Skeptic Check: What, We Worry?

Big Picture Science

Science, Technology

4.5 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 28 September 2015

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We all have worries. But as trained observers, scientists learn things that can affect us all. So what troubles them should also trouble us. From viral pandemics to the limits of empirical knowledge, find out what science scenarios give researchers insomnia. But also, we discover which scary scenarios that preoccupy the public don’t worry the scientists at all. Despite the rumors, you needn’t fear that the Large Hadron Collider will produce black holes that could swallow the Earth. It’s Skeptic Check, our monthly look at critical thinking … but don’t take our word for it! Guests: David Quammen – Science journalist, contributing writer for National Geographic Magazine, author of Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic Sandra Faber – Astronomer at the University of California, Santa Cruz Paul Saffo – Technology forecaster based in the Silicon Valley Seth Shostak – Senior astronomer, SETI Institute, host, Big Picture Science Elisa Quintana – Research scientist, SETI Institute Lawrence Krauss – Theoretical physicist, Director of the Origins Project at Arizona State University Inspiration for this episode comes from the book, What Should We Be Worried About?: Real Scenarios That Keep Scientists Up at Night edited by John Brockman. First released May 5, 2014. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to an Airwave Media Podcast.
0:05.0	This episode is brought to you by Revolute.
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0:26.0	your first purchase with Revolute.
0:28.1	Until 18th of June 2024, 18 plus, T's and C's apply, exchange fees and fair usage limits supply.
0:35.0	The world is filled with many questions such as did giants exist.
0:39.0	What is junk DNA?
0:40.0	Does it mean that you're trash?
0:42.0	Do you ever wonder if aliens have underwater bases in our oceans and that's why there are so many
0:46.9	UFO sightings off the coast of islands all over the world?
0:50.8	How serious even is climate change and when should we start building our rafts?
0:55.0	Hello everyone you may recognize me as Gabby from the History of Everything podcast and my name is
1:00.3	Brenna and you don't recognize me from anything yet.
1:04.0	Together we're two scientists who explore the answers to these questions and many, many more in
1:08.0	our new podcast, Mystery of Everything, available everywhere you get your podcast.
1:13.0	We all have worries.
1:15.0	Most are due to the uncertain nature of what's coming next.
1:18.0	That bus better come. This is a big meeting, big meeting, biggest of my life, future of the company.
1:23.0	This bus doesn't come I could lose the deal,
	...

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