Show Notes
We start by noting that COP30 was pretty disappointing although we are not too surprised. On another, more positive side, Michael Frass‘ terrible study claiming that homeopathy can help in cancer treatment finally has been retracted! Also, get your flu vaccines, everyone. In TWISH we hear how António Egas Moniz invented lobotomy and was awarded one of the most controversial Nobel prizes for it, but also why it cannot be retracted. Then, we go to the news: SWEDEN: People die of breast cancer after choosing alternative treatments EUROPE: Eurobarometer Survey 2025: science, skepticism, and the battle against misinformation INTERNATIONAL: Freebirthing is a deadly scam and a grift HUNGARY: Political ads on Google and Facebook are over – or are they? The Really Wrong Award goes to Steiner schools, that thankfully are in decline. A Really Right Award goes to the EU Court of Justice for affirming that also same-sex marriages have to be recognized throughout the union. Enjoy!
Segments: 0:00:27 Intro 0:00:51 Greetings 0:12:40 TWISH 0:22:27 News 0:59:46 Really Wrong / Really Right 1:03:33 Quote 1:05:06 Outro 1:06:28 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP
Andrew Copson is the Chief Executive of Humanists UK, a former President and current Ambassador of Humanists International, and author of a number of books on humanism and secularism. In this episode we have him back on the show to talk about his upcoming book: How to be a Happy Human: Seven Humanist Foundations for a Better Life. Not a self-help book, it still guides you on how to find meaning in life and come to terms with the fact that this is the one chance we get – and that that is good thing. Enjoy!
The number curse is getting worse! The Dutch Meester Kakadoris Award has been awarded, Patreon is changing its rules (but please still subscribe!) and next week sees two big Skeptical events: Global Skeptics in the Pub and ESC Liverpool. Join one of them or both! In TWISH we hear about Henry Cavendish (no relation to bananas) and then we get to the news: ISRAEL / INTERNATIONAL: Conspiracy theories about Flydubai attack spread across social media RUSSIA / UKRAINE / GERMANY: Russian disinformation campaigns are getting more sophisticated SWEDEN: Reports of election fraud – are they real? The Really Wrong Award goes to Barbara O’Neill, the Australian quack who is currently touring Europe (and the world). Enjoy! https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-552.html Segments: 0:00:27 Intro 0:00:51 Greetings 0:12:04 TWISH 0:23:57 News 0:41:11 Really Wrong 0:45:19 Quote 0:47:28 Outro 0:48:51 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pontus report back from the bookfair and András has apparently also been struck by the numbers curse. In TWISH we look back at the first TAM London conference in 2009 and find that it can been seen as a milestone for European Skepticism. Then we take a look at the news: INTERNATIONAL: Rare pregnancy infections may triple the risk of autism NORTHERN IRELAND: What do 16-year-olds believe? UK: UK will set up a new agency to fight ‘information warfare’ Supplements for menopause are unreasonably expensive as well as ineffective and for that they deserve the Really Wrong Award.
We start by Pontus correcting himself on numbers he uttered, then we contemplate whether the recent Russian election results hold water. In TWISH we celebrate the real giant of science Michael Faraday commemorating his brilliant method to prove the ideomotor phenomenon. Then we turn to the news:
For over a decade we have mispronounced a certain publisher’s name (duh!) but it’s never too late to learn… The Swedish election results are more or less in, and hopefully it’s a sign of reason that the party spreading the most disinformation lost almost 15% of their seats in parliament. In TWISH we hear the mesmerizing story about Jean Sylvain Bailly who was a French astronomer, mathematician, freemason, and political leader of the early part of the French Revolution. Then we turn to the news: