The Pseudoscientists

Over the last year and a bit, the Young Australian Skeptics has been organising the launch of a new online science magazine – Lateral – designed to provide paid opportunities for up-and-coming science writers and artists from Australia and around the world. We're all very excited. On the 3rd of August, it's going live, so we thought we might take the opportunity now to explain the ideas behind the magazine and why we're devoting so much energy to it. Jack Scanlan (Editor-in-Chief) is joined by Nicola McCaskill (Deputy Editor-in-Chief) and Tessa Evans (Physical Science Editor) to explore the world of Lateral Magazine: the highs, the lows, and the frustrations. We'd love it if all our podcast subscribers pitched in to help cover the initial costs of the magazine through our Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign: indiegogo.com/projects/lateral-magazine/ There are heaps of cool perks, like commissioning articles in Lateral! Every dollar counts. And until the 20th of July, the Australian Skeptics w

We all have an opinion about nuclear, right? In this episode, Jack Scanlan, Tessa Evans, Luke Weston and Sophia Frentz discuss some of the issues surrounding nuclear power, in the aftermath of an event by the Royal Society of Victoria on the 11th of June, entitled "Nuclear Energy: Should it be Included in the Mix?". Thanks for the Royal Society for the event and the impetus to discuss this issue. You can find out more about future events like this at www.royalsocietyvictoria.org.au. (P.S. Find out more about Lateral Magazine at www.lateralmag.com.)

Crowdfunding seems to be the hip new thing to do these days, so much so that scientists all over the world are getting involved and raising money for their own research. Dr Jenny Martin, a zoologist at the University of Melbourne, is no exception. On this episode, she chats with Jack about her crowdfunding campaign on kangaroos and wallabies, why it's vital science, and the future of scientific crowdfunding. 

Science! Comedy! Science comedy! Ted Janet has a chat to UK broadcaster and comedian Robin Ince about his upcoming Australian tour, "Happiness Through Science". Tickets are selling fast, so make sure you get one before they're gone!

Why would someone dislike the skeptical community? Jack speaks with Sydney-based writer Eleanor Robertson about her misgivings with skepticism, why we shouldn't pin too many hopes on celebrity spokespeople, science and ethics, and the benefits of listening to those with whom you disagree. 

It's a mini-episode! Sarah and Jack both went to the Richard Dawkins event in Melbourne on the 29th of November, wherein he was interviewed by Leslie Cannold: so they chat about it.

Sarah, Nicola and Jack dive deep into the genetics of homosexuality, why autoimmune diseases aren't caused by female self-hatred, and why young children love to laugh at everyone else's misfortune.  Plus: a new YAS project in the works, Australian Christmas, hail, and homosexual conversion.

Jack, Joanna and Sarah make a triumphant return to the studio to delve into how protein evolution can help save us from climate change, what the deal is with ebola, and why mantis shrimp are the coolest animals on Earth. Plus: theses, jobs, superhero shows, and nuclear fusion.

Sarah and Jack look at the science and skeptical themes in the recent movies "Lucy", "Snowpiercer", "Guardians of the Galaxy" and the James Randi documentary "An Honest Liar", and also touch on some self-assembling robots and turning brown butterflies purple. Plus: nanotechnology, chemistry joke feedback, and climate change-denying geologist Ian Plimer.

Jack geeks out with parasitologist and general cool person Kelly Weinersmith about the seriously interesting world of parasites, zombies and evolutionary neuroscientists. Are mosquitos parasites, or just annoying? How do fungi control ants? Which parasite is in the brains of one third of all human beings? And how many bad jokes can Jack make in an hour? Listen and find out...

Jack is joined by returning guest Upulie Divisekera to freak out about electric bacteria and why they might be able to turn us into cyborgs, how an anti-GMO activist royally screwed up, and the essentiality of respiration. Plus: Snowpiercer, Russian sex geckos, dead dinosaurs, and more brain pseudoscience from "Lucy".

Sarah and Jack go all-out depressing on this episode - it's a sad, sad world. Who shot down flight MH17? Was it an Illuminati plot? How are ants impacting climate change? Why will the Great Barrier Reef be not-so-great in a couple of decades? And what's the deal with apes? Plus: throwing blood, barcoding with kids, and Jake Guy-lan-HAL on ice.

Jack and Sarah are finally back in the not-studio with science news, respiratory tract infections, and a phone with no batteries. Did you know organic food is better for you? (Or is it?) Dengue fever's fun too. And what's the difference between a macronutrient and a micronutrient? Find out, all in this episode! Plus: AIDS, meteors, swearing, and poisonous gluten.

Joanna, Nicola and Jack discuss the heavy topic of physician-assisted suicide/euthanasia, why it costs so much to make drugs, and why antibiotic resistant-bacteria might be a bigger future health problem than HIV/AIDS, while "gynandromorphism" is delved into on Jargonauts. Plus: Spider babies, getting sick, correspondence, and quantum consciousness!

Sarah and Jack do the sexiest episode yet (probably) just in time for Easter, with news about lab-grown vaginas, the proteins that lock egg and sperm together, and the crazy things semen does to virgin female flies, while Jargonauts is all about the various types of tissue/organ grafts. Sexy. Plus: neurotoxins, swallowing magnets, and one of the least-accurate sci-fi films ever, "The Core".

Liz, Joanna and Jack brave apocalyptically-bleak Melbourne weather to delve into news about the efficacy of homeopathy, why a recent Melbourne study into acupuncture might not be so great, and how scientists found water under the surface of one of Saturn's moons, while Jargonauts gets personally drugged-up with "pharmacogenomics". Plus: the movie "Noah", helicopters, and confusing geocentrism.

Jack is joined by new co-host Joanna Ward to discuss scientific hoaxes online, the annoying trend of "viral" Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts that steal science images, and why parachutes will save you from falling out of a plane even though they haven't been tested "scientifically", while Jargonauts gets a rush from "endorphins".  Plus: Joanna's heart research, Melbourne International Comedy Festival shows by friends of the show, and the dodgy science in the upcoming Scarlet Johansson movie "Lucy".

Sarah is joined by new host Nicola McCaskill to chat about the puny immune systems of men, the development of autism, and changes to Australia's racial discrimination legislation, while also growing everyone's knowledge about carcinogens in Jargonauts. Plus: Tom's Melbourne International Comedy Festival show "Love, Factually", Sarah's research, and green coffee beans.

We told you we'd have him back, and we did! James Garth (our guest on Episode 110) returns to discuss in more detail with Jack the complex relationship between science and religion. Are they always in conflict? How does a Christian aerospace engineer such as James view science? Are faith and skepticism incompatible? Listen for our thoughts on these questions and more.

Sarah, Tom and Jack discuss the implications of the Australian Vaccination(-Skeptics) Network changing its name, why biochemistry stops fish from living too deep in the ocean, and 30,000 year-old frozen bacteria-sized viruses. Jargonauts lays into "oogenesis", and Tom has a show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival! (The March 26th show is a special podcast audience meetup! Come along!) Plus: robots doing surgery, dissecting eggs, testicle puns, and gargling oil.