1 00:00:16,270 --> 00:00:09,110 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:22,040 Oh 3 00:00:28,830 --> 00:00:24,780 hello and welcome to the skeptic zone 4 00:00:32,940 --> 00:00:28,840 episode number 373 for the 13th of 5 00:00:36,830 --> 00:00:32,950 December 2015 Richard Saunders here with 6 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:36,840 you from Sydney Australia hmm a cool 7 00:00:42,510 --> 00:00:40,090 overcast sort of day in Sydney a nice 8 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:42,520 change a nice change from the heat and 9 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:44,530 humidity maybe I should set up the 10 00:00:52,470 --> 00:00:48,970 skeptic zone weather podcast maybe I 11 00:00:54,330 --> 00:00:52,480 should do that who was it that said was 12 00:00:56,130 --> 00:00:54,340 an Oscar Wilde an old town said 13 00:00:57,660 --> 00:00:56,140 everybody talks about the weather 14 00:01:00,240 --> 00:00:57,670 everybody complains about the weather 15 00:01:02,190 --> 00:01:00,250 but nobody does anything about it would 16 00:01:05,850 --> 00:01:02,200 there are some things we can do things 17 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:05,860 about coming up on the skeptic zone is 18 00:01:11,130 --> 00:01:08,530 how you can help some European type 19 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:11,140 people in Europe promote their new 20 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:16,210 podcast ESP no it's not about magic and 21 00:01:22,290 --> 00:01:19,090 clairvoyance it's about skepticism the 22 00:01:25,020 --> 00:01:22,300 new ESP podcast is a joint venture in 23 00:01:28,469 --> 00:01:25,030 Europe and coming up at the top of the 24 00:01:32,580 --> 00:01:28,479 show we interview pontus andis and y 25 00:01:36,630 --> 00:01:32,590 Alana it will tell you Paul yes the new 26 00:01:38,790 --> 00:01:36,640 European skeptics podcast ESP I love 27 00:01:40,770 --> 00:01:38,800 that I love that night I think that's a 28 00:01:43,410 --> 00:01:40,780 wonderful name for a skeptical podcast 29 00:01:46,169 --> 00:01:43,420 find out more coming up soon following 30 00:01:48,089 --> 00:01:46,179 that it's a little press release from 31 00:01:49,770 --> 00:01:48,099 Australian skeptics about a school in 32 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:49,780 the state of Victoria here in New South 33 00:01:55,100 --> 00:01:52,810 Wales having a chicken pox outbreak and 34 00:01:58,290 --> 00:01:55,110 this is one of these schools that have a 35 00:02:00,180 --> 00:01:58,300 some more tolerant attitude when it 36 00:02:03,059 --> 00:02:00,190 comes to people's choices whether to 37 00:02:04,650 --> 00:02:03,069 vaccinate or not and here's another old 38 00:02:07,410 --> 00:02:04,660 expression the chickens have come home 39 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:07,420 to roost van it's a week in science from 40 00:02:13,860 --> 00:02:09,130 our friends at the Royal Institution of 41 00:02:17,100 --> 00:02:13,870 Australia w WR I a u.s. ok you I'm sure 42 00:02:19,410 --> 00:02:17,110 that URL is now firmly imprinted in your 43 00:02:21,449 --> 00:02:19,420 brain which it should be because it's a 44 00:02:24,260 --> 00:02:21,459 fine institution and good scientific 45 00:02:27,089 --> 00:02:24,270 outreach and then may not spooky action 46 00:02:30,059 --> 00:02:27,099 may not add skeptics in the pub just the 47 00:02:32,670 --> 00:02:30,069 other week interviewed the guest speaker 48 00:02:33,940 --> 00:02:32,680 from Brisbane Ross pouch who you will 49 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:33,950 recall is 50 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:35,690 involved with a Brisbane skeptics 51 00:02:40,869 --> 00:02:38,090 society he's going to be talking about 52 00:02:42,759 --> 00:02:40,879 virology that's right those naughty 53 00:02:44,830 --> 00:02:42,769 viruses and there are some good viruses 54 00:02:47,530 --> 00:02:44,840 too in fact viruses are sort of 55 00:02:49,869 --> 00:02:47,540 indifferent really they're sort of just 56 00:02:52,050 --> 00:02:49,879 living their life cycle then to round 57 00:02:54,460 --> 00:02:52,060 off the show evidence please with Joe 58 00:02:55,509 --> 00:02:54,470 alabaster Joe is going to be talking 59 00:02:58,630 --> 00:02:55,519 about a press release from the 60 00:03:00,490 --> 00:02:58,640 Australian skeptics where they we 61 00:03:03,610 --> 00:03:00,500 because I'm involved with Australian 62 00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:03,620 skeptics have issued a challenge to 63 00:03:10,420 --> 00:03:08,510 so-called psychics to put up or shut up 64 00:03:12,339 --> 00:03:10,430 when it comes to making predictions now 65 00:03:13,839 --> 00:03:12,349 this time of the year and it's probably 66 00:03:18,009 --> 00:03:13,849 the same wherever you're listening 67 00:03:21,069 --> 00:03:18,019 around the world psychics end up on the 68 00:03:23,949 --> 00:03:21,079 TV usually morning TV programs in the 69 00:03:27,850 --> 00:03:23,959 news on the radio with their predictions 70 00:03:29,650 --> 00:03:27,860 for the following year but what we've 71 00:03:32,140 --> 00:03:29,660 discovered over many years of following 72 00:03:34,180 --> 00:03:32,150 this is there never brought back at the 73 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:34,190 end of the year to be held to account 74 00:03:44,610 --> 00:03:39,530 and by our calculations reckonings yeah 75 00:03:49,500 --> 00:03:44,620 they're about ninety-five percent wrong 76 00:03:52,900 --> 00:03:49,510 it's pathetic it's cheap entertainment 77 00:03:55,420 --> 00:03:52,910 did I say it was pathetic anyway press 78 00:03:58,449 --> 00:03:55,430 release with Joe alabaster coming up to 79 00:04:01,000 --> 00:03:58,459 round off the show but before we get 80 00:04:03,789 --> 00:04:01,010 started this news has just come to my 81 00:04:05,970 --> 00:04:03,799 attention the spawning desire do an 82 00:04:08,530 --> 00:04:05,980 early record for the skeptic zone 83 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:08,540 anti-vaccination supporters holding 84 00:04:15,759 --> 00:04:13,010 chicken pox parties unbelievable this 85 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:15,769 story comes from Rose Brennan the 86 00:04:23,469 --> 00:04:20,090 courier-mail has reported at WWE com I 87 00:04:25,719 --> 00:04:23,479 you Queensland anti-vaxxers are offering 88 00:04:29,500 --> 00:04:25,729 to infect other children with chicken 89 00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:29,510 pox a highly contagious disease look 90 00:04:35,110 --> 00:04:31,910 I'll slip in a link to this story in the 91 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:35,120 show notes but that's that's quite 92 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:38,810 worrying and the woman involved one 93 00:04:44,350 --> 00:04:41,690 Holly singleton appears not to be 94 00:04:47,790 --> 00:04:44,360 concerned that chicken pox can be a 95 00:04:51,930 --> 00:04:47,800 fatal disease in a secret forum called 96 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:51,940 Maxine free Australia she posted my son 97 00:04:57,659 --> 00:04:55,330 has a full case of chickenpox we are at 98 00:04:59,790 --> 00:04:57,669 home together for the week if anyone 99 00:05:02,159 --> 00:04:59,800 wants to clear this bug now and get it 100 00:05:05,070 --> 00:05:02,169 over with please come to Brisbane to 101 00:05:09,540 --> 00:05:05,080 visit us we are here to infect only 102 00:05:13,710 --> 00:05:09,550 those who want it with a little colon 103 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:13,720 and P sign either the face with the 104 00:05:20,249 --> 00:05:17,289 tongue sticking up just appalling and I 105 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:20,259 guess it shows that the anti-vaxxers are 106 00:05:26,939 --> 00:05:23,050 still having an effect and here's the 107 00:05:35,580 --> 00:05:26,949 hint people don't take kids to chicken 108 00:05:37,469 --> 00:05:35,590 pox parties just you know don't but now 109 00:05:40,439 --> 00:05:37,479 it's time for me to run downstairs and 110 00:05:43,140 --> 00:05:40,449 have a couple of slices of good old 111 00:05:45,450 --> 00:05:43,150 peanut butter toast crunchy of course of 112 00:06:09,070 --> 00:05:45,460 course well I'm doing that I hope you 113 00:06:15,679 --> 00:06:12,320 now folks do you wish that you had ESP 114 00:06:17,719 --> 00:06:15,689 I've always wanted to have ESP I don't 115 00:06:19,610 --> 00:06:17,729 think I can ever cover ESP but I can 116 00:06:22,730 --> 00:06:19,620 have the next best thing it's a new 117 00:06:25,159 --> 00:06:22,740 podcast relatively new podcast called 118 00:06:27,890 --> 00:06:25,169 ESP is it about the psychic is it about 119 00:06:30,469 --> 00:06:27,900 mystics and clairvoyants or is it about 120 00:06:32,719 --> 00:06:30,479 something more down to earth on the line 121 00:06:34,459 --> 00:06:32,729 now covering some countries across 122 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:34,469 Europe I have some people involved with 123 00:06:39,740 --> 00:06:37,289 ESP let's find out some more as we 124 00:06:41,899 --> 00:06:39,750 discover this new podcast from Europe 125 00:06:44,869 --> 00:06:41,909 who have we got on the line and where 126 00:06:48,649 --> 00:06:44,879 you from we can start with that Sweden I 127 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:48,659 think hello I'm pontus Berkman I am vice 128 00:06:53,869 --> 00:06:50,370 president of the Swedish skeptics 129 00:06:55,610 --> 00:06:53,879 society I am well active in the 130 00:06:58,129 --> 00:06:55,620 skeptical movement since four or five 131 00:07:01,550 --> 00:06:58,139 years back and now we're involved in 132 00:07:03,050 --> 00:07:01,560 this ESP project that's great and your 133 00:07:05,390 --> 00:07:03,060 voice of course as well known to the 134 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:05,400 skeptic zone as is our next guest 135 00:07:10,159 --> 00:07:08,490 undress from your in Brighton at the 136 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:10,169 moment when you're normally from hungry 137 00:07:15,559 --> 