The Reality Check

After having watched all six Sharknado films Adam decides to do some research into the science of these not at all ridiculous films, uncovering the truth about the plausibility and historical precedent for a tornado filled with living sharks. Darren gives us a book review of Renée DiResta’s Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality, which explores how powerful influencers are able to affect what people believe.

Could meditation ever be harmful? Darren examines the evidence to determine if meditation, which can have many benefits, might sometimes have a negative impact on people’s lives. Adam looks at the idea of cavemen and wonders if, as their name suggests, that they really spent all that much time in caves.

The podcast explores the differences between soap and detergent, discussing their cleaning effectiveness and skin-friendliness. They also review a book about free will, questioning its existence and implications. The hosts cover marketing strategies in product differentiation and dive deep into the concepts of determinism and free will, sparking debates and discussions.

Exploring cognitive biases and logical fallacies for better understanding, importance of critical thinking in decision-making, challenges in the digital age, and the science behind letting food cool before refrigerating to prevent bacterial growth.

The podcast discusses the history and advancements in laundry technology, the challenges of automating household chores, and the impact of AI on human labor and creativity. It questions the direction of AI taking over certain tasks while humans still handle laundry and dishes.

What were the first mammals like? Darren examines what characterizes a mammal and explores the world of early mammals, who coexisted with the dinosaurs. Adam investigates the discourse around a viral question which asks “Would you rather be stuck in a forest with a man or a bear?”, using some simple statistics to inform the issue.

Exploring the feasibility of giant sandworms in Dune and the scientific intricacies behind their existence. Comparing the sizes and diets of whales, dinosaurs, and sandworms. Delving into the ecosystem and biology of Arrakis, focusing on water scarcity and sandworms' diet. Discussing the intersection of sandworms in Dune and recent advances in AI personal assistants, highlighting real-time reasoning abilities and ethical concerns.

Spencer Greenberg is the founder Clearer Thinking, a web site which provides tools for critical thinking, as well as Transparent Replications, which does rapid replications of papers in psychology and behavioural studies. In this interview he discusses the replication crisis in scientific studies, what’s causing it and what can be done to reduce these problems.

A heartfelt tribute reflects on the life and impact of philosopher Daniel Dennett, who passed away at 82. Key ideas such as compatibilism highlight how free will can coexist with determinism. The conversation dives into consciousness, exploring its implications for artificial intelligence and the risks of technologies like deepfakes. Insightful discussions on the nature of self reveal it as a narrative center, while evolutionary perspectives illuminate the relationship between consciousness, meaning, and our everyday experiences.

Adam looks at evidence that the popular Stanford Prison Experiment was not as well run as we've heard which raises concerns about the conclusions we make from it.  Darren considers some recent events in the world of AI and wonders whether or not AI could soon be taking over some creative jobs.