deborah Blum explains why chocolate is so dangerous for our canine companions.

Listen or Download This Episode

#202 The Altruism Equation

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:00:32 +0000

This week. we’re looking at what science has to say about the origins of selfless – and even self-sacrificing – behavior. We’ll speak to biology professor Lee Alan Dugatkin, about his book The Altruism Equation: Seven Scientists Search for the Origins of Goodness. And we’ll discuss altruism from a neurological perspective, with Duke University Neuroscientist Steve Chang, whose research in monkeys looks at how their brains process and record helpful inclinations.

Listen or Download This Episode

#201 Bad Pharma

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:00:52 +0000

This week, we’re taking a look at the questionable practices and suspect science employed by the companies that make our most widely used prescription drugs. We’ll speak to Dr. Ben Goldacre, about his book Bad Pharma: How Drug Companies Mislead Doctors and Harm Patients. And we’re joined by Dr. Steven Novella, to talk about the practical pitfalls of using animals to test drugs and procedures meant for humans.

Listen or Download This Episode

#200 The Science Of Beer

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:00:22 +0000

This week, we’re pouring over the science of that most beloved beverage, beer! Guest host Rachelle Saunders is joined by Dr. Charlie Bamforth, Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences at UC Davis. We’ll take an in-depth look at the chemistry of the brewing process, and everything from flavor to foam. And Dr. Rob Tarzwell explains why an effective hangover cure continues to elude us.

Listen or Download This Episode

A Change in The System

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:00:30 +0000

After 200 episodes – and a lot of thought and deliberation – we’ve decided to stop recording interviews live on Ustream. The added flexibility in our schedule will give us more options for booking guests, and allow us to keep bringing you an hour of in-depth, science-minded discussion every week.

We definitely still want to give you the chance to submit questions for our guests. We’re going to start posting about upcoming interviews on the website, and sharing links on our Twitter, Facebook and Google+ feeds. Look for those to start shortly.

From everyone here at Skeptically Speaking, we hope you’ll join us for another 200. Thanks for listening!

#199 Fate of The Species

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:00:24 +0000

This week, we’re looking at the ways that people are changing the planet, and the consequences for all of us if we don’t start doing it responsibly. We’re joined by Fred Guterl, Executive Editor at Scientific American, to discuss his book The Fate of the Species: Why the Human Race May Cause Its Own Extinction and How We Can Stop It. From climate change to superbugs, we’ll talk about the ways humanity could take itself out, and how (or if) we can stop it before it’s too late. And we’ll talk to John Cook, creator of Skeptical Science, about the political arguments over climate change.

Listen or Download This Episode

#198 Nature’s Compass

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

This week, we’re looking at some of the amazing abilities exhibited by our animal cousins. We’ll speak to James Gould, co-author of Nature’s Compass: The Mystery of Animal Navigation, about the varying strategies animals use to find their way across all kinds of distances. And biological anthropologist Greg Laden discusses new research on the surprising reasoning abilities of some extremely intelligent crows.

Listen or Download This Episode

#197 Future Bioethics

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 01:00:57 +0000

This week, we’re looking at the debates over the ethics of medicine and medical research, and the future of new medical technology. We’ll talk bioethics and public policy with Center for Inquiry CEO Ronald Lindsay. And we’re joined by Dr. Rob Tarzwell, to discuss Nootropics, the so-called “smart drugs” that might make designer brains a reality.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#196 World Changing Ideas 2012

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 01:00:05 +0000

This week, we team up with Scientific American, to learn more about the technologies profiled in their World Changing Ideas feature article. We talk to Sci-Am editors and writers about cutting edge research. From artificial life forms to new ways to measure sustainability, these technologies just might shape our collective future.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#195 The Penis Panel

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 01:00:11 +0000

This week, we’re taking a closer look at the variety of organs that evolved to deliver reproductive cells. Evolutionary biologist John Logsdon, biologist and YouTube sensation Carin Bondar and blogger and researcher Scicurious return to the show to talk about penises (and penis-like organs) of every shape, size and species.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

REBROADCAST: #146 Spider Silk

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 01:00:08 +0000

This week, we’ll listen back to an episode featuring some of nature’s most accomplished materials scientists, and the amazing substance they produce. We’re joined by Leslie Brunetta, co-author of Spider Silk: Evolution and 400 Million Years of Spinning, Waiting, Snagging, and Mating. We’ll discuss the form, function and uses of the sticky wonder material, and the ways that its study can help us understand evolution. And science writer Ed Yong tells us about silkworms with spider genes and the hybrid silk they spin.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#194 Year In Science 2012

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 01:00:59 +0000

This week, we’re looking back at some of the most important science news of 2012. Writers Maryn McKenna and David Dobbs, BoingBoing Science Editor Maggie-Koerth Baker, and paleontology blogger Brian Switek join us to share the stories that made headlines, and others that made an impact, without receiving as much attention.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#193 Science Books for Your Gift List

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:00:15 +0000

Whether you’re dropping a last-minute hint to a relative, or buying science books for the people you love, Skeptically Speaking has you covered. We’ve enlisted two dozen scientists, science writers and bloggers, including some of our favorite past guests. They’ll bring you their favorites from 2012, and some classics to help fill out anyone’s science library. Happy holidays!

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

2012 Science Book Suggestions

Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes

by Maria Konnikova

Recommended by Scott Huler

The Whale: In Search of the Giants of the Sea

by Philip Hoare

Recommended by Leslie Brunetta

Gravity’s Engines: How Bubble-Blowing Black Holes Rule Galaxies, Stars, and Life in the Cosmos

by Caleb A. Scharf

Recommended by Brian Clegg

Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb

by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm

Recommended by Ethan Siegel

Science Left Behind: Feel-Good Fallacies and the Rise of the Anti-Scientific Left

by Hank Campbell

Recommended by Ethan Siegel

Voodoo Science: The Road from Foolishness to Fraud

by Robert L. Park

Recommended by Marie-Claire Shanahan

Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic

by David Quammen

Recommended by David Dobbs

Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence

by Dale Peterson and Richard W. Wrangham

Recommended by Greg Laden

Nocturnal

by Scott Sigler

Recommended by Nicole Gugliucci

A Short History of Nearly Everything

by Bill Bryson

Recommended by Ian Cromwell

The Emperor of All Maladies

by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Recommended by Michael Kruse

All Yesterdays Unique and Speculative Views of Dinosaurs and Other

by Darren Naish

Recommended by Brian Switek

The Blind Assassin

by Margaret Atwood

Recommended by Rebecca Watson

Before the Lights Go Out: Conquering the Energy Crisis Before It Conquers Us

by Maggie Koerth-Baker

Recommended by James Kakalios

A Brief Tour of Human Consciousness: From Impostor Poodles to Purple Numbers

by V.S. Ramachandran

Recommended by Michael Payton

Angel Killer: A True Story of Cannibalism Crime Fighting and Insanity in New York City

by Blum, Deborah

Recommended by Scicurious

Am I My Genes?: Confronting Fate and Family Secrets in the Age of Genetic Testing

by Robert L. Klitzman

Recommended by Misha Angrist

The Ghost Map

by Steven Johnson

Recommended by David Weinberger

The Windup Girl

by Paolo Bacigalupi

Recommended by Pamela Gay

ABC Dinosaurs

by American Museum of Natural History

Recommended by Glendon Mellow

Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries

by Don Brown

Recommended by Josh Witten

Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour

by Kate Fox

Recommended by Rachelle Saunders

The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation

by Jon Gertner

Recommended by Thomas Levenson

Angle of Attack: Harrison Storms and the Race to the Moon

by Mike Gray

Recommended by Amy Shira Teitel

Spider Silk: Evolution and 400 Million Years of Spinning, Waiting, Snagging, and Mating

by Leslie Brunetta

Recommended by Bug Girl

Incredible Arthropods: Insects, Spiders & More!

by Kristie Reddick

Recommended by Bug Girl

#192 The Particle at The End of The Universe

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 01:00:51 +0000

This week, we’re looking at one of the biggest science stories of 2012, and one of the largest instruments in the history of science. Guest host Marie-Claire Shanahan spends the hour with theoretical physicist Sean Carroll, author of the new book The Particle at The End of The Universe: How the Hunt for the Higgs Boson Leads Us to the Edge of a New World. They’ll discuss the search for the particle that gives all the others their mass, the story of the Large Hadron Collider, and the challenge of communicating with a broad audience about difficult topics in cutting-edge physics.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#191 More Current Controversies

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 01:00:01 +0000

This week, we’re looking at science stories driving headlines and causing conversation. We’ll speak to particle physicist James Pinfold about recent experiments that cast doubt on a possible explanation for dark matter, and new research that he’s conducting at the world’s largest experimental facility, the Large Hadron Collider. On the podcast, molecular pharmacologist David Kroll returns to explain the connection between high-caffeine energy drinks and health complications. And we’ll get some insight on the tension between societal conceptions of gender and the more nuanced reality, from Joel Baum, Director of Education and Training at Gender Spectrum.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#190 Rabid

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 01:00:45 +0000

This week, we’re talking about a viral menace that’s one of the scariest – and deadliest – known to science. We’ll talk to WIRED editor Bill Wasik and veterinarian Monica Murphy about their book Rabid: A Cultural History of the World’s Most Diabolical Virus. And on the podcast, we’ll speak to post-doctoral researcher Elisabeth Whyte, about a crowd-funded project to use computer games to help adolescents with autism improve social skills and face processing abilities.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

REBROADCAST: #106 Science & Culture

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 01:00:50 +0000

This week, we’re listening back to an episode which examines the ways that society and science inform and influence each other. Frequent guest host Marie-Claire Shanahan, Professor of Science Education at the University of Alberta, and President of the Canadian Science Education Research Group, discusses how science fits into the broader framework of our common culture. And we talk to science writer Mike McRae, author of the book Tribal Science: Brains, Beliefs and Bad Ideas, which looks at how brains that evolved to maintain social connections can manage to make objective observations.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#189 Gay, Straight, and The Reason Why

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 01:00:48 +0000

This week, we’re looking at the science of sexual orientation, where debates over nature vs. nurture have influenced law, policy and equal rights. We’re joined by neuroscientist and writer Simon LeVay, to talk about his research on the topic, and his book Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why: The Science of Sexual Orientation. And on the podcast, astrophysicist Ethan Siegel returns to the show, to tell us about a new project using the information aggregation service TrapIt to improve learning in the classroom.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#188 Why Should I Care About Space?

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 01:00:34 +0000

In almost any discussion of space exploration and observation, one question always arises. Why should we spend the money, when there are problems here on Earth? This week, we’re going to tackle this question, with a panel of people who know just how important the science of space actually is. Penny4NASA‘s John Zeller and Noisy Astronomer Nicole Gugliucci return to the show, along with Scientific American Associate Editor John Matson, and Cynthia Phillips, Senior Research Scientist at the SETI Institute. They’ll discuss the technological, social and economic benefits of exploring space, and what it really means to all of us.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#187 Funny Science

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:58 +0000

We’re taking a break from live recording this week. On the podcast, we’re looking at the lighter side of science, both real and imagined. We’re joined by Marc Abrahams, editor and co-founder of the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research, the father of the Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony and author of the new book This Is Improbable. Researcher and blogger Scicurious returns to share more of her favorite Friday Weird Science posts. And we’ll talk to Phil Edwards, author of the Fake Science blog and textbook.

Listen or Download This Episode

#186 The C Word

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:33 +0000

No, not that C word. This week, we’re talking about Cancer; its myriad forms, many causes, and most promising treatments. We’re joined by engineering professor Brendan Harley, who works on making cancer research more effective, and Dr. David Gorski, surgical oncologist and prominent science blogger. And on the podcast, author Kayt Sukel returns to the show, to discuss the efficacy and application of screening for breast cancer, and what effect pink-saturated awareness campaigns actually have on research and treatment efforts.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#185 Genetically Modified Foods Revisited

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:14 +0000

This week, we’ll spend the hour talking about genetically modified foods, that are causing conversation among scientists, lawmakers and the public. Horticulture professor Kevin Folta returns to the show, along with Karl Haro von Mogel and Anastasia Bodnar, co-editors of Biofortified.org. They’ll give us the scientific perspective on the benefits, and possible dangers, in manipulating the genes of common food crops.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#184 Your Baby’s Best Shot

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:46 +0000

This week, we’re looking at the science – and pseudoscience – that affects the healthcare decisions parents make for their children, and women make for themselves. We’re joined by Allison Hagood and Stacy Herlihy, to talk about their book Your Baby’s Best Shot: Why Vaccines are Safe and Save Lives. And we’re joined by Skepchick.org founder Rebecca Watson, to talk about pseudoscience that’s targeted and marketed specifically at women.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#183 Current Controversies

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:54 +0000

This week, we’re looking at two science stories making headlines and stirring debate. Science writer David Dobbs returns to the show, to discuss the controversial neuroscience in Naomi Wolf’s new book Vagina: a Biography. And genetics researcher Michael White joins us to sort out the science from the hype in the results of the ENCODE genomics project.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#182 Science Cinema

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:00:27 +0000

This week, we’re looking at film and video as an exciting, engaging way to communicate science to the public. Guest host Marie-Claire Shanahan spends the hour with independent film-maker and former BBC video journalist Brady Haran, and artist and filmmaker Henry Reich, creator of the Minute Physics YouTube series. They’ll discuss the promise and pitfalls of telling science stories in moving pictures.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#181 Science Reporting 2012

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:30 +0000

This week, we’re looking at new and evolving ways of bringing important science news to the public. Journalist and author Maryn McKenna returns to the show, to talk about her recent report for the Food & Environment Reporting Network, about evidence for a link between a common human infection and the overuse of antibiotics in chicken production. And science writer Jennifer Ouellette gives us the scoop on The Best Science Writing Online 2012, a collection of last year’s best science blog posts.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#180 Measure for Measure

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:49 +0000

This week, we’re thinking about science as an instrument, and the parallels between an understanding of music and the history of science. Thomas Levenson, Professor of Science Writing at MIT and author of Newton and the Counterfeiter, returns to talk about his 1994 book Measure for Measure: A Musical History of Science. And on the podcast, we’re joined by Vaughan Macefield, Professor of Integrative Physiology at the University of Western Sydney, to talk about his project that translates neural impulses into audible sound.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

REBROADCAST: #100 Semen Science

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:46 +0000

This week, we’re listening back to one of our all-time most popular episodes. Evolutionary biologist John Logsdon explains the amazing diversity of sperm design, and its connection with mating behaviour. And Scientopia blogger Scicurious discusses some of our favorites from her Friday Weird Science archives, covering everything from the antidepressant properties of semen, to smelly semen, to testicle receptacles, and much, much more.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#179 Waterworld

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:00:29 +0000

This week, we’re discussing some fascinating science focused on the liquid portions of our big blue planet. We’re joined by graduate researcher Andrew David Thaler, founder of Southern Fried Science, to talk about the weird and wonderful networks of life that exist in the Deep Sea. And University of Alberta researcher David Schindler joins us to talk about the work, and the uncertain future, of Ontario’s Experimental Lakes Area and its freshwater ecosystem research.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#178 World Wide Mind

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:00:11 +0000

This week, we’re looking at a possible future where integrated technology makes exchanging digital information as natural as using the senses we’re born with. We’ll talk to technology writer Michael Chorost, about his book World Wide Mind: The Coming Integration of Humanity, Machines, and the Internet. And anthropologist Greg Laden gives us a primer on the origins and evolution of human communication.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

Science blogger Greg Fish, who has appeared on the show to discuss Transhumanism, shares his thoughts on a World Wide Mind in a recent blog post.