00:07:13,050 yes that's that's correct and yeah 138 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:15,569 thanks to you this is my second time on 139 00:07:22,279 --> 00:07:19,250 the show and I really appreciate that 140 00:07:24,379 --> 00:07:22,289 yes i'm originally from hungary i'm the 141 00:07:26,450 --> 00:07:24,389 vice president one of the vice president 142 00:07:30,679 --> 00:07:26,460 of the hungarian skeptics society and 143 00:07:35,389 --> 00:07:30,689 i've been a skeptic for almost 20 years 144 00:07:40,429 --> 00:07:35,399 now which sounds crazy given the fact 145 00:07:46,339 --> 00:07:40,439 that i'm only turning 34 very soon but 146 00:07:48,290 --> 00:07:46,349 this so um yeah and yeah I've been iming 147 00:07:52,399 --> 00:07:48,300 running skeptics in the pub been in 148 00:07:56,719 --> 00:07:52,409 Hungary and given talks there and got 149 00:08:00,559 --> 00:07:56,729 involved in 2014 in the guerrilla 150 00:08:03,649 --> 00:08:00,569 skepticism on Wikipedia project that is 151 00:08:06,050 --> 00:08:03,659 an international thing and that's how we 152 00:08:07,850 --> 00:08:06,060 got to know each other with with with 153 00:08:09,650 --> 00:08:07,860 the guys we're running the show with 154 00:08:11,510 --> 00:08:09,660 that's fantastic 155 00:08:13,550 --> 00:08:11,520 because our last guest is also in the UK 156 00:08:15,980 --> 00:08:13,560 at the moment and I don't think I've had 157 00:08:20,860 --> 00:08:15,990 the pleasure of meeting you it's Yolanda 158 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:20,870 hello oh hi yes hi Richard um I am 159 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:24,330 finding you to the movement I've also 160 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:27,930 been well I'm listening to a lot of 161 00:08:34,659 --> 00:08:32,370 podcasts and I remember listening to you 162 00:08:37,190 --> 00:08:34,669 the skeptics guide to the universe where 163 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:37,200 susan goreck was on and she was talking 164 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:39,210 about the guerrilla skepticism wikipedia 165 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:41,810 so I've joined and that's how I met 166 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:46,050 Andrew sh um and we kind of been to a 167 00:08:51,470 --> 00:08:47,610 few things together a few conferences 168 00:08:54,220 --> 00:08:51,480 and recently Andrew shed came up with 169 00:08:59,390 --> 00:08:54,230 his brilliant idea to start a podcast so 170 00:09:01,340 --> 00:08:59,400 yeah sort of finding my feet so he kept 171 00:09:03,380 --> 00:09:01,350 is his movement even though you're in 172 00:09:07,820 --> 00:09:03,390 London at the moment where he originally 173 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:07,830 from I'm originally from Latvia that's 174 00:09:16,340 --> 00:09:11,250 it Baltics Baltic States I'd say the 175 00:09:19,970 --> 00:09:16,350 ex-soviet Union sort of country and yeah 176 00:09:21,770 --> 00:09:19,980 opposite Sweden purpose how I respect 177 00:09:23,300 --> 00:09:21,780 that's a good player that's a good way 178 00:09:25,220 --> 00:09:23,310 for people to know where let fear is I'm 179 00:09:27,680 --> 00:09:25,230 delighted to say that one of the members 180 00:09:31,910 --> 00:09:27,690 of the Australian skeptics here in 181 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:31,920 Sydney is as a person from a Latvian her 182 00:09:35,180 --> 00:09:34,050 name is cigna cane although she's about 183 00:09:38,420 --> 00:09:35,190 to get married she's going to be called 184 00:09:39,680 --> 00:09:38,430 cigna dean and cigna you may have heard 185 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:39,690 of her but she does some good work here 186 00:09:46,250 --> 00:09:42,810 in Australia so let phien skeptics have 187 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:46,260 a good reputation mmm great not bad for 188 00:09:50,900 --> 00:09:48,090 a small country like that like Latvia 189 00:09:52,820 --> 00:09:50,910 I'm glad together not bad at all well 190 00:09:57,500 --> 00:09:52,830 let me start with you undress for about 191 00:09:59,000 --> 00:09:57,510 the why this new podcast has started can 192 00:10:00,650 --> 00:09:59,010 you tell me a little bit about it and 193 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:00,660 how you go about putting it together 194 00:10:08,150 --> 00:10:03,090 since it seems to be a big collaborative 195 00:10:10,210 --> 00:10:08,160 affair over Europe yeah well I've been 196 00:10:15,530 --> 00:10:10,220 meaning to to start a podcast of my own 197 00:10:17,810 --> 00:10:15,540 for years by now and originally I had 198 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:17,820 the idea of starting one in Hungarian 199 00:10:22,910 --> 00:10:20,490 but turns out there that in Hungary 200 00:10:25,220 --> 00:10:22,920 podcasting is not a bit big thing 201 00:10:27,379 --> 00:10:25,230 well I have to say it's not a thing at 202 00:10:29,949 --> 00:10:27,389 all so people people don't even know 203 00:10:33,889 --> 00:10:29,959 most of the people what podcasting is 204 00:10:40,310 --> 00:10:33,899 but and of course I I heard the talk 205 00:10:43,069 --> 00:10:40,320 given by by Tim Foley who told us not to 206 00:10:47,030 --> 00:10:43,079 start another podcast in English another 207 00:10:50,780 --> 00:10:47,040 vlog and that don't do that and yeah I I 208 00:10:55,819 --> 00:10:50,790 took it hard but then then I realized 209 00:10:59,470 --> 00:10:55,829 that what we really lack is is a kind of 210 00:11:03,259 --> 00:10:59,480 a European perspective on skepticism and 211 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:03,269 you Richard have done a lot to tackle 212 00:11:10,910 --> 00:11:07,290 that problem and I have to tell you that 213 00:11:14,300 --> 00:11:10,920 that we listeners of the the skeptic 214 00:11:16,879 --> 00:11:14,310 zone appreciate that a lot because 215 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:16,889 because you need something to cover 216 00:11:23,090 --> 00:11:19,970 events and happenings and and and 217 00:11:25,970 --> 00:11:23,100 developments in European countries as 218 00:11:28,850 --> 00:11:25,980 well but of course you have a different 219 00:11:30,620 --> 00:11:28,860 focus on your show originally so you can 220 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:30,630 you can dedicate a segment of the show 221 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:33,930 to to this outlook but but but not 222 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:37,290 really a whole show and then I realized 223 00:11:45,470 --> 00:11:41,490 that when you look around the the circle 224 00:11:48,380 --> 00:11:45,480 of skeptical podcasting we don't see 225 00:11:52,759 --> 00:11:48,390 anything that is dedicated particularly 226 00:11:56,180 --> 00:11:52,769 to European level skepticism and this is 227 00:11:58,579 --> 00:11:56,190 how the idea turned my idea of doing a 228 00:12:01,490 --> 00:11:58,589 Hungarian one turned into doing an 229 00:12:04,550 --> 00:12:01,500 international one and of course the 230 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:04,560 problem was that whom to do it with 231 00:12:13,009 --> 00:12:08,370 because the people i knew were very much 232 00:12:15,410 --> 00:12:13,019 into podcasting and our experience in 233 00:12:19,129 --> 00:12:15,420 the field they have already been doing 234 00:12:22,730 --> 00:12:19,139 it thankfully i met in 2014 it was in at 235 00:12:26,230 --> 00:12:22,740 QED in Manchester where I met Yelena and 236 00:12:29,329 --> 00:12:26,240 also pontus both of them I met thanks to 237 00:12:32,030 --> 00:12:29,339 susan jariabek through guerrilla 238 00:12:34,550 --> 00:12:32,040 skepticism Wikipedia yeah and we got on 239 00:12:36,809 --> 00:12:34,560 pretty well right from the start with 240 00:12:39,359 --> 00:12:36,819 with both of them and this was a great 241 00:12:42,169 --> 00:12:39,369 opportunity for us to to to get to know 242 00:12:44,549 --> 00:12:42,179 each other a bit more and then at 243 00:12:47,779 --> 00:12:44,559 skeptics Congress the European skeptics 244 00:12:50,759 --> 00:12:47,789 Congress in London this September I 245 00:12:55,139 --> 00:12:50,769 brought up the idea to them they didn't 246 00:12:57,659 --> 00:12:55,149 oppose so he really was a great idea 247 00:13:00,029 --> 00:12:57,669 because I had I had thought about you 248 00:13:02,249 --> 00:13:00,039 know played through our idea for some 249 00:13:04,379 --> 00:13:02,259 time that I would like to do something I 250 00:13:06,239 --> 00:13:04,389 was thinking a smaller scale maybe I 251 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:06,249 should do something about what's 252 00:13:11,069 --> 00:13:08,410 happening in Sweden but in English so 253 00:13:13,919 --> 00:13:11,079 that others could follow that it didn't 254 00:13:15,749 --> 00:13:13,929 happen and it was just an idea but this 255 00:13:17,969 --> 00:13:15,759 is a much better idea I think I think 256 00:13:20,519 --> 00:13:17,979 you're absolutely right because it would 257 00:13:22,919 --> 00:13:20,529 be wonderful to do stuff in the native 258 00:13:24,809 --> 00:13:22,929 language where you are on and to talk to 259 00:13:26,219 --> 00:13:24,819 people in your own your own language 260 00:13:27,599 --> 00:13:26,229 it's always better of course you can 261 00:13:30,829 --> 00:13:27,609 always gather your thoughts better in 262 00:13:34,949 --> 00:13:30,839 that way but i think that the certainly 263 00:13:36,869 --> 00:13:34,959 english is such a such a widely spoken 264 00:13:38,819 --> 00:13:36,879 language and if you want to reach the 265 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:38,829 most people reach the most people of 266 00:13:42,449 --> 00:13:40,689 course it's it's sort of obvious in a 267 00:13:44,009 --> 00:13:42,459 way I guess it shouldn't stop you doing 268 00:13:45,899 --> 00:13:44,019 other things in your own language for 269 00:13:47,849 --> 00:13:45,909 for other reasons but I think it's a 270 00:13:51,479 --> 00:13:47,859 very good idea to have this sort of 271 00:13:53,129 --> 