Skeptoid: Recent Episodes
Brian Dunning
The true science behind our most popular urban legends. Historical mysteries, paranormal claims, popular science myths, aliens and UFO reports, conspiracy theories, and worthless alternative medicine schemes... Skeptoid has you covered. From the sublime to the startling, no topic is sacred. Weekly since 2006.
Severed feet have been washing up on the shores of the Salish Sea since 2007. What could be the cause?
Reports from some extreme adventurers say that a benevolent presence sometimes appears to provide comfort.
Pop culture tells us the famous Norden bombsight from World War II was actually terribly inaccurate. Was it?
This greatest of all imaginable treasures from the Dead Sea Scrolls probably never existed.
Is the world record highest air temperature a solid measurement, or might it be invalid?
Were these two men from an Amazon tribe that had been massacred, or could their story be explained more simply?
A roundup of the ways that work — and that don't work — to help a conspiracy theorist free himself from the rabbit hole.
Popular wisdom tells us that just touching fentanyl can produce a lethal overdose. What's the fact and what's the fiction?
Are ground sloths that somehow survived their extinction responsible for cryptid sightings in the Amazon?
The latest news, and some clips, from my indie documentary The UFO Movie THEY Don't Want You to See!
Legend has it this ghost light has been spooking people in Missouri for hundreds of years.
A roundup of easy techniques anyone can employ to better discern accurate news reports from false ones.
In this bizarre psychiatric condition, healthy children lapse into a coma that may last for years.
Some say that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol actually has certain health benefits.
Do humans use pheromones to turn each other on? The science so far says... uhh, we have no idea.
This story of alien visitation in Brazil from 1996 claims to be the most convincing proof we have.
Opponents of electric cars claim that the power grid can't keep up with the growing demand for electricity.
Pop culture tells us that a conspiracy is what killed GM's EV1 in 2002. But is an exotic explanation really needed?
Some of the episodes where I went in expecting one thing, but found something different.
The story goes that the Soviet Union had nuclear-powered underground vehicles for waging a whole new kind of war.
How well do you know your Skeptoid? Today's pop quiz focuses on questions drawn from episodes about world religions.
It's said that in 1967, a UFO once deactivated an entire flight of US nuclear missiles in their silos.
The story goes that in England in 1921, driving a particular stretch of road meant an encounter with a terrifying foe.
Join me in producing this important feature documentary film on the modern UFO phenomenon.
Many believe that the true cause of the Lusitania's sinking was not the torpedo, but a mysterious second explosion that followed.
Some say these oval depressions all along the US east coast are craters from an ancient meteor bombardment.
Amateur Internet researchers figured out in 5 days what the Chilean government UFO group couldn't in two years.
Officially, Israel's 1967 attack on the USS Liberty was accidental friendly fire; but many claim it was a deliberate conspiracy.
Colorado's Stanley Hotel is famous not only for its association with The Shining, but also for ghosts of its own.
This white dome in the California desert may house the secrets of the universe, or nothing more than delusions.
This ancient weapon of terror struck fear throughout the ancient world, and stokes a number of mysteries today.
This discredited technique deceives loved ones into believing non-communicative people are able to communicate just fine by hiring one of these facilitators.
The complicated life of JPL's co-founder meant that his death was almost certain to be cloaked in conspiracy theories.
What is the state of the science behind this online video genre that combines relaxation with chills and shivers?
The science shows that dogs and cats bred to be flat-faced suffer from respiratory distress, but some argue otherwise.
Skeptoid Media's first full-length feature documentary movie, Science Friction, is now available to stream on Prime Video.
The popular known history of Easter Island — that deforestation brought about its demise — is not generally accepted.
This relatively new and not-so-famous cryptid manages to have an outsized pop-culture footprint.
Whether cold reading, warm reading, or hot, there are simple explanations for even the most impressive psychic performances.
The unfortunate false narrative of the Winchester Mystery House obscures a wonderful story of one of California's great women pioneers.
Modern authors say that scientists didn't used to accept the idea of rogue waves. Is that true?
The real cause of washboarding on dirt roads is very different from the traditionally believed reason.
All those fancy-sounding forensic sciences you've come to trust might not be worth very much of your trust after all.
The origin story of some of the government's alleged alien wreckage is a little bit shaky.
The urban legend that train track gauge descends from Roman war chariots falls apart at every link in the chain.
In which we hear, analyze, and attempt to explain the ghostly personal stories you've sent in.
An exploration into the chupacabra, and how that word came to be applied to so many unrelated things.
