Lost on the highway, the boys look for a cell phone signal and wonder about the potential dangers of their lifeline. Comedian Jacob Meza explores the possibilities of groin cancer while learning that some people may be scared of cell phones but are unwilling to give them up. Back in the studio, Chris and Jonathan discuss fava beans; the Larry King Show and brain cancer; subgroup analyses (which lie, they always lie); what male…

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  Kevin Smith is a great storyteller. So naturally, when he was on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert in May, he used up the entire segment to deliver what was essentially a 9-minute monologue without giving Colbert a chance to ask a single question. The segment was funny and poignant, and it provided a glimpse into a vulnerable, self-conscious man who views the scariest night of his life as the best thing to have ever happened…

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  Jonathan and Chris interview Michael "Marsh" Marshall, project director of the Good Thinking Society and the vice-president of the Merseyside Skeptics Society in England. They discuss how Marsh and Simon Singh met; what a skeptical charity does; why Marsh interviews people with fringe beliefs; changing people's minds with nudges; the Good Thinking Society's campaign to stop the NHS from funding homeopathy in the UK; how PR releases get used by journalists to create "churnalism";…

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  You might look good with a tan, and of course there's vitamin D to think about, but the truth is that tanning is a very very bad idea. And the whole Vitamin D thing might not pan out in the long run. We banned tanning beds in Quebec for those under 18, but the risk of sun tanning hasn't really made it into the public consciousness. My latest for the Montreal Gazette: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/opinion-deliberate-tanning-is-a-real...  

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  Returning from a memorable fishing trip, the boys tackle the evidence behind omega-3s, a group of molecules known as "PUFAs!" (try not to laugh). They talk about the EPA; kinky and bent molecules; carnivorous chickens; cardiovascular disease and brain development. Also: how big trials can go wrong; and an interview with Dr. Emma Jones on palliative care, cultivating quality of life, collaborations in paediatric oncology, and myths about medicinal cannabis! Julia Belluz's article about…

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  Jonathan was recently part of a panel discussion on the state of skepticism: what the movement does poorly and how to move forward. The recording was hosted by Grant Ritchey and Clay Jones of the Prism Podcast (and also of Science-Based Medicine), and featured Lydia Finch and Michael Marshall. You can find the episode by looking up the Prism Podcast on your favourite podcatcher or by clicking on this link. If you stay until the…

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The Apple Watch has an FDA approved accessory that can diagnose you with an arrhythmia. But how accurate is it? The evidence says not very. While it's pretty good at telling you if you're normal, a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation isn't accurate at all. Read the full story here.  https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/opinion-why-the-apple-watch-might-be... ************************************************* Given that I'm not someone who is overly fond of new gadgets, the arrival of the new Apple Watch 3 didn't really make that much of…

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Does alcohol actually help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease? It's not entirely clear and the big NIH randomized trial that was supposed to answer that question has been scuttled over funding issues and industry involvement. So why does the NIH website say that alcohol is help? HealthNewsReview looks into it with a few comments from me as well.

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  Part 2 of 2. Chris and Jonathan sit down to demystify how scientific research is conducted and what actually goes on in a lab. They talk about the following: data analysis; statistical literacy among scientists; cherry picking; biostatisticians' greatest complaint; "students should figure it out!"; meta-analyses; hypothesis testing; publishing; structure of a paper; the secret appendices; peer review; open data; registered reports; types of journals; opening a Dairy Queen; and things are improving. Seriously,…

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For those of you who subscribe to the Skeptical Inquirer, Chris has an article appearing in this month's issue. It's an update of the cell phone - cancer story that started with the National Toxicology Program study. By the way, cell phones are also going to be a topic for an upcoming episode this fall. So stay tuned.

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