Shows / Skeptoid
Skeptoid
The true science behind our most popular urban legends. Historical mysteries, paranormal claims, popular science myths, aliens and UFO reports, conspiracy theories, and worthless alternative medicine schemes... Skeptoid has you covered. From the sublime to the startling, no topic is sacred. Weekly since 2006.
Episodes
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #603: Sonic Weapons in Cuba
There is a much better explanation than sonic weapons for reported attacks against US diplomats in Cuba. Learn about your ad choices…
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #602: Should Moms Eat Placentas?
The modern practice of Western mothers eating their placentas is a new and strange attention-seeking behavior. Learn about your ad choices…
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #601: Hiding the Decline: Climategate Demystified
This infamous scandal was said to have proven global warming was all just a hoax. Umm, no. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #600: A Musical Retrospective
Everything you didn't know about ten years of Skeptoid musical episodes, including the reason. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #599: Listener Feedback: Creationism and More Dead Paul
Some updates, notes, and extra information sent in by listeners about recent episodes. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #598: The Hudson Valley UFO Mystery
Hundreds of people watched this UFO over the Hudson River Valley many times between 1983 and 1984. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #597: The Wisdom of the Future
Skeptoid corrects a round of past errors, that they might become the wisdom of the future. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #596: How to Assess a Documentary
Some tips to assess whether a documentary is good science or just propaganda. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #595: Chasing Malaysian Airlines MH370
A roundup of the conspiracy theories and the probable true fate of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #594: Paul Is Dead
The origins and history of the urban legend that Paul McCartney died and was replaced. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #593: I Still Can't Believe They Did That: More Human Guinea Pigs
A further look at ten more scientists who experimented on themselves for the benefit of mankind. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #592: Alert 747: The Vela Incident
In 1979, a mysterious flash occurred over the southern ocean that could have been a nuclear bomb. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #591: Ouija Boards
Real effects far more interesting than spiritualism claims are behind these famous talking boards. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #590: Skepticism vs Cynicism
The line between skepticism and cynicism is a bit too blurry for many people. Today we bring it into focus. Learn about your ad choices…
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #589: The Big Pharma Conspiracy
Popular claims of a Big Pharma Conspiracy don't stand up to any rational scrutiny. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Skeptoid #588: Celebrity Pseudoscience: 2017 Edition
A look at which celebrities are currently working hardest to erode the public intellect. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Skeptoid #587: What Makes a Good Podcast Episode?
Stories about urban legends are at their best when there are real people at their center. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Skeptoid #586: Volkswagen Dieselgate Reexamined
In the wake of VW Dieselgate, the government took the wrong steps to solve the wrong problem. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #585: Relict Japanese Soldiers
How factual are the urban legends about Japanese soldiers in the Pacific who never heard the war ended? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #584: Eclipse Myths and Science
A look at the science-based myths and misconceptions about eclipses, plus some things you might not know. Learn about your ad choices…
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #583: Fate of the Feedback
Skeptoid responds to some listener feedback, updating a few episodes and clarifying some others. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #582: Lonnie Zamora and the Socorro UFO
This famous 1964 UFO sighting by a New Mexico police officer has several interesting explanations. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #581: Are You Following a Crank?
Let's have a look at the traits that define a crank, to make sure your new hero isn't one. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #580: Amelia Earhart Redux: Competing Networks, Competing Craziness
Through their constant promotion of false history, TV networks may have done Amelia Earhart's legacy irreparable harm. Learn about your ad choices…
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #579: Measuring the Age of the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is millions of years old, not thousands; despite the efforts of Young Earthers. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Skeptoid #578: Student Questions: Bitters, Gas, and Diet Woo
Skeptoid answers another round of questions sent in by students all around the world. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #577: What Are the Chances You're Psychic?
