Skeptoid

Using real science to investigate the question of whether some people can "hear" the aurora.

The 1928 murder of a folk healer ignited a media frenzy and moral panic, revealing how superstition and magical thinking can fuel real-world tragedy.

We’re sharing a preview of a new audiobook, Douglas Adams: The Ends of the Earth, which celebrates the wit and wisdom of the legendary science fiction author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Douglas Adams was someone who thought deeply about the biggest problems in the world, from the internet, to artificial intelligence, to space exploration, politics, and conservation—he was a sharp critic and a profoundly disruptive thinker of the way we do things. Written and narrated by Arvind Ethan David, Adams’ former protégé, this one-of-a-kind audiobook includes rare archival material from the Adams Estate, interviews with Adams’ personal friends like Griff Rhys Jones and David Baddiel, and reenactments of his work to form an immersive journey through the mind of one of the most visionary writers of our time. Get Douglas Adams: The Ends of the Earth now at Audible, Spotify, pushkin.fm/audiobooks, or wherever audiobooks are sold.

Is there good science backing up the idea that you should eat based upon which of three body types you have?

Will our improvements to AI's voracious appetite for electricity keep pace with the exploding demand?

Do you really need to pay quite so much attention to which foods you eat, and which you avoid?

Since psychic abilities do not exist outside the delusions of true believers, involving psychics in searches for missing persons is worse than useless.

A roundup of all the biggest and scariest real sea monsters — from today and from prehistoric times.

How one special moment redefined how a science teacher does her job.

Their exciting nature, combined with the fact nobody's ever won one, make paranormal challenge prizes important educational tools.

Here are many popular myths about chocolate. How many can you tell are true or not?

She may have gotten her start as Houdini's sidekick, but Rose Mackenberg became a giant of unmasking fraudulent mediums.

You're going to get to enjoy some new guest hosts for a month or two on Skeptoid.

Super mushrooms are claimed by some to provide vague health benefits beyond their known nutritional values.

A roundup of the world's riskiest volcanoes and fault zones — and they're not necessarily the most hazardous.

Some people try to feed their dogs the same alternative diet they eat themselves... not necessarily so good for the dog.

Many of our preconceived notions about immigrants likely bear very little resemblance to the facts.

All of the ways you've heard that deep space wants to kill us — and how plausible or likely each scenario is.

Vaccines are history's great medical success story, having saved more lives than anything else.

Ten of the places where Atlantis true believers think the mythical city might actually be.

Many of the Christian symbols created in the aftermath of the First Crusade have been adopted by White Nationalists. Why?

A look at recent studies finding leaded gasoline caused 151 million mental health illnesses in the United States.

This catchphrase has become popular with comedians. Is that in line with its true origin?

Some believe a fabulous Spanish treasure is buried on the slopes of Oregon's Neahkahnie Mountain.

A few of your favorite experts weigh in on how you can make sure your information comes from the very best sources.

What really happened — and what didn't — in the 2024 telecom cyberattack.

Join us for our 2nd Annual Skeptoid Adventure, this time to the Bermuda Triangle! Early bird pricing ends this Friday, don't miss the boat!

Just as important as the question of how much the livestock industry contributes to global warming is whether your giving up meat will have any real impact.

The newer the data, and the longer we've had to study the epidemiology, the less harm we find that Agent Orange caused.

Cloud seeding would seem like an easy and obvious way to create rain where none existed before. Is it really that simple?

Economic nationalism, while attractive to many populists, is not the path to economic success some believe it to be.

Skeptoid answers another round of feedback emails sent in by listeners.

These schools combine an atypical education with a New Age spirituality called anthroposophy.

Cryonics promises an opportunity for you to be frozen and revived at some distant point in the future — though with plenty of controversy.

Skeptoid answers another round of questions from students all around the world.

What could explain a strange creature living in the suburbs, but only ever witnessed once?

On this Giving Tuesday, please consider supporting Skeptoid Media (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) and our mission of cultivating critical thinking and science literacy skills. Donations will be matched by our Board of Directors!

Skeptoid corrects another round of errors in previous episodes.

This alleged sea serpent terrorized a New England fishing village for two years in the 19th century.

Bats are scary and rabies is deadly, but do you need to worry about you or your pets catching the disease from them?

A report from the recent Skeptoid Adventures trip to Death Valley, including how many brave souls we lost in the desert and how they met their fate; and announcing the next Skeptoid Adventures trip to the Bermuda Triangle! Reserve your spot now at https://skeptoid.com/events/30285

A mysterious man is said to have arrived in Japan in 1959 from a country that never existed.

Seven creepy stories from seven listeners, and seven guesses by me.

A thoroughly discredited idea, that the Mesoamerican Olmec people were Black Africans, continues to gain traction.

This buried rock wall found throughout Rockwall County has people wondering about its origin.

It's Skeptoid's 18th birthday! Won't you help us celebrate by giving us a little birthday present?

Can dogs be taught to speak intelligently using floor buttons that represent words?

Highlights from 18 years of the Skeptoid podcast.

Fifteen trivia questions from previous aviation themed episodes of Skeptoid.

15 popular myths about sleeping, debunked.