Science Fictions

The podcast explores the controversial link between football and dementia, discussing specific incidents in rugby and football, and the measures taken to prioritize player health. It examines two studies indicating a significant risk of neurodegenerative diseases among contact sport players. The impact of subgroup analysis and the benefits of playing sports are also discussed.

In this paid-exclusive episode, the hosts dive into the controversial topics of unconscious bias, microaggressions, stereotype threat, and trigger warnings in diversity training. They explore the history and impact of unconscious bias training, discuss the concept of implicit bias and the use of the Implicit Association Test, and explore different types of prejudice and measuring behavioral bias.

This episode of The Studies Show delves into the safety concerns, problems of nuclear waste, and expensive nature of nuclear power. It explores the death toll of nuclear disasters, the potential for new reactor designs, and debates whether we should shift to renewables. The podcast also highlights the sponsors, the i newspaper and Works in Progress, and discusses issues like the safety of nuclear power compared to other energy sources and the challenges of disposing nuclear waste.

In this episode, the hosts debate the potential of AI to wipe out humanity. They discuss concerns about narrow AI and artificial general intelligence, the capabilities of language models, risks and solutions with advanced AI, skepticism towards AI, and the concerns of killer robots and malicious AI.

The podcast explores cash transfers as a means to improve people's lives. It discusses the evidence supporting cash transfers, concerns about misuse of funds, and the lack of evidence on long-term effects. The hosts also touch on subgroup analysis, pre-registration, technical language in neuroscience research, AI consciousness, and a Canadian study on homelessness inspired by cash transfers in developing countries.

Exploring the placebo effect and its controversies, including its potential for both positive clinical effects and statistical bias. Discussing the concept of pharmacological memory and its relationship to placebos. Delving into pain perception and the role of expectation management. Highlighting the influence of demand characteristics and the importance of double-blind studies. Exploring how expectations affect pain management and the need for further research.

On The Studies Show, we’re all about trying to get it right. But sometimes we get it wrong. Every so often, we’ll do a feedback/corrections/clarifications episode where we go back and try to correct any errors in the last few episodes, and reply to your more general feedback. This is the first one of those, covering Episodes 1-8. Our thanks go to everyone who pointed out our mistakes. Please keep the feedback coming!Show notes* Retatrutide phase 2 trial; semaglutide vs. tirzepatide cost-effectiveness study* The IARC’s useful, detailed report on (e.g.) whether being a firefighter is a cancer risk; the FDA disagrees with the IARC on whether aspartame should be labelled as a “possible” cause of cancer* The newest published trial of psilocybin for depression* Stuart’s more recent article on ultra-processed foods, with discussion of mechanisms; Chris Snowdon’s two part review of Chris van Tulleken’s book; interview with Herman Pontzer on his book BurnCreditsThe Studies Show is produced by Julian Mayers at Yada Yada Productions. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencefictionspod.substack.com/subscribe

Explore the intriguing evolution of the growth mindset concept, from its origins in Carol Dweck’s research to its acceptance in educational settings. Discover the debate over whether praising effort truly nurtures success and how widespread claims may not hold up against rigorous studies. The hosts dissect various meta-analyses that reveal inconsistent effects on academic performance and discuss the implications of publication bias and financial conflicts in research. Ultimately, they question the real impact of growth mindset interventions in classrooms.

If you were anywhere near social media at the start of August, you’ll have seen endless claims of a massive, world-changing breakthrough in physics: the LK-99 room-temperature superconductor.In this episode, Tom and Stuart—neither of them anything approaching a physicist, so caveat emptor—discuss what a superconductor is, why it would be exciting (or not) for it to work at room temperature, and ask why people online got so excited over claims that one had been discovered… when it actually hadn’t. The Studies Show is sponsored by the i, the UK’s best daily newspaper. You can find the latest deals—including a 50% off deal for digital subscriptions—at this link. Thanks to the i for their support!If you’re enjoying The Studies Show, then please consider becoming a subscriber. You can join as a free subscriber and get an email whenever we release an episode. If you join as a paid subscriber, you’ll be able to access some features like ask-me-anything chats with Tom and Stuart, and (soon) paid-only episodes. Either way, you can subscribe by typing your email address below:Show Notes* Video of the Meissner effect - the eerie levitation of superconducting materials* The initial LK-99 preprint on arXiv* Stuart’s article from the day LK-99 went viral* Statistical model that many thought proved LK-99 really was a room-temperature superconductor* Article in Nature News explaining why the LK-99 material might’ve seemed to have superconducting properties* Story on the retractions of work by another room-temperature superconductor researcher* Actually-exciting superconductor advance 1 (and replication); actually-exciting superconductor advance 2 (and replication)* Article on the Fleischmann & Pons “cold fusion” debacle* Story of the “faster-than-light neutrino” error* Plastic Fantastic, the book about the fraudulent semiconductor studies in the early 2000s* Article on “quantum computing’s reproducibility crisis” and the Majorana particleCreditsThe Studies Show is produced by Julian Mayers at Yada Yada Productions. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencefictionspod.substack.com/subscribe

This podcast explores the impact of ultra-processed foods on obesity, discussing their definition, categorization, and health implications. It highlights the limitations of observational studies, presents the results of a study on weight gain, and delves into the brain's response to the modern food environment. The hosts share their views on ultra-processed foods and promote the podcast's subscription options.