The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
Presentation
Hosted by Dr. Steven Novella
Jay Novella
Robert Novella
Evan Bernstein
Cara Santa Maria
Genre Science and skepticism
Updates Weekly
Publication
Original release May 4, 2005 – present
Website www.theskepticsguide.org

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a weekly, 80-minute podcast hosted by Steven Novella, MD, and a panel of "skeptical rogues". It is the official podcast of the New England Skeptical Society. The show features discussions of recent scientific developments in layman's terms, and interviews authors, people in the area of science and other famous skeptics. The show also includes discussions of myths, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, the paranormal, and many general forms of superstition, from the point of view of scientific skepticism. Steven Novella, the host of the show, has been particularly active in debunking pseudoscience in medicine. His activities include opposing the claims of anti-vaccine activists, homeopathy practitioners and individuals denying the link between HIV and AIDS.[1][2][3]

Hosts

Current hosts

The principal host of the show. He is an American clinical neurologist and assistant professor at Yale University School of Medicine.[4] He is the president of the New England Skeptical Society (NESS),[5] and is the author of the blog NeuroLogica. He is the executive editor for, and a regular contributor to, Science-Based Medicine, an influential and respected source of information about medical controversies and alternative medicine.[6][7][8][9][10]
  • Evan Bernstein
  • Cara Santa Maria (From July 25, 2015)
  • Robert "Bob" Novella
  • Jay Novella

Former hosts

On August 19, 2007, co-host DeAngelis died shortly before his 44th birthday after suffering from a number of chronic illnesses (most significantly scleroderma).[11] During the two weeks before his passing, DeAngelis phoned in his contribution to the Skeptical quote segment for which he was responsible at the time from his hospital room.
On December 27, 2014, co-host Watson announced that she has recorded her final show prior to leaving the organization.[12]

Production

The show is prerecorded via a Skype conference call. Each caller records their own audio and then the locally recorded tracks are mixed together. Steven Novella does the editing and post-production of the show himself. British comedian and skeptic Iszi Lawrence provides voice-over introductions for the show and certain segments.

SGU live recording at CSICon 2017 in Las Vegas. From left to right: Rachael Dunlop (guest), Evan Bernstein, Jay Novella, Steven Novella, Cara Santa Maria, and Bob Novella.

Segments

Opening
The Skeptics' Guide opens with Steven Novella introducing each panelist in attendance, typically leading to the retrospective segment "This Day in Skepticism". The panelists then discuss that week's top news stories of concern to skeptics. This is generally followed with answering of listener email.
What's the Word"
Cara Santa Maria presents a technical word, discussing the history and etymology of the word and how it currently applies to various scientific disciplines.
The SGU at 2014 Australian Skeptics National Convention. From left to right: George Hrab, Evan Bernstein, Rebecca Watson, Steven Novella, Jay Novella, Bob Novella, and Richard Saunders.
"Forgotten Superheroes of Science"
Bob Novella describes a notable scientific figure from the past who is not well-known, ending with an encouragement to mention the figure to your friends when discussing their obscure area of expertise.
"Who's That Noisy?"
A sound clip is played for listeners to guess what, or who it is. This segment was originally hosted by Bernstein, but is currently hosted by Jay Novella.
"A Quickie with Bob"
Any of the rogues (apart from Bob) can ask for 'a quickie with Bob' who will then address an issue of current scientific news. Tends to happen before the interview section in around one minute, to a set length piece of background music.
Interview
Most weeks the panel interview a guest skeptic or scientist.
"Science or Fiction"
Steven Novella presents the panelists with three recent stories of a scientific nature, one of which is fiction. The co-hosts then have to use their knowledge of science and skeptical senses to figure out which story is fiction. The fake story may either be a complete fabrication or based on a factual story with a critical detail changed to make it fictitious. "Science or Fiction" is occasionally themed, such that all stories discuss similar topics.
"Skeptical Quote"
The show closes with Jay Novella reading a quote from a famous person that is relevant to skepticism or science. Bob did the first skeptical quote although it wasn't really specific to any one of the rogues. ("Isaac Asimov. A scientist fiction writer of some note.") Jay announces the source in an exaggerated radio announcer voice. On May 10, 2008 host Steven Novella posted a survey on the SGU message board asking listeners if they preferred Jay read the source of the quote before or after the reading of the quote.[13] The voting is open ended.

Only since 2010, has the "Who's That Noisy?" segment been before the interview; pre-2010, it was just before the "Skeptical Quote".

Most podcasts last around 80 minutes but on September 23, 2011 SGU produced a 24-hour-long podcast with contributions by skeptics from around the world. It was referred to as SGU-24.