Women’s Intuition Examined in Edmonton

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:33:19 +0000

Skeptically Speaking and the Greater Edmonton Skeptics Society are pleased to announce “Women’s Intuition and Other Fairytales,” a presentation by feminist and skeptical activist Rebecca Watson. Learn about the appeal of the Law of Attraction, magical cosmetics, anti-vaccination myths, and how we can fight against this wave of irrationality.

“As Oprah has proven many times over, there’s a lot of money to be made by marketing your pseudoscience directly to women,” Watson says. Rebecca Watson is the founder of the woman-focused website Skepchick.org. She has organized and spoken at conferences around the world, contributed to several podcasts, and has an asteroid named after her.

GESS spokesperson Marc-Julien Objois says, “I’m excited to hear about Rebecca Watson’s take on the pseudo-science that has been specifically marketed to women, and even more so what we can do about it.”

The presentation will take place in Telus 150 on the Edmonton campus of the University of Alberta, at 18:00 on Sept. 21. Tickets will be $5 at the door. Please contact Marc-Julien Objois for media attendance and other inquiries at (780) 709-6272 or mobjois@gmail.com.

#177 Climate Change at CONvergence

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:00:06 +0000

This week, we’re taking a break from live recording. We’ll listen back to highlights from “The Chilling Effects of Denialism,” and “Who Will Save the Polar Bears,” two panels on climate change recorded live as part of the Skepchickcon track at CONvergence 2012, and moderated by our host, Desiree Schell. Science writer Maggie Koerth-Baker, engineering professor John Abraham, science advocate and writer Shawn Otto, and biological anthropologist Greg Laden discussed the causes and effects of climate change, and how debate over the science has played out in the media and popular culture.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#176 The Violinist’s Thumb

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 00:00:10 +0000

This week, it’s part two of our two week focus on evolution and genetics. Science writer Sam Kean, author of the New York Times bestseller The Disappearing Spoon, returns to the show to talk about his new book The Violinist’s Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#175 Sex, Genes & Rock ‘n’ Roll

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 00:00:28 +0000

This week, it’s part one of a two-week focus on evolution and genetics. For our first installment, we’re looking at the ways that evolution might influence our modern lives, from obesity to overpopulation to heavy metal music. We spend the hour with Rob Brooks, Professor of Evolution and Director of the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre at the University of New South Wales. He’ll join us to talk about his book Sex, Genes and Rock ‘n’ Roll: How Evolution has Shaped the Modern World.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#174 Ignorance

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:33 +0000

This week, we’re looking at how the basic condition of not knowing things provides the motivation to keep science moving. We’re joined by Stuart Firestein, Chair of Columbia University’s Department of Biological Sciences, to talk about his book Ignorance: How It Drives Science. And we’re joined by Toronto attorney Adam Wygodny, to talk about using the law to protect consumers from ineffective and untested alternative medicine products.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#173 Seeking Sickness

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:38 +0000

This week, we’re looking at some common assumptions about healthcare, including the well-known benefits – and less discussed costs – of popular screening technologies. We’re joined by drug policy researcher Alan Cassels, to talk about his book Seeking Sickness: Medical Screening and the Misguided Hunt for Disease. And we’ll speak to paramedic and skeptical blogger Michael Kruse about Bad Science Watch, a new non-profit watchdog organization dedicated to improving the lives of Canadians by countering bad science.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#172 A Brief History of Infinity

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:53 +0000

This week, we’re diving back into the fascinating world of numbers, from the toughest theoretical concepts, to the numbers that describe our favorite pastimes. Guest host Rachelle Saunders talks to science writer Brian Clegg, about his book A Brief History of Infinity: The Quest to Think the Unthinkable, which describes the surprisingly human endeavor to understand and describe the unimaginably large concepts that define the universe. And Desiree Schell talks to physicist Aaron Santos, about his entertaining new book Ballparking: Practical Math for Impractical Sports Questions.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#171 Ask A Pharmacist

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:09 +0000

We’re back live this week, and we’re giving you the chance to Ask a Pharmacist. Ontario pharmacist Scott Gavura is the founder and editor of Science-Based Pharmacy, and a contributor to Science-Based Medicine. He’ll be answering audience questions for the full hour.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#170 Infrastructure and You

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:52 +0000

This week, we’re taking a break from live recording. Guest host Marie-Claire Shanahan spends the hour looking at the infrastructure that makes our modern, increasingly urbanized lives possible. She’s joined by journalist Scott Huler, author of the book On the Grid: A Plot of Land, an Average Neighborhood, and the Systems that Make our World Work. And she’ll speak to environmental journalist and urban design critic Tim De Chant, about his population density blog Per Square Mile.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

Desiree Schell at CONvergence 2012

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:38:59 +0000

Our host Desiree Schell is back from the 2012 Student Leadership Conference of the Center for Inquiry on Campus. Desiree presented a workshop teaching proven, results-driven activism techniques employed by labor organizers and social activists, and applying them to the work of promoting critical thinking and science advocacy.

On Saturday, July 7, Desiree will be appearing at Skepchickcon, the science and critical thinking track of CONvergence 2012, the annual science fiction/fantasy fan convention in Bloomington, Minnesota. She’s moderating Ancient Alien Debate, a panel discussion on the evidence for extraterrestrial influence on ancient societies. She’s joined by panelists Scotty Roberts, founder and publisher of Intrepid Magazine, biologist and blogger P.Z. Myers, and anthropologist and regular show guest Greg Laden.

The panel takes place in the Bloomington Room, at 5 pm on Saturday, July 7. CONvergence 2012 runs from Thursday, July 5 to Sunday, July 8. For a full schedule and registration information, visit http://convergence-con.org/.

#169 Play Reality

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:39 +0000

This week, we’re looking at the intersection between science and play time. Guest host Julieta Delos Santos talks to Dr. Jayne Gackenbach and Teace Snyder, about their book Play Reality: How Videogames are Changing Everything. And we’ll listen back to “The Petri Dish,” a panel discussion by kids for kids (and parents), about getting kids interested in science, recorded live at LogiCON 2012.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

What Would You Like To Ask A Pharmacist?

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 02:00:15 +0000

We’re taking the next two weeks off from live recordings, but when we return on Sunday, July 1, we’re giving you the chance to Ask a Pharmacist. Ontario pharmacist Scott Gavura returns to the show, to answer your questions for the full hour. You can leave a question here in the comments, send an email to live (at) skepticallyspeaking.com, leave a comment on our Twitter, Facebook or Google+ feeds, or call and leave a message on our listener question line at (773) 257-3101. And join us live in the chat on Sunday, June 1 at 6 pm MDT.

Scott Gavura, BScPhm, MBA, RPh, is the founder and editor of Science-Based Pharmacy, and a contributor to Science-Based Medicine. He has been a registered pharmacist in Ontario for over 15 years. He currently works in the Ontario cancer system, managing and optimizing the use of very expensive cancer therapies.

#168 Sex, Bombs and Burgers

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 00:00:04 +0000

This week, we’re talking about the basic, biological impulses that drive our technological advancement. We’re joined by author and journalist Peter Nowak, to discuss his book Sex, Bombs and Burgers: How War, Porn and Fast Food Shaped Modern Technology. And we’ll talk to John Zeller, founder of Penny4Nasa, a petition project to increase funding for space exploration in the U.S.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#167 Liars and Outliers

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 00:00:24 +0000

This week, we’re talking about trust and cooperation, and the implications these social values have for security in the era of global networking. We’re joined by security technologist and author Bruce Schneier, to talk about his book Liars and Outliers: Enabling the Trust Society Needs to Survive. And anthropologist/blogger Greg Laden returns to discuss speculation about cognitive limits on the use of social networks.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

For more on the debate between Bruce Schneier and Sam Harris over the effectiveness of profiling in airport security, check out Harris’ essay, Schneier’s response, and the resulting debate.

Here is a 2009 paper on the mathematics of profiling and security.

#166 The Cure for Everything

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:11 +0000

This week, we’re looking at what the evidence has to say about common claims about diet, exercise, weight loss and other hot health topics. We’re joined by health law professor Timothy Caulfield, to talk about his book The Cure for Everything! Untangling the Twisted Messages About Health, Fitness and Happiness. And researcher and science blogger Scicurious looks at a new study of coffee consumption, and the effect it may – or may not – have on life expectancy.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#165 Dark Matter

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:57 +0000

What do you get when all the stuff in the universe can’t account for the mass we observe? You get Dark Matter, that mysterious source of gravity that might be the only thing keeping galaxies from flying apart. This week, guest host Rachelle Saunders talk to Carsten Krauss, assistant professor at the physics department of the University of Alberta, about what Dark Matter is, how we discovered it, and how we know it’s there if we can’t actually observe it. And Desiree Schell talks to David Grelli from the Edmonton New Technology Society.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#164 Babies, Brains and Boobs

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:33 +0000

This week, we’re looking at some of the ways motherhood changes the brain and the body. Kayt Sukel, author of Dirty Minds: How Our Brains Influence Love, Sex, and Relationships, returns to explain the neurological effects of pregnancy and motherhood. And we’re joined by Dr. Katie Hinde, Director of Harvard’s Comparative Lactation Laboratory, to discuss the biology of lactation and breastfeeding.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#163 Newton and The Counterfeiter

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:24 +0000

This week, we’re digging into a fascinating and little known chapter in the life of one of the giants of modern science. Guest host Marie-Claire Shanahan spends the hour with Tom Levenson, Professor of Science Writing at MIT, to talk about his book Newton and the Counterfeiter: The Unknown Detective Career of the World’s Greatest Scientist.

Listen or Download This Episode

#162 The Science of Belief

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:23 +0000

This week, we’re talking about the perspective of science on the mechanisms of belief. We’re joined by science writer Jesse Bering, to discuss his book The Belief Instinct: The Psychology of Souls, Destiny, and the Meaning of Life. And we dive into the neurology of religious faith with Dr. Andrew Newberg, author of How God Changes Your Brain.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#161 False Profits

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:54:32 +0000

This week, we’re joined by Robert FitzPatrick, founder of Pyramid Scheme Alert, and co-author of False Profits: Seeking Financial and Spiritual Deliverance in Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Schemes. He’ll discuss the promises and pitfalls of schemes, and how to tell legitimate direct selling from multi-level marketing scams. And we speak to Paul Piff, researcher at the Institute of Personality and Social Research at the University of California, Berkeley, about his research on the relationship between social class and unethical behavior.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#160 Before The Lights Go Out

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 01:00:43 +0000

This week, we’re joined by Maggie-Koerth Baker, Science Editor at Boing-Boing, to talk about her new book Before the Lights Go Out: Conquering the Energy Crisis Before It Conquers Us. Maggie will discuss the economics and social incentives that spurred the growth of our existing energy system, and what we can do to prepare for a new energy future.

Listen or Download This Episode

Episode Transcript

#159 Too Big To Know

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:38 +0000

This week we’re talking about how global connectivity and the rise of big data are transforming the way we look at knowledge. We’re joined by David Weinberger, co-director of Harvard’s Library Innovation Lab, to talk about his book Too Big to Know: Rethinking Knowledge Now That the Facts Aren’t the Facts, Experts Are Everywhere, and the Smartest Person in the Room Is the Room. And we’ll speak to Lindsey Pinto, Communications Manager of OpenMedia.ca, about their work to safeguard a free and open Internet for Canadians.

Listen or Download This Episode

#158 Reef Madness

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:20 +0000

This week, guest host Marie-Claire Shanahan spends the hour with science writer David Dobbs, to talk about his book Reef Madness: Charles Darwin, Alexander Agassiz, and the Meaning of Coral. The 2005 book, which was recently adapted into a set of serialized blog posts, recounts the century-long controversy over the origins of coral reefs, and its relationship to the history of evolutionary theory. They’ll discuss the challenges of writing the stories of science and the importance of sharing them with a wide audience.

