Poland

This is an oddly positive episode with a lot of good news, who could foresee that? But do us a favor and help Skeptical Science with your translation skills (link in the show notes)! In TWISH we dig into the cannibalism that is Christianity with a look into the legend of St Agatha.
Then, it’s time for the news:

• SWEDEN: Gaming addiction risk greatly exaggerated
• EUROPE: Council of Europe calls for ban on conversion therapies
• UK: Gen Z churchgoing is actually still declining
• POLAND: MMS use strongly discouraged by scientist based on latest research
• SWEDEN: COVID-19 vaccination carries no association with childbirth rates in Sweden
• INTERNATIONAL: AI safety report indicates we’re not doing enough

Javed Love is a teacher in Northern Ireland who is exercising his right not to spread religious beliefs in the classroom. For that he is Really Right!

Enjoy!

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

0:00:51 GREETINGS

• Call to action: Skeptical Science needs translators
  • Skeptical Science: https://skepticalscience.com/help-needed-to-get-translations-prepared-for-our-website-relaunch.html

0:06:22 TWISH – THIS WEEK IN SKEPTICAL HISTORY

• 5 February: Feast day of Saint Agatha of Sicily
  • Catholicism.org: https://catholicism.org/saint-agathas-breasts.html

0:17:40 NEWS

• SWEDEN: Gaming addiction risk greatly exaggerated
  • Omni: https://omni.se/forskare-overdriv-inte-riskerna-med-dataspel/a/K8ppve
  • GP: https://www.gp.se/debatt/falska-larm-om-dataspelsberoende-osynliggor-de-som-faktiskt-har-problem.35c42afd-9b27-46d4-863b-165bbfb53bc7
  • Jönköping University: https://ju.se/forskning/nyheter/nyhetsarkiv/2026-01-12-risken-att-utveckla-spelberoende—stora-konsskillnader-bland-unga.html
  • WHO: https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/frequently-asked-questions/gaming-disorder
• EUROPE: Council of Europe calls for ban on conversion therapies
  • Council of Europe: https://pace.coe.int/en/news/10185/pace-calls-for-ban-on-conversion-practices
  • Council of Europe: https://pace.coe.int/en/files/35883/html
• UK: Gen Z churchgoing is actually still declining
  • Humanists UK: https://humanists.uk/2026/01/28/gen-z-churchgoing-is-actually-still-declining-new-british-social-attitudes-survey-shows/
• POLAND: MMS use strongly discouraged by scientist based on latest research
  • Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-01852-z
• SWEDEN: COVID-19 vaccination carries no association with childbirth rates in Sweden
  • Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-026-01396-x
• INTERNATIONAL: AI safety report indicates we’re not doing enough
  • the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/03/deepfakes-ai-companions-artificial-intelligence-safety-report
  • International AI Safety Report: https://internationalaisafetyreport.org/publication/international-ai-safety-report-2026

0:54:17 REALLY RIGHT

• Really Right: Northern Ireland teacher Javed Love opts out of conducting religious education
  • Humanists UK: https://humanists.uk/2026/01/28/first-ni-teacher-in-at-least-a-decade-opted-out-of-re-and-collective-worship/

0:57:32 QUOTE AND FAREWELL

“When you are called to action, sometimes the most useful action you can take is to improve the data.”
/ Hans Rosling (27 July 1948 – 7 February 2017), Swedish physician, academic and public speaker. /

0:59:21 OUTRO

1:00:44 OUT-TAKES