Occasional and defunct segments

"Guest Rogue"
Since the start of 2010, sometimes, instead of having an interview, the Skeptic's Guide will invite a "guest rogue" to be present throughout the show including the news and "Science or Fiction" segments, as if they were one of the cast.
"Skeptical Puzzle"
At the end of the show, Evan Bernstein used to present the listeners with a skeptical puzzle, usually about some person or topic within the field of pseudoscience. Occasionally the puzzle was presented in verse, and on Episode 96 it was presented as if by a fictional skeptical rapper Kom’n Cents.[14] Listeners would answer the puzzle via email or on the message board. Recognition (albeit no actual cash prize or gift) was given the following week to the first person to correctly answer the puzzle. The Skeptical puzzle has been discontinued since episode #130 to allow Evan to concentrate on other areas including SGU 5x5, though he has since occasionally offered a logic puzzle in lieu of "Who's That Noisy?".
This Day in History
Until 2015, the first segment after introductions was a description of a historical event of scientific or skeptical importance whose anniversary falls on the date of recording or the date the podcast is released.
"Randi Speaks"
As of September 20, 2006, James Randi joined the podcast providing a pre-recorded commentary segment called "Randi Speaks". Randi, a professional magician and skeptic, expounds upon a topic on his mind for that week which may or may not have to do with skeptical matters. The segment disappeared for a period but returned for the August 8, 2007 episode with a different format. Instead of Randi delivering a prepared essay, an SGU host asks Randi a question which Randi then answers and expands upon.
"Name That Logical Fallacy"
Steven Novella regularly presents the panelists with a recent argument, usually of a pseudoscientific nature, that has either appeared in recent news or has been submitted by listeners for consideration. The panelists are challenged to point out the flaws in the presented argument, with specific references to any logical fallacies employed. The segment debuted during Episode 40 but it is not featured in every show.[15] Many of the fallacies named are taken from the show's "Top 20 Logical Fallacies" list.[16]
"Swindlers List"
Starting on May 21, 2011, Jay Novella talks about a particular scam he has discovered or been told about. The first scam featured in this section was Bidsell.com.[17]
"The Dumbest Thing I Heard All Week"
Steve Novella occasionally recounts a subpar article he read during the past week and explains what is wrong with it.

Theme music

The show's theme music is "Theorem" by the San Francisco rock band, Kineto.[18] The theme was acquired from the Podsafe Music Network. Prior to the November 2, 2005 show, Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me with Science" was the show's theme.

Guests

Many Skeptics' Guide episodes contain interviews. Often the interviews feature well-known scientists or skeptics, for instance Massimo Pigliucci or Joe Nickell. Rarely the guests are proponents of fringe or pseudoscientific views. Notable guests include the following:[19]

