I recently ran a pair of episodes investigating claims of the health effects of deuterium, a stable heavy isotope of hydrogen. The first interview was with a Naturopath, and the second was with a real medical doctor publishing peer reviewed papers on the topic. And my focus in this effort is on drilling through the BS to get to what the evidence says. This takes sustained skepticism, and it doesn’t always make friends. Many people are turned off by the methods of science. It reminds me of why I never liked the TV series X-files. The scientist was always being appropriately skeptical of phenomena that have, at best, only breathless anecdotal support. But she was constantly being shamed by the male character for not ‘believing’ that the truth is out there. But believing extraordinary claims without sufficient evidence makes you gullible. You have the choice of being a friendly fool in believing that astrology or alternative medicine, homeopathy, or other superstitions should be given equal standing with experimentally tested scientific knowledge.
So in this episode I want to give you some tools to identify bafflegab, gobbledygook, and pseudo-science, while reviewing some of the reactions I received.
Support the podcast at patron.podbean.com/TheRationalView
Give me your feedback on Facebook @TheRationalView
Twittter @AlScottRational
Dr. Luca Turin detects quantum clues to consciousness
Dr. Andy Norman on how to immunize your mind
Transhumanist David Pearce discusses consciousness
Dr. Arthur Reber claims cells are sentient
Consciousness: Are we more than bio computers?
Nuclear Reactors in a Warzone
Professor Lee McIntyre on Talking with Science Deniers
The Rational Art of War for Social Media Warriors
Summary of Evolution and Creationism
Controversial questions in genetics with Razib Khan
Teaching the Controversy with Professor Lynne Honey
Professor Niles Eldredge on Evolution
Paleovirology and Evolution with Dr. Welkin Johnson
Dr. S. Joshua Swamidass on Genesis and Evolution
Evolution and Genetics
Dr. Jessica Lovering is changing public perception of nuclear energy
What about the waste?
What about Fukushima?
Dr. Jan Blomgren on God and science
Science and Religion with Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Just Dumb Enough Podcast
Freakonomics Radio
The Why Files: Operation Podcast
Criminal
Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World