00:13:51,489 international approach to things what do 272 00:13:55,229 --> 00:13:53,139 you think you learn about that yeah no 273 00:13:58,710 --> 00:13:55,239 definitely I mean I thought it was an 274 00:14:02,159 --> 00:13:58,720 amazing opportunity to get out there and 275 00:14:05,340 --> 00:14:02,169 you know leave my mark and I was very 276 00:14:07,769 --> 00:14:05,350 excited when when under proposed the 277 00:14:11,009 --> 00:14:07,779 idea I mean there's so many great 278 00:14:15,299 --> 00:14:11,019 podcasts that we all listened to and 279 00:14:17,309 --> 00:14:15,309 aspire to be like definitely and 280 00:14:19,379 --> 00:14:17,319 unfortunately you know like like Bob 281 00:14:22,259 --> 00:14:19,389 said we couldn't do it in our native 282 00:14:24,239 --> 00:14:22,269 languages because of the body of the 283 00:14:28,769 --> 00:14:24,249 obvious reason you have to know at least 284 00:14:32,009 --> 00:14:28,779 20 different languages but English is so 285 00:14:35,219 --> 00:14:32,019 international I mean no it's you know 286 00:14:37,829 --> 00:14:35,229 it's one of those things especially the 287 00:14:41,069 --> 00:14:37,839 younger generation I certainly can talk 288 00:14:43,619 --> 00:14:41,079 for full Latvian Russian whatever the 289 00:14:46,439 --> 00:14:43,629 guy all the people are sort of you my 290 00:14:48,689 --> 00:14:46,449 age and younger speak English and it was 291 00:14:49,340 --> 00:14:48,699 a safe thing to do is to start the 292 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:49,350 podcast 293 00:14:55,070 --> 00:14:52,610 to reach as many people as possible 294 00:14:57,140 --> 00:14:55,080 absolutely right absolutely right and I 295 00:14:59,630 --> 00:14:57,150 guess I'm lucky that English is my 296 00:15:01,400 --> 00:14:59,640 native language so I've sort of it's 297 00:15:03,890 --> 00:15:01,410 easy for me to certainly digest 298 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:03,900 information in that respect but also I 299 00:15:09,220 --> 00:15:07,290 think because you're choosing to to do 300 00:15:11,630 --> 00:15:09,230 this in English you have the huge 301 00:15:13,070 --> 00:15:11,640 potential audience of North America 302 00:15:14,990 --> 00:15:13,080 which is always in the back of my mind 303 00:15:18,380 --> 00:15:15,000 and hello everybody listening in North 304 00:15:21,020 --> 00:15:18,390 America and Canada who make up a huge 305 00:15:23,510 --> 00:15:21,030 percentage of my audience and it's good 306 00:15:26,690 --> 00:15:23,520 to get your message out to to anywhere 307 00:15:29,140 --> 00:15:26,700 in the world really yes and it is really 308 00:15:32,090 --> 00:15:29,150 happening because we are trying to 309 00:15:34,190 --> 00:15:32,100 attract listeners geographically of 310 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:34,200 course and it turns out that the most of 311 00:15:40,910 --> 00:15:36,810 the listeners are in the United States 312 00:15:43,570 --> 00:15:40,920 and and that is part of a viral so to 313 00:15:47,450 --> 00:15:43,580 say mission to give an idea because um 314 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:47,460 we experience that quite often that in 315 00:15:53,390 --> 00:15:49,530 north america in the united states and 316 00:15:56,570 --> 00:15:53,400 also in canada they sometimes don't even 317 00:15:59,300 --> 00:15:56,580 realize that there is a huge continent 318 00:16:01,460 --> 00:15:59,310 called Europe where there are lots and 319 00:16:03,770 --> 00:16:01,470 lots of countries yeah with lots and 320 00:16:07,390 --> 00:16:03,780 lots of skeptical organizations doing 321 00:16:10,750 --> 00:16:07,400 their own stuff in their own language 322 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:10,760 but also I think it in Europe we are 323 00:16:15,230 --> 00:16:13,050 some of the countries in Europe love are 324 00:16:17,270 --> 00:16:15,240 fairly small so we are sitting fairly 325 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:17,280 close to each other but we don't know 326 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:19,050 what's going on on the other side of the 327 00:16:23,750 --> 00:16:21,570 border because you know that the Finnish 328 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:23,760 guys they do things in Finnish and in 329 00:16:28,430 --> 00:16:25,530 France they do things in France and in 330 00:16:30,350 --> 00:16:28,440 French and you don't understand each 331 00:16:33,770 --> 00:16:30,360 other so you don't know and I think 332 00:16:35,930 --> 00:16:33,780 that's what we found when we went to the 333 00:16:37,940 --> 00:16:35,940 QED and met a lot of international 334 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:37,950 people and at the European skeptics 335 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:41,010 Congress we met people from checkya from 336 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:43,050 Portugal and say they're doing the same 337 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:45,210 thing as we are doing but we don't 338 00:16:48,590 --> 00:16:47,010 collaborate we don't know about each 339 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:48,600 other yeah and then but don't do 340 00:16:53,350 --> 00:16:50,730 something about that and we don't share 341 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:53,360 the experience like for example with the 342 00:17:00,620 --> 00:16:56,850 UK we've got quite a few very active 343 00:17:01,910 --> 00:17:00,630 groups let's say people who oppose 344 00:17:06,710 --> 00:17:01,920 homeopathy and they 345 00:17:09,380 --> 00:17:06,720 Ashley doing stuff on the level or where 346 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:09,390 they tried to change legislation and 347 00:17:13,429 --> 00:17:11,610 trying to change the laws and trying to 348 00:17:15,770 --> 00:17:13,439 change the all this kind of thing 349 00:17:18,079 --> 00:17:15,780 actually homeopathy is the problem 350 00:17:20,150 --> 00:17:18,089 across the board you know across all the 351 00:17:23,030 --> 00:17:20,160 European countries and you know other 352 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:23,040 continents Australia and America and 353 00:17:28,130 --> 00:17:25,530 it'd be great to share that expertise 354 00:17:29,630 --> 00:17:28,140 and but people not aware because they 355 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:29,640 don't know that you know the good 356 00:17:36,230 --> 00:17:32,730 thinking society is involved in a battle 357 00:17:39,260 --> 00:17:36,240 against homeopathy it on and on the 358 00:17:42,470 --> 00:17:39,270 national health service etc so it's 359 00:17:44,659 --> 00:17:42,480 absolutely crucial that we you know pull 360 00:17:46,730 --> 00:17:44,669 yourself together I mean I know that 361 00:17:49,070 --> 00:17:46,740 pond decided to hit out so I understand 362 00:17:51,799 --> 00:17:49,080 it's a huge part you know but Europe is 363 00:17:58,460 --> 00:17:51,809 quite smoke and compared to America you 364 00:18:05,600 --> 00:17:58,470 know what I'm sorry to say anywhere up 365 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:05,610 to the same size as America but even 366 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:07,530 even everybody when you are we talking 367 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:09,210 about the United States to believe them 368 00:18:13,580 --> 00:18:11,730 even larger than that and has more 369 00:18:16,580 --> 00:18:13,590 inhabitants as well well you should I 370 00:18:18,289 --> 00:18:16,590 bet you there are 77 so you should come 371 00:18:20,030 --> 00:18:18,299 to Australia next time come to Australia 372 00:18:22,310 --> 00:18:20,040 we're we're quite a big continent to you 373 00:18:26,169 --> 00:18:22,320 know not many people yeah I know I've 374 00:18:29,419 --> 00:18:26,179 been to Australia uh-huh so high yeah 375 00:18:31,370 --> 00:18:29,429 yeah we'd love to go back and see how 376 00:18:33,860 --> 00:18:31,380 can people help where can they go and 377 00:18:36,140 --> 00:18:33,870 what's the format of the show and how 378 00:18:38,780 --> 00:18:36,150 often do you hope it might come out 379 00:18:41,659 --> 00:18:38,790 maybe pontus you can cover that so the 380 00:18:45,710 --> 00:18:41,669 show is a biweekly show and we want to 381 00:18:48,470 --> 00:18:45,720 cover news of skepticism and scientific 382 00:18:52,370 --> 00:18:48,480 news from across Europe but we do rely 383 00:18:56,330 --> 00:18:52,380 or on listeners telling us about things 384 00:18:59,090 --> 00:18:56,340 going on conferences or or scientific 385 00:19:01,280 --> 00:18:59,100 news as skeptic activism in the other 386 00:19:04,700 --> 00:19:01,290 countries right if you want to get in 387 00:19:10,940 --> 00:19:04,710 touch then please write to us our email 388 00:19:14,370 --> 00:19:10,950 address is info at the ESP dot EU or you 389 00:19:17,430 --> 00:19:14,380 can visit our website which is the e 390 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:17,440 the EU or you can find us on Facebook 391 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:20,290 there is a group called the European 392 00:19:26,100 --> 00:19:22,450 skeptics podcast I think the only one on 393 00:19:29,820 --> 00:19:26,110 facebook come and join our movement or I 394 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:29,830 are also available on twitter follow us 395 00:19:36,540 --> 00:19:33,250 on Twitter as well and what we have on 396 00:19:38,490 --> 00:19:36,550 Facebook is a Facebook page where you 397 00:19:42,210 --> 00:19:38,500 can you can like us you can find us you 398 00:19:44,310 --> 00:19:42,220 can sign up for them podcast as well so 399 00:19:49,110 --> 00:19:44,320 yes folks the information there the 400 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:49,120 contact information is info INF 0 at th 401 00:19:58,890 --> 00:19:53,890 e es PE you the ESP or just head for 402 00:20:01,050 --> 00:19:58,900 their website which is the th e es p dot 403 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:01,060 EU I think that's great that your web 404 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:04,090 your