Listen or Download This Episode

#157 Predators & Prey

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:20 +0000

This week, we’re looking into the many strategies that animals employ in the struggle to eat other animals. We’re joined by freelance science writer Matt Soniak, to discuss the often complex relationship between hunter and hunted. And biological anthropologist Greg Laden returns for another edition of Everything You Know is Sort of Wrong. He’ll tell us about humanity’s history as hunters, and how it may – or may not – affect our behavior today.

Listen or Download This Episode

Skeptically Speaking at LogiCon 2012

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:16:18 +0000

Skeptically Speaking is excited to be a guest at the second annual LogiCon, a science-focused-fun-for-the-whole-family event. On April 14-15, LogiCon returns to the Telus World of Science, to once again “…grab all the scientists and science enthusiasts we can find, jam ‘em together in one awesome space, and shake it together to see what awesome stuff falls out.”

We think that’s a pretty fantastic objective.

Due to the success of the first LogiCon in 2011, this year’s event has been extended to two days, and Reactive, an 18+ party, has been added to the schedule on Saturday night, April 14. The party will offer science demos and live electronic music by Edmonton’s most talented artists, and it kicks off with our own Desiree Schell’s live Skype interview with Maggie Koerth-Baker, Boing Boing Science Editor and author of Before the Lights Go Out: Conquering the Energy Crisis Before It Conquers Us.

You can find out more about Reactive, and the rest of the event schedule, on the LogiCon website. See you there!

#156 Beyond 42

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:54 +0000

This week, we’re experiencing the power of stories to communicate science. Join us for Beyond 42: How Science Can Use Stories to Explain Life, the Universe and Everything. This event, recorded live in Edmonton, features Scientific American Blog Editor Bora Zivkovic, and a fantastic cast of scientists telling moving stories that communicate the wonder of science and discovery.

Our storytellers this week were Sol Delos Santos, Greg Henkelman, Monica Chahal, Courtney Hughes and Marie-Claire Shanahan, who appears courtesy of The Monti Audio Series.

Listen or Download This Episode

#155 Dirty Minds

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:18 +0000

This week, we’re looking into what happens in our brains when we’re experiencing some of the most powerful feelings we feel. We’ll spend the hour with science writer Kayt Sukel, to talk about her book Dirty Minds: How Our Brains Influence Love, Sex, and Relationships. From pheromones to fMRI, it’s an entertaining and informative look at the neuroscience of affection.

Listen or Download This Episode

#154 Mathtastic! Part Two

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 01:00:01 +0000

This week, guest host Rachelle Saunders is back for part two of our two-part series on the fun and fascinating world of math. Rachelle spends the whole hour with Ian Stewart, mathematician, professor of Mathematics at the University of Warwick, and author of over two dozen books, on topics from chaos theory to symmetry, and the history of math itself.

Listen or Download This Episode

#153 Mathtastic! Part One

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:00:01 +0000

This week, we’re diving into the fascinating math that describes the world around us. Guest host Rachelle Saunders speaks to Malcolm Roberts, PhD Applied Mathematician at the University of Alberta, about fluid dynamics, the math that models motion in fluids, gasses, plasmas, and reveals the secret to pouring the perfect beer. And Desiree Schell talks to theoretical astrophysicist Ethan Siegel, about building a reliable science and health news aggregator.

Listen or Download This Episode

#152 The Poisoner’s Handbook

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:00:45 +0000

This week, we’re talking science and storytelling. Guest host Marie-Claire Shanahan speaks to science journalist and author Deborah Blum about her national bestseller The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York. The book tells the fascinating story of the way that chemical detectives started a revolution in the investigation of crime. And Desiree Schell talks to Bora Zivkovic, blog editor at Scientific American, about a new event that teaches science through personal stories.

Listen or Download This Episode

#151 Everyday Superpowers

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:00:20 +0000

This week, we’re looking at the amazing abilities and potential of the human body. Evolutionary neurobiologist Mark Changizi joins us to talk about his book The Vision Revolution, which looks at the evolution of vision from a novel new direction. And Dr. Torah Kachur discusses practical ways that science and technology can get us closer to the extraordinary abilities we see in science fiction.

Listen or Download This Episode

#150 Fungi & “Fossils”

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:00:49 +0000

This week, we’re talking about strange lifeforms that stretch our assumptions about the natural world. Molecular pharmacologist David Kroll, Science Communications Director of the Nature Research Center at North Carolina’s state Museum of Natural Sciences, returns to tell us about fungi and their amazing uses, from necessities like bread and beer, to medical and environmental breakthroughs. And on the podcast, we’re joined by Sarah Mathews, principal investigator at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, to discuss a new study that used genetic techniques to overturn the popular conception of cycads as “living fossils.”

Listen or Download This Episode

#149 There Will Be Blood: Evolution and Function of Menstruation

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:00:34 +0000

This week, we’re talking about what may be the most stigmatized facet of human reproduction. We’re joined by Dr. Kate Clancy, anthropology professor and science blogger, to learn about the physiology and function of menstruation, and the history of how it’s been considered in medicine and myth. And on the podcast, biologist P.Z. Myers looks at menstruation from an evolutionary perspective.

Listen or Download This Episode

#148 Brain Bits

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:00:30 +0000

This week, we take a look at some of the most interesting things we’ve learned about the brain. We’ll revisit some of our favorite episodes on the brain and its fascinating functions, from interpreting music, to justifying cruel behavior, and its role in gender identity. And we’re joined by Ingrid Wickelgren, editor at Scientific American Mind, for a new segment on how our brains are wired to believe weird things.

Listen or Download This Episode

#147 Science and Politics

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:00:16 +0000

This week, it’s a panel discussion about what happens when science intersects with politics. We’re joined by Sheril Kirshenbaum, co-author of Unscientific America, anthropologist/blogger Greg Laden, and Shawn Lawrence Otto, co-founder of ScienceDebate.org and author of Fool Me Twice: Fighting the Assault on Science in America. We’ll explore the tension between evidence and rhetoric, and what happens when public policy ignores solid science. And National Center for Science Education Executive Director Eugenie Scott returns to discuss an exciting new project to defend consensus science.

Listen or Download This Episode

Click here for more information on Science Online 2012.

#146 Spider Silk

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:00:55 +0000

This week, we’re looking at some of nature’s most accomplished materials scientists, and the amazing substance they produce. We’re joined by Leslie Brunetta, co-author of Spider Silk: Evolution and 400 Million Years of Spinning, Waiting, Snagging, and Mating. We’ll discuss the form, function and uses of the sticky wonder material, and the ways that its study can help us understand evolution. And science writer Ed Yong tells us about silkworms with spider genes and the hybrid silk they spin.

Listen or Download This Episode

#145 World Changing Ideas: Part Two

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 01:00:04 +0000

This week, it’s Part Two of our series with Scientific American, on the technologies profiled in their World Changing Ideas feature article. We’ll talk to Sci-Am editors and writers, and researchers who are developing cutting edge tech that just might shape the future of our society, our planet, and our survival as a species.

In Part Two, cardiologist Dr. Eric Topol discusses the use of smartphones to monitor your vital signs in real time. Sci-am’s Executive Editor Fred Guterl tells us about software that could mean the end of computer freezes. Senior Technology Editor Michael Moyer explains how metal-loving microbes could revolutionize the mining industry. Sustainability and tech journalist Christopher Mims discusses computer chips that mimic the structure and function of human neurons. And David Weinberger, co-director of the Harvard Library Innovation Lab, tells us about a proposed computer model that would attempt to predict the results of global human behavior.

Listen or Download This Episode

Listen to or download World Changing Ideas: Part One here.

#144 World Changing Ideas: Part One

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 01:00:05 +0000

This week, it’s Part One of our series with Scientific American, on the technologies profiled in their World Changing Ideas feature article. We talk to Sci-Am editors and writers, and researchers who are developing cutting edge tech that just might shape the future of our society, our planet, and our survival as a species.

In Part One, we speak with Senior Technology Editor Michael Moyer, about a possible nanotech solution to drug-resistant bacteria. Sustainability and tech journalist Christopher Mims discusses cutting edge battery technology that could power the next generation of electric cars, and a novel new biometric system that might eliminate the need to carry a wallet. Executive Editor Fred Guterl tells us about an all-digital currency, and agricultural researcher Jerry Glover explains the promise and challenges of creating perennial crops to feed a hungry planet.

Listen or Download This Episode

Listen to or download Part Two here.

#143 Here Is a Human Being

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:00:11 +0000

This week, we’re digging into the genome, the molecular blueprint that our bodies use to build themselves. We’ll discuss DNA, genetics, and personal genomics with Dr. Misha Angrist, Assistant Professor at the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences Policy, and author of Here Is a Human Being: At the Dawn of Personal Genomics. And we’ll speak to Dr. Thomas Perls, Director of the New England Centenarian Study, about his work on the Archon Genomics X Prize.

Listen or Download This Episode

Amazing Ideas for the Holidays

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:26:54 +0000

We’re taking the last two weekends of 2011 off from live interviews, but we’ve lined up a fantastic double feature to help keep plenty of science in your ears this holiday season. We’re teaming up with Scientific American to bring you a two part series on the technologies profiled in their World Changing Ideas feature article. We’ll talk to Sci-Am editors and writers, and researchers who are developing cutting edge tech that just might shape the future of our society and our planet. Part 1 will be released on Friday, December 30, and part 2 on Friday, January 6. So mark the passage into 2012 with Scientific American and Skeptically Speaking. And happy holidays!

#142 Science Is a Hell of A Drug…

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:00:45 +0000

…and drugs are a hell of a science. Researcher and blogger Scicurious returns to examine the various substances that we use to alter consciousness. How do they affect us, how do we study them, and do they have any uses beyond their recreational properties? And we’ll speak to Dr. David Kroll, Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at North Carolina Central University, about cannabimimetics, synthetic compounds that mimic the effects of marijuana.

Listen or Download This Episode

A Guide To Science-Based Holiday Giving

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:00:39 +0000

If you are the person who has everything (or you’re trying to find a gift for one of those people), we’d like to offer you an assortment of science-related charities that will happily take your money. They’re all registered charities in their countries, or projects of organizations that are, and they’re all providing education, science promotion, or other valuable services. We haven’t exhaustively researched them, so check them out before donating.

If you’d like to help promote science awareness and understanding, you can give to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. AAAS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world. They work to foster education and increase public engagement in science and technology for everyone, and to strengthen and diversify the science and technology workforce.

The National Center for Science Education is a not-for-profit, membership organization that provides information and resources for schools, parents and concerned citizens working to keep evolution in public school science education. And their executive director Eugenie Scott is amazing.

In the UK, there’s Sense About Science, which works in partnership with scientific bodies, research publishers, policy makers, the public and the media, to change public discussions about science. Their award-winning public campaigns share the tools of scientific thinking and scrutiny, and their international Voice of Young Science network engages hundreds of early career researchers in public debates about research and evidence.

The Royal Institution of Australia is a national scientific non-profit organisation with a mission to ‘Bring science to people and people to science.” Their vision is that science should become recognised as pivotal in everyday life. They aim to broaden the appreciation of science and technology as a part of the culture of Australia, and to help develop inquiring minds that can appreciate the process, constraints and potential of science.

And we were a bit sad to note that Canada doesn’t seem to have an organization like this. Ahem.

Helping to encourage interest and expand opportunities for women in science is an issue that’s close to our show’s collective heart. In the US, the Association for Women in Science and The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology promote and encourage women and girls in science, engineering and technology. The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology, also has a program that specifically helps immigrant women connect with mentors in the field.

Lots of fantastic charities are out there bring the wonder of Science to Children. In Canada, we have Let’s Talk Science, an award-winning, national organization. The deliver science learning programs and services that turn children and youth on to science, and keep them engaged in life-long learning.

In Ontario, and now in Lethbridge, Scientists in School is dedicated to encouraging a lasting interest in science, technology, math, environmental stewardship and engineering, and Actua is a national organization that provides young Canadians with positive, interactive learning experiences in science and tech.

Primary Connections is a project of the Australian Academy of Science, that links science with literacy, and aims to enhance primary school teachers’ confidence and competence for teaching science.

And we’ve talked about Dark Skies Bright Kids on the show before. It’s a project out of the astronomy department at the University of Virginia, that brings astronomy to elementary students in rural Virginia. They foster the natural curiosity of children by helping them to explore the Universe in a social setting with fun, hands-on activities.

Some other science-based (or slightly nerdy) charities that we wanted to mention include Healthright International. Healthright treats access to quality healthcare as a basic human right, and works to build lasting access to health for excluded communities. They’ve been on the show before, to talk about how they help refugees provide evidence that they were tortured in their home counties.

Engineers Without Borders is an international coalition of dozens of national member groups, that make use of their diverse technical expertise to solve critical problems affecting the health of our planet.

The Canadian Air and Space Museum is a non-profit organization that proudly showcases Canada’s rich aviation history. Unfortunately, they’re fighting eviction from their historic Toronto building, and may be forced to close permanently, so they *urgently* need help.

Speaking of fighting, Open Media is a Canadian non-profit that safeguards the possibilities of the open and affordable Internet, through citizens’ campaigns like Stop The Meter. It was the largest online campaign in Canadian history, and it stopped mandatory usage-based billing being imposed on every Canadian. It should go without saying, that they are wonderful.

And in the US, the Able Gamers Foundation promotes open dialog, education, and research , with the goal of bringing greater accessibility in the digital entertainment space. They help people with disabilities to gain a greater quality of life, and develop the rich social life that gaming can bring.

