In this episode we first have a few events to plug: The launching of the book Fake! in Budapest, Congreso Esceptico in Spain, Skeptics in the Pub Online about 9/11 and the upcoming Ig Nobel ceremony. In This Week we discuss Mary Shelley who was born this week in 1797 and then we skip the pope and instead plunge into the news:Continued demonstrations against the vaccine passportsResearchers in UK: We probably shouldn’t use the word ‘Infodemic’Do not take Ivermectin!What exactly did Martin Luther ...
Sep 06, 2021•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we interview Dutch writer, science populariser and educator Annemarie Bon, who’s many works focus on helping children understand the world around us. Having started her career as a biochemical engineer, she later turned towards writing for children and she was editor-in-chief of the children’s magazine Taptoe until 2001. The Hungarian translation of her latest book Fake! is just about to get published and we thought it would be a good idea to have her on the show to talk about th...
Aug 28, 2021•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we first plug the upcoming Skeptics in the Pub Online about 9/11, Luc Montagnier is the topic This Week in Skepticism and the Pope gets poked for nepotism and corruption. Then we dig into the news:- Grandma directed healthcare fraud through Black Magic- Sixth IPCC report on climate change – we’re screwed- July warmest month on record – ever- Increasing covid cases in Iceland despite high vaccination rates- Covid test scams- Society of Homeopaths withdraws from the Accredited Regi...
Aug 20, 2021•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sorry, we missed our schedule for last week.But we'll be back soon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 17, 2021•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we first chat about the Pegasus project and what implications it might have. We also note that the Russian Nauka module was a little trigger happy when joining with the ISS, turning it around 45 degrees for no good reason. In This Week we salute Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim, the excellent science communicator before we have a well-needed Covid-19 update. Then we dig into the news:- Measles follow-up: what became the 2016-2019 epidemic?- Covid-denier‘s Hungarian Chamber of Doctors’ membersh...
Aug 07, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we note that skeptics in Germany has raised a lot of money to support victims of the floods. Formidable Dutch skeptic Frits van Dam passed away on 26 July and we want to honor his memory. Listener Marcel-Jan has written a great blog post about his experience with growing up in a woo-family and eventually finding skepticism, and then we get a Polish lesson from listener Max. In This Week we hear about Carl Jung, and then we dig into the news:- Emerging fake news regarding catastro...
Jul 31, 2021•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we open up by discussing the terrible floods in Germany, the claims made by esoterics and how you can help. We also note that covid misinformation numbskull Sucharit Bhakdi has lost his publisher for being an anti-Semite. In the This Week we talk about Gregor Mendel and then we hear that Pope Francis is now openly challenging his predecessor Benedict. The we go through the news: - Vaccine protests in Cyprus - Organized tour of Sweden by anti-vaxxers - Multidrug-resistant bacteria...
Jul 23, 2021•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this week’s episode we start with an update on the successful Virgin Galactic flight and congratulate Natalie Grams for getting married(!), and also comment on the Euro 2020 final won by Italy. We then have a chat with Czech GSOW member Pavel Šmejkal, a prolific member of Susan Gerbic‘s Guerilla Skepticism on Wikipedia project. In This Week in Skepticism, Angela Merkel was born 17 July 1954. Then we dig into the news: - Death of 17 year-old girl used by antivaxxers - Teaching handbooks and le...
Jul 16, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week Annika is back making sure we don’t run out of dad-jokes, András’ travel guide work is resuming while Pontus is just playing golf (and not very well). We discuss the new development in space tourism before we get into this week in skepticism with Nicola Tesla. We hear how the pope is coming after Cardinal Becciu, how he still won’t apologies for the Canadian school scandals and how he needed to get his rear end adjusted (insert butt joke here). Then we go into the news: - Tricking the ...
Jul 09, 2021•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we’re joined by Brian Eggo who sits in for Annika. We talk about the Edinburgh Science Festival, skeptical events and the recent ESA astronaut recruitments. In This Week we “celebrate” the birthday of debunked fraudster Peter Popoff and then we are horrified by the discoveries of even more graves at the Canadian Catholic Schools. We then go into this week’s news: - Alternative medicine is losing popularity in the pandemic - Manipulated video featuring Greta Thunberg - Scam texts about ...