Concrete will remain one of our most important materials for decades — but there's a big problem with it.
20 years ago, Portugal decriminalized all drugs in an effort to reduce addiction, incarceration, and negative health impacts. How has it worked?
Trying to treat pain or cancer by exposing yourself to a radioactive carcinogen provides only risk without the benefit.
After the 2017 earthquake in Mexico City, rescuers dug through the rubble for a little girl named Frida Sofia — who never existed.
Conspiracy theories surround the cancellation of this advanced Canadian aircraft from the 1950s.
Huna blends generic New Age spiritualism with a concocted version of Hawaiian tradition.
The true and weird history of the two girls who fooled the world with their fairy photographs in 1917.
This modern sighting of a strange beast is claimed to have been a resurgence of a legendary medieval monster.
The true cause of one of history's most violent cataclysms remains a mystery... to a degree.
Some people promote probiotics as a miracle cure for just about anything. What can they really do?
A strange radio broadcast from a very unique group of VIPs being whisked away on a UFO.
The most famous organ work in history has a surprising mystery -- we're not really sure who composed it!
A close look at the tales of large black predatory cats stalking Britain for centuries.
We focus a lot on carbon dioxide when talking about climate change. Should we be talking more about methane?
20 years after the worst terrorist attack on American soil, the conspiracy theories are still thriving -- just as we should expect.
A close look at what true science and true history can tell us about this most sacred Catholic relic.
A popular conspiracy theory claims that lots of people disappear under unexplainable circumstances in America's national parks.
In which I take a shot at trying to explain some of the weirdest stories sent in by listeners.
Pop culture tells us that the existence of billionaires is harmful to the economy. Is that so?
An unlikely group of paranormalists has persuaded the American public that the government takes UFOs seriously.
An unlikely group of paranormalists has persuaded the American public that the government takes UFOs seriously.
Horses went extinct in North America at the end of the last ice age, but oddly some are now saying they didn't.
A comparison of two popular ways to help cope with the new water reality of global warming.
The facts and fiction of what's possible and what's already been tried in switching human heads.
The story behind the story of the many paranormal events associated with this former island in the Aral Sea.
Cannabidiol is sold as an additive to just about every kind of product you can imagine. Why?
Some of what we know about the Great Pyramid that exclude it having been built by aliens or Atlanteans.
Some of what we know about the Great Pyramid that exclude it having been built by aliens or Atlanteans.
Popular reports claim that a group of US Navy destroyers were buzzed by advanced drones in 2019.
Science refutes the claim made by some that the Moon is a hollow spaceship engineered by aliens.
A roundup of all the best pro-science characters from your favorite books, movies, and TV shows.
This remote town in Alaska was said to have been abandoned because of violent Bigfoot attacks.
A host of strange monsters are said to lurk beneath the surface of the world's deepest lake.
Which came first: the publication of this famous vampire story, or its associated family tradition?
This Marian apparition from Egypt has some science fiction explanations and a sound one.
Some claim that all of world history is a coverup for the mighty ancient nation of Tartaria.
Most teachers believe that students have different learning styles and curricula can be tailored to it. Not so much.
Australia's version of Bigfoot may -- or may not -- have its origin in Aboriginal mythology.
This popular tale claims 62 African schoolchildren were contacted by an extraterrestrial.
The most famous case in the history of Monsanto vs. small farmers might not be what you think.
This most famous ship disappearance from the Bermuda Triangle probably had nothing to do with it.
You ever wonder about the truth behind popular urban legends? Or how about the craziest conspiracy theories you hear about online, chemtrails, the Flat Earth, the Hollow Earth, is there anything to them at all? Famous mysteries like what happened to Amelia Earhart, what's up with the Bermuda Triangle, who was Jack the Ripper? What about famous ghost stories, like the Amityville Horror, or the Warrens? What was really going on with that? Or this stuff they show on television: Ancient Aliens, Hunting Hitler, the Curse of Oak Island? You know that junk isn't true but how do you find out what is? If you've always taken stories like these with a grain of salt, Skeptoid is the show for you. Each week, we take one famous urban legend that a lot of people believe, talk about how it got started, how and why people believe it, and what's the real science, the real history behind what's going on. It's like a short, 15-minute podcast version of Mythbusters, but exhaustively researched and referenced. If you're ready to be skeptical and ready to solve the deepest mysteries you always wondered about, listen to Skeptoid, a 501C3 educational nonprofit.
This ship was said to be discovered with all its crew dead under unexplainable circumstances.
Some researchers believe there is no such thing as Gulf War Illness, and the rest have more questions than answers.