One area of science that we think bears extra mention is stem cell research. Controversies over its practice, and outright bans on funding by some governments, leave this field of research chronically underfunded. You can consider donating to the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation, the UK Stem Cell Foundation, the Australian Stem Cell Centre, or the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation in the U.S.

And finally, if you’d like to direct your holiday giving to places that promote critical thinking and reason-based values, we’ve got that covered, too. The Skeptics Society is a scientific and educational organization of leading scientists, scholars, investigative journalists, historians, professors and teachers. They mission is to investigate and provide a sound scientific viewpoint on claims of the paranormal and pseudoscience, and they also publish Skeptic magazine.

The James Randi Educational Foundation, whose mission is to promote critical thinking by reaching out to the public and media with reliable information about the paranormal and supernatural ideas that are so widespread in our society today. They offer educational programs, workshops, and scholarships that encourage scientific skepticism.

The Center for Inquiry Transnational works around the world to foster a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values, and they carry out that work through education, publishing, advocacy, and social services.

And Foundation Beyond Belief is a U.S.-based charitable foundation created to focus, encourage and demonstrate humanist generosity and compassion. They select and feature ten charitable organizations per quarter, with the goal of challenging humanists to embody the highest principles of humanism, including mutual care and responsibility.

If we missed your favorite science charity, post a link and description in the comments. Thanks for listening, and happy holidays!

#141 The Common Cold

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:00:40 +0000

This week we’re discussing the viral menace that makes our lives miserable, and has stymied attempts at a cure from the earliest days of medicine. Pharmacist Scott Gavura returns to the show, to tell us how colds infect us, what causes their symptoms, and why we just can’t seem to keep them from coming back. Find out how – or if – your favorite folk remedy works.

Listen or Download This Episode

Check out our Guide To Science Based Holiday Giving, for links to the organizations mentioned at the end of the show.

Here are links to the research tools that Scott mentioned:

Free Resources:
Tim Farley’s Skeptical Search
Netting the Evidence
MedlinePlus

Paid Resources:
UpToDate
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database

#140 Speedy Neutrinos

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:25:36 +0000

This week, we dig into the story behind the experiment which might have discovered neutrinos moving faster than the speed of light. Guest host Rachelle Saunders talks with theoretical astrophysicist Dr. Ethan Siegel, to discuss the nuts and bolts of the experiment, the supposedly unbreakable speed limit that these particles may be flaunting, and the implications for physics if the results are genuine. And Desiree Schell speaks to Dr. Bradley Voytek, post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Neurology at UC San Francisco, about the purpose and function of the peer-review process.

Listen or Download This Episode

#139 Culture and Tradition

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:00:15 +0000

This week, we’re featuring a panel discussion on the origins and influence of tradition, with biological anthropologist Greg Laden, science education researcher Marie-Claire Shanahan, and primatologist Eric Michael Johnson. We’ll discuss where traditions come from, why some endure and some fade, and whether they appear in non-human populations. (Ethnomusicologist Kyra Gaunt-Palmer was unable to join us.)

Listen or Download This Episode

#138 Evolution and Politics

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:00:21 +0000

This week, we’re looking at what happens when a bedrock scientific theory goes up for debate in the contentious realm of politics. We’ll speak to Dr. Eugenie Scott, Executive Director, and Steven Newton, Programs and Policy Director, at the National Center for Science Education, about evolution as a political issue. And anthropologist and blogger Greg Laden analyzes the fallout from the so-called “climategate” emails.

Listen or Download This Episode

For more information on Gold’s earthquake relief walk, visit http://intentionallyhomeless.org/.

#137 Memory Science

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:00:22 +0000

This week, we’re featuring a pre-recorded interview on the work of Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, author, university professor, and pioneering researcher into the way our brains make and modify memories. And we’re joined by Iowa State University researcher Gary Wells, to discuss his new study on the ways that the administration of photo lineups can effect the memories of witnesses.

Listen or Download This Episode

#136 Quantum Mechanics

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:26 +0000

This week, we’re looking at the mindbending physics that happens on the smallest imaginable scales. We’re joined by physics professor James Kakalios, to talk about his book The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics: A Math-Free Exploration of the Science that Made Our World. And we’ll speak to physicist and philosopher Victor Stenger, about the ways that quantum physics buzzwords are misused to support some not so scientific claims.

Listen or download this episode.

#135 Microorganisms

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:21 +0000

This week we’re looking at some of the microscopic organisms that share our planet and, occasionally, our bodies. We’re joined by science writer and blogger Carl Zimmer, to talk about his new book A Planet of Viruses. And we’ll speak to ScientificAmerican.com managing editor Phillip Yam, about the mysterious and (nearly) indestructible prion.

Listen or Download This Episode

CJSR’s FunDrive 2011

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 14:49:06 +0000

Skeptically Speaking is produced with the support of CJSR, the community radio station on the campus of the University of Alberta in Edmonton. From October 26th to November 5th, they’re having their annual FunDrive campaign. Nearly all of their budget comes from the support of loyal listeners, and your donation will help keep quality programming like Skeptically Speaking on the air. Plus, everyone who pledges on behalf of Skeptically Speaking will receive a fabulous sticker and shiny button, featuring our stylish red logo. So please, pledge what you can, and let CJSR know that you appreciate our weekly hour of science and critical thought.

Listen to CJSR on Friday November 4, at 6pm MT, to our live retrospective episode. We’re going to take a look back, and share some of our favorite clips from the past year. If you want to relive some of this year’s most informative, interesting and amusing moments, while providing evidence of your love for science radio (and us!), tune in and donate!

And, as always, thanks for listening!

http://skepticallyspeaking.com/podcasts/FunDrive_News_Promo_2011.mp3

#134 Mad Like Tesla

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:46 +0000

This week, we’re talking about the unorthodox thinkers who might help us innovate our way to new energy solutions. We’re joined by journalist Tyler Hamilton, to discuss his book Mad Like Tesla: Underdog Inventors and Their Bold Pursuit of Clean Energy. And law professor and blogger Jason Rantanen joins us to explain the role of patents in developing technology.

Listen or Download This Episode

#133 Science as Fiction

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:41 +0000

This week, we’re speaking to authors whose fiction appeals to the science lover. We’ll speak to astronomer Stuart Clark, about his novel The Sky’s Dark Labyrinth, the first of a trilogy examining pivotal moments in astronomy history. And we’re joined by biologist Jennifer Rohn, author of the novel The Honest Look, a thriller about integrity, passion and betrayal in pharmaceutical research.

Listen or Download This Episode

#132 Changing Planet

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:50 +0000

This week, we’re looking at the medical effects of global climate change. We’re joined by Dan Ferber, to talk about his book Changing Planet, Changing Health: How The Climate Crisis Threatens our Health, and What We Can Do About It. And Josh Rosenau, of the National Center for Science Education, joins us to compare the denial tactics of advocates against climate change and evolution.

Listen or Download This Episode

#131 Neurology Past & Present

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

We’re taking a break from live recording this week. We’ll listen in on an interview recorded live at Dragon*Con 2011. We’ll discuss the history and practice of neurology, with academic clinical neurologist Dr. Steven Novella, and Dr. Jason Schneiderman, Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory at Harvard Medical. And we’re joined by researcher Dr. Thomas Naselaris, of Berkeley’s Gallant Lab, to discuss their new study using computer modeling to reconstruct visual images from the brain.

Listen or Download This Episode

#130 Earth That Was

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:56 +0000

This week we’ll look back into prehistory, for a glimpse of what life was like before humanity spread across the globe. We’re joined by anthropologist and author Brian Fagan, to discuss his book Cro-Magnon: How the Ice Age Gave Birth to the First Modern Humans. We’ll learn how a combination of intellect and technological achievement turned our ancestors into the sole hominid species on the planet. And Junior Skeptic editor Daniel Loxton returns to discuss his new children’s book, Ankylosaur Attack, about a day in the life of this armored dinosaur.

Listen or Download This Episode

Click here for coverage of the feathers found in amber.

Click here for information on the APEGGA Rock & Fossil Clinic.

#129 The Prince of Evolution

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:39 +0000

This week, we’re discussing evolution, and a less well known, but just as fabulously bearded, scientist who helped to expand the theory. We’ll talk to Dr. Lee Alan Dugatkin, about his book The Prince of Evolution: Peter Kropotkin’s Adventures in Science and Politics. And science history blogger Michael D. Barton joins us to examine the ways that evolution deniers misuse the words of Charles Darwin to make their case.

Listen or Download This Episode

Looking for information about Randi’s cross-Canada tour? Visit the Centre for Inquiry Canada.

Smart Comics for Smart People

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:01:22 +0000

To celebrate our host’s birthday, we’re giving her a chance to talk to some of her favorite webcomics creators. Desiree will talk humor, science, philosophy and revelatory geekiness with Zach Weiner of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, Ryan North of Dinosaur Comics and Joey Comeau of A Softer World. Join us in our Ustream chatroom at 6 pm MT on Thursday, September 15th, for a special live recording. And bring your questions!

UPDATE: The show is available to download here.

#128 Elemental Intrigue

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:39 +0000

Guest host Rachelle Saunders talks to science writer Sam Kean, about his book The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements. And we’ll learn about cutting edge research into light-bending metamaterials, with Dr. Peter Palffy-Muhoray, Professor, of Chemical Physics and Associate Director of the Liquid Crystal Institute & Chemical Physics Program at Kent State University

Listen or Download This Episode

#127 Random Things That Can Kill You

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:40 +0000

Hurricane Irene interfered with our plans to interview science writer and blogger Carl Zimmer about his new book A Planet of Viruses. Instead, we talked hurricanes with Shaun Tanner, head of Meteorological Operations at the weather science resource site, Weather Underground. We also spoke to journalist Maryn McKenna about her book Superbug: The Fatal Menance of MRSA, to find out what makes antibiotic-resistant staph so scary, and what researchers are trying to do about it. Once we realized we had a “scary death” theme going, we thought it would it be a good idea to revisit our interview with Barry Glassner, author of The Culture of Fear, just to avoid getting too hyperbolic.

Listen or Download This Episode

#126 Bug Girl’s Favorite Insects

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:31 +0000

From ants to aphids, mosquitoes to mantises, entomology blogger Bug Girl has covered all kinds of things that creep, crawl and fly. This week, she joins us to talk about her favorite bugs, and why she finds them all so fascinating. And anthropologist and blogger Greg Laden joins us to discuss the cultural taboos surrounding eating insects.

Listen or Download This Episode

Here are links to Bug Girl’s posts about some of the topics from this episode:

Skeptically Speaking at Dragon*Con 2011

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 01:45:21 +0000

There is no live show scheduled for Sunday, September 4. Skeptically Speaking host Desiree Schell will be making her way to Atlanta, Georgia for this year’s Dragon*Con. The massive, multimedia, pop-culture convention takes place September 2-5.

Desiree will be recording a Skeptically Speaking interview live in the Podcast track room on Sunday, September 4 at 5:30 pm ET. She’ll be discussing the history and practice of neurology, with academic clinical neurologist Dr. Steven Novella, and Dr. Jason Schneiderman, Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory at Harvard Medical.

Desiree will also make several appearances on the Skeptrack program. She’s moderating two panels: Skeptical Activism 201 – The Skeptics Strike Back, with past Skeptically Speaking guests Benjamin Radford, Kylie Sturgess and Maria Walters, and Great Superhero Skeptics! The History (and Herstory), with Radford and Sturgess, and past guests Dr. Phil Plait, Dr. Eugenie Scott and Tim Farley.

If you’re in the area, stop by to say hi!

Skeptically Speaking at TAM9

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:03:09 +0000

Last month, Skeptically Speaking host Desiree Schell and studio assistant (and guest host) Rachelle Saunders braved the Las Vegas heat to attend The Amazing Meeting 9, a science and skeptical conference put on yearly by the James Randi Educational Foundation. They had an absolutely fantastic time, at what many attendees are calling the best TAM yet. Here, Rachelle shares some of the highlights of their trip.

This was my first TAM experience, and I had a great time throughout the week meeting some of my favourite past Skeptically Speaking guests including Psychologist Dr. Carol Tavris, author of the book Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why we justify foolish beliefs, bad decisions, and hurtful acts. Dr. Tavris was my very first interview with the show back in June, and it was fantastic to see her in action again on the TAM stage talking more about how cognitive dissonance makes it difficult to admit when we’re wrong and how we can work around it.

Dr. Carol Tavris on the TAM9 Stage, Photo by Fred Bremmer

I was also thrilled to have the chance to interview other TAM speakers during the event, including science historian and poet Jennifer Michael Hecht, Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science and memory researcher Elizabeth Loftus, and Bill Nye the Science Guy, popular children’s science entertainer/educator and Executive Director of The Planetary Society.

Bill Nye’s Presentation, Photo by Jamie Bernstein

Other highlights of TAM9 for me included the panel on the Placebo Effect, which delved into both the science and ethics of the placebo effect from a doctor’s perspective. Is it possible to make use of the placebo ethically in modern, science-based healthcare? When it comes to highly subjective symptoms like chronic pain, there can be therapeutic benefits to placebo strategies, but it’s still being determined whether or not honest placebos work as well as deceptive ones, so everyone on the panel agreed it’s an ethically grey area.

Another major highlight was the Our Future in Space panel moderated by Phil Plait, featuring astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson, Planetary Society Executive Director Bill Nye, astronomer Pamela Gay, and theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss. It was fantastic to have these four space heavyweights on one stage, and the discussion was fast-paced and feisty. It was great to see experts debate in their own field, and the panel covered topics including the virtues of manned versus unmanned space flight, the historical geopolitical motives for taking to the skies in the first place, and the different ways privatized ventures might make space more accessible.

