This week we first discuss the scientific method and remember Louis Pasteur, plus we anticipate Pope Francis’ upcoming Vatican revolution.
Then in the news we talk about Ukraine election results, a homeopathic remedy that got “The Mom’s Choice Award” and how 170 million children lack protection from measles. A Portuguese pilot project gets flu vaccinations a boost (pun intended), we welcome a new German speaking Skeptic Youtube channel, look at the trend of religiousness going down in Spain and how electric cars are the future even though some people want you to believe otherwise.
We close by shaming old people who get their knickers in a knot because of Greta Thunberg.
Segments:
Intro; Greetings; This Week in Skepticism; Pontus Pokes the Pope; News; Really Wrong; Quote; Outro; Out-takes
Events Calendar: https://theesp.eu/events_in_europe
00:00:27 Intro
00:00:51 Greetings
We thank our listners for correcting us when we get it wrong, just as science always needs finetuning – last week there was a study suggesting that the expansion of the universe may be faster than previously thought.
00:08:06 This Week in Skepticism
On 30 April 1878, Louis Pasteur lectured at the French Academy of Sciences in support of his germ theory of disease, in which he held that many diseases were caused by tiny organisms. Since he still met with opposition from some scientists, he called their contrary opinions “fatal to medical progress.”
Pasteur also described ways to prevent infection, and provided the skeptics with an experiment with which to test the theory themselves.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germ_theory_of_disease
- https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/science-and-technology/chemistry-biographies/louis-pasteur
00:13:51 Pontus Pokes the Pope
Francis is chocked by the resurrection, but more importantly prepares a Vatican revolution(!)
- https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/at-colosseum-stations-of-the-cross-pope-francis-prays-for-abused-minors-42703
- https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-the-resurrection-is-the-most-shocking-event-in-human-history-57339
- https://cruxnow.com/news-analysis/2019/04/26/secretariat-of-state-looks-to-become-even-stronger-in-vatican-reforms/
- https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/analysis-curial-reform-aims-for-unity-in-service-not-a-team-of-rivals-57404
00:19:58 Skeptical News
UKRAINE: A comedian won the presidential election
INTERNATIONAL: Boiron product praised on The Mom’s Choice Awards site
- https://store.momschoiceawards.com/index.php?entry_id=8326
- https://edzardernst.com/2019/04/moms-choice-awards-for-a-homeopathic-product-was-it-for-the-maximum-number-of-false-claims-in-one-single-product/
INTERNATIONAL: UNICEF: 170 million children not vaccinated against measles
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/apr/25/nearly-170m-under-10s-unvaccinated-against-measles-worldwide
- http://outbreaknewstoday.com/global-measles-300-percent-2019/
PORTUGAL: Pharmacy pilot project increases flu vaccination by 32%
SWITZERLAND: Warum skeptisch sein? New YouTube channel by engineer Benjamin Cella explaining major points of critical thinking.
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2-0DPbCUB9ilsCfZgfVgKw/featured
- https://blog.gwup.net/2019/04/02/neuer-youtube-kanal-zum-thema-kritisches-denken/
SPAIN: Study shows religion on its way down
GERMANY: Tesla Model 3 being worse in terms of CO2 emissions than a Mercedes C220?
- https://interestingengineering.com/a-tesla-model-3-produces-more-co2-than-a-diesel-car-says-new-study
- http://shrinkthatfootprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Shades-of-Green-Full-Report.pdf
- https://interestingengineering.com/7-ways-electric-vehicles-are-set-to-change-the-future
00:44:05 Really Wrong
Grown people are attacking 16-year old Greta Thunberg because they cannot find any proper arguments
00:49:50 Quote and Goodbye
“Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world. Science is the highest personification of the nation because that nation will remain the first which carries the furthest the works of thought and intelligence.”
/Louis Pasteur, French biologist, microbiologist and chemist, December 27, 1822 – September 28, 1895 /
00:51:07 Outro
00:55:22 Out-takes