{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Skeptics Guide #1084","description":"The Skeptic\u2019s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #1084 April 16th 2026 Segment #1. News Items News Item #1 \u2013 Artemis Recap https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-welcomes-record-setting-artemis-ii-moonfarers-back-to-earth\/ News Item #2 \u2013 AI Biology Research https:\/\/theconversation.com\/ai-can-design-and-run-thousands-of-lab-experiments-without-human-hands-humanity-isnt-ready-for-the-new-risks-this-brings-to-biology-279191 News Item #3 \u2013 AI Security Disruption https:\/\/theness.com\/neurologicablog\/ai-may-disrupt-the-internet\/ News Item #4 \u2013 Superconductivity Breakthrough https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-04-scientists-capture-superconductivity-pairs-revealing.html News Item #5 \u2013 Red Light Therapy https:\/\/www.gq.com\/story\/the-skeptics-guide-to-red-light-therapy-4 Segment 2. Who\u2019s That Noisy Segment #3. Your Questions and E-mails Question #1: Corrections Mach speed Question #2: Missing or Dead Scientists The talk around my Tuesday morning pickleball games often revolves around conspiracy theories (aliens on earth, UFO talk, etc). I haven't seen concrete evidence to take any of this seriously, although any help from aliens would be welcome. This week the discussion was around the missing or strange deaths of US scientists tied to NASA JPL or nuclear\/space departments. A 9th scientist was just announced who passed a few years ago. I've seen reporting from the Daily Mail and most recently this week on Fox News. My Skeptical antennas are raised; however, the numbers do seem higher than coincidence. Would love to get your take, as this subject touches on both science and critical thinking regarding conspiracy theories. Love your work, thanks for all you do! Adam Pesche (pronounced like Joe) Segment #4. Science or Fiction Each week our host will come up with three science news items or facts, two genuine, one fictitious. He will challenge our panel of skeptics to sniff out the fake \u2013 and you can play along. Item 1: A comprehensive review finds that stingers, horns, and teeth across a broad swath of the plant and animal kingdoms share a similar shape largely due to remarkable convergent evolution. Item 2: A new technique can simultaneously improve the strength and ductility of titanium alloys in just milliseconds, using less than 50% of the energy of heat treating. Item 3: Researchers have put the final nail in the coffin of MOND by demonstrating stable gravitational force laws at vast intergalactic distances. Segment #5. Skeptical Quote of the Week \u201cWe will explore. We will build ships. We will visit again. We will construct science outposts. We will inspire\u2014but ultimately, we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.\u201d - Christina Koch, Artemis II astronaut","author_name":"The Skeptics Guide To The Universe","author_url":"https:\/\/www.theskepticsguide.org","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/40921595\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/40921595"}