Our Future in Space Panel, Photo by Fred Bremmer

Desiree Schell was honoured to be an official part of the TAM9 schedule, and excited for the chance to combine her background in activism and union organizing with her enthusiastic love for science during both the Grassroots Activism workshop and her presentation on Science Activism on Sunday. Titled “Out of the Blogs and Onto the Streets: What Skepticism Can Learn from Social Movements”, Desiree’s presentation took a comparative look through different social movements to discover what strategies science advocates might use to their advantage.

Desiree was also excited to put her finely honed questioning skills to use on the TAM9 mainstage as moderator of the Diversity in Skepticism panel, which included science and social issue blogger Greta Christina, CFI Field Organizer Debbie Goddard, journalist and comedian Jamila Bey, science and secular blogger Hemant Mehta, and JREF President DJ Grothe. The panel members debated the intersections of gender, race, sexuality, disability, age, class and religious affiliation in science and skeptical communities.

Diversity Panel, Photo by Fred Bremmer

The panel discussion circled around questions close to the Skeptically Speaking team’s heart: where does science end and opinion begin when it comes to social issues? What happens when you stir science and critical thinking into political debates, and does evidence-based thinking have a place there at all? Do different kinds of people access science in different ways, and how can science-friendly communities like the skeptics use and understanding of relevant social issues to reach out to more diverse groups? It was a fascinating panel that generated a lot of discussion both on and off the stage.

These are just a few of our favourite TAM9 memories, and we congratulate the JREF for putting on another fantastic event. Thanks for giving Desiree the opportunity to speak, and for providing me the opportunity to experience the conference as a member of the media.

#125 Global Population

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:34 +0000

The human population of planet Earth is rapidly approaching 7 billion. This week, we’ll look at how fast our numbers are growing, what they mean for things like resources and the environment, and what we can do about it. Maybe. We’re joined by William Ryerson, President and Founder of Population Media Center and President of Population Institute. And on the podcast, we’ll get a lesson in how population projections are created, and how reliable they are, with Dr. Ronald Lee, Director of the Center on the Economics and Demography of Aging, and professor in the Department of Demography at the University of California at Berkeley.

Listen or Download This Episode

#124 The Theory That Would Not Die

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:22 +0000

This week, show favorite Sharon Bertsch McGrayne returns to tell us about her new book, The Theory That Would Not Die: How Bayes’ Rule Cracked the Enigma Code, Hunted Down Russian Submarines, and Emerged Triumphant from Two Centuries of Controversy. We’ll learn how this once overlooked branch of probability theory has played a central role in some of the biggest turning points in human history. And on the podcast, we’re joined by computer network researcher Dr. Boleslaw K. Szymanski, to discuss his new paper, on the conditions under which minority opinions become social consensus.

For more information on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s draft policy on Non-Allopathic Therapies in Medical Practice, and to find out how to submit comments, visit CFICanada.ca.

Listen or Download This Episode

#123 Data Analysis

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:10 +0000

This week, data analyst Keith Schon returns to the show. We’ll ask him about his work as an information archaeologist, and how state-of-the-art software can piece together huge datasets of your online interactions, and build a picture of your personality. And on the podcast, science writer Jessica Wapner is back, to explain why pharmaceutical companies are mining prescribing data.

Listen or Download This Episode

#122 HIV and AIDS

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:35 +0000

This week, we’re joined by graduate student and Scienceblogs writer Abbie Smith, to learn about the latest research on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. How does HIV cause AIDS? What are the latest treatments? How close are we to a cure? What strategies are most effective at stopping the spread of infection? And what are the arguments that denialists make for alternate causes of the disease? And on the podcast, we’ll discuss another viral pathogen, the Human papillomavirus, with Dr. Peter Leone, of the University of North Carolina’s Center for Infectious Diseases.

Listen or Download This Episode

#121 The Nature of Human Nature

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:51 +0000

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Carin Bondar, biologist and author, to talk about her book The Nature of Human Nature: Reflections On Our Position As “Natural” Entities In The Animal Kingdom. The book takes a critical look at some of the things that we think make human beings unique in the animal kingdom. Does our ability to use contraception, or our tendency to eat junk food just for the pleasure, set us apart from our animal cousins? And we’ll be featuring the music of science rapper Baba Brinkman, including selections from his 2010 album The Rap Guide to Human Nature.

Listen or Download This Episode

#120 Tracking The Chupacabra

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:17 +0000

This week, Skeptical Inquirer Managing Editor Benjamin Radford returns to the show, to discuss his newest book, Tracking The Chupacabra: The Vampire Beast In Fact, Fiction and Folklore. He’ll explain his investigation of the legendary monster, and his startling conclusion about the real story behind its origins. And writer/producer Kennedy Goodkey joins us to celebrate the DVD release of his film, The Beast of Bottomless Lake, about the Canadian lake monster Ogopogo.

Listen or Download This Episode

#119 Mistakes Were Made

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:00:06 +0000

This week, we’re learning about the ways our brains are hard wired to fail at reality. Guest host Rachelle Saunders will speak with Dr. Carol Tavris, co-author of Mistakes Were Made (But Not by ME): Why we justify foolish beliefs, bad decisions, and hurtful acts. The bestselling book investigates cognitive dissonance, and the fascinating ways that it affects not just our memories, but politics, business and society. And for the podcast, we’re joined by University of Toronto statistics professor Jeffrey S. Rosenthal, to discuss why we’re so bad at grasping probability.

Listen or Download This Episode

#118 The Reasonableness Of Weird Things

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:10 +0000

This week, it’s an hour with Daniel Loxton. The editor of Junior Skeptic and author of Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be returns to the show to share “The Reasonableness Of Weird Things,” his keynote address from LogiCON 2011. Join us for the complete presentation, and an exclusive interview about the science communicators who inspired it.

Listen or Download This Episode

The video we mentioned in this episode features Carl Sagan reading from his book, The Pale Blue Dot. The animation is by Adam Winnik.

#117 Rural Medicine

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:11 +0000

This week, we’ll look at how society and geography affect people’s access to healthcare, and the quality of care they receive. We’re joined by Dr. Sasha Mullally, professor at the University of New Brunswick, to discuss her research into the social history of rural medicine and medical practices. And for the podcast, we’ll speak to Aaron Acharya, Project Manager at HealthRight International, and Dr. Gary Stadtmauer, about their work on healthcare and human rights.

Listen or Download This Episode

#116 What Is Mental Illness?

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:28 +0000

This week, it’s an hour on the brain, and the diseases and conditions unique to this amazing organ. We’re joined by Dr. Richard J. McNally, researcher in the psychology department at Harvard University, and author of What Is Mental Illness? And we’re joined by Maia Szalavitz, author and editor at Time.com’s Healthland blog, to discuss the chemistry and controversy of antidepressant medications.

Listen or Download This Episode

#115 Cell Phone Science

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:34 +0000

Researcher and Scientopia blogger Scicurious returns to discuss the fact and fiction of mobile phones. What effect do they have on brain cells? What about sperm cells? And do they have anything to do with declining populations of bees? And we’re joined by medical physicist Dr. Marc MacKenzie, to discuss the science of microwave radiation.

Listen or Download This Episode

:60 Second Science Announces Judges

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 01:00:09 +0000

:60 Second Science, the international science video competition, has added Skeptically Speaking host Desiree Schell to its lineup of judges for the 2011 competition. This year, students and non-students from around the world will compete to create a video that explains a scientific concept in under a minute.

The deadline to register for this year’s competition is 5 pm on Friday, September 16. For more information about the categories, requirements, and a gallery of last year’s winners, go to http://www.60secondscience.net. And don’t miss our interview with contest organizer Brendan O’Brien.

#114 Practical Wisdom

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:47 +0000

What exactly is “wisdom,” and how can we apply it in our daily lives? We’re joined by Barry Schwartz, Dorwin Cartwright Professor of Social Theory and Social Action at Swarthmore College, and Kenneth Sharpe, William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Political Science at Swarthmore College. They’ll discuss their new book Practical Wisdom: The Right Way to Do The Right Thing. And we’re joined by Brendan O’Brien, to learn about :60 Second Science, the international science video competition.

Listen or Download This Episode

CFI Announces Speakers for Leadership Conference

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sun, 29 May 2011 18:36:11 +0000

The Center for Inquiry has released the lineup of guest speakers for its 2011 Student Leadership Conference. We’re proud to announce that Skeptically Speaking host Desiree Schell is a featured speaker. She’ll be giving a presentation on skeptical activism, that combines her love of science and critical thinking, with her experience as a labor and community organizer.

The conference takes place at CFI headquarters in Amherst, NY, from June 13-26. The lineup of speakers also includes Yale Law professor and researcher Dan Kahan, psychology professor and author Judy J. Johnson, and Skepchick.org founder Rebecca Watson. For more information, or to register, visit Center For Inquiry on Campus.

#113 Science Based Medicine And The Media

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:07 +0000

What is science-based medicine, and how does the media (perhaps unwittingly) distort it? Our guest this week is Dr. Steven Novella, academic clinical neurologist at Yale University School of Medicine, Executive Editor of the website Science-Based Medicine, and a senior fellow and Director of Science-Based Medicine at the James Randi Educational Foundation. And we’re joined by Maria Walters, to talk about the Grassroots Skepticism Workshop at SkepchickCon.

Listen or Download This Episode

#112 Strange New Worlds

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:27 +0000

We look at the cutting edge science and old-fashioned wonder of the hunt for planets circling other stars. We’ll talk to Ray Jayawardhana, Canada Research Chair in Observational Astrophysics at the University of Toronto, and author of Strange New Worlds: The Search for Alien Planets and Life beyond Our Solar System. And we’re joined by Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute, to discuss the current progress, and the uncertain future, of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Listen or Download This Episode

Desiree Schell to Head Up Skeptics Mixtape 2011

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:21:49 +0000

We’re proud to announce that our host, Desiree Schell, will be curating the music for Skeptic.com’s Skeptic Mixtape 2011, a Fall 2011 sequel to their Skeptics Mix Tape 20o9. The project was unveiled in a post on Skepticblog. Junior Skeptic editor Daniel Loxton said “She’s the perfect person for the job. A long-time radio creator, Desiree brings with her many contacts, a deep love of independent music, and passion for the material.”

If you’d like to submit an original song related to scientific skepticism (themes like science, investigation, curiosity, detective work, scams, or the paranormal), you can contact Desiree at mixtape@skeptic.com. Or, if you know of an independent artist whose work you think should be included, send in a link. Check out Skepticblog.com for more information on the project.

#111 Animal Testing

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:04 +0000

We’ll look at the practical advantages, and the ethical pitfalls, of using animals in scientific and medical research. We’re joined by Janet Stemwedel, Associate Professor of Philosophy at San Jose State University, and author of the blog Adventures in Ethics and Science. And we’ll talk to Bill Barry, Chief Historian at NASA, about the history of animals and spaceflight.

Listen or Download This Episode

The study mentioned in tonight’s episode is available here: Differences between chimpanzees and bonobos in neural systems supporting social cognition.

For more information about the Skeptics Mixtape 2011, check out Skepticblog.org.

#110 A History of Childbirth

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:18 +0000

We explore the changing ways that medicine and culture have treated pregnancy and childbirth. We’ll talk with doctor and medical journalist Randi Hutter Epstein, about her book Get Me Out: A History of Childbirth From the Garden of Eden to the Sperm Bank. And on another edition of Everything You Know is Sort Of Wrong, Greg Laden looks at common misconceptions about life expectancy.

Listen or Download This Episode

Desiree Schell Added To CFI Speakers Bureau

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 01:14:10 +0000

We’re happy to announce that our host, Desiree Schell, has been invited to join the Speakers Bureau at the Center For Inquiry. CFI is a transnational organization, whose mission is to foster a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values.

Desiree’s speaking specialties include two presentations:

“Out of the Blogs and Onto the Streets” – A history of social movements, and what skeptical activists can learn from them
An interactive workshop on the nuts and bolts of effective, outcome-oriented Skeptical Activism

For more information, and to find out how to request an appearance, see her speakers bureau profile page.

#109 A Lifetime of Data

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:35 +0000

We’ll get the scientific perspective on the causes and effects of aging, and how they change over a lifetime. We’ll speak with Dr. Nir Barzilai, director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, about the biology and genetics of aging. And we’re joined by Professor Diana Kuh, to discuss her work as the head of the UK’s National Survey for Health and Development.

Listen or Download This Episode

#108 Magical Thinking

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:49 +0000

We ask professional magicians how the study and practice of magic can help teach critical thinking skills. We’ll talk to sleight-of-hand master Jamy Ian Swiss, and Scam School creator Brian Brushwood, about the ways that magic can demonstrate – and help us overcome – our cognitive limitations. And we’re joined by Michael Goudeau, to talk about his career as a performer, and his work on Penn & Teller’s television projects.

Listen or Download This Episode

#107 Zombie Attack!

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:02 +0000

We dig into the fascinating ways these movie monsters overlap with real-world science. We talk to entomologist David P. Hughes, about his work studying parasites that use mind control to direct the behavior of their hosts. And mathematician Robert Smith? shares the results of his paper that models the best ways to control the spread of a zombie infestation.

Listen or Download This Episode

#106 Science & Culture

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 01:00:03 +0000

This week, we examine the ways that society and science inform and influence each other. We’re joined by Marie-Claire Shanahan, Professor of Science Education at the University of Alberta, and President of the Canadian Science Education Research Group, to discuss how science fits into the broader framework of our common culture. And we’ll talk to science writer Mike McRae, author of the new book Tribal Science: Brains, Beliefs and Bad Ideas, that looks at how brains that evolved to maintain social connections can manage to make objective observations.

Listen or Download This Episode

Click here for our extended interview with Marie-Claire Shanahan.