your website and your podcast has 405 00:20:12,450 --> 00:20:07,090 got the term ESP in the title I'm really 406 00:20:14,580 --> 00:20:12,460 happy about yeah yeah we are too it was 407 00:20:17,340 --> 00:20:14,590 a universal we were very happy about 408 00:20:19,710 --> 00:20:17,350 that it think it's it's a bit fun I 409 00:20:22,350 --> 00:20:19,720 think I think it's very nice picture bun 410 00:20:24,360 --> 00:20:22,360 Josh it's not my job it's a keen 411 00:20:29,190 --> 00:20:24,370 Siddhant it comes from the the actual 412 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:29,200 name it makes me want to rename my show 413 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:30,850 to the clairvoyant hour or something I 414 00:20:37,890 --> 00:20:35,530 don't know find good luck with that well 415 00:20:40,980 --> 00:20:37,900 it was fantastic to talk with you all 416 00:20:43,290 --> 00:20:40,990 spread sort of halfway across Europe as 417 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:43,300 you are congratulations on getting this 418 00:20:46,890 --> 00:20:45,250 going i look forward to hearing more 419 00:20:48,900 --> 00:20:46,900 episodes come out soon there you are 420 00:20:50,820 --> 00:20:48,910 folks if you want to hear a new episode 421 00:20:54,360 --> 00:20:50,830 from Europe for the European perspective 422 00:20:57,750 --> 00:20:54,370 in English the ESP i think is the 423 00:20:59,670 --> 00:20:57,760 podcast for you well pontus and y alana 424 00:21:02,370 --> 00:20:59,680 and undress all the way from Europe 425 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:02,380 thank you very much thank you thank you 426 00:21:12,090 --> 00:21:16,210 it sold 427 00:21:24,660 --> 00:21:19,710 we exist you have 428 00:21:31,750 --> 00:21:28,990 hi are you a skeptic living somewhere in 429 00:21:33,850 --> 00:21:31,760 Europe or simply interested in what like 430 00:21:36,450 --> 00:21:33,860 minded people are up to in countries 431 00:21:39,430 --> 00:21:36,460 around here I have good news for you 432 00:21:41,710 --> 00:21:39,440 there is a new podcast out there with 433 00:21:46,870 --> 00:21:41,720 the aim of helping you connect with all 434 00:21:50,530 --> 00:21:46,880 those European skeptics the ESP European 435 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:50,540 skeptics podcast a biweekly show coming 436 00:21:56,650 --> 00:21:52,490 out on the 18th of November on 437 00:22:00,190 --> 00:21:56,660 soundcloud iTunes and stitcher come and 438 00:22:03,070 --> 00:22:00,200 visit our website the ESP you follow us 439 00:22:05,350 --> 00:22:03,080 on Facebook and Twitter and help us keep 440 00:22:09,940 --> 00:22:05,360 the project Jen Lindley international 441 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:09,950 and interactive let us provide you with 442 00:22:37,039 --> 00:22:34,690 I don't know why you can't believe as 443 00:22:42,230 --> 00:22:37,049 published on the Australian skeptics 444 00:22:46,460 --> 00:22:42,240 website wapt.com today you December 11 445 00:22:49,430 --> 00:22:46,470 2015 chicken pox outbreak at tolerant 446 00:22:50,930 --> 00:22:49,440 Victorian school as many as twenty five 447 00:22:52,789 --> 00:22:50,940 percent of the children who attend a 448 00:22:55,549 --> 00:22:52,799 brunswick school that calls for 449 00:22:58,100 --> 00:22:55,559 tolerance for vaccine dodgers have 450 00:23:01,129 --> 00:22:58,110 contracted chicken pox according to a 451 00:23:04,820 --> 00:23:01,139 story in the Age newspaper at least 80 452 00:23:07,460 --> 00:23:04,830 of the 320 pupils at Brunswick Northwest 453 00:23:10,070 --> 00:23:07,470 primary in Melbourne North have become 454 00:23:12,590 --> 00:23:10,080 ill with the disease in the past 455 00:23:14,989 --> 00:23:12,600 fortnight it is understood the illness 456 00:23:17,149 --> 00:23:14,999 spread through grade six before making 457 00:23:20,239 --> 00:23:17,159 its way to the lower levels to grade to 458 00:23:22,009 --> 00:23:20,249 the report says in the May edition of 459 00:23:25,369 --> 00:23:22,019 the school's newsletter the principal 460 00:23:27,730 --> 00:23:25,379 Trevor Bowen said that 73.2 percent of 461 00:23:31,369 --> 00:23:27,740 students were immunized compared with 462 00:23:33,289 --> 00:23:31,379 92% within the local postcode the 463 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:33,299 Department of Health was first notified 464 00:23:38,239 --> 00:23:35,490 about the chicken pox cases on November 465 00:23:41,090 --> 00:23:38,249 the 26th a Department spokesman told at 466 00:23:43,039 --> 00:23:41,100 the age that quote there are no phone 467 00:23:45,230 --> 00:23:43,049 figures on the number of students who 468 00:23:47,690 --> 00:23:45,240 have contracted the illness since then 469 00:23:50,210 --> 00:23:47,700 but we've been advised that over the 470 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:50,220 period there's been an absence rate of 471 00:23:56,060 --> 00:23:52,490 twenty five percent on any given day 472 00:23:58,489 --> 00:23:56,070 unquote the school says it respects 473 00:24:00,940 --> 00:23:58,499 quote the rights of every family to make 474 00:24:04,070 --> 00:24:00,950 choices about immunization in quote 475 00:24:06,350 --> 00:24:04,080 currently no school in Victoria can bar 476 00:24:09,499 --> 00:24:06,360 a child who is not vaccinated from 477 00:24:12,649 --> 00:24:09,509 enrolling the States government's no jab 478 00:24:15,409 --> 00:24:12,659 nope play laws come into effect on 479 00:24:17,210 --> 00:24:15,419 january first next year but they do not 480 00:24:20,749 --> 00:24:17,220 apply to primary or high schools under 481 00:24:22,820 --> 00:24:20,759 the policy preschoolers who are not 482 00:24:25,460 --> 00:24:22,830 vaccinated will be banned from attending 483 00:24:27,740 --> 00:24:25,470 childcare or kindergarten a previous 484 00:24:29,750 --> 00:24:27,750 newsletter aiming to take the heat 485 00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:29,760 out of the conflict said that there were 486 00:24:34,270 --> 00:24:32,130 many areas of school life where a range 487 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:34,280 of opinions were accommodated 488 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:36,330 vaccination rates across the state of 489 00:24:40,910 --> 00:24:38,850 Victoria have plateaued at about ninety 490 00:24:43,100 --> 00:24:40,920 percent for a number of years something 491 00:24:46,190 --> 00:24:43,110 Health Minister Jill Hennessy wants to 492 00:24:49,430 --> 00:24:46,200 address quote were significantly 493 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:49,440 concerned about the mythmakers who go 494 00:24:53,510 --> 00:24:51,570 out encouraging people not to immunize 495 00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:53,520 their children end quote she told the 496 00:24:59,570 --> 00:24:56,730 age quote get advice from your doctor 497 00:25:02,150 --> 00:24:59,580 not from some quack there is opposed to 498 00:25:18,020 --> 00:25:02,160 vaccination based on dodgy science and 499 00:25:20,420 --> 00:25:18,030 quote welcome to a week in science from 500 00:25:24,020 --> 00:25:20,430 our Isles bringing you the science you 501 00:25:26,290 --> 00:25:24,030 need to know 2015 has been another big 502 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:26,300 year for science here are our top five 503 00:25:30,950 --> 00:25:28,170 discoveries for the year and 504 00:25:41,390 --> 00:25:30,960 unsurprisingly one topic does tend to 505 00:25:43,550 --> 00:25:41,400 dominate at number five we have what is 506 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:43,560 also the most controversial scientific 507 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:45,690 achievement of the year the first 508 00:25:51,020 --> 00:25:48,570 genetically modified human embryo 509 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:51,030 Chinese researchers reported that they 510 00:25:56,810 --> 00:25:53,970 had altered mutant DNA that causes the 511 00:26:00,200 --> 00:25:56,820 rare life-threatening human disease beta 512 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:00,210 thalassemia the embryos used were non 513 00:26:05,180 --> 00:26:02,730 viable but the researchers reported 514 00:26:09,980 --> 00:26:05,190 other sections of DNA which had been 515 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:09,990 unpredictably altered as well if we're 516 00:26:15,590 --> 00:26:13,170 going to explore and colonize space then 517 00:26:17,540 --> 00:26:15,600 food supply is a major question and 518 00:26:21,230 --> 00:26:17,550 that's what makes number four so 519 00:26:24,140 --> 00:26:21,240 exciting the first food grown and eaten 520 00:26:26,300 --> 00:26:24,150 in space lettuce was grown and 521 00:26:28,940 --> 00:26:26,310 subsequently eaten on the International 522 00:26:30,860 --> 00:26:28,950 Space Station for the first time this 523 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:30,870 development has overcome the challenges 524 00:26:35,180 --> 00:26:33,450 of growing plants in microgravity with 525 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:35,190 limited water and are 526 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:39,810 official light the Ebola outbreak which 527 00:26:44,660 --> 00:26:42,930 hit the headlines in 2014 brought to 528 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:44,670 light the problem of treating this and 529 00:26:50,270 --> 00:26:48,210 other epidemics this year however we 530 00:26:52,010 --> 00:26:50,280 took a large step forward with the 531 00:26:54,770 --> 00:26:52,020 development of several candidate 532 00:26:59,810 --> 00:26:54,780 vaccines against Ebola one of those 533 00:27:01,490 --> 00:26:59,820 vaccines called vsv eb OV has been shown 534 00:27:06,530 --> 00:27:01,500 to being one hundred percent effective 535 00:27:08,870 --> 00:27:06,540 in human trials we returned to space for 536 00:27:11,390 --> 00:27:08,880 number two with the NASA New Horizons 537 00:27:13,580 --> 00:27:11,400 mission which has shown us more about 538 00:27:16,610 --> 00:27:13,590 the outer reaches of our solar system 539 00:27:18,290 --> 00:27:16,620 than ever before