Skeptics Guide #1095

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #1095 July 2nd 2026 Segment #1. Back to Basics What Is Scientific Skepticism I'm a long-time listener to your podcast, and I always listen to you when I commute to and from work - which is about a 45-minute drive in each direction. I believe I have a fairly good understanding of the scientific method, and I do believe I understand, and practice, a skeptical view of things regularly in life. I work as a correctional officer, and I find the skeptical principle very useful when I deal with inmates' often strongly biased views on many topics. I have recommended the show to a lot of friends and co-workers, and many have followed those recommendations. But, and this is the main point of this letter, I feel that many simply don't understand the basic concepts, the very foundation, of what you're doing. Terms like skepticism and your adherence to concepts like the scientific method are not that widely known, and I believe that could be easily remedied. I would suggest that you every now and then take some time on the show to explain these basic concepts to retain any new listeners, to make them up to speed with what the show is really about. I am aware of your recurring segment on cognitive bias, logical fallacies and the like (and I do appreciate it). But I feel those discussions require knowledge of the more basic concepts - which I find mostly omitted. I strongly believe your work is extremely important, probably more so in our bubble-ridden, AI-advised, TikTok-brainrot present. Especially, I'd guess, for U.S. listeners given the almost oppressive stance from your government on science in general. With that said, thank you so much for your hard work! When writing this I noticed I wasn't a Patreon member. So I remedied that. I can't access my private e-mail account from work, so I can't start a paid membership right now. I will though, as soon as my job stint is up this weekend. Best regards, Fredrik Granlund, Sweden Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Synthetic Cell https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/science/spud-cell-what-to-know.html News Item #2 – Trust in Science https://theness.com/neurologicablog/how-the-brain-pays-attention/ News Item #3 – Geothermal Update https://theness.com/neurologicablog/where-are-we-with-geothermal/ News Item #4 – Solar Corona Heating https://phys.org/news/2026-07-cosmic-play-key-role-mystery.html Segment #3. Quickie with Cara Radiation Eating Fungus https://www.sciencealert.com/this-chernobyl-fungus-seems-to-have-evolved-an-incredible-ability Segment #4. Who’s That Noisy Segment #5. Your Questions and E-mails Question #1: Responses to Evan Segment #6. Science or Fiction Each week our host will come up with three science news items or facts, two genuine, one fictitious. He will challenge our panel of skeptics to sniff out the fake – and you can play along. Theme: American History Item 1: George Washington, while a lieutenant colonel in the Virginia militia, committed an epic blunder which was responsible for starting the French and Indian War. Item 2: During part of the Revolutionary War, Abigail Adams was a spy for the Continental Congress, engaging in espionage to gather intelligence and plant misinformation. Item 3: Thomas Jefferson popularized Macaroni and Cheese in America, and even designed his own pasta-making machine. Segment #7. Skeptical Quote of the Week “Asking the right questions is as important as answering them.” – Benoit Mandelbrot


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I Survived the Most Dangerous Heat on Earth (for Science)

It's getting hot in here… can we survive it? ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ I pushed my body to the edge in a climate & sports research lab to discover what extreme heat really does to us. Why humidity, not just temperature, can make heat deadly, and how climate change and city design are making dangerous heat more common. Be Smart explores science questions you didn’t even know you wondered about. It is hosted and produced by Joe Hanson, PhD. We post new videos all the time, so please subscribe! If you enjoyed this video, hit the ‘like’ button, leave a comment, or watch another of our videos! CONNECT WITH ME ____________________________________ Website: https://www.itsokaytobesmart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart/ https://www.instagram.com/drjoehanson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/itsokaytobesmart A big thanks to our Brain Trust patrons: Baerbel Winkler, Bernadette Etienne, Brent Lopez, dani bowman, David Johnston, Ed Eyden, Eric Meer, Jaap Westera, Karen Haskell, Marcus Pingel, Mike and Patty Loftis, Reuben Brewer SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES ____________________________________ Please email biz@itsokaytobesmart.com Stock video and images provided by Shutterstock, Artlist, and MotionArray Music provided by APM Written Joe Hanson Edited by Steven Simone Produced by Least Square Media and Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios


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I’ll be at a live Wukong concert!

Produced by The Mythology Guy
This episode features: I’ll be at a live Wukong concert!

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► Instagram: https://instagram.com/tartarusgames
► Card Game: https://tartarusgames.squarespace.com

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How Do Crickets Chirp? | #DeepLook #Shorts

There are dozens of different species of field crickets in the U.S. And because they look so similar, the most common way scientists tell them apart is by the sounds they make. Learn more in our episode "Why Crickets Just Won't Shut Up" 👉 https://youtu.be/fh3uNUrAnss #youtubeshorts #cricket #deeplook


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Food Theory: Which Food Mascot is the STRONGEST?

Try OLIPOP: The feel good soda with bold, refreshing flavors made with real ingredients, high fiber and less sugar than traditional soda to support digestive health. Get your free can at https://olipop.yt.link/Vz4KKW1 — buy any 2 cans in store and OLIPOP will pay you back for one! If I were to throw 32 of the most popular food mascots of all time in a brawl, who would SURVIVE? This episode has been a long time in the making, and it’s got it all, drama, cartoon violence, and a champion that may surprise you… ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ *Credits:* Writers: Santi Massa, Eddie Robinson Editors: Andrew Mejia, Jerika, Gilberto "RetiredRinne" Diaz, Axellent, Pedro Freitas, Shnaia "Naya" Llamera, Tyler Mascola Sound Designer: Yosi Berman ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Need Royalty Free Music for your Content? Try Epidemic Sound. Get Your 30 Day Free Trial Now ► http://share.epidemicsound.com/theFoodTheorists ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ #FoodMascot #FoodDebate #Theory #FoodTheory


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Psychedelics, mind control, radiation-eating: The secret superpowers of fungi - Max G. Levy

Dig into the vast and wild world of fungi, and explore how these organisms evolved to play a range of essential ecological roles. -- The diverse fungal kingdom, which includes everything from baker’s yeast to edible mushrooms to foot infections, has long defied assumptions. Scientists estimate that somewhere between 2 and 12 million species of fungi remain undiscovered— either because they’re microscopic, live hidden within other species, or for other unknown reasons. Max G. Levy digs into the vast and wild world of fungi. Lesson by Max G. Levy, directed by Petya Zlateva, Compote Collective. Support Our Non-Profit Mission ---------------------------------------------- Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreon Check out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop ---------------------------------------------- Connect With Us ---------------------------------------------- Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletter Follow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebook Find us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitter Peep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram ---------------------------------------------- Keep Learning ---------------------------------------------- View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/psychedelics-mind-control-radiation-eating-the-secret-superpowers-of-fungi-max-g-levy Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/psychedelics-mind-control-radiation-eating-the-secret-superpowers-of-fungi-max-g-levy/digdeeper Animator's website: https://www.compote-collective.com/team ---------------------------------------------- Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Vector-Dopamine math, Jasper Song, Giorgio Bugnatelli, Chardon, Eddy Trochez, OnlineBookClub.org, Eric Shear, Leith Salem, Omar Hicham, Adrian Rotaru, Brad Sullivan, Karen Ho, Niklas Frimberger, Hunter Manhart, Nathan Nguyen, Igor Stavchanskiy, James R DeVries, Grace Huo, Diana Huang, Chau Hong Diem, Orlellys Torre, Corheu, Thomas Mee, Maryann H McCrory, Blas Borde, John Hellmann, Poompak Meephian, Chuck Wofford, Adam Pagan, Wes Winn, Conder Shou, ntiger, Noname, Hansan Hu, David D, Mac Hyney, Keith Ellison, robin valero walters, Lynne Truesdale, Gatsby Dkdc, Matthew Neal, Denis Chon, Julian Oberhofer, Monte Carroll, Eddy, Jay M, Constantino Victor Delgado, Andrea Galvagni, Andrew Tweddle, and Laurel-Ann Rice.


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This Fish Walks on Land and Leaps for Love | Deep Look

Mudskippers are actually fish, but they sure don't act like it. They breathe using special gill chambers and absorb oxygen through their skin like amphibians. Scanning the lumpy mudscape with their periscope-like eyes, they fiercely guard their burrows and leap to impress potential mates. Find out how these land-loving fish carved out a life between sea and shore — and why their strange lifestyle might not be so strange after all. 👉 Donate to KQED, the public media station that makes Deep Look: https://donate.kqed.org/deeplook SIGN UP for Deep Look’s newsletter, Nature Unseen: https://bit.ly/NatureUnseenSignUp SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@KQEDDeepLook?sub_confirmation=1 ---+ Find a transcript on KQED Science: https://www.kqed.org/science/2001332/this-fish-walks-on-land-and-leaps-for-love ---+ More great Deep Look episodes: The Slimy Details Behind Banana Slug Mating https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VGBy04nIjA Release The Brood! Roly-poly Birthing Is Intense https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmLHg_B8uoI Spotted Lanternflies are The Ultimate Party Crashers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGtbHRPcSe8 ---+ Thank you to our top Patreon supporters ($10+ per month)! Alex Butler Bridget Kelly Burt Humburg Carrie Mukaida Christopher Williams Companion Cube Craig Rosa Cristen Rasmussen Daisuke Goto David Deshpande Duane Westhoff El Samuels Elena De La Paz Elizabeth Ann Ditz J Schumacher Jeremiah Sullivan Julia Karen Reynolds KayLa KW Laurel Przybylski Laurel Przybylski LAUREL PRZYBYLSKI Levi Cai Lily, Vinny, Izzy Altschuler Louis O'Neill manamonarch Marilyn Schiffman Mehdi Noreen Herrington R Roberta K Wright STEPHANIE DOLE The Mighty X Titania Juang Wade Tregaskis Wised1000 wormy boi xkymon ---+ Follow Deep Look and KQED Science on social: TikTok: / deeplookofficial Patreon: / deeplook Instagram: / kqedscience Twitter/X: / kqedscience ---+ About KQED KQED, an NPR and PBS member station in San Francisco, serves Northern California and beyond with a public-supported alternative to commercial TV, radio and web media. Funding for Deep Look is provided in part by PBS Digital Studios and the members of KQED. #insects #wildlife #bugs #4kvideo #deeplook #kqed


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