#105 Making Science Funny

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:00:09 +0000

This week, it’s a panel discussion on the plusses and pitfalls of using humor to promote science. We’re joined by Science Comedian Brian Malow, blogger Scicurious, and Brian Thompson, host of The Amateur Scientist Podcast. They’ll look at how engaging the funny bone can help the brain absorb the science that powers our world.

We also speak to Rachelle Saunders, one of the organizers of the upcoming LogiCON, an event celebrating critical thinking for everyone.

Listen or Download This Episode

Skeptically Speaking at LogiCON 2011

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 02:40:19 +0000

We’re proud to announce that several members of the Skeptically Speaking team will be appearing at LogiCON, an event celebrating a love of science and critical thinking for everyone. Host Desiree Schell will be moderating two panels, on Evidence Based Parenting, and How to Convince Your Friends and Family That Science Is Awesome.

Producer K.O. Myers will be speaking on the Science is Awesome Panel, and participating in a talk on Critical Thinking in Everyday Life. Studio staff members Ryan Bromsgrove and Lisa Schovanek will be on hand helping to organize the event.

In addition, LogiCON features past guests of the show, including keynote speaker Daniel Loxton, and presenter Barbara Drescher.

LogiCON takes place at the Telus World of Science, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Saturday, April 9th. For more information and to register, visit events.logicon.ca.

#104 Blood Work

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 01:00:23 +0000

It’s an hour on the blood that runs through your veins, and how modern medicine can supplement your supply. We’ll talk to Holly Tucker about Blood Work, her book exploring the pioneering science and the political intrigue behind the world’s first blood transfusions. Skepticality co-host Robynn “Swoopy” McCarthy shares her experience training as a phlebotomist. And we’re joined by William Rutherford, of Telus World of Science, to tell us about Edmonton’s first ever “Yuri’s Night” celebration.

Listen or Download This Episode

The Evolution Continues

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 18:31:23 +0000

As we enter our third year of sharing our love of science and critical thinking with our audience, we’ve recently changed our schedule. It’s part of our effort to ensure our audience is able to interact with our guests, while giving us the control and flexibility to create the most enjoyable show possible for our radio and podcast listeners.

As the next step in that ongoing transformation, we’re making two more changes. We will no longer be streaming the show through Ustream on Friday nights. (Each episode will still premiere Friday night at 6 MT on our home station, CJSR 88.5 FM in Edmonton, and you can listen to it via their streaming audio page.) And the podcast version of each episode will now be available on Friday nights by 9 MT.

There are some listeners who we’ve had the pleasure of getting to know during the Friday night chats, whose schedules make joining us on Sundays difficult. Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience. If you can’t join us in the chat on Sundays, we hope that you’ll continue to listen to the podcast version of the show, and submit questions for our guests.

Thanks for bearing with us as we adapt to try and bring you the best show we can. And, as always, thanks for listening.

#103 Sewer Science

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 01:00:02 +0000

This week, we take another look at water, and what happens to it after it goes down the drain. Researcher Liz Borkowski joins us for a look at the connection between sewage and civilization, and the struggle to introduce modern sanitation in the developing world. And we’ll talk to Dr. Alistair Boxall, about the sources and effects of pharmaceutical contaminants in the environment.

Unfortunately, we had some issues with Dr. Boxall’s recording that we couldn’t overcome in post-production. As a result, his interview is not up to our usual technical standards. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Listen or Download This Episode

Desiree Schell at TAM 9

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:54:34 +0000

The James Randi Educational Foundation has opened registration for The Amaz!ng Meeting 9, its annual skeptics convention in Las Vegas, NV. We’re pleased to announce that Skeptically Speaking host Desiree Schell will be a part of the program. Stay tuned for more about what she’ll be doing, and we hope to see you there in July!

#102 Fluoride & Water Tech

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 01:00:25 +0000

From the Roman aqueducts to the latest research on what happens when you turn the tap, it’s an hour on water. Dr. William James joins us for a lesson on the history and technology of municipal water systems. And we’ll talk to University of Toronto researcher Dr. Marc Grynpas about the science and safety of water fluoridation.

Listen or Download This Episode

Read the Canadian Dental Association’s statement on the safety and effectiveness of fluoride.

Use the following links for more information regarding home water filters and fluoride:

#101 Brain Games

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 01:00:27 +0000

It’s an hour on the brain, the senses, and how you can fool them both. We’re joined by neuroscientist Tom Stafford, co-author of the book Mind Hacks: Tips and Tricks for Using Your Brain. We’ll talk about how your brain processes information, and all of the fascinating ways you can make it mess up. And researcher Dr. Sarah Brosnan explains her study of game theory, and how humans compare to other primates when it comes to cooperative play.

If you’d like to help the victim of the Christchurch earthquake, please visit the New Zealand Red Cross.

Listen or Download This Episode

#100 Semen Science

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 01:00:17 +0000

Evolutionary biologist John Logsdon returns to explain the amazing diversity of sperm design, and its connection with mating behaviour. And Scientopia blogger Scicurious joins us to discuss some of our favorites from her Friday Weird Science archives. We’ll talk about everything from the antidepressant properties of semen, to smelly semen, to testicle receptacles, and so very much more.

Listen or Download This Episode

Here are links to all the Friday Weird Science posts that we discussed with Scicurious.

Do your balls hang low?

Your balls can’t take the heat from your laptop.

A tote for your scrote, a recepticle for your testicle.

Rats in pants.

Condoms and blunt puncture.

Condom puncture follow up and survey results.

The “antidepressant” properties of semen.

Vaginal malodor and smelly semen.

#99 Quacks And Scams

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 01:00:02 +0000

It’s an hour on scams and charlatans, with Dr. Stephen Barrett. He’s the creator of QuackWatch, a family of websites that tracks dubious healthcare claims, and the people and practitioners who make them. James “The Amazing” Randi joins us for a history of scams, and Jamie Williams of the Centre for Inquiry Vancouver discusses the fact and fiction of ear candling.

Listen or Download This Episode

A Beneficial Mutation

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 02:00:57 +0000

After lots of behind-the-scenes tinkering, we’re pleased to announce a new way that you can participate in the Skeptically Speaking experience. We’re going to start recording interviews live on Sunday nights at 6 pm Mountain Time. You can listen to us record live and submit questions in our Ustream chat room, just by clicking the “Listen Live” button to the left. The podcast version will now be available on our website and in iTunes the next Friday night by 9 MT.

You’ll still be able to submit questions for our guests here, or by email, Twitter and Facebook, and through our new voicemail system. Check the Contact page for more information.

The new live recordings start on Sunday, February 20th, with our 100th episode. We’re joined by Scientopia blogger Scicurious, to discuss the science of semen.

We’ll see you Sunday night at 6. Thanks for listening!

#98 Drug Development + An Optimist’s Tour of The Future

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 01:00:42 +0000

We’re joined by science writer Jessica Wapner, to examine the intersection between ethics, economics, and drug development, and what it means for the future of pharmaceutical research. And we sit down with author, comedian and futurist Mark Stevenson, to discuss his new book, An Optimist’s Tour Of The Future, about the cutting edge science that’s going to sustain and entertain the human species.

Listen or Download This Episode

#97 The Science of Kissing

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 01:00:39 +0000

We’re joined by researcher and science writer Sheril Kirshenbaum, to talk about her book The Science Of Kissing. We’ll learn about the surprisingly complex chemistry that’s going on during a passing peck or a passionate liplock. And Greg Laden returns for another edition of Everything You Know is Sort Of Wrong. This time, Greg asks, are there really universal traits that appear across all human cultures?

Listen or Download This Episode

#96 Human Factors Engineering

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 01:00:59 +0000

Researcher and blogger Ash Donaldson joins us for a pre-recorded discussion on the fascinating field of Human Factors Engineering. This multi-disciplinary science draws on anatomy, physiology, physics, psychology and communications research, as it tries to improve the ways that humans interact with technology, and use technology to interact with each other. And health science journalist Paul Ingraham returns with a primer on the causes and treatment of repetitive strain injuries.

Listen or Download This Episode

#95 The Science of Allergies

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 01:00:09 +0000

Dr. Gary Stadtmauer returns for a pre-recorded discussion on the science behind the causes, symptoms and treatment of allergies. And we start the hour with paramedic Michael Kruse to talk about 10:23, a campaign to raise awareness about the scientific perspective on homeopathy.

Listen or Download This Episode

The CBC Marketplace video that Michael mentioned is available here: Part 1. Part 2.

Question Everything (By Email)

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:00:50 +0000

If you were listening to the show live on Friday night, January 7th, you heard that we had technical difficulties, which prevented us from getting our scheduled guest on the air. It turns out that we’ve had a major equipment failure. We’re working on getting it straightened out, but until we do, we’re not going to be able to run the show with live guests. For at least the next few weeks, we have no choice but to pre-record our interviews.

We really enjoy providing you the opportunity to interact with our guests, so we’re working to get back to live shows as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we’ll do our best to let you know when you can submit questions by email, Twitter, on our Facebook page and through our website, so that we can include them in our pre-recorded interviews.

Thanks very much for listening.

#94 Art and Science

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 01:00:29 +0000

This week, it’s an hour on the intersection between science and the creative arts. We’ll speak to Lauren Redniss, author and illustrator of Radioactive, a visual narrative about the work, life and love of Marie and Pierre Curie. Art historian Jenna Marie Griffith explains the historical influence of science on the visual arts. And we’re joined by Glendon Mellow, painter, illustrator, and author of the blog The Flying Trilobite, to discuss the tension between creativity and scientific accuracy.

Since our host is in North Carolina for Science Online 2011, this week’s show is pre-recorded, and we won’t be taking audience questions.

Listen or Download This Episode

#93 The Paradox of Choice (Rebroadcast)

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 01:00:25 +0000

Technical problem have forced us to postpone our interview with Dr. John Medina. We’re working on rescheduling, and we’ll update you when we have more information. Thanks for listening!

This week, we revisit our interview with Barry Schwartz, psychologist and author. He contends that, although you may think you want more options, having myriad alternatives is actually making you miserable. And we start the hour with Daniel Loxton, author and illustrator of Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be, and editor of Junior Skeptic magazine. He’ll share his take on what being a skeptic really means.

Listen or Download This Episode

#92 The Introvert Advantage

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 01:00:26 +0000

We ring in the New Year with an interview for those of us who prefer a good book, a quiet chat, or an interesting hour of radio over a night of wild partying. We’re joined by Dr. Marti Laney, family therapist and author of The Introvert Advantage. We’ll learn why some people are wired to prefer solitude, and how they can learn to navigate in a world that rewards people who love to socialize.

Speaking Up:
Cognitive psychologist Barbara Drescher on the fact and fiction of personality tests.

Skeptically Speaking will be taking a break over the holidays. As this episode is prerecorded, we will not be accepting questions from the audience or setting up the chat room. You can listen to it stream at 6pm MST on CJSR.

Our live episodes begin again next week. In the meantime, have a Happy New Year!

Listen or Download This Episode

A Special Message For Our Podcast Listeners

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:00:02 +0000

Hello, podcast listeners. If you subscribe to Skeptically Speaking in iTunes, you may notice that, while our website lists over 90 episodes, our feed in the iTunes store only features nine shows.

We’ve recently changed web hosts and servers, and part of that transition means that we have to reload all the old files in order to make them available in iTunes. We just wanted to let you know that we’re going to start doing that in the next few days.

So if you’re a new listener, you’ll have an easier way to download our entire catalog of past shows. If you’re a longtime subscriber, you might get a whole bunch of episodes downloading all over again.

Thanks for your patience; we’re sorry for the inconvenience. And as always, thanks very much for listening.

Audio Version of This Message

#91 Religious Artifacts

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 01:00:35 +0000

We sit down with Joe Nickell, scholar, author and veteran paranormal investigator, to talk about his experiences examining religious relics. We’ll discuss his investigations of artifacts from all over the world, including weeping statutes, saintly reliquaries, and the infamous Shroud Of Turin.

Skeptically Speaking will be taking a break over the holidays. As this episode is prerecorded, we will not be accepting questions from the audience. Our live episodes begin again in January.

Listen or Download This Episode

#90 Holiday Book Shopping Guide

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 01:00:16 +0000

We help you plan your holiday gift-giving with an hour on the best books about science. We’re joined by a panel of former guests, including astronomer Nicole Gugliucci, psychotherapist Dana Blumrosen, and writer/performer Kennedy Goodkey. They’ll share their favorite science books, and help you fill out your holiday shopping list – even if you’re buying for yourself.

Listen or Download This Episode

Here’s a full list of books mentioned in this episode, arranged by the mentioner:
(For links to buy all the available books on the list, see this handy page, thoughtfully compiled by Tim Farley of What’s The Harm?)