New Horizons sent back 540 00:27:21,170 --> 00:27:18,300 the most detailed information about 541 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:21,180 Pluto and its moon and now continues on 542 00:27:26,180 --> 00:27:23,610 to the Kuiper belt at the fringe of our 543 00:27:32,060 --> 00:27:26,190 solar system who knows what is going to 544 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:32,070 find next an our top story for 2015 545 00:27:38,450 --> 00:27:35,490 water on Mars this game-changing 546 00:27:41,330 --> 00:27:38,460 discovery suggests that water may exist 547 00:27:46,730 --> 00:27:41,340 on Mars right now with evidence of water 548 00:27:49,610 --> 00:27:46,740 recently flowing down slopes that's our 549 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:49,620 top five stories for 2015 there's more 550 00:27:55,970 --> 00:27:51,810 information on the our oils website RI 551 00:27:59,330 --> 00:27:55,980 au s org dot a you follow us on twitter 552 00:28:01,160 --> 00:27:59,340 at RI oz and like us on facebook i'm 553 00:28:20,750 --> 00:28:01,170 paul willis and we'll catch you next 554 00:28:29,700 --> 00:28:25,950 here's my not spooky action at the 555 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:31,810 outside the traffic is bustling around 556 00:28:36,399 --> 00:28:33,890 insignias people run around and they go 557 00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:36,409 oh I'm enjoying bit of cool weather but 558 00:28:40,029 --> 00:28:38,510 inside the Crown Hotel where of course 559 00:28:42,250 --> 00:28:40,039 it's skeptics in the pub here for 560 00:28:44,260 --> 00:28:42,260 December a big December is on the card 561 00:28:46,210 --> 00:28:44,270 very well especially for Ross by roger 562 00:28:47,890 --> 00:28:46,220 was visiting us from queensland yes this 563 00:28:49,870 --> 00:28:47,900 is my very first time at a Sydney 564 00:28:51,789 --> 00:28:49,880 skeptics in the pub which is I'm really 565 00:28:53,230 --> 00:28:51,799 pleased to be here actually it's gonna 566 00:28:54,669 --> 00:28:53,240 be a lot of fun I think what's the 567 00:28:56,710 --> 00:28:54,679 reputation of Sydney skeptics in the pub 568 00:28:58,090 --> 00:28:56,720 is that a rough-and-tumble befo kind of 569 00:28:59,950 --> 00:28:58,100 thing you expected to leave you with a 570 00:29:01,659 --> 00:28:59,960 bruise well I think it's a slightly 571 00:29:03,220 --> 00:29:01,669 different vibe to the backpackers that 572 00:29:04,659 --> 00:29:03,230 I've been staying out I put probably put 573 00:29:06,250 --> 00:29:04,669 it that way but um are you know you 574 00:29:08,350 --> 00:29:06,260 really hurt your tailbone there let me 575 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:08,360 tell you you know I think Sydney 576 00:29:11,529 --> 00:29:10,010 skeptics in the pub is probably one of 577 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:11,539 the more famous though isn't it because 578 00:29:14,980 --> 00:29:13,850 you know you think about the skeptics in 579 00:29:16,510 --> 00:29:14,990 the pubs in the world that you've heard 580 00:29:17,980 --> 00:29:16,520 of and I think the Liverpool skeptics 581 00:29:20,169 --> 00:29:17,990 are up there of course it gets mentioned 582 00:29:21,730 --> 00:29:20,179 a lot and skeptics with a k of course 583 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:21,740 the Sydney skeptics in the pub gets a 584 00:29:26,620 --> 00:29:24,770 lot of girls of Michael's twerking probs 585 00:29:28,529 --> 00:29:26,630 over they although the very image of 586 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:28,539 that just sends shivers through my spine 587 00:29:32,919 --> 00:29:31,250 but of course you know Richard talks 588 00:29:35,110 --> 00:29:32,929 nuoc or through the skeptic zone or 589 00:29:36,970 --> 00:29:35,120 talking about this a lot and I think a 590 00:29:38,590 --> 00:29:36,980 lot of skeptics in this if you know if 591 00:29:40,510 --> 00:29:38,600 they find themselves in this part of the 592 00:29:41,889 --> 00:29:40,520 world for skeptics in the pub they 593 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:41,899 should definitely come along it's one of 594 00:29:45,639 --> 00:29:44,330 the premier events I think isn't it yeah 595 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:45,649 and you're here and what are you going 596 00:29:48,700 --> 00:29:47,330 to be talking about to us tonight yes 597 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:48,710 I've been lucky enough to be able to 598 00:29:52,149 --> 00:29:50,090 talk to you guys today and I'm going to 599 00:29:54,310 --> 00:29:52,159 be talking about emerging viruses so 600 00:29:55,720 --> 00:29:54,320 essentially viruses that have jumped to 601 00:29:57,820 --> 00:29:55,730 animals towards and cause there's all 602 00:29:59,889 --> 00:29:57,830 sorts of Baba and and how that happens 603 00:30:01,960 --> 00:29:59,899 essentially which is a topic close to my 604 00:30:02,830 --> 00:30:01,970 own heart as a virologist myself you 605 00:30:04,659 --> 00:30:02,840 look I'm going to jump in there 606 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:04,669 immediately as a virologist you're part 607 00:30:10,450 --> 00:30:07,850 of the verala stin the industry complex 608 00:30:13,060 --> 00:30:10,460 are you I suppose if such a thing exists 609 00:30:14,950 --> 00:30:13,070 I would be part of it yes so well are 610 00:30:17,350 --> 00:30:14,960 there any that have been man-made and 611 00:30:18,580 --> 00:30:17,360 released by the military know that 612 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:18,590 sooner or not happened unfortunately 613 00:30:24,820 --> 00:30:22,250 it's it's every it every sort of episode 614 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:24,830 of other big TV series or a movie would 615 00:30:28,539 --> 00:30:26,090 love to have you think that this is 616 00:30:30,310 --> 00:30:28,549 possible just a dustin hoffman an 617 00:30:31,510 --> 00:30:30,320 outbreak have you seen a monkey that's a 618 00:30:32,980 --> 00:30:31,520 great show all you need to know is have 619 00:30:34,899 --> 00:30:32,990 using a monkey and you've got our 620 00:30:37,190 --> 00:30:34,909 breakdown look outbreak is a great film 621 00:30:39,379 --> 00:30:37,200 so let's not be to do 622 00:30:41,180 --> 00:30:39,389 yeah let's not disparage outbreak it is 623 00:30:42,830 --> 00:30:41,190 an amazing film but I mean that the 624 00:30:44,330 --> 00:30:42,840 problem is with creating viruses is that 625 00:30:47,389 --> 00:30:44,340 we barely understand the viruses that 626 00:30:49,100 --> 00:30:47,399 exists now without creating our own to 627 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:49,110 sort of go out and do damage like we've 628 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:50,730 got things like Ebola which obviously 629 00:30:54,830 --> 00:30:53,370 devastating some flu strains and we 630 00:30:56,629 --> 00:30:54,840 haven't been able to turn those into 631 00:30:58,940 --> 00:30:56,639 weapons let alone create something of 632 00:31:02,180 --> 00:30:58,950 our own it just it seems so unlikely to 633 00:31:04,070 --> 00:31:02,190 me okay and so how do they mutate and 634 00:31:05,509 --> 00:31:04,080 emerge whether this normally go on does 635 00:31:08,419 --> 00:31:05,519 it normally go on and animals that are 636 00:31:10,610 --> 00:31:08,429 close to man like like avian or stuff 637 00:31:12,049 --> 00:31:10,620 with birds and the swine and then it 638 00:31:13,970 --> 00:31:12,059 comes to us said how it works and we 639 00:31:16,009 --> 00:31:13,980 just hang out with them we get it it 640 00:31:18,470 --> 00:31:16,019 gets us yeah pretty much so every 641 00:31:20,539 --> 00:31:18,480 obviously humans we have our own viruses 642 00:31:22,279 --> 00:31:20,549 like measles and polio and they're 643 00:31:24,769 --> 00:31:22,289 really exclusive to us but a lot of 644 00:31:28,039 --> 00:31:24,779 other viruses are normally in and say 645 00:31:29,389 --> 00:31:28,049 bats or birds as you've said pigs and 646 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:29,399 essentially what's happening is this 647 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:32,010 human civilization has expanded we've 648 00:31:35,870 --> 00:31:33,570 been encroaching or the species 649 00:31:37,159 --> 00:31:35,880 territory more and more and occasionally 650 00:31:38,990 --> 00:31:37,169 you know that the this the right 651 00:31:41,629 --> 00:31:39,000 mutation happens where the virus will 652 00:31:42,710 --> 00:31:41,639 jump from an animal to human and often 653 00:31:45,230 --> 00:31:42,720 this doesn't cause too much trouble 654 00:31:47,180 --> 00:31:45,240 because viruses don't do so well in 655 00:31:49,129 --> 00:31:47,190 humans if they're made for animals but 656 00:31:50,570 --> 00:31:49,139 just occasionally they do go pretty well 657 00:31:53,629 --> 00:31:50,580 like some of the flu strains that have 658 00:31:55,399 --> 00:31:53,639 been going around but obviously Ebola is 659 00:31:57,049 --> 00:31:55,409 one that comes to mind recently having 660 00:31:59,750 --> 00:31:57,059 killed so many people over in West 661 00:32:02,029 --> 00:31:59,760 Africa but of course other other sort of 662 00:32:04,060 --> 00:32:02,039 zoo no season that that's what we call 663 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:04,070 viruses that go from animals to humans 664 00:32:07,190 --> 00:32:05,970 they've actually been with us for 665 00:32:09,379 --> 00:32:07,200 thousands of years now so i'll be 666 00:32:11,750 --> 00:32:09,389 talking about dengi today that was 667 00:32:13,879 --> 00:32:11,760 originally a monkey virus but somehow it 668 00:32:16,700 --> 00:32:13,889 jumped into mosquitoes and then from 669 00:32:19,159 --> 00:32:16,710 mosquitoes to us should I fear bet pee 670 00:32:20,779 --> 00:32:19,169 or poo in Australia you know one of the 671 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:20,789 interesting things is is that bats are 672 00:32:25,250 --> 00:32:23,010 really crappy a transmitting their 673 00:32:27,529 --> 00:32:25,260 viruses to humans however they will your 674 00:32:29,029 --> 00:32:27,539 poo on me and flying