Good scientists can get the wrong idea, but they don't need to make it worse by announcing bad science.
Conspiracy theorists believe that Hollywood elitists torture children and extract drugs from their bodies.
Some research has found that crowds are apathetic and don't render assistance; some has found the opposite.
Many theories surround the mysterious sinking of the USS Maine that triggered the Spanish-American War.
Popular stories claim that the Nazis tried to assassinate Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin in Tehran in 1943.
A reexamination of the famous case of the man whose personality changed from a grievous brain injury.
How the wisdom of crowds can sometimes allow groups of non-experts to reach an expert conclusion.
This growing conspiracy theory posits that a global cabal of pedophiles secretly controls the US government.
Some believe that traces of tobacco in Egyptian mummies prove the Egyptians were first to the New World.
Why is the world's greatest public health philanthropist charged with crimes against humanity?
Some believe that psychedelic drugs played an irreplaceable role in the evolution of Homo sapiens.
A survey of seven of the most popular out-of-place artifacts said to overturn human history.
A popular tale claims that the skeletons of two riveters were found between the hulls of this mighty ship.
A popular conspiracy theory claims the Vatican uses a telescope named LUCIFER to find an alien savior.
Some claim that when the Earth's geomagnetic field reverses, it could spell the end of humankind.
This archaeological site in Turkey is said to change everything... but what does that really mean?
A look at some of the ancient artworks and artifacts that the show Ancient Aliens gets totally wrong.
A look at some of the ancient sites and cities that the show Ancient Aliens gets totally wrong.
A look at some of the ancient sites and cities that the show Ancient Aliens gets totally wrong.
Often dismissed as purely pseudoscientific and nonexistent, chronic Lyme disease is not necessarily nothing.
Popular stories on the Internet tell of people coming out of comas and suddenly speaking a new language.
Some possible explanations for this infamously deadly 19th century haunting near London.
The most elusive substance in pop culture also purports to be one of the most destructive.
The topic of sex addiction and what to do about it turns out to be more complicated than you may think.
The history of this vilified flavoring is a wild ride through 20th century cultural influences.
In the 12th century, a pair of mysterious children with green skin surprised English villagers.
These risky medical devices are increasingly being sold to treat conditions they don't treat.
These mysterious cannon-like booms are heard all around the world, with no apparent source.
Conspiracy theorists and alternate science believers continue to claim triumph over the laws of nature.
The public's zeal for sensationalism over facts can sometimes have deadly consequences.
There's always been an easy solution to global warming on the table, and it won't hurt the economy.
Skeptoid corrects another round of errors in previous episodes caught by you amazing listeners.
Popular TV shows try to persuade us that Egypt's Great Sphinx is far older than archaeology tells us.
The facts behind the legend of a mysterious giant ape, said by some to be a chimp-gorilla hybrid.
Updates and newer information to some of the conclusions in your favorite Skeptoid episodes.
Popularly shared articles claim electric cars produce more greenhouses gases than internal combustion cars.
The real reasons for the disappearance of this amateur material said to be able to withstand even a nuclear blast.
A geophysical look at the idea that Earth's early history had enormous destructive tides.
We can often get a good sense of a UFO story's accuracy even without researching all the details.
State-sponsored disinformation continues to drive treasure hunters who seek the legendary Amber Room.
An examination of the claims that 5G cell phone data service is potentially harmful to life.
How misinformation spread over one of the safest herbicides becoming known as one of the most harmful.
Some believe this benevolent alien from Venus lived and advised at the Pentagon for three years.
The facts behind the urban legend that billions in Japanese gold lie buried in the Philippines.
Can starving people actually die immediately upon being given their first bite of food?
Addressing the facts and the fictions around China's ending its overseas purchases of recyclable plastic.
The 15th episode devoted to corrections in previous shows. If it ain't right, we fix it.
Test your knowledge on these subjects, all covered by Skeptoid, on false history claims.
For centuries, alternative history fans have been denying Plato's intent and trying to frame Atlantis as a real island.
A review of the evidence for and against the life of Jesus of Nazareth as a real living man.
The nature of the problem of ocean plastics, and the best solution, may both come as surprises.
It's the latest fad diet, and people are trying it for just about any benefit you can think of.
The surprising history of how medical science's greatest success has become vilified by so many people.
Myth and mystery surrounds the sisters said to have founded the modern spiritualism industry.
It's proven the CIA tried to assassinate Castro, but the number of claimed attempts differs wildly.
An urban legend tells of a group of scientists who successfully escaped into another dimension.
The surprisingly humble beginnings and even more surprising modern rebirth of the Illuminati.
We compare vocalizations attributed to Bigfoot with the sounds of real animals known to be in the area.
There are things we don't know about Stonehenge, but does that mean we know nothing at all?
The UFO story seems to defy debunking because of the physical injuries suffered by witnesses.
Some believe that everything we know about the universe is wrong — and it's all electric.
Your beliefs are fallible and can fool you. Be willing to change your mind based on new information.
An examination of this super-trendy meditation technique to see whether it lives up to the hype.
Many people believe animals have the ability to predict earthquakes. The facts tell a different story.
Even in the 21st century, vets and pet owners are turning to prescientific, magic-based medical care.
Many people believe this ancient scroll container was actually an early type of battery.
A closer look at how bad the evidence is that a cave exists filled with golden alien wonders.
Some people believe that this cave in Ecuador harbors an alien library etched on metallic plates.
This exciting new(ish) field in genetics has brought with it a slew of snake oil claims.
We have good evidence for what to expect from mandated labeling of GMO foods, and it's not good.
The last show on alcohol myths wasn't good enough for many of you, so here are some more.
This early-1900s horse appeared to be able to do math and other feats, and we learned a lot from him.
Skeptoid gets some interesting letters from listeners pertaining to radioactive skeletons and lefties.
Although many regard Koko as an ape who used sign language, science tells us that ability probably doesn't exist.
When we set aside pop food woo, we find that even multiple Big Macs can be part of a healthy daily diet.
This rash of UFO sightings over Sweden in 1946 has long been considered to be Soviet missile tests.
These mischievous creatures that sabotage airplanes are claimed by some to be actual physical beings.
An exploration of the thought experiment that seeks to determine whether we're living in a computer simulation.
Listeners write in with extra information that adds a whole new dimension to some past shows.
Another round of famous names from the past: Can you guess whether each is real or fictional?
Some believe that oil comes from geological processes rather than from ancient biomass.
This boy thought he had lived a past life as a fighter pilot. He had some help getting there.
Some New Agers believe that you can heal virtually any ailment simply by taking off your shoes.
Online articles claiming the first slaves in the Americas were white are fictional and racially motivated.
This famous Internet photo of Civil War soldiers posing with a pterosaur has a surprising source.
There is a much better explanation than sonic weapons for reported attacks against US diplomats in Cuba.
The modern practice of Western mothers eating their placentas is a new and strange attention-seeking behavior.
This infamous scandal was said to have proven global warming was all just a hoax. Umm, no.
Everything you didn't know about ten years of Skeptoid musical episodes, including the reason.
Hundreds of people watched this UFO over the Hudson River Valley many times between 1983 and 1984.
Skeptoid corrects a round of past errors, that they might become the wisdom of the future.
A roundup of the conspiracy theories and the probable true fate of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370.
A further look at ten more scientists who experimented on themselves for the benefit of mankind.
In 1979, a mysterious flash occurred over the southern ocean that could have been a nuclear bomb.
Real effects far more interesting than spiritualism claims are behind these famous talking boards.
The line between skepticism and cynicism is a bit too blurry for many people. Today we bring it into focus.
A look at which celebrities are currently working hardest to erode the public intellect.
Stories about urban legends are at their best when there are real people at their center.
In the wake of VW Dieselgate, the government took the wrong steps to solve the wrong problem.
How factual are the urban legends about Japanese soldiers in the Pacific who never heard the war ended?
A look at the science-based myths and misconceptions about eclipses, plus some things you might not know.
Skeptoid responds to some listener feedback, updating a few episodes and clarifying some others.
This famous 1964 UFO sighting by a New Mexico police officer has several interesting explanations.
Let's have a look at the traits that define a crank, to make sure your new hero isn't one.
Through their constant promotion of false history, TV networks may have done Amelia Earhart's legacy irreparable harm.
The Grand Canyon is millions of years old, not thousands; despite the efforts of Young Earthers.
This sideshow attraction convinced a few real scientists that it was an actual ape-man.
We take a look at some more of the most exciting space missions, past, present, and future.
Those stories about children raised by animals probably aren't what you've been led to believe.
A miniature of all China's waterways in liquid mercury is said to be at the heart of the First Emperor's tomb.
Comparing the actual evidence to the Canadian claim of best evidence for alien visitation.
Rhinos are still being killed for their horns, but probably not for the reasons you thought.
Popular stories claim Beethoven died of lead poisoning, but the science so far doesn't hold up.