Dana Blumrosen:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot
Mistakes Were Made (but not by me) – Carol Tavris & Elliot Aronson
Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure – Paul Offit
Fermat’s Last Theorem: The Epic Quest to Solve the Worlds Greatest Mathematical Problem – Simon Singh
Brain Cuttings: Fifteen Journeys Through the Mind – Carl Zimmer

Nicole Gugliucci:
Death From The Skies: These are the Ways the World will End… – Phil Plait
Scientific Paranormal Investigation: How to Solve Unexplained Mysteries – Ben Radford
Charlatan: America’s Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam – Pope Brock
Max Goes To Mars: Science Adventures With Max The Dog – Jeffrey Bennett
Contact – Carl Sagan
Infected , Contagious – Scott Sigler (Trilogy. Final book not yet released)

Kennedy Goodkey:
A Brief History Of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson
The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us To Choose Between Privacy And Freedom? – David Brin
Arcadia – Tom Stoppard
Physics Of The Buffyverse – Jennifer Ouellette
Imagining Head-Smashed-In: Aboriginal Buffalo Hunting on the Northern Plains – Jack Brink

Desiree Schell:
Beyond Belief: Skepticism, Science and the Paranormal – Martin Bridgstock

Michael Kruse:
Bad Science – Ben Goldacre
Taking The Medicine: A Short History of Medicines Beautiful Idea, and our Difficulty Swallowing it – Druin Burch

Heidi Anderson:
Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body – Neil Shubin

Jim Lippard:
The Copernican Revolution: Planetary Astronomy in the Development of Western Thought- Thomas Kuhn

Ben Radford:
The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark – Carl Sagan
How We Know What Isn’t So: The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life – Thomas Gilovich

Kylie Sturgess:
Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition – Stuart A. Vyse

Ruth Seeley:
Massive: The Hunt for the God Particle – Ian Sample
Bright Sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America – Barbara Ehrenrich
Bad Ideas?: An Arresting History of Our Inventions – Sir Robert Winston
Newton And The Counterfeiter – Thomas Levenson
Inventing Green* – Alexis Madrigal (Due in Spring 2011)
The Sky’s Dark Labyrinth* – Stuart Clark (Not released)
Solar – Ian McEwan
The Honest Look – Jennifer Rohn
The Calculus Diaries: How Math Can Help You Lose Weight, Win in Vegas, and Survive a Zombie Apocalypse – Jennifer Ouellette
Written in Stone: Evolution, the Fossil Record, and our Place in Nature – Brian Switek

Austin Luton:
Instant Physics: From Aristotle to Einstein, and Beyond – Tony Rothman

Jason Jones:
Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be – Daniel Loxton

Jenna Marie Griffith:
The Art of Evolution: Darwin, Darwinisms, and Visual Culture – Barbara Larson & Fae Brauer
Endless Forms: Charles Darwin, Natural Science, and the Visual Arts – Diana Donald and Jane Munro

John Logsdon:
Dr. Tatiana’s Sex Advice To All Creation: The Definite Guide to the Evolutionary Biology of Sex – Olivia Judson
Why Women Have Sex: Women Reveal the Truth About Their Sex Lives, from Adventure to Revenge (and Everything in Between) – Cindy Meston & David Buss
Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality – Christopher Ryan & Cacilda Jethá
Madame Bovary’s Ovaries: A Darwinian Look at Literature – David Barash & Nanelle Barash
The Score: How the Quest for Sex has Shaped the Modern Man – Faye Flam
Charles Darwin’s on the Origin’s of Species: A Graphic Adaptation – Michael Keller
The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution – Richard Dawkins

#89 Health Controversies – Backscatter Security Scanners + The Zamboni Treatment

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 01:00:40 +0000

We’ll talk to medical physicist Dr. Marc MacKenzie about the new scanning equipment that’s causing a stir at U.S. airports. How do the machines actually work, and is their radiation dangerous? And Dr. Brian Goldman, the host of CBC’s “White Coat, Black Art” shares his expert opinion on Dr. Paolo Zamboni’s Liberation Therapy, a treatment that claims to drastically reduce the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.

We also spoke briefly to Kim Hebert about the 2010 Skeptic North Awards.

Listen or Download This Episode

#88 Written in Stone

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 01:00:24 +0000

Science writer Brian Switek joins us to talk about his new book Written in Stone: Evolution, the Fossil Record, and Our Place in Nature. We’ll take a detailed look at the fossil evidence, to learn about the evolution of life on Earth, and our evolving understanding of how the process works.

Speaking Up:
Paleozoologist Darren Naish discusses the Science of Godzilla, his look at the hypothetical biology, anatomy and physics of the famous movie monster.

Listen or Download This Episode

#87 The Calculus Diaries

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 01:00:39 +0000

We talk to Jennifer Ouellette, author of The Calculus Diaries: How Math Can Help You Lose Weight, Win in Vegas, and Survive a Zombie Apocalypse. We’ll find out how much advanced math figures into our daily lives, and how even the mathematically challenged can learn to love the language of numbers.

Speaking Up:
Hip-hop science advocate Baba Brinkman returns to discuss his new project, The Rap Guide to Human Nature.

Listen or Download This Episode

Find out more about Baba’s crowdfunding drive for the Rap Guide to Evolution DVD!

#86 Consensus Science

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 01:00:27 +0000

We look at scientific consensus through the eyes of non-scientists. Skeptic North bloggers Erik Davis and Steve Thoms explain how non-professional researchers can understand the state of modern science on questions from climate change to the effects of electromagnetic fields.

Speaking Up:
Skeptic Bros Tom and Nick Croucher talk about the Placebo Band, a project targeting the claims of applied kinesiology.

Listen or Download This Episode

The Power Balance bracelet decision we mentioned on-air is posted at Vic Skeptics.

#85 Cooking for Geeks

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 01:00:25 +0000

We set the table for Jeff Potter, author of Cooking for Geeks: Real Science, Great Hacks and Good Food. From overclocking your kitchen appliances to recipes right out of a chemistry lab manual, we’ll explore how delicious cooking can be when you add a dash of nerd.

Speaking Up:
Immunologist Dr. Gary Stadtmauer joins us to explain the science behind food allergies.

Listen or Download This Episode

Dr. Stadmauer mentioned two allergy resources on this episode: www.foodallergy.org and the Food Allergy Initiative.

Desiree mentioned a news story she had read about poppy seeds causing a false positive on a drug test, leading to a newborn being removed from her parents.

Thank you!

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 16:21:28 +0000

People, you have warmed us to the very cockles of our hearts. Over the last few weeks, we’ve received a tremendous amount of support for the show, and in so many ways.

From those of you who posted the FunDrive appeals as your own Twitter and Facebook updates, to everyone who showed up for the live-on-camera episode, to the prizes contributed by our past guests, you have made the act of asking for money go from awkward to awesome.

Thanks very much to the past guests that generously offered prizes to help sweeten the donation deal:

Guy P. Harrison, Daniel Loxton, Ben Radford, Paula Begoun, Aaron Santos, Raven Hanna, Baba Brinkman and Vanessa Woods.

And to our discerning and devoted donors… thank you so much for deciding to put your money where your mouth is. Your assistance is not only valuable financially, it’s evidence that what we’re doing here is appreciated. We’re grateful for your validation.

All donations receive a Skeptically Speaking button, and those, along with any prizes you may have won, are on their way to you. If you don’t receive them in the next few weeks, please let us know at feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com.

All of you have made this year’s FunDrive something wonderful. Thank you!

#84 A Retrospective

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 01:00:29 +0000

In honour of CJSR’s FunDrive, we took a look back at some of our favourite moments from the show, and offered our (insightful and witty) commentary.

Please note: Although FunDrive is over, it’s never too late to donate. If you do decide to contribute online, please email us and let us know, so we can make sure you receive a tasteful and iconic Skeptically Speaking button!

If you have already donated, we think you’re great.

Listen or Download This Episode

The clips that we played on this show came from these past episodes:

Astronomy
Science Fiction and Skepticism
Ask a Pharmacist
How Many Licks
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Cosmetics Cop
Nuclear Power
Sex, Genes and Evolution
Bonobo Handshake
Young Skeptics
Baba Brinkman
Skeptical Education
Brian Malow – Science Comedian
Belief & Education
Getting Noticed
Adam Savage
Investigating Technology
The Paradox of Choice

#83 Race and Reality

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 01:00:06 +0000

The first show of our host station’s CJSR’s annual FunDrive campaign features a look at the science of race, with Guy P. Harrison, author of Race and Reality: What Everyone Should Know about Our Biological Diversity. Is there any real biological basis to race? And how does it compare with our cultural understanding?

If you would like to donate to FunDrive in support of Skeptically Speaking, click here! And make sure you write “Skeptically Speaking” in the “Show Donated To” field, so you can be entered for the prize draws!

Speaking Up:
We talk to Noah Nez, author of Diary of a Native Skeptic, a blog that looks at critical thinking from a Native American perspective.

Listen or Download This Episode

CJSR’s FunDrive = The Opportunity to Show Your Love

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:08:13 +0000

It’s time again for our lovely host station’s annual fund raising campaign, CJSR’s FunDrive! The campaign runs from October 27th to November 6th, and since Skeptically Speaking will air twice during that period, that gives us *two* opportunities to enthusiastically ask for your support for this fine radio station. The station that generously allows us to monopolize their airwaves and equipment once a week, to bring science and critical thought to the masses.

You may be wondering, “How exactly do you plan to encourage me to donate?” As usual, you have brilliant questions. We have fantastic prizes we’ll be giving away on air, some of which were contributed by past guests of the show. We’ll be doing our entire show ON CAMERA on November 5th here. And if you want to show your love for community radio right on your chest, you may want to pay special attention to the CJSR donor swag.

And do keep in mind that on Skeptically Speaking, we interview researchers, authors and experts, to help *you* understand the evidence, arguments and science behind what’s in the news and on the shelves. You may not realize it, but some people are adamantly opposed to some of the subjects we cover on the show. Topics like vaccinations, genomics, nuclear power, and evolution. Even conversations about race and gender is content that some people find very controversial. And that means these subjects *desperately* need to be discussed rationally, realistically, and reasonably. And you can contribute to maintaining that dialogue, by donating.

Please note: When you donate, be sure to specify that you are donating in support of Skeptically Speaking, so that your name is entered into our prize draws. The last prize draw is at 7pm on Friday, November 5th, right after the live-on-camera retrospective. If you donate after that time, don’t worry. ALL donors receive a tasteful and iconic Skeptically Speaking button!

Thanks so much for your support… and for your generous donation!

Please note revisited: We’ve been informed that CJSR can only accept Visa and Mastercard for credit card donations. Discover and other cards won’t be charged if you try to use them. Sorry for the inconvenience.

#82 Vaccines

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 01:00:55 +0000

We talk to Dr. David Gorski, surgical oncologist and Managing Editor of Science-Based Medicine, about the science and the suspicion of vaccinations. How do vaccines actually work? Why do so many parents fear them? And how has vaccine anxiety contributed to the resurgence of childhood diseases?

Speaking Up:
Leart Shaka talks about The Vaccine Times, his project targeting pediatrician’s waiting rooms in the fight against vaccine misinformation.

Listen or Download This Episode

#81 Delusions of Gender

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 01:00:12 +0000

We speak with academic psychologist Dr. Cordelia Fine. Her new book, Delusions Of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference, challenges the assumption that gender roles are wired into our brains, and shows us how ubiquitous cultural stereotypes are mistaken for actual fact.

On Everything You Know is Sort Of Wrong, Greg Laden asks if modern hobbies are an evolutionary consequence of prehistoric gender roles.

Listen or Download This Episode

You can find more information about the Waterloo, Ontario Drinking Skeptically on Meetup and Facebook.

#80 Science Journalism

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 01:00:38 +0000

We’ll speak to Bora Zivkovic, Blog and Community Editor at Scientific American and one of the ScienceOnline organizers, about how online science reporting and the explosion of science blogging are affecting the way science news is brought to the public.

Speaking Up:
Science journalist Stephen Strauss will tell us how the decline of the newspaper industry has affected his profession.

Listen or Download This Episode

Looking for the Science Blog Aggregator mentioned on the show? Click here.

#79 Your Brain on Music

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 01:00:03 +0000

We’re joined by neuroscientist and musician Daniel Levitin, to discuss his book This Is Your Brain on Music. We’ll look at the neuroscience of music appreciation, and explore the fascinating ways that listening to music affects our brains.

Speaking Up:
Raven Hanna and Logan Daniel share a look at the Science Tarot, a project that uses eye-catching art and the mythical structure of the tarot to illuminate scientific concepts.

Richard Murray on the inaugural Toronto Skepticamp

Listen or Download This Episode

#78 Improbable Research

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 01:00:51 +0000

We look at the stranger side of science with Marc Abrahams, the editor of Annals of Improbable Research and creator of the the Ig Nobel Prize. Is science that makes us laugh better at making us think?

Speaking Up:
Neurobiologist Dr. Richard Wassersug explains his research into the relative tastiness of Costa Rican tadpoles.

Listen or Download this Episode

#77 Bad Research

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 01:00:23 +0000

Cognitive psychologist Barbara Drescher joins us to discuss the common mistakes scientists make, and what happens to the science when their research goes wrong.

Speaking Up:
Journalist David Dobbs explains the case against Marc Hauser, a prominent Harvard evolutionary biologist who was recently found guilty of scientific misconduct.

Listen or Download This Episode

#76 The Women Of Skepticism

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Live from Skeptrack at Dragon*Con, we talk to the women of skepticism about the contributions they’re making to science and critical thinking.

In this episode:

Panelists: Kylie Sturgess of The Token Skeptic, Robynn “Swoopy” McCarthy of Skepticality, and Heidi Anderson and Jenna Marie Griffith of SheThought.

Field recordings: Donna Mugavero, Laurie Tarr, Dr. Pamela Gay, Dr. Rachie Dunlop, Jennifer Ouellette, Maria Walters, A Kovacs, Barbara Drescher

Listen or Download This Episode

#75 Nobel Prize Women in Science – Part 2

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Author Sharon Bertsch McGrayne returns to tell us about more about the most influential women in the history of modern science.

Part 1 of the episode is here.

Speaking Up:
Our own Ryan Bromsgrove explains everything you need to know about Quantum Misappropriations

Nicole Gugliucci with an update on Dark Skies, Bright Kids

Listen or Download This Episode

#74 The Conspiracy Skeptic

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0000

We talk to Karl Mamer, host of The Conspiracy Skeptic, a podcast that examines the breathless claims and the actual evidence behind today’s most tenacious conspiracy theories.

Speaking Up:
Geneticist Josh Witten on what irrational beliefs can teach us about evolutionary theory.