We analyze some of your stories of precognitive experiences. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #576: Lights in the Sky
How likely is the most common type of UFO report to be an alien spacecraft? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #575: How to Surprise a Skeptical Podcaster: Part 2
Here are the podcast episodes with conclusions that surprised me the most (part 2). Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #574: How to Surprise a Skeptical Podcaster: Part 1
Here are the podcast episodes with conclusions that surprised me the most (part 1). Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #573: There Is No Finland: Birth of a Conspiracy Theory
A study of how a conspiracy theory as absurd as "There is no Finland" can even exist. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #572: True or False Pregnancy
False pregnancies are not only real, they're probably more complex than you imagined. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #571: Thawing the Minnesota Iceman
This sideshow attraction convinced a few real scientists that it was an actual ape-man. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #570: More Space Missions You Should Know
We take a look at some more of the most exciting space missions, past, present, and future. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #569: Principles of Curiosity
Three simple steps anyone can follow to learn to tell what's true and what's not. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #568: 2 Listener 2 Feedback
I respond to some listener feedback that enhances some recent episodes of the show. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #567: Feral Children
Those stories about children raised by animals probably aren't what you've been led to believe. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #566: The Mercury Rivers of Emperor Qin Shi Huang
A miniature of all China's waterways in liquid mercury is said to be at the heart of the First Emperor's tomb. Learn about your ad choices…
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #565: The Shag Harbour UFO
Comparing the actual evidence to the Canadian claim of best evidence for alien visitation. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #564: Into Thin Error
Skeptoid issues another round of corrections to past episodes. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #563: Grounding the Ghost of Flight 401
The unexpected facts behind this famous ghost story from the 1970s. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #562: Rhino Horn: Cure or Curse?
Rhinos are still being killed for their horns, but probably not for the reasons you thought. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #561: Beethoven's Hair
Popular stories claim Beethoven died of lead poisoning, but the science so far doesn't hold up. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #560: Remembering the Mandela Effect
Some claim that certain common false memories are evidence for alternate realities. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #559: Hitler's Antarctic Fortress Unmasked
Deconstructing a wild tale about a Nazi military base deep inside Antarctica. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #558: Listener Feedback: Electric Boogaloo
Skeptoid answers another round of listener feedback, keeping the show on the straight and narrow. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #557: Who Were the Berserkers?
These mighty Norse warriors fought with a frenzy that seems all but inexplicable. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #556: Exploring Kincaid's Cave
Some say a marvelous cave of Egyptian wonders is hidden in the Grand Canyon. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #555: Thorium Reactors: Fact and Fiction
These next-generation reactors have attracted a nearly cultish following. Here are the real facts. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #554: How Your Credit Card Got Stolen
Here are the most likely ways that your credit card got stolen, and how you can prevent it in the future. Learn about your ad choices…
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #553: How Your Password Got Stolen
The facts, fiction, and real risk to you of all these high-profile data breaches online. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #552: The D. B. Cooper Mystery
The world's only unsolved hijacking case is filled with misinformation. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #551: Space Missions You Should Know
A roundup of the most exciting and important space missions you really need to know about. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #550: The Mad Gasser of Mattoon
In 1944, a strange night prowler is believed to have made poison gas attacks in Illinois. Here's what we know. Learn about your ad choices…
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #549: The Simple Proof of Man-Made Global Warming
The two most basic Smoking Guns proving that carbon from fossil fuels is warming the Earth. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #548: Bruce Lee Myths
More mythology than fact surrounds this enigmatic figure from martial arts films. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #547: The Ghost Fighter Plane of Pearl Harbor
Published accounts tell of a mysterious fighter plane that came into Pearl Harbor a year after the Japanese attack. Learn about your ad choices…
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #546: There's No Such Thing as Race... Or Is There?
Genetically, race does not exist; but there are still inconvenient places for it in science. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #545: First in Flight
You always thought the Wright Brothers were the first to fly a plane? Well, it depends what country you're from. Learn about your ad choices…
- Skeptoid
Skeptoid #544: Feedback and Followups
Some nifty extra information for a few recent episodes supplied by listeners in the know. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices