Skeptics Guide #1086

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #1086 April 30th 2026 Segment #1. Back To Basics Pareidolia and Apophenia Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Smart Watch Health Metrics Errors https://www.sciencealert.com/your-smartwatch-may-be-getting-6-key-health-metrics-wrong News Item #2 – Space Debris Hitting the Moon https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/a-stray-spacex-rocket-stage-could-slam-into-the-moon-this-august-amateur-astronomer-says News Item #3 – Evolving AI https://theness.com/neurologicablog/evolving-ai/ News Item #4 – Merging Quazars https://phys.org/news/2026-04-blazing-quasars-caught-waltzing-merger.html News Item #5 – Longevity Escape Velocity https://www.yahoo.com/news/tech/science/articles/scientist-says-humans-backwards-time-165551116.html Segment 3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Your Questions and E-mails Question #1: Stem Cell Hype Hello SGU, I'm a faculty member at the University of Colorado-Anschutz. I'm a new recruit starting my lab 2 years ago. I have been listening to the SGU since 2011 when I was a young technician, and through graduate school and postdoctoral training in stem and developmental biology. My expertise is in stem cell biology and reproductive biology, and my lab generates in vitro models of placental and embryonic development. We study the process of implantation and early placental development. My lab's mission and the goal of my career is to cure preeclampsia with my research. Listening to your show just now on the way to lab, I could not keep myself from shouting "NO YOU ARE WRONG!" in my car like an insane person when Steve said that we're "25-30 years after the stem cell hype, and not that we haven't made a lot of progress in stem cell research, but we don't have ANY of the promised breakthroughs- medical miracles that people were talking about in 2001...." Many embryonic stem cell therapies are currently being developed and are in late stage clinical trials for diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Epilepsy, Type I diabetes, and macular degeneration. The results of these new technologies so far are amazing to say the least! It is too much to write or describe, so I will point you to this official response from the International Society for Stem Cell Research to the request for information released by the NIH regarding continued funding for embryonic stem cell research. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/611faaa8fee682525ee16489/t/69ebb23d15e048446a9b918f/1777054271782/ISSCR_NIH_NOT-OD-26-031_hESC_RFI_signaturecopy.pdf Please read the section on page 7 regarding the latest data from clinical trials with relevant citations. Currently, hESC research is under threat of being defunded by this NIH administration, and opinions like Steve's are exactly what will kill funding and developing the medicine of the future. Dr. Rowan Karvas University of Colorado- Anschutz Segment #5. 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: Canada Item 1: Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined. Item 2: Although the Aztecs ground peanuts into paste, the first modern patent for doing so was held by Marcellus Gilmore Edson of Montreal, which is why Canadians consider him the inventor of peanut butter. Item 3: While it maintains a symbolic connection to British royalty, Canada became fully constitutionally independent in 1867, almost a century after the US. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week "Do not confine your children to your own learning for they were born in another time." Rabindranath Tagore, first Asian recipient of a Nobel Prize (literature 1913)


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From Hokey Pokey Men to Loblolly Boys: Odd Jobs From History

These forgotten jobs served a purpose in years past. #history #historyfacts #trivia #weirdhistory


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"My Rights Are Being VIOLATED!!!" American State National In Court!!!

Hey guys, and welcome to today's video! Today, we have an American State National in court. who swears that he is competent, but still gets a competency evaluation from his lawyer! American state nationals are nothing more than sovereign citizens who don't like to be called sovereign citizens! To Support The Channel : Team Skeptic Fund : https://paypal.me/TeamSkepticYT Become A Channel Member : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCawl3BI9azbMB5DQqJNpRrg/join Join Our Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/TeamSkeptic #Court #CourtCam #TeamSkeptic


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Hired Hermits: One of England’s Weirdest Status Symbol

One of the most bizarre jobs throughout history has to be England’s former practice of hiring hermits for homes. #history #historyfacts #trivia #weirdfacts #weird #weirdhistory


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Hotel Andante beim EUROPA-PARK | QC #081

Produziert von Quadruvium Club
Diese Episode behandelt: Hotel Andante beim EUROPA-PARK | QC #081

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXxTj8N2tWw

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Why do babies love peek-a-boo?

Dig into how the simple game of peek-a-boo contributes to babies developing their cognitive, motor, and social skills. -- In Italy, it’s called il gioco del cucù. Palestinians say ba' 'éno. And in Japan, it’s inaīnaibā! Peek-a-boo is a near universal source of laughter and connection for infants and adults— it’s the first game that almost everyone plays. So what is it about this goofy game that babies love so much? Dig into how this simple game promotes the development of our cognitive, motor, and social skills. Directed by Homework Studio. 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/why-do-babies-love-peek-a-boo Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-do-babies-love-peek-a-boo/digdeeper Animator's website: https://www.homeworkstudio.ca ---------------------------------------------- Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! 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, Laurel-Ann Rice, Fernando A. Endo, Helen Lee, pam morgan, sarim haq, and Gerardo Castro.


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Terrence Howard still out here revolutionizing.... something?

🪐 SUBSCRIBE / 🚀 LIKE / 👽 COMMENT The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe Website & Podcast: https://www.theskepticsguide.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SkepticsGuide Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theskepticsguide Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theskepticsguide/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkepticsGuide TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skepticsguide ✉️ Send your questions to: info@theskepticsguide.org Check out Our Books: 📘 The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake 📙 The Skeptics’ Guide to the Future: What Yesterday’s Science and Science Fiction Tell Us About the World of Tomorrow https://www.theskepticsguide.org/our-book #SGU #SkepticsGuide #Science


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