over me it's it's 675 00:32:30,950 --> 00:32:29,039 funny there's no real cases I mean 676 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:30,960 hendra virus is another good one right I 677 00:32:35,269 --> 00:32:33,090 mean there's no cases of bats actually 678 00:32:36,799 --> 00:32:35,279 giving a virus to humans normally the 679 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:36,809 bats have to give the virus to another 680 00:32:43,100 --> 00:32:39,690 animal maybe it's a horse with MERS its 681 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:43,110 camels or any other sort of species and 682 00:32:47,119 --> 00:32:44,850 then those species which we have a much 683 00:32:49,340 --> 00:32:47,129 closer proximity to maybe because of 684 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:49,350 husbandry or something like that then 685 00:32:52,970 --> 00:32:50,850 then they pass the virus 686 00:32:54,740 --> 00:32:52,980 on towards so I'm I mean I've got to me 687 00:32:56,060 --> 00:32:54,750 if I if I woke up with a bat in my 688 00:32:59,000 --> 00:32:56,070 bedroom I would probably get myself 689 00:33:01,520 --> 00:32:59,010 tested because one of the weird things 690 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:01,530 about Patsy's they can bite you and eww 691 00:33:05,900 --> 00:33:03,330 have those late nights drinking at the 692 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:05,910 bat club well exactly i mean or if you 693 00:33:09,590 --> 00:33:07,890 come across Batman yeah that's true you 694 00:33:11,900 --> 00:33:09,600 know there's probably I mean I can't 695 00:33:14,210 --> 00:33:11,910 imagine his voice is that husky on by 696 00:33:15,730 --> 00:33:14,220 accident well what a question skeptics 697 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:15,740 have never been able to answer is a 698 00:33:19,820 --> 00:33:18,450 claudia schiffer and and that guy she 699 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:19,830 was with bothers the go with that hehe 700 00:33:23,930 --> 00:33:21,450 just ain't that good looking then what 701 00:33:25,610 --> 00:33:23,940 and David get Claudia Schiffer david 702 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:25,620 copperfield that cannot be explained by 703 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:28,170 any skeptic well obviously it's magic 704 00:33:32,990 --> 00:33:31,170 yeah and so what are you going to be 705 00:33:35,870 --> 00:33:33,000 pushing to really scare the booty out of 706 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:35,880 us as we go home virus wise look I'm 707 00:33:38,840 --> 00:33:37,650 going to leave a bit of a mystery to 708 00:33:40,250 --> 00:33:38,850 look to the ones that I'm going to talk 709 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:40,260 about I guess because I have a bit of a 710 00:33:43,850 --> 00:33:41,730 competition where I have a picture of 711 00:33:46,130 --> 00:33:43,860 the virus and I'm going to see if anyone 712 00:33:48,620 --> 00:33:46,140 can name the virus just on the picture 713 00:33:50,750 --> 00:33:48,630 which I reckon I can figure here I can 714 00:33:53,210 --> 00:33:50,760 pick what are sometimes really well one 715 00:33:54,650 --> 00:33:53,220 well-known ones not Henry the one that 716 00:33:55,550 --> 00:33:54,660 was in people before that is there 717 00:33:58,130 --> 00:33:55,560 because there's one that's got a 718 00:33:59,840 --> 00:33:58,140 specific shape I know it well a lot of 719 00:34:02,390 --> 00:33:59,850 viruses are quite distinctive flu is 720 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:02,400 quite distinctive so another one and 721 00:34:06,890 --> 00:34:04,890 obviously those are those classic sort 722 00:34:08,450 --> 00:34:06,900 of images of a virus that you gave in 723 00:34:11,150 --> 00:34:08,460 your brain other bacteria fires which 724 00:34:13,310 --> 00:34:11,160 have that kind of POD and then the weird 725 00:34:14,990 --> 00:34:13,320 sort of feet at the bottom and that's 726 00:34:16,730 --> 00:34:15,000 but I won't be talking about those 727 00:34:19,700 --> 00:34:16,740 because they of course in fact bacteria 728 00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:19,710 and not humans okay and do you think we 729 00:34:22,940 --> 00:34:21,330 will ever be able to have there's a 730 00:34:24,770 --> 00:34:22,950 couple of viruses we've got I mean we've 731 00:34:26,420 --> 00:34:24,780 got stuff for herpes I believe that but 732 00:34:28,100 --> 00:34:26,430 I think it slows it down doesn't kill it 733 00:34:30,770 --> 00:34:28,110 we got one that actually is a really 734 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:30,780 good antiviral so antiviral drugs are 735 00:34:34,310 --> 00:34:32,970 actually not very effective a lot of the 736 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:34,320 time because by the time you actually 737 00:34:39,620 --> 00:34:36,690 get the drugs you've already got way too 738 00:34:41,210 --> 00:34:39,630 much of the virus so as you say it's 739 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:41,220 normally symptomatic relief at that 740 00:34:44,900 --> 00:34:43,650 point I actually do think we're coming 741 00:34:46,820 --> 00:34:44,910 towards a time where a lot of these 742 00:34:48,890 --> 00:34:46,830 hard-to-treat viruses will have vaccines 743 00:34:51,230 --> 00:34:48,900 because we're moving away from the 744 00:34:53,210 --> 00:34:51,240 classic idea of a vaccine where you say 745 00:34:55,130 --> 00:34:53,220 take pieces of a virus or you kill the 746 00:34:57,920 --> 00:34:55,140 virus and injected and we're now moving 747 00:35:00,020 --> 00:34:57,930 to things like say DNA vaccines and what 748 00:35:02,630 --> 00:35:00,030 DNA vaccines do is they they basically 749 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:02,640 produce constantly proteins from the 750 00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:04,290 virus and the immune system 751 00:35:08,060 --> 00:35:06,450 get so much priming that you actually 752 00:35:09,830 --> 00:35:08,070 can completely eliminate a lot of these 753 00:35:11,390 --> 00:35:09,840 viruses but of course the key is always 754 00:35:14,720 --> 00:35:11,400 to not get infected in the first place 755 00:35:16,100 --> 00:35:14,730 or get the vaccine ahead of time so the 756 00:35:17,300 --> 00:35:16,110 hell nervous should I be on the bus 757 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:17,310 going home and there's a guy at the back 758 00:35:23,330 --> 00:35:20,610 guy look you know the common cold is 759 00:35:24,910 --> 00:35:23,340 pretty nasty to a lot of people so I 760 00:35:28,010 --> 00:35:24,920 wouldn't be too happy about it myself 761 00:35:29,150 --> 00:35:28,020 obviously the the old adage is if you're 762 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:29,160 sick you should stay at home you know 763 00:35:33,740 --> 00:35:31,650 but people have lives unfortunately and 764 00:35:35,210 --> 00:35:33,750 they have to go to jobs so and the best 765 00:35:37,430 --> 00:35:35,220 you can do is just hope that your immune 766 00:35:39,290 --> 00:35:37,440 systems at its peak at the moment and 767 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:39,300 now is there any chance we can get 768 00:35:42,410 --> 00:35:41,010 something ever like they have on Star 769 00:35:43,790 --> 00:35:42,420 Trek when they come back from away 770 00:35:45,710 --> 00:35:43,800 missions and stuff and that they get 771 00:35:47,540 --> 00:35:45,720 bathed in a light a bit like ultraviolet 772 00:35:49,010 --> 00:35:47,550 and their and their disinfected would 773 00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:49,020 that be that great in real life because 774 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:50,490 you'd be killing lots of viruses on your 775 00:35:55,370 --> 00:35:53,130 skin you might want I would say that if 776 00:35:56,990 --> 00:35:55,380 a light like that existed that was 777 00:35:59,390 --> 00:35:57,000 strong enough to kill the viruses inside 778 00:36:00,530 --> 00:35:59,400 your body having a virus would be the 779 00:36:01,910 --> 00:36:00,540 least of your worries after going 780 00:36:03,710 --> 00:36:01,920 through that light it would be pretty 781 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:03,720 traumatic I think instant skin burn 782 00:36:08,330 --> 00:36:06,810 would be there the phrase digital gross 783 00:36:09,980 --> 00:36:08,340 bisector coming here to skeptics in the 784 00:36:12,110 --> 00:36:09,990 pub and just tell so what are the career 785 00:36:13,970 --> 00:36:12,120 path is a virologist have in Australia I 786 00:36:16,130 --> 00:36:13,980 I imagine you could have a career with 787 00:36:17,390 --> 00:36:16,140 big pharma what else would you do would 788 00:36:19,250 --> 00:36:17,400 you have to go overseas what's the best 789 00:36:21,350 --> 00:36:19,260 idea for someone in your field so 790 00:36:23,390 --> 00:36:21,360 Australia actually luckily has quite a 791 00:36:24,740 --> 00:36:23,400 lot of really cool virology stuff 792 00:36:27,260 --> 00:36:24,750 happening so you might have heard of 793 00:36:31,490 --> 00:36:27,270 animal house down at Geelong that's that 794 00:36:33,140 --> 00:36:31,500 big we call it bcl for facility and that 795 00:36:36,140 --> 00:36:33,150 that's where the nastiest of pathogens 796 00:36:37,790 --> 00:36:36,150 can actually be studied so Hendricks 797 00:36:39,230 --> 00:36:37,800 being studied there Ebola was being 798 00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:39,240 studied there all those kinds of things 799 00:36:42,830 --> 00:36:41,610 and that's obviously fascinating but of 800 00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:42,840 course we have all sorts of things that 801 00:36:46,460 --> 00:36:44,610 we're interested in a lot of arboviruses 802 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:46,470 like dengue Ross River because we have a 803 00:36:50,120 --> 00:36:48,810 lot of those and really no matter what 804 00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:50,130 path you want to take you can do it in 805 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:51,570 