Jul 02, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we chat a bit about Madeira, covid scares and rainbow flags in Germany. In this week we highlight Karl Landsteiner who discovered the human blood groups and Pope Francis asks Italy if his schools could please be allowed to bully anyone who does not fit in to the binary man – woman template. We then head for the news: - Attacks against journalists calls for special measures - Did the WHO tell women to not drink alcohol? - Homeopathy update, France - Healing practitioner in court - Infor...
Jun 25, 2021•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week summer is here (but András is not) and we get a tip from Bob on about good vaccine tracker. Blaise Pascal was born almost 400 years ago this week (how times fly) and Pope Francis gives Cardinal Marx some good PR while proving he still knows how to play the dictator card. Then we dive into the news:‘Unseaworthy’ Noah’s Ark replica detained at Ipswich WaterfrontWaldorf / Steiner school scandal in SwedenNew law against ‘promotion of homosexuality’Follow-up: Doctor behind fake covid-19 tes...
Jun 18, 2021•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we get a well deserved correction from listener Cyril on how to pronounce Marquis de Sade’s full name and we hear about German teenagers party dangerously in secret in strange locations. Vaccinations in Sweden are picking up but in Hungary there is considerable hesitation against Chinese and and Russian vaccines. The Pope continues to have problems with Germany and also refuses to take responsibility for the tragedies of Canadian Catholic boarding schools. Francis Crick, important but ...
Jun 11, 2021•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we find out what Pontus was up to last week, we honor the passing of the great skeptic Kees de Jager and note that covid vaccination for teenagers is coming. Listener Carlos helps us out with Portuguese pronunciation and we urge you to nominate someone for the John Maddox Prize before 14 June. We acknowledge that Marquis de Sade was born this week in 1740 and that the Pope thinks Brazilians are too drunk to deserve salvation. After that, it’s time to get a covid-19 update and to check ...
Jun 05, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we first explore the magnetic properties of covid-19 vaccines and ponder the political meltdown of Alexander Lukashenko's Belarus. Then we celebrate the first publication of Bram Stoker's Dracula, published this week in 1897. We strongly recommend you check out Deborah Hyde's Dracula video on Youtube! After that it's time to check out the news:Portugese MD in need of help from skeptics around the globeHealing practicioner certificate was done on government levelThe problem with non rep...
May 28, 2021•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week Swedish vaccinations are not too well organised, András has debated homeopaths and the Swedish Skeptics have some cool events coming up. Ranga Yogeshwar (check him out!) celebrates his birthday and then we check out the news: - Looks like we’re very selfish after all… Personal benefit is better driver than greater good - Virtual exhibition in Nuremberg - Edzard Ernst strikes again: Paper on ‘energy medicine’ retracted after reader complaints - Hungarian Competition Authority fines snak...
May 21, 2021•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we wish Annika all the best in recovering from her first vaccine shot, we learn how to properly pronounce Cardinal ‘Becchiu’ and hear about this week’s birthday boy, Edward Jenner. Pope Francis tries to fight the pandemic with a totally pointless marathon and then we proceed on to check out the news:Instead of a Covid update: watch the latest episode of Last Week Tonight With John OliverCounterfeit covid-19 certificates – digitally signed without doctor’s knowledgeThe Heinz Oberhummer ...
May 15, 2021•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we get to hear Marie Curie’s birthname properly pronounced, curtesy of listener Max (thanks!). One more of us are getting the vaccine and so do pregnant women in Germany. We hear about Pope Francis’ battle against corrupt cardinals and then we get into the news: - Discussions about rules for vaccinated and vaccination jealousy - Ferngespräch – Shirt for charity! - Priest gives school lesson on “treating” homosexuals with electroshock therapy and more - The Risks of Thread Embedding Acu...
May 07, 2021•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast This week we first chat a bit and celebrate that we finally have new dates for QED, the fantastic skeptical conference in Manchester, before we mark that it is 35 years this week since the Chernobyl disaster. We hear about Pope Francis’ impossible gig and then we have a Covid-19 update before we dig into the news: - Study explores AstraZeneca vaccine disinformation on Twitter - German actors protest against CoViD rules with weird satire - Pfizer confirms fake versions of vaccine in Poland and Me...
May 01, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we first celebrate the flight of Ingenuity on Mars, the first ever powered flight on another planet. In This week in Skepticism we hear about how Pierre and Marie Curie isolated radium for the first time and what a significant achievement that was. Then we have a Covid-19 update before we dig into the news:Adverse events in children linked to SCAMResearchers investigating AstraZeneca vaccine side effects had undisclosed ties to PfizerHerbal product behind Salmonella outbreak, three dea...