Show Date Episode Guest Description
Regular guest---James RandiA Canadian-American stage magician and scientific skeptic, founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation
Regular guest---Phil PlaitAn American astronomer and skeptic, former president of the James Randi Educational Foundation, known as "The Bad Astronomer"
Regular guest---George HrabMusician
Regular guest---Richard SaundersAn Australian skeptic, podcaster and professional origamist[20]
June 29, 20055Michael ShermerFounder of The Skeptics Society, author of Why People Believe Weird Things [20]
October 6, 200515Chris MooneyAuthor of The Republican War on Science[20]
July 5, 200650Gerald PosnerAuthor of Case Closed [20]
July 12, 200651Neal AdamsA proponent of the hollow and expanding earth hypotheses [20]
October 4, 200663Michael ShermerFounder of The Skeptics Society, author of Why People Believe Weird Things [20]
December 13, 200673B. Alan WallaceThe president and founder of the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies[20]
January 31, 200780TellerOne-half of the illusionist team Penn and Teller [20]
February 7, 200781Adam Savage and Tory BelleciFrom the Discovery Channel show MythBusters [20]
February 15, 200782Christopher HitchensJournalist and literary critic, author of God is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything[20][21]
February 15, 200782Matt StoneCo-creator of South Park[20]
February 21, 200783Julia SweeneyFormer Saturday Night Live cast member[20]
July 25, 2007105Jimmy Carter39th President of the United States, Nobel laureate [20][22][23]
September 5, 2007111Bill Nye"The Science Guy"[20]
November 14, 2007121Paul KurtzCommittee for Skeptical Inquiry founder and chairman of the Council for Secular Humanism
July 16, 2008156Neil deGrasse TysonAn American astrophysicist and science communicator
August 26, 2008162Richard SaundersAn Australian skeptic, podcaster and professional origamist
October 8, 2008168PZ MyersAn American biology professor at the University of Minnesota Morris (UMM) and the author of the Pharyngula science blog
January 15, 2009182Michio KakuTheoretical physicist
April 22, 2009196Seth ShostakAn American astronomer and senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute
May 13, 2009199Rusty SchweickartAn American Apollo astronaut
October 28, 2009219Mark EdwardMentalist
March 25, 2010245George HrabMusician
August 11, 2010265Rhys MorganTeenage consumer advocate
May 9, 2011304Jon RonsonAuthor of The Psychopath Test
November 19, 2011331Neil deGrasse TysonAn American astrophysicist and science communicator
December 3, 2011333Rhys MorganTeenage consumer advocate
September 8, 2012373Billy WestVoice actor on Futurama and other shows
September 29, 2012376Pamela GayAstronomer and podcaster
October 20, 2012379Jamy Ian SwissClose-up magician
November 17, 2012383Bruce HoodPsychologist and author
December 1, 2012385BanachekMentalist and director of the JREF Million Dollar Challenge
January 5, 2013390Massimo PigliucciPhilosopher and author
January 26, 2013393Zack KopplinEducational activist
March 2, 2013398Jon RonsonJournalist and documentary film maker
May 11, 2013408Don McLeroyCreationist and former member of the TExas State Board of Education
June 22, 2013414Daniel LoxtonIllustrator and editor of Junior Skeptic magazine
June 13, 2013417Paul OffitPediatrician and vaccine advocate
August 10, 2013421Michael E. MannClimatologist
August 24, 2013423Sanal EdamarukuAuthor and founding president of Rationalist International
August 31, 2013424Cara Santa MariaScience communicator
October 12, 2013430Marty KleinSex therapist and author
November 9, 2013434Chris Mooney and Indre ViskontasScience writers and Podcasters
January 16, 2013435Gerald PosnerJournalist and author
January 11, 2014443Mark CrislipMedical doctor and podcaster
January 25, 2014445Karen StollznowLinguist and podcaster
March 1, 2014451Michio KakuPhysicist and science communicator
March 15, 2014453Jennifer OuelletteScience writer
April 5, 2014456James MarstersActor and musician
May 3, 2014460Elise AndrewFounder and maintainer of the "I Fucking Love Science" Facebook page
September 27, 2014481Daniel DennettPhilosopher and cognitive scientist

Recognition

The Skeptics' Guide won the 2009 Podcast Awards in the "Education" category, and the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014 Podcast Awards in the "Science" category.[24]

It also was a 2014 “Dose of Rationality” Top 10 Podcast,[25] and a 2010 Physics.org Best Podcast nominee.[26]

Sponsors and membership

On July 30, 2013, Dr. Steven Novella announced that the SGU would begin offering membership and airing sponsors. Dr. Novella went on to say that the money raised would go into funding skeptical activities, including but not limited to, development of skeptical educational content and web-series such as "Occ The Skeptical Caveman." The addition of sponsors is not permanent, according to Dr. Novella, they shall be removed "if 4% of listeners support the SGU through membership at an average of the $8 per month level."[27] Though membership has begun, the SGU continues to publish a free weekly sponsored podcast. Membership entitles one to an ad-free version of The SGU, extra content, and discounts to NECSS (The Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism). Membership range from $4/month to $200/month.[28]

SGU 5x5

A companion podcast, The Skeptics' Guide 5x5 (SGU 5x5 for short), described as "five minutes with five skeptics,"[29] consist of single-topic episodes which often delve into specific types of logical fallacy.[30] SGU 5x5 did not appear regularly and there were no episodes between January 26, 2011 and February 8, 2012. There have been no episodes released since May 9, 2012.[31]

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe book

In a 2017 interview, SGU team member Evan Bernstein announced in an interview for Skeptical Inquirer with Susan Gerbic that the team had collaborated on a book, and it was expected to be available in the fall of 2018.[32] The book, titled The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake, became available for pre-order in early 2018, and is due to be released by Grand Central Publishing on October 2.[33] The Amazon.com pre-order advertisement included the following information:

In this tie-in to their incredibly popular "The Skeptics Guide to the Universe" podcast, Steven Novella, MD, along with "Skeptical Rogues" Bob Novella, Cara Santa Maria, Jay Novella, and Evan Bernstein will explain the tenets of skeptical thinking and debunk some of the biggest scientific myths, fallacies and conspiracy theories (Anti-vaccines, homeopathy, UFO sightings, etc.) [...] It covers essential critical thinking skills, as well as giving insight into how your brain works and how to avoid common pitfalls in thinking...[33]

