Pontus Böckman

Nominate candidates both Das Goldene Brett and the Ockham Award (including the Rusty Razor!), links are in the show notes. In TWISH we hear about that Russian space visionary Konstantin Tsiolkovsky who over a 100 years ago established still valid theories about space rockets and more, needed for space flight. Then we have the news:

• INTERNATIONAL: Elsevier to ‘soon investigate’ two Macchiarini papers more than a year after retraction request
• ITALY: Unvaccinated child dies of diphteria

Germany has finally(!) removed funding for both homeopathic and anthroposophic remedies, and for that they deserve the Really Right Award!

Enjoy!

Segments: Intro; Greetings; TWISH; News; Really Right; Quote; Outro; Outtakes
 
0:00:27 INTRO

0:00:50 GREETINGS

• Nominations for Das Goldene Brett are now open (Don’t forget the Ockhams, either)
  • GoldenesBrett: https://goldenesbrett.guru
  • Skeptic UK: https://www.skeptic.org.uk/about/the-ockham-awards/ockhams-2026-nomination-form/

0:07:49 TWISH – THIS WEEK IN SKEPTICAL HISTORY

• 5 September 1857: Konstantin Tsiolkovsky was born
  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantin_Tsiolkovsky

0:14:55 NEWS

• INTERNATIONAL: Elsevier to ‘soon investigate’ two Macchiarini papers more than a year after retraction request
  • Retraction Watch: https://retractionwatch.com/2026/08/26/elsevier-to-soon-investigate-two-macchiarini-papers-more-than-a-year-after-retraction-request/
• ITALY: Unvaccinated child dies of diphteria
  • RAI News: https://www.rainews.it/articoli/2026/08/bimba-morta-a-palermo-arriva-la-conferma-delliss-uccisa-dalla-difterite-ec0f456e-3967-46a8-a626-a14c7f9cbe84.html
  • Salute.gov.it: https://www.salute.gov.it/new/it/tema/vaccinazioni/legge-vaccini/

0:28:39 REALLY RIGHT

• Really Right: German government: Homeopathy and anthroposophic so-called medicine will no longer be imbursed by the healthcare system
  • German Health Ministry: https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/service/gesetze-und-verordnungen/detail/gkv-beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz
  • Edzard Ernst: https://edzardernst.com/2026/08/the-end-of-reimbursed-homeopathy-in-germany/
  • Il Foglio: https://www.ilfoglio.it/en/science/2026/07/30/news/in-germany-the-cost-of-homeopathy-will-no-longer-be-borne-by-the-healthcare-system–403529

0:35:09 QUOTE AND FAREWELL

“Man has gone out to explore other worlds and other civilizations without having explored his own labyrinth of dark passages and secret chambers, and without finding what lies behind doorways that he himself has sealed.”
/ Stanisław Lem (12 September 1921 – 27 March 2006), Polish writer. He was the author of many novels, short stories, and essays on various subjects, including philosophy, futurology, and literary criticism. The quote is from ‘Solaris’. /

0:38:32 OUTRO

0:39:55 OUT-TAKES