Apr 23, 2021•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we start by reflecting on the death of Prince Philip and just can’t help mention languages again since a listener sent us sound files to help us with the pronunciations of last week’s Polish names. In This week in Skepticism we hear about the ancient astronaut fantasies of Erich von Däniken, followed by a Covid-19 update before we dig into the news:Popular marionette theatre targeted for COVID test explanation videoTendency to take up vaccine is really highWe are fucked – carbon-dioxid...
Apr 16, 2021•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we first continue to ponder the strange topic of language and we congratulate the Portuguese Skeptics on the anniversary of founding their organization ComCept. Then we have a Covid-19 update before we dig into the news:Analysis of excess mortality in Europe in 2020NEW BOOK: Missing Minimum DistanceSpooky Martian spider shapes explainedFirst helicopter on another planet to go on first mission soonThe 2020 Flying Unicorn Award goes to… Doctors for Truth (Nominations open for 2021)Nomina...
Apr 10, 2021•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week Pontus is still mad at English spelling but we hope our listeners will forgive him. In history René Descartes was born this week, the pope cuts the payroll for his cardinals and we have a Covid-19 update before we check out the news: - Court case against SCAM practitioner - NEW BOOK – the Cheaters, about Macchiarini and fraudulent research - NEW BOOK – The great bazaar of irrational - Cheap wine tastes better with a higher price tag - Old-growth forest effect in climate mitigation over...
Apr 02, 2021•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Just a quick update to give you three extra news items: - Darwin was a misunderstood fantasy author - The famous drop bears in Austria not extinct after all - Skepticism has won and is no longer neededThanks for everything! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 01, 2021•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we we mention the Icelandic volcanic eruptions and then a bit randomly reflect upon languages and spelling. Pontus asks people to check out the VoF web site and András informs us about the Hungarian Skeptics’ Flat Earth-prize. In history Wilhelm Röntgen was born this week the pope gets poked for congratulating the Philippines for being so gloriously invaded and oppressed 500 years ago. We take a new look at the covid vaccine situation, before we check out the news: - Middlesex Universi...
Mar 26, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we we start by checking out some science: travel faster than speed of light(?) and the wonderful 3D-model of the Antikythera mechanism. We look back at the birth of the Hungarian Skeptic Society and we poke the pope for being a bigot about gay marriage. We look at the covid vaccine situation and especially if the AstraZeneca / Oxford vaccine appears safe, before we check out the news:New book: Fake news a threat to democracy?New tool to help students detect fake images and videosPeople...
Mar 19, 2021•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we geek out some more about space, mention the demonstrations in Stockholm and the upcoming Cologne virtual skeptics in the pub. Some German children’s stories from the past are absolutely horrible and then we celebrate the birthday of Yuri Gagarin, the first person in space. Pope Francis went to Iraq endangering the public and himself and reported back that there was “a woman on the plane”. Then we have a covid-19 update before we get into the news:Order of Physicians sanctions doctor...
Mar 12, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we first marvel at the on-going Mars missions, mention Germany’s need to get a new haircut and are fascinated by the Mount Etna eruptions. If you want to know where to find the French skeptics or the Observatoire Zététique, we tell you how, before we celebrate Brian Cox’ birthday. Pope Frances have double troubles with his trip to Iraq and that the Vatican finances are bleeding. Then, of course, we take look at the news: - COVID-19 – So, are we gonna win this?- -Cancer and cardiovascul...
Mar 06, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we geek out a bit about the landing of Perseverance on Mars, we (again) ponder the chances to become an ESA astronaut. Facebook stupidly believes Europe is a place in Australia and takes it out on this podcast. Idiots. (Speaking of Downunder, you should check out the Skeptic Zone and their logical fallacies series). We talk about Dolly the sheep who was presented to the public this week 24 years ago, and then Pontus reluctantly admits that the Pope did something good, sort of. Then, of...
Feb 26, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we are happy that the Covid-19 Communication Handbook have been translated into German. A Swedish translation is underway and hopefully many more. We then celebrate Copernicus birthday before we look at the news:Secret Facebook group of academics, researchers and opinion-formers spreads misinformation about Swedish corona responseResearchers study the link between practicing alternative medicine and attitude towards vaccinationsFacebook finally bans misinformation about all vaccinesMar...
Feb 19, 2021•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