The book was released in October, 2018. Publishers Weekly reviewed the book, stating: "In plain English and cogent prose, Novella makes skepticism seem mighty, necessary, and accessible all at once... Empowering and illuminating, this thinker’s paradise is an antidote to spreading anti-scientific sentiments. Readers will return to its ideas again and again."[34] Neil deGrasse Tyson's review says: "Thorough, informative, and enlightening, The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe inoculates you against the frailties and shortcomings of human cognition. If this book does not become required reading for us all, we may well see modern civilization unravel before our eyes."[35]

References

  1. ↑ Novella S, Roy R, Marcus D, Bell IR, Davidovitch N, Saine A (2008). "A debate: homeopathy—quackery or a key to the future of medicine?". J Altern Complement Med. 14 (1): 9–15. doi:10.1089/acm.2007.0770. PMID 18199017.
  2. ↑ Gold PW, Novella S, Roy R, Marcus D, Bell I, Davidovitch N, Saine A (2008). "Homeopathy—quackery or a key to the future of medicine?". Homeopathy. 97 (1): 28–33. doi:10.1016/j.homp.2007.12.002. PMID 18194763.
  3. ↑ Smith TC, Novella SP (2007). "HIV Denial in the Internet Era". PLoS Med. 4 (8): e256. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040256. PMC 1949841. PMID 17713982.
  4. ↑ "Yale Medical Group". Yale School of Medicine. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  5. ↑ "The Ness About Us". The New England Skeptical Society. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  6. ↑ Freedman, David H. (July–August 2011). "The Triumph of New-Age Medicine". The Atlantic. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  7. ↑ Senapathy, Kavin (31 May 2016). "Why Is Big Naturopathy Afraid Of This Lone Whistleblower?". Forbes. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  8. ↑ Joe, Schwarcz (17 July 2015). "The Right Chemistry: 'Is it safe to kiss your golf balls?'". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  9. ↑ Gifford, Bill (13 November 2013). "This is What You Get When You Look to TV Stars for Health Advice: Suzanne Somers, Dangerous Medical Hack". The New Republic. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  10. ↑ Moyer, Melinda Wenner (11 February 2013). "Does Fluoride Make Your Kids Dumb?". Slate. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  11. ↑ Novella, Steven (20 August 2007). "Perry DeAngelis: 8/22/1963 8/19/2007". NeuroLogica Blog. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  12. ↑ Watson, Rebecca (27 December 2014). "Why I've Left SGU". Skepchick.org. Skepchick. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  13. ↑ Novella, Steven (May 10, 2008). "Topic: Skeptical Quote Survey". The Skeptics Guide to the Universe Forum. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Episode 96". Official Skeptics' Guide Site. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.
  15. ↑ "Episode 40". Official Skeptics' Guide web site].
  16. ↑ Novella, Steven. "Top 20 Logical Fallacies". Official Skeptics' Guide web site].
  17. ↑ The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe - Podcast 305 - 5/18/2011 Episode Show Notes
  18. ↑ Kineto's Myspace page
  19. ↑ "Episode list". theskepticsguide.org.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe podcast archive, http://www.theskepticsguide.org/archive/podcast.aspx?mid=1, retrieved 10/04/2012
  21. ↑ Gerbic, Susan. "An Interview with CSICon Speaker Bob Novella". Skeptical Inquirer. CSI. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  22. ↑ "Jimmy Carter: No Truth to UFO Rumors". Marketwire] (Press release). November 5, 2007. Retrieved November 17, 2007.
  23. ↑ "Larry King needs a new format". The Herald Tribune. January 21, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2008.
  24. ↑ "Podcast Award Winners 2005-2014". The People's Choice Podcast Awards. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  25. ↑ Sacerich, Robert (July 9, 2014). "The 2014 "Dose of Rationality" Top 10 Podcasts!". Rationality Unleashed. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  26. ↑ "The physics.org web awards 2010". Institute of Physics. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  27. ↑ "The SGU and Skeptical Activism". Neurologica Blog. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Member Subscription". The Skeptics Guide To The Universe. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  29. ↑ "The NESS". The New England Skeptical Society. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  30. ↑ Strohmeyer, Robert (December 15, 2009). "The Web's Most Illogical Arguments". Computerworld. IDG News Service. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  31. ↑ "List of SGU 5x5 podcast episodes".
  32. ↑ Gerbic, Susan. "An Interview with CSICon Speaker Evan Bernstein". Skeptical Inquirer. CSI. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  33. 1 2 "The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake". Amazon.com. Amazon.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  34. ↑ "Review: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake". Publishersweekly.com. Publishers Weekly. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  35. ↑ "The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How To Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake". Hachette.com.au. Hachette. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
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