ReligiousFreedom

Despite the bleak outlook we see in the news, science and critical thinking is still a thing. In the UK, Sense about Science is recruiting and in Toulouse, France, there is a great festival coming up in April. In TWISH we revisit the legacy of Erik Weisz, aka Harry Houdini, and then we have a look at the news:

• INTERNATIONAL: Funeral rights for non-believers
• NETHERLANDS: Senior journalist’s fall over falling for AI hallucinations
• EUROPE / USA: Europe actively recruits researchers struggling under Trump / Ig Nobel prizes moving to Switzerland
• GERMANY: Old tricks back on the rise as gas prices soar

Reform UK and the UK Conservative party are fueling disinformation regarding the general public’s view on net zero emissions, and for that they are Really Wrong.

Enjoy!

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

0:00:52 GREETINGS

• Sense about Science on the lookout for a Communications Officer
  • Sense About Science: https://senseaboutscience.org/vacancies/
• Tales from Critical Thinking – France
  • REC Toulouse: https://rec-toulouse.fr

0:10:55 TWISH – THIS WEEK IN SKEPTICAL HISTORY

• 24 March 1874: Birth of Erik Weisz, aka Harry Houdini
  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Houdini

0:20:59 NEWS

• INTERNATIONAL: Funeral rights for non-believers
  • Humanists UK: https://humanists.uk/2026/03/19/humanists-uk-at-the-un-protect-non-religious-funeral-rights/
  • UN: https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/61/50
  • UN: https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/regular-sessions/session61/regular-session
• NETHERLANDS: Senior journalist’s fall over falling for AI hallucinations
  • the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/20/mediahuis-suspends-senior-journalist-over-ai-generated-quotes
• EUROPE / USA: Europe actively recruits researchers struggling under Trump / Ig Nobel prizes moving to Switzerland
  • El País: https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-03-23/welcome-american-scientists-europe-a-haven-for-researchers-struggling-under-trump.html
  • El País: https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-03-22/marc-abrahams-founder-of-the-satirical-ig-nobel-prizes-scientists-in-the-us-are-very-angry-people-are-waking-up.html
  • El País: https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-03-10/the-ig-nobel-awards-are-moving-to-europe-after-35-years-it-has-become-unsafe-for-our-guests-to-visit-the-us.html
• GERMANY: Old tricks back on the rise as gas prices soar
  • Skeptix: https://skeptix.org/2026/03/21/mit-kettenbriefen-und-quantengadgets-gegen-die-hohen-benzinpreise/

0:43:58 REALLY WRONG

• Really Wrong: Reform UK and Conservative Party UK: Rightwing narrative fueling false belief UK public oppose net zero, study finds
  • the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/20/uk-public-support-net-zero-rightwing-media-rories-reform-analysis

0:47:18 QUOTE AND FAREWELL

“I am not a prophet, and I am opposed to prophesying. I am pursuing my investigations, and as fast as my results are verified I shall make them public.”
/ Wilhelm Röntgen (27 March 1845 – 10 February 1923), German experimental physicist who produced and detected electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range known as X-rays (known as Röntgen rays in many languages). /

0:48:40 OUTRO

0:50:02 OUT-TAKES