theESP

Episode #105 – Smallpox, fake news and the Taoiseach is a coward

Download

In our final episode for 2017 we look back at a skeptical year in Europe. We talk about smallpox, how measles continues to spread and how a prominent skeptic becomes head of the Swedish Royal Academy of Science. We also look into Facebook’s new attempt to fight fake news, how peer review punishes poor research and how Christmas decorations being removed in Italy has nothing to do with muslims.
Lastly the Taoiseach in Ireland failes to take a stand against Scientology, and for that he is Really Wrong.

Segments:
Intro; Greetings; The Week in Skepticism; News; Really Wrong; Farewell; Outro; Outtakes

Show Notes:

00:00:28 Greetings
Review of 2017 in Europe:

00:16:29 This Week in Skepticism: The Smallpox Retention Controversy

00:21:39 Skeptical News

00:37:15 Really Wrong
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for not taking a stance against Scientology.

00:43:21 Quote
“The one real goal of education is to leave a person asking questions.”
/ Max Beerbohm, British Critic, Essayist, and Caricaturist /

00:47:21: Outro

00:48:36: Outtakes