Skeptics Guide #1108

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #1108 September 5 2026 Special Guests Christian Hubicki and Julia Novella Segment #1. Your Dream Costume Design your dream costume for DragonCon if you had an unlimited budget. Segment #2. Conspiracy Theories Which conspiracy theory would you least mind if it were true? Segment #3. News Items News Item #1 – Stellar Streams and Dark Matter https://phys.org/news/2026-08-milky-gravity-mimic-dark-clues.html News Item #2 – Possible Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053543.htm News Item #3 - Ignobels 2026 https://improbable.com/the-36th-first-annual-ig-nobel-prize-ceremony/ News Item #4 - Pet Bird Research https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10827422/ News Item #5 - Speed Running Video Games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeyjmJkhLb0 Segment #4. Science or Fiction 1) Early astronauts could not get life insurance, so starting with Apollo 11, right before launch they signed hundreds of special envelopes their families could later sell as a financial fail safe. 2) Skylab’s uncontrolled deorbit in 1979 resulted in a debris field across Western Australia, prompting one small town particularly hard hit to fine NASA $40,000, a sum they paid. 3) George Aldrich has worked for NASA for over 50 years as a sniffer, smelling objects before they can go in a crew compartment to make sure they don’t smell too much. Segment #5. Skeptical Quote of the Week Overheard at DragonCon "Bro, I just took a random pill in the bathroom." "You can't swing a Harley without hitting a Dungeon Crawler Carl." "Aargh. The daystar....it burns me!"


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How Dangerous Are Non-Stick Pans?

What happens to your body if you eat Teflon from a non-stick pan? #pfas #foreverchemicals


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Can We Prevent an Asteroid Impact: Crash Course Geology #20

How worried should we be about giant asteroid impacts? In this episode of Crash Course Geology, we’ll learn how to tell an asteroid from a meteorite, what happens when space rocks approach the Earth, and how scientists track potential threats before they reach us. Introduction: Rocks from Space 00:00 What are space rocks? 0:37 How often do space rocks hit Earth? 2:20 The largest asteroid impacts 3:39 What if an asteroid hit Earth in the future? 7:47 Review and Credits 9:23 Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RpwM8ZQPFk_DkzMJjMdtRrNGrJSNJ7FbgmQybSZ2Cqo/edit?tab=t.0 Check out our CC Geology Extracurricular Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOmqnkvEtNVOrm0eaIjFjJ7 *** Support us for $5/month on Patreon to keep Crash Course free for everyone forever! https://www.patreon.com/crashcourse Or support us directly: https://complexly.com/support Join our Crash Course email list to get the latest news and highlights: https://mailchi.mp/crashcourse/email Get our special Crash Course Educators newsletter: http://eepurl.com/iBgMhY Thanks to the following patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever: ., Alex Hackman, Allison Wood, Andrew Woods, AThirstyPhilosopher ., b.sav, Barbara Pettersen, Barrett, Bernardo Garza, Brandon Thomas, Breanna Bosso, Caleb Weeks, Chelsea S, Chuck Smith, Constance Urist, Dalton Williams, David Fanska, DexcilaDou, Diana, Elizabeth LaBelle, Emily Beazley, Emily T, Eric Koslow, Erminio Di Lodovico, Evol Hong, Gina Mancuso, Ian Dundore, Indija-ka Siriwardena, Jason Buster, Jason Rostoker, Jason Terpstra, Jennifer Killen, Jennifer Wiggins-Lyndall, John Lee, Johnathan Williams, Joseph Ruf, Katie Dean, Katrix , Ken Davidian, Ken Penttinen, Kevin Knupp, Kristi Wallace Knight, Krystle Young, Kyle & Katherine Callahan, Laurel Stevens, Leah H., Les Aker, Luke Sluder, Marcus Bruun, Matt Curls, Matthew Fredericksen, Michael Maher, NassauLinda, Nathan Taylor, oranjeez, Perry Joyce, Pietro Gagliardi, Quinn Harden, Rie Ohta, Rizwan Kassim, Roger Harms, Samantha, Sarah & Nathan Catchings, Scezumin, Scott Harrison, Shruti S, Siobhán, Stephen Akuffo, Stephen McCandless, Steve Segreto, Tandy Ratliff, Tanner Hedrick, team dorsey, Thomas, Toni Miles, Trevin Beattie, Triad Terrace, VI-Ed Podcast, Wai Jack Sin __ Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet? Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecrashcourse/ Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrashCourse Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/thecrashcourse.bsky.social CC Kids: http://www.youtube.com/crashcoursekids


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6 ways to be more persuasive

Episode 9: Unlock 6 strategies you can use to persuade an audience to accept and understand your argument or perspective. -- This is episode 9 of the animated series, “Public Speaking 101.” Ideas change everything — and since language lets us share our ideas, learning how to use it well gives speakers the power to inspire people and even change how they think. This 11-episode course will teach you how to identify, develop, and share your best ideas, while mastering essential communication skills along the way. Directed by Tolga Yıldız, Kozmonot Animation Studio. The TED-Ed Student Talks program provides free, customizable activities for educators to support their students in identifying, developing and sharing their ideas with each other and the world. Learn more at https://ed.ted.com/student_talks Support Our Non-Profit Mission ---------------------------------------------- Support us on Patreon: http://t.ted.com/nlVpzFN Check out our merch: http://t.ted.com/upNeDi3 ---------------------------------------------- Connect With Us ---------------------------------------------- Sign up for our newsletter: http://t.ted.com/R7iMQzr Follow us on Facebook: http://t.ted.com/NKcsscO Find us on Twitter: http://t.ted.com/nXsWmpA Peep us on Instagram: http://t.ted.com/zuDVFXP ---------------------------------------------- Keep Learning ---------------------------------------------- View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/6-ways-to-be-more-persuasive Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/6-ways-to-be-more-persuasive/digdeeper Animator's website: https://www.kozmonot.tv ---------------------------------------------- Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Jesús Bíquez Talayero, Chels Raknrl, Sai Pranavi Jonnalagadda, Stuart Rice, Jing Chen, 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, and Eddy.


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CDC ya later.... smh

CDC ya later.... smh


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This Animal’s Signature Defense Is Its Vinegar-Like Spray | #DeepLook #Shorts

The vinegaroon – also known as a whip scorpion – looks like a Frankenstein creation of monster body parts. But unlike true scorpions, it doesn’t use venom to defend itself from predators. Learn more in our episode "The Vinegaroon Sprays Acid to Foil Its Foes" 👉 https://youtu.be/mdxh_M2risw #youtubeshorts #vinegaroon #deeplook


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The Truth About Pandas

🪐 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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