Skeptic North Blogger Kim Hebert examines 21 studies claimed to support homeopathy.

Listen or Download This Episode

You can read the blog post that inspired Josh Witten’s Speaking Up on The Finch & Pea.

You can read Kim Hebert’s examination of all 21 of these studies at Skeptic North.

#73 Transhumanism – Part 2

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Back by popular demand: George Dvorsky, of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, and science blogger Greg Fish. It’s time for another look at Transhumanism, this time to debate Artificial Intelligence and the Singularity.

Transhumanism – Part 1 can be found here.

Speaking Up:
Joey Haban of newly-nerfed.net on the myths and misunderstandings about Deaf culture.

Listen or Download This Episode

#72 Sex at Dawn

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0000

We talk to author Christopher Ryan about his new book Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality. We’ll discuss the most recent science and theories, and how social norms compare to our biological impulses.

Speaking Up:
Derek Colanduno and Robynn “Swoopy” McCarthy with a look at the skeptical events happening at this year’s Dragon*Con!

Listen or Download This Episode

#71 Genetically Modified Foods

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 01:00:00 +0000

University of Florida researcher Kevin Folta discusses what an expert in plant genomics thinks about the claims and controversy surrounding genetically modified foods.

Speaking Up:
Monty Harper and the “Songs From the Science Frontier” project.

Listen or Download This Episode

#70 The Culture Of Fear

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:00:00 +0000

We’re joined by sociologist and author Barry Glassner. For ten years, his book The Culture Of Fear has shed light on the way that cultural anxiety is manufactured to drive media ratings and win votes for politicians. The book has recently been updated to cover the trends of the last decade, and Glassner will explain why we’re still afraid of all the wrong things.

And Greg Laden is back with Everything You Know is Sort of Wrong. This time, is it true that poor people have more babies than the wealthy?

Listen or Download This Episode

#69 The Science of Sleep

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Dr. Kimberly A. Cote, Director of the Brock University Sleep Laboratory, discusses the research into the relationship between sleep, cognition and performance.

Speaking Up:
Josh Hunt from the Cleveland Skeptics, on Critical Thinking 101

Listen or Download This Episode

#68 Adventures Among Ants

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:00:00 +0000

We’re joined by explorer and wildlife photographer Mark W. Moffet, to discuss his new book Adventures Among Ants. We’ll journey around the world to learn about these fascinating insects, and discover the parallels between their societies and our own.

Speaking Up:
Blogger Mike McCarron on making skepticism a family affair.

Listen or Download This Episode

#67 Cruelty

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 01:00:00 +0000

We talk to researcher Dr. Kathleen Taylor, the author of Cruelty: Human Evil and the Human Brain. Has the human brain evolved the capacity for evil? We’ll examine cruelty as a scientific phenomenon, using the latest research from psychology and neuroscience.

Speaking Up:
Marc-Julien Objois of the Greater Edmonton Skeptics Society on their upcoming Skepticamp.

Listen or Download This Episode

#66 Scientific Paranormal Investigation

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Our guest is Ben Radford, columnist and managing editor for Skeptical Inquirer magazine. Ben is a veteran investigator of paranormal incidents, and the author of Scientific Paranormal Investigation: How to Solve Unexplained Mysteries. He’ll share stories about his favourite investigations, and the techniques he uses to bring real science to bear on paranormal claims.

Speaking Up:
Markus Volter with Omega Tau Podcast

Listen or Download This Episode

#65 Transhumanism

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 01:00:00 +0000

We explore the predictions and the problems in the quest to “enhance” human beings. We’re joined by George Dvorsky of Sentient Developments and the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, and blogger Greg Fish. How will advancing technology affect our bodies, our lives, and our society?

And it’s time for another installment of Everything You Know is Sort Of Wrong with Greg Laden. This week: Did Humans Evolve from Apes?

Listen or Download This Episode

#64 The Cosmetics Cop

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Paula Begoun is the bestselling author of “The Beauty Bible” and “Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me.” We’ll examine the science behind some popular beauty products, and find out what real research says about makeup myths.

Speaking Up:
The Amazing Meeting with Austin Luton, Jeff Wagg and K.O. Myers

Listen or Download This Episode

#63 Vitamins

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Pharmacist and blogger Scott Gavura returns to give us the evidence-based perspective on vitamins and the claims that are made about them. Which ones are beneficial, which ones are bunk, and how is this billion-dollar industry regulated?

**Please note, due to technical issues during the recording, the sound quality of this week’s episode is not up to our usual standard. We apologize for the inconvenience.**

Speaking Up:
Steve Wereley on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Listen or Download This Episode

#62 The Evidence for Climate Change

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 01:00:00 +0000

We’re joined by John Cook, author of Skeptical Science, a website that examines climate change denial. What are the most common arguments used to create doubt about global warming? Are they supported by scientific evidence?

Speaking Up:
Meg Askey, Director of the Flagstaff Film Festival

Listen or Download This Episode

#61 Bonobo Handshake

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 29 May 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Journalist and author Vanessa Woods joins us to discuss her new book Bonobo Handshake. The memoir takes us inside Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary, a refuge for orphaned baby bonobos in the Congo. What can studying these highly social primates tell us about ourselves?

And science blogger Greg Laden joins us for Everything You Know Is Sort of Wrong, a new regular feature exposing the truth behind some commonly held beliefs. Our first segment: Primitive Cultures.

Listen or Download This Episode

#60 Massimo Pigliucci

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 22 May 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Philosophy professor and author Dr. Massimo Pigliucci joins us to discuss his new book Nonsense On Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk. We’ll discuss why people embrace pseudoscientific beliefs, and how it affects our culture.

Speaking Up:
Noisy Astronomer Nicole Gugliucci with Dark Skies, Bright Kids

Listen or Download This Episode

#59 Young Skeptics

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 14 May 2010 07:00:00 +0000

We’re joined by three members of the Young Australian Skeptics: Jack Scanlan, Elliot Birch and Jason Ball.

We’ll find out what’s it like to discover reason before you’re eligible to vote, how they communicate with their more credulous peers, and where they think we should go from here.

Speaking Up:
Alex Swan from WooFighters.org

Listen or Download This Episode

#58 Cryptozoology 101

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Blake Smith and Dr. Karen Stollznow, two of the hosts of MonsterTalk, join us to share some of their favorite stories of fictional fauna.

Speaking Up:
Myron Getman of themadskeptic.com on The Dangers of Cryptozoology

Listen or Download This Episode

#57 The Survival Guide for Outsiders

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 01 May 2010 01:00:00 +0000

We talk to Sherman K. Stein, mathematician and author of Survival Guide for Outsiders: How To Protect Yourself From Politicians, Experts, and Other Insiders.

What makes us so susceptible to social influence, and how can we guard against being manipulated?

Speaking Up:
Matthew Linsdell on Personal Training

Listen or Download This Episode

#56 Baba Brinkman

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

We sit down with Vancouver rapper Baba Brinkman, the artist behind The Rap Guide to Evolution, and the new rationalist anthem Off That.

Speaking Up:
Jason Brown with skepticator.com

Listen or Download This Episode

#55 Science Education

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0000

How are today’s teachers sharing the wonders of science and critical thinking with the next generation of students?

With cognitive psychologist and university lecturer Barbara Drescher, and Mike McRae, former science teacher and current science writer for the education division of Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization.

Speaking Up:
Taylor Proctor with SkeptiBOOTcamp

Listen or Download This Episode

#54 The Genius in All of Us

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

We’ll be joined by journalist and bestselling author David Shenk, to discuss his new book, The Genius in All of Us: Why Everything You’ve Been Told About Genetics, Talent, and IQ Is Wrong.

We’ll dig into the relationship between intelligence, talent and genetics. When it comes to the brain, does DNA always equal destiny, or can hard work mean more than heredity?

Speaking Up:
Steve Thoms of Skeptic North on Homeopathy Awareness Week

Listen or Download This Episode

#53 Obesity

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Researcher and writer Peter Janiszewski joins us to discuss the science of obesity, and the latest research on weight loss and human health.

Speaking Up:
Carrie Iwan of Skepchick on Skepchicon

Listen or Download This Episode

#52 The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0000

We speak to Miriam Goldstein, doctoral student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography about her research expedition to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

While we were on air, some wonderful listeners decided to post a “Happy First Radioversary” fan page. If you’d like to see for yourself what almost made Desiree speechless on live radio, visit here.

Thanks so much to those of you who passed on your glowing good wishes. We very, very much appreciate the love.

Speaking Up:
Greg Fish from worldofweirdthings.com on Transhumanism

Listen or Download This Episode

#51 Nobel Prize Women in Science

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:00:00 +0000

In honor of Ada Lovelace Day, author Sharon Bertsch McGrayne joined us to discuss the lives, careers and Nobel Prize-winning research of women scientists.

Speaking Up:
Heidi Anderson previews She Thought

Listen or Download This Episode

#50 Investigating Technology

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000

We spoke to Jonathan Strickland, senior writer and “TechStuff” for howstuffworks.com, about the importance of critical thinking when examining new technology, and when determining whether the tech we use now does what it claims.

Speaking Up:
Tyson Wozniak on skeparent.com

Listen or Download This Episode

#49 Sex, Genes and Evolution

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Biologist John Logsdon joins us to discuss the genetic and evolutionary aspects of sexual reproduction. Why do we have sex, anyway? Why do some creatures reproduce sexually, while others don’t? And beyond the simple act of making other humans, what role does sex play in the survival of our species?

Speaking Up:
Don Riefler on the Gen Con Guerilla Skeptical Symposium

Listen or Download This Episode

#48 The Interactive Conference

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0000

We looked at the increasing focus on interactivity at science and skeptical conferences. Science Online 2010 organizer Bora Zivkovic discusses the evolution of that conference model, and his experience putting together a massive multi-day, participant-driven gathering of scientists and science enthusiasts.

Speaking Up: Skepticamp founderReed Esau talks about the creation of the Skepticamp interactive conference.

Listen or Download This Episode

#47 The Wakefield Study

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0000

We take an in depth look at the recent Lancet retraction of Andrew Wakefield’s research into a correlation between Autism and the MMR vaccine. Pharmacist Scott Gavura, research ethicist Nancy Walton and author and philosopher Chris MacDonald explore the shoddy science, questionable ethics and the repercussions of more than a decade of misinformation.

Speaking Up:
Rodrigo de la Jara of the Greater Edmonton Skeptics Society on the value of basic research

Listen or Download This Episode

#46 The Independent Investigations Group

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:00:00 +0000

We spoke to three members of the Independent Investigations Group, to discuss their organization and their $50,000 Paranormal Challenge. Steve Muscarella, Jim Newman and Spencer Marks explained how they investigate extraordinary claims, and put them to the (scientific) test.

Speaking Up:
Superstitions, with Joey Haban of Newly Nerfed

Listen or Download This Episode

#45 The Skeptical Scientist – Dr. Rachael Dunlop

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:00:00 +0000

We spoke to Rachel “Dr. Rachie” Dunlop, Australian scientist and Skeptic Zone podcaster. We discussed her work as a scientist, researcher and blogger, as well as her efforts to promote reason and critical thinking to her fellow Australians.

Speaking Up:
Skeptic North, the Pan-Canadian Skeptical Blog Collective

Listen or Download This Episode

#44 Evolution Education

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:00:00 +0000

We sat down with Dr. Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education, to talk about the state of evolution education. How is the science being presented in schools? What new tactics are anti-science advocates using to challenge the teaching of evolution? And how can skeptics and friends of science best communicate the information?

Plus, we discussed the new children’s book Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be by Junior Skeptic author and illustrator Daniel Loxton.

Speaking Up:
Skeptical Activism on Facebook with Travis Roy of the Granite State Skeptics

Listen or Download This Episode

#43 Skepticism and Race

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Is the face of modern skepticism really as monochrome as it appears? How do we make our message appeal to a broader, more diverse audience? And how do racial demographics influence belief in pseudoscience and the paranormal?

Our panel includes LaVerne Knight-West, Stephanie Zvan, and Girl 6.

Speaking Up:
Rhys Chouinard with the University of Alberta Atheists and Agnostics debate

K.O. Myers from Grassroots Skeptics on their new Skeptical Speakers Bureau

Listen or Download This Episode

Hey you! Do you have an area of science or skeptical expertise you’d like to share with the community? Sign up for the Grassroots Skeptics Speakers Bureau!

#42 Climate Change

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Guest host Mike Harrison spoke to Dr. John Gamon, professor and researcher at the University of Alberta, researcher for the TROPI-DRY Collaborative Research Network, and cofounder of SpecNet, about climate science and research.

Speaking Up:
Dinosaur Vocalization with Della Drury

Listen or Download This Episode

#41 How Many Licks?

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:00:00 +0000

We spoke to author and physicist Aaron Santos about his new book, How Many Licks.

Have you ever wondered how many calories are in the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man? How many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? How long it would take to dig your way to China using a spoon?

Aaron knows. Approximately.

Speaking Up:
Paper vs. Plastic with Naomi Baker

Listen or Download This Episode

Note: You may have come here looking for the all-nerd-music episode that everyone seems to love. Turns out, it may be illegal to post. If you would like to discuss the legal quagmire that is copyright issues as they relate to filesharing when you’re podcasting a show that originally aired on the radio, do email me at desiree@skepticallyspeaking.com.

#40 Alcohol

feedback@skepticallyspeaking.com (Desiree Schell & K.O.Myers) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:00:00 +0000

In honor of your possible New Year’s over-indulgence, we discussed alcohol with Dr. Rob Tarzwell and Dr. Ken Mukamal.

How does intoxication work? When is alcohol actually good for you, and how much is too much? And of course… how to get rid of a hangover.

Listen or Download This Episode