Australia you can work for pharma 806 00:36:56,030 --> 00:36:53,850 company you can work for a university or 807 00:36:58,310 --> 00:36:56,040 you can work in sort of other industries 808 00:37:00,290 --> 00:36:58,320 as well and of course there's so much 809 00:37:02,270 --> 00:37:00,300 virology there's the immunology point of 810 00:37:04,460 --> 00:37:02,280 view there's the point of view of sort 811 00:37:05,870 --> 00:37:04,470 of looking for vaccines or just learning 812 00:37:08,090 --> 00:37:05,880 how they work to sort of help everyone 813 00:37:09,290 --> 00:37:08,100 else do their job so i would say that 814 00:37:11,120 --> 00:37:09,300 anyone who's interested in virology 815 00:37:11,490 --> 00:37:11,130 could definitely get a good career and 816 00:37:13,080 --> 00:37:11,500 run 817 00:37:14,670 --> 00:37:13,090 how hard is it like you've worked 818 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:14,680 through a couple disciplines I compared 819 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:16,570 to maybe theoretical physics or 820 00:37:20,310 --> 00:37:17,770 something like that and where does 821 00:37:22,530 --> 00:37:20,320 virology sit on the difficulties in the 822 00:37:24,060 --> 00:37:22,540 difficulty of exam scale I definitely 823 00:37:25,860 --> 00:37:24,070 think the math is a lot harder in 824 00:37:27,420 --> 00:37:25,870 theoretical physics but of course there 825 00:37:28,980 --> 00:37:27,430 are a lot of theoretical physics say 826 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:28,990 they have the luxury of not having to 827 00:37:33,390 --> 00:37:30,610 strictly prove a lot of the theories 828 00:37:35,460 --> 00:37:33,400 whereas I I do awesome mmm yeah bloody 829 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:35,470 Hawkin Hawking and that those string 830 00:37:39,660 --> 00:37:38,290 theorists you know it's because there's 831 00:37:41,460 --> 00:37:39,670 no experiment that can be set up for it 832 00:37:43,980 --> 00:37:41,470 yet at least not yet hopefully one day 833 00:37:45,780 --> 00:37:43,990 that will be ok but it is so it's pretty 834 00:37:47,970 --> 00:37:45,790 tough but I mean do get really stressed 835 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:47,980 out before an exam I got of me I've 836 00:37:51,930 --> 00:37:49,810 never been in exam for us and I never 837 00:37:53,970 --> 00:37:51,940 really liked studying for exams I do 838 00:37:55,980 --> 00:37:53,980 much better at the research part where I 839 00:37:58,320 --> 00:37:55,990 get to ask my own questions and design 840 00:37:59,790 --> 00:37:58,330 my own experiments which is you know as 841 00:38:02,700 --> 00:37:59,800 a scientist is obviously the ultimate 842 00:38:04,380 --> 00:38:02,710 thing so I think you've just got to work 843 00:38:06,570 --> 00:38:04,390 hard for the bits you don't like that's 844 00:38:08,010 --> 00:38:06,580 just what life is like and then once you 845 00:38:10,530 --> 00:38:08,020 get to a certain point enjoy it as much 846 00:38:13,020 --> 00:38:10,540 as you can okay one last question what 847 00:38:15,780 --> 00:38:13,030 is the most deadly virus to humans I was 848 00:38:17,550 --> 00:38:15,790 going to suggest the 914 flu virus but 849 00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:17,560 is there something wilder than that so 850 00:38:21,890 --> 00:38:19,570 Spanish flu was pretty bad rabies i 851 00:38:25,290 --> 00:38:21,900 think is still the most lethal virus 852 00:38:26,970 --> 00:38:25,300 because it's really no one who has ever 853 00:38:28,710 --> 00:38:26,980 been infected with it has survived so 854 00:38:30,780 --> 00:38:28,720 far as i know but of course you're not 855 00:38:33,570 --> 00:38:30,790 likely to come across rabies i would 856 00:38:36,780 --> 00:38:33,580 have said Ebola but it looks like a bowl 857 00:38:38,340 --> 00:38:36,790 is only really lethal because most 858 00:38:40,020 --> 00:38:38,350 people who get it unfortunately are in 859 00:38:42,390 --> 00:38:40,030 places like Africa where the healthcare 860 00:38:45,150 --> 00:38:42,400 isn't very good everyone who's come back 861 00:38:46,710 --> 00:38:45,160 to you know Western places or places 862 00:38:50,700 --> 00:38:46,720 better healthcare have done pretty well 863 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:50,710 so I think flu viruses can be deadlier 864 00:38:55,620 --> 00:38:53,410 than you think but in terms of deadliest 865 00:38:57,930 --> 00:38:55,630 viruses I I assume we're probably yet to 866 00:39:01,080 --> 00:38:57,940 discover it potentially well well on 867 00:39:02,700 --> 00:39:01,090 that chilling note don't and they toss 868 00:39:20,750 --> 00:39:02,710 no worries thanks very hard bloody 869 00:39:25,410 --> 00:39:23,160 be reasonable it's a podcast in the 870 00:39:27,570 --> 00:39:25,420 merseyside skeptics society hosted by 871 00:39:29,340 --> 00:39:27,580 Michael Marshall in each monthly 872 00:39:31,500 --> 00:39:29,350 interview we'll examine belief from 873 00:39:33,090 --> 00:39:31,510 outside of the mainstream exploring how 874 00:39:34,830 --> 00:39:33,100 those views are constructed and what 875 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:34,840 evidence people feel support their case 876 00:39:40,350 --> 00:39:37,810 on the latest issue I speak with author 877 00:39:42,870 --> 00:39:40,360 and ESP researcher Ian Clark about his 878 00:39:45,090 --> 00:39:42,880 book 426 am and about his belief that 879 00:39:47,640 --> 00:39:45,100 humans can communicate via electrical 880 00:39:49,440 --> 00:39:47,650 signals I've been told by various people 881 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:49,450 for an hour Occam's razor it was 882 00:39:55,410 --> 00:39:52,450 probably coincident and all I could say 883 00:39:58,080 --> 00:39:55,420 is no really I promise you it's not 884 00:40:00,300 --> 00:39:58,090 coincident here what ian had to say as 885 00:40:03,210 --> 00:40:00,310 well as finding back issues to show by 886 00:40:05,700 --> 00:40:03,220 searching merseyside skeptics org UK 887 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:05,710 forward slash podcasts are looking for 888 00:40:12,410 --> 00:40:18,640 you 889 00:40:28,349 --> 00:40:21,340 what we want is some more evidence 890 00:40:28,359 --> 00:40:33,540 hello this is Joe alabaster 891 00:40:39,970 --> 00:40:35,800 here is a press release from the 892 00:40:43,390 --> 00:40:39,980 Australian skeptics the psychic silly 893 00:40:45,700 --> 00:40:43,400 season is here more than ninety five 894 00:40:48,520 --> 00:40:45,710 percent of psychics New Year predictions 895 00:40:51,070 --> 00:40:48,530 are wrong the golden rule of psychic 896 00:40:53,970 --> 00:40:51,080 predictions make a lot of them and cry 897 00:40:56,590 --> 00:40:53,980 loudly if a tiny percentage is right 898 00:40:59,020 --> 00:40:56,600 Australian skeptics match the predictors 899 00:41:01,060 --> 00:40:59,030 and challenge the wrongest profits in 900 00:41:02,620 --> 00:41:01,070 Australia put yourself up for the 901 00:41:06,570 --> 00:41:02,630 hundred-thousand-dollar challenge or 902 00:41:08,950 --> 00:41:06,580 shut up every year at about this time 903 00:41:10,450 --> 00:41:08,960 Australia's psychic fraternity make 904 00:41:13,030 --> 00:41:10,460 their new year's predictions for the 905 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:13,040 coming year and every year they get it 906 00:41:18,070 --> 00:41:15,650 mostly wrong but they're never held to 907 00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:18,080 account their homework is never marked 908 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:20,090 and they're simply back again in 12 909 00:41:24,580 --> 00:41:22,010 months to make more wrong predictions 910 00:41:26,710 --> 00:41:24,590 the best of them even publish their 911 00:41:28,690 --> 00:41:26,720 predictions in the Australian psychic 912 00:41:30,790 --> 00:41:28,700 directory which is now called the 913 00:41:34,330 --> 00:41:30,800 International psychic directory for some 914 00:41:36,730 --> 00:41:34,340 reason Richard Saunders investigator 915 00:41:39,460 --> 00:41:36,740 with Australian skeptic zinc points out 916 00:41:41,650 --> 00:41:39,470 that quote we've been monitoring this 917 00:41:44,980 --> 00:41:41,660 panoply of psychic silliness for years 918 00:41:47,230 --> 00:41:44,990 and by our calculations only about 5% of 919 00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:47,240 predictions ever have any element of 920 00:41:52,180 --> 00:41:49,610 truth about what you get from simply 921 00:41:54,220 --> 00:41:52,190 guessing and even most of these are 922 00:41:55,920 --> 00:41:54,230 either obvious there will be an 923 00:41:58,330 --> 00:41:55,930 earthquake somewhere in the world or 924 00:42:00,280 --> 00:41:58,340 vague there will be an interesting 925 00:42:03,580 --> 00:42:00,290 developments in the relationship between 926 00:42:05,800 --> 00:42:03,590 will and kate if they have one accurate 927 00:42:07,450 --> 00:42:05,810 head on a specific prediction it's 928 00:42:09,910 --> 00:42:07,460 probably more good luck than good 929 00:42:11,770 --> 00:42:09,920 judgement but the psychic will dine out 930 00:42:15,700 --> 00:42:11,780 on that for the rest of their life and 931 00:42:17,590 --> 00:42:15,710 quote Saunders said quote some people 932 00:42:19,630 --> 00:42:17,600 say that these predictions are only for 933 00:42:22,510 --> 00:42:19,640 entertainment and shouldn't be taken too 934 00:42:25,240 --> 00:42:22,520 seriously but these people charge money 935 00:42:27,940 --> 00:42:25,250 often big money for their services if 936 00:42:30,340 --> 00:42:27,950 your mechanic or brain surgeon was right 937 00:42:32,140 --> 00:42:30,350 only five percent of the time you'd 938 00:42:35,200 --> 00:42:32,150 probably look for a different mechanic 939 00:42:36,820 --> 00:42:35,210 or brain surgeon if all mechanics or 940 00:42:39,010 --> 00:42:36,830 brain surgeons were right only five 941 00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:39,020 percent of the time you probably start 942 00:42:43,990 --> 00:42:41,810 to doubt the whole industry we've issued 943 00:42:45,970 --> 00:42:44,000 a challenge to any Australian psychic 944 00:42:47,140 --> 00:42:45,980 who can strut their stuff and we're 945 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:47,150 offering a hundred 946 00:42:52,180 --> 00:42:49,010 thousand dollars to anyone who can prove 947 00:42:53,980 --> 00:42:52,190 their predictive skills to date no one 948 00:42:58,420 --> 00:42:53,990 has applied who would have predicted 949 00:43:00,280 --> 00:42:58,430 that and quote anyway never being people 950 00:43:03,160 --> 00:43:00,290 who show fear in the face of futility 951 00:43:05,050 --> 00:43:03,170 this year Australian skeptic has decided 952 00:43:07,720 --> 00:43:05,060 to join the throng and make our own 953 00:43:12,910 --> 00:43:07,730 incorrect vague or obvious predictions 954 00:43:14,710 --> 00:43:12,920 and one correct one here goes prediction 955 00:43:19,390 --> 00:43:14,720 one there will be an earthquake 956 00:43:21,720 --> 00:43:19,400 somewhere in the world reality the US 957 00:43:23,860 --> 00:43:21,730 National earthquake Information Center 958 00:43:26,580 --> 00:43:23,870 estimates that several million 959 00:43:29,290 --> 00:43:26,590 earthquakes occur in the world each year 960 00:43:31,480 --> 00:43:29,300 many go undetected because they hit 961 00:43:34,270 --> 00:43:31,490 remote areas or have very small 962 00:43:36,820 --> 00:43:34,280 magnitudes the average number of 963 00:43:42,340 --> 00:43:36,830 earthquakes of magnitude 5 and over for 964 00:43:48,160 --> 00:43:42,350 the last hundred years is 1319 per annum 965 00:43:50,230 --> 00:43:48,170 that's 3.6 every day prediction to there 966 00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:50,240 will be interesting developments in the 967 00:43:58,710 --> 00:43:53,290 relationship between will and kate 968 00:44:01,330 --> 00:43:58,720 reality really good or bad prediction 3 969 00:44:04,990 --> 00:44:01,340 Malcolm Turnbull's popularity will 970 00:44:08,520 --> 00:44:05,000 decrease early in 2016 and that of Bill 971 00:44:11,560 --> 00:44:08,530 Shorten will increase but not by as much 972 00:44:14,290 --> 00:44:11,570 reality well who's not predicting this 973 00:44:18,850 --> 00:44:14,300 my cat is predicting this and she's not 974 00:44:21,010 --> 00:44:18,860 very well prediction for there will be a 975 00:44:26,590 --> 00:44:21,020 federal election in the second half of 976 00:44:28,990 --> 00:44:26,600 2016 reality what has to be in 2016 and 977 00:44:32,050 --> 00:44:29,000 where the first half or second half is a 978 00:44:33,640 --> 00:44:32,060 50-50 chance but if prediction 3 is 979 00:44:36,090 --> 00:44:33,650 correct then it's pretty much a 980 00:44:40,510 --> 00:44:36,100 certainty to be in the second half 981 00:44:44,610 --> 00:44:40,520 prediction 5 the 2016 budget will 982 00:44:46,840 --> 00:44:44,620 receive a lukewarm response reality if 983 00:44:48,490 --> 00:44:46,850 predictions three and four are correct 984 00:44:51,400 --> 00:44:48,500 then this will be a responsible 985 00:44:56,470 --> 00:44:51,410 pre-election budget ie okay but not 986 00:44:58,480 --> 00:44:56,480 overly generous prediction 6 there will 987 00:45:00,940 --> 00:44:58,490 be a major ferry disaster in the 988 00:45:05,530 --> 00:45:00,950 northern hemisphere in 2016 989 00:45:07,630 --> 00:45:05,540 in reality there have been more than 50 990 00:45:11,079 --> 00:45:07,640 maritime disasters with significant loss 991 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:11,089 of life in the last 15 years the vast 992 00:45:15,790 --> 00:45:13,010 majority of those were in the northern 993 00:45:18,190 --> 00:45:15,800 hemisphere but psychics are notoriously 994 00:45:20,290 --> 00:45:18,200 geographically challenged they'll claim 995 00:45:24,900 --> 00:45:20,300 any prediction anywhere and find some 996 00:45:27,910 --> 00:45:24,910 reason why they were closed prediction 7 997 00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:27,920 Brad and Angelina will break up and 998 00:45:34,750 --> 00:45:31,690 Angelina will retire from moviemaking 999 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:34,760 reality the break of a Brangelina is 1000 00:45:39,760 --> 00:45:37,010 predicted every year but note that 1001 00:45:42,960 --> 00:45:39,770 retire from moviemaking might mean her 1002 00:45:47,560 --> 00:45:42,970 directing career rather than her acting 1003 00:45:50,140 --> 00:45:47,570 prediction 8 John Howard the actor not 1004 00:45:53,319 --> 00:45:50,150 the former PM will be involved in a car 1005 00:45:58,750 --> 00:45:53,329 accident in Victoria in May he will be 1006 00:46:02,050 --> 00:45:58,760 shaken but unhurt reality a specific 1007 00:46:04,750 --> 00:46:02,060 prediction yeah if it turns out to be 1008 00:46:07,420 --> 00:46:04,760 true we're made for life but there are a 1009 00:46:10,180 --> 00:46:07,430 few hours it might actually turn out to 1010 00:46:12,670 --> 00:46:10,190 be the X p.m. invite me near Victoria 1011 00:46:15,640 --> 00:46:12,680 New South Wales South Australia Tasmania 1012 00:46:19,120 --> 00:46:15,650 acct see geographically challenged above 1013 00:46:22,059 --> 00:46:19,130 or it might be June or April temporally 1014 00:46:26,520 --> 00:46:22,069 challenged as well with psychics near 1015 00:46:28,480 --> 00:46:26,530 enough is close enough prediction 9 a 1016 00:46:31,569 --> 00:46:28,490 much-loved member of the royal family 1017 00:46:35,890 --> 00:46:31,579 will leave us in 2016 and there will be 1018 00:46:39,430 --> 00:46:35,900 much sadness reality which royal family 1019 00:46:41,859 --> 00:46:39,440 surely not denmark japan leaves it wide 1020 00:46:44,200 --> 00:46:41,869 open to post facto claims of accuracy 1021 00:46:48,579 --> 00:46:44,210 now if you'd said the british royal 1022 00:46:51,550 --> 00:46:48,589 family prediction 10 the vast majority 1023 00:46:54,690 --> 00:46:51,560 of australian psychics will get the vast 1024 00:46:57,400 --> 00:46:54,700 majority of their predictions wrong 1025 00:47:00,400 --> 00:46:57,410 reality this is the accurate one a 1026 00:47:03,670 --> 00:47:00,410 guaranteed winner and one for good 1027 00:47:06,250 --> 00:47:03,680 measure the open mic prediction reality 1028 00:47:08,339 --> 00:47:06,260 make up your own it's just as likely to 1029 00:47:10,329 --> 00:47:08,349 be correct as the professionals 1030 00:47:14,260 --> 00:47:10,339 interested in keeping up with what's 1031 00:47:18,790 --> 00:47:14,270 going on with Australian skeptics visit 1032 00:47:37,610 --> 00:47:18,800 www skeptics kome you or check them out 1033 00:47:42,750 --> 00:47:40,380 on to help support the skeptic zonin 1034 00:47:46,550 --> 00:47:42,760 look pretty damn stylish while you're 1035 00:47:49,950 --> 00:47:46,560 about it visit mr. Katz origami jewelry 1036 00:47:53,130 --> 00:47:49,960 owww CA pigs on TV and click the link or 1037 00:47:57,000 --> 00:47:53,140 simply Google mr. Katz origami jewelry 1038 00:48:01,260 --> 00:47:57,010 also on Facebook pendants earrings and 1039 00:48:16,870 --> 00:48:01,270 cufflinks support mr. cat support the 1040 00:48:21,860 --> 00:48:19,940 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1041 00:48:25,520 --> 00:48:21,870 zone and aren't those anti-vaccination 1042 00:48:27,620 --> 00:48:25,530 stories a bit of a worry a bit of a 1043 00:48:30,080 --> 00:48:27,630 worry thanks to those wonderful European 1044 00:48:33,050 --> 00:48:30,090 people from the ESP podcast for having a 1045 00:48:36,890 --> 00:48:33,060 chat to me and thanks to Maynard Ross 1046 00:48:40,130 --> 00:48:36,900 and Joe for also taking part in this 1047 00:48:43,160 --> 00:48:40,140 week's episode coming up on the skeptic 1048 00:48:44,960 --> 00:48:43,170 zone even more from Maynard even more 1049 00:48:47,000 --> 00:48:44,970 there are still more interviews to come 1050 00:48:48,590 --> 00:48:47,010 from a nod from weeks and weeks and 1051 00:48:49,910 --> 00:48:48,600 weeks ago when he was running around at 1052 00:48:51,800 --> 00:48:49,920 the Australian skeptics National 1053 00:48:53,660 --> 00:48:51,810 Convention all the next national 1054 00:48:56,870 --> 00:48:53,670 convention is going to be in in 1055 00:48:59,480 --> 00:48:56,880 Melbourne fantastic not exactly sure of 1056 00:49:00,860 --> 00:48:59,490 the date yet but stay tuned over the 1057 00:49:04,130 --> 00:49:00,870 next few months I'm sure we'll find that 1058 00:49:06,020 --> 00:49:04,140 up our way and do enjoy skeptics 1059 00:49:10,310 --> 00:49:06,030 convention in Melbourne are they always 1060 00:49:12,260 --> 00:49:10,320 put on I really find event if you're a 1061 00:49:14,360 --> 00:49:12,270 new skeptical group or you're having a 1062 00:49:17,270 --> 00:49:14,370 skeptical event anyway around the world 1063 00:49:19,970 --> 00:49:17,280 and you want that to be publicised drop 1064 00:49:22,760 --> 00:49:19,980 me a line just go to skeptics own TV and 1065 00:49:25,610 --> 00:49:22,770 click the contacts link let me know 1066 00:49:29,330 --> 00:49:25,620 about it maybe we can organise to have 1067 00:49:31,100 --> 00:49:29,340 it appear on the show but for this week 1068 00:49:33,980 --> 00:49:31,110 and there are not too many more weeks 1069 00:49:41,480 --> 00:49:33,990 left in 2015 this is Richard Saunders 1070 00:49:43,100 --> 00:49:41,490 signing off from Sydney Australia you've 1071 00:49:46,670 --> 00:49:43,110 been listening to the skeptics own 1072 00:49:49,580 --> 00:49:46,680 podcast visit our website at wwc a 1073 00:49:53,030 --> 00:49:49,590 petting zoo TV for contacts an archive 1074 00:49:55,730 --> 00:49:53,040 of all episodes since 2008 and our 1075 00:49:57,640 --> 00:49:55,740 online store please support the skeptic 1076 00:50:00,830 --> 00:49:57,650 zone by following us on twitter at 1077 00:50:04,460 --> 00:50:00,840 skeptic zone liking us on facebook and 1078 00:50:06,620 --> 00:50:04,470 leaving a review on iTunes you can also 1079 00:50:09,790 --> 00:50:06,630 show your support by subscribing via 1080 00:50:12,560 --> 00:50:09,800 paypal for as little as 99 cents a week 1081 00:50:13,440 --> 00:50:12,570 the skeptic zone is an independent 1082 00:50:15,359 --> 00:50:13,450 production 1083 00:50:17,430 --> 00:50:15,369 the views and opinions expressed on the 1084 00:50:20,120 --> 00:50:17,440 skeptic zone and not necessarily those