The Reality Check

Le Gang is back together at last! We kick off with an interesting discussion about a claim that the Google LaMDA Chatbot has become sentient. Adam investigates whether the smell most people associate with chlorine is due to its reaction with pee. Darren rounds out the show with a look at David Chalmers’ book ‘Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy’, an analysis of our technological future.  

In an effort to settle a hot household debate, Cristina looks into whether it’s more eco and pocket friendly to hand wash dishes versus using your dishwasher. Adam checks out a new study that suggests dog personalities have little to do with their breed. Lastly, Darren gives us an overview of the bestselling book, “The Road to Unfreedom” by Timothy Snyder, which chronicles the rise of authoritarianism.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and since that time have committed all manner of atrocities. But is it genocide?  Darren tackles this difficult topic.  Next, Adam looks into the idea that there are no ugly old buildings and survivorship bias.

As Will Smith’s slap during the Academy Awards trends online, a picture of the moment has gone viral suggesting Chris Rock wore a prosthetic cheek pad. Cristina digs into it. Next, Adam takes a look at the science, or more precisely lack thereof, in the latest sci-fi flick, “Moonfall”.  

On Tuesday, March 22, the Liberals and New Democratic Party announced a confidence and supply agreement to further each of their interests.  Darren takes a look at whether this is undemocratic, whether it is what Canadians voted for and if it’s a “backroom deal”.

Cristina looks at the dark side of charitable donation and shares valuable advice and insight from Humanitarian Logistics expert Dale Herzog. Adam dives into new research around domesticated silver foxes and revisits Animal Domestication Syndrome. Darren reviews Thomas Sowell’s ‘Intellectuals and Society’ - a discussion on the relevance of intellectuals - and he has some feelings about it.

Short show for you this week. The internet was recently abuzz about a cat named Mikael.  Supposedly, Ukrainian army cats were trained to spot and direct the location of Russian sniper lasers. The story discussed was of Mikael, "The Panther of Kharkiv", who followed laser spots to identify four snipers, leading to their deaths.  This is indeed Adam’s wheelhouse and he digs in to find the truth.

The trucks, the honking, the bouncy castles, the hot tubs. It’s all Darren today. As a resident in downtown Ottawa, he gives us his thoughts on the “freedom convoy” which has been occupying the city centre for over three weeks. Are the international stories correct? What do the protestors want, and have they really been peaceful?

Cristina looks into why thefts of catalytic converters in cars has soared lately. Adam takes a skeptical lens to recent headlines suggesting that wearing face masks make people seem more attractive. Finally, Darren brings us a fascinating exploration of New Year’s resolutions and considers why humans make them.

In what has become a yearly ritual to highlight the futility of ‘predictions’, Adam, Producer Pat, and Cristina guess at what might happen in the new year and look back on our guesses from last year.

Cristina delves into the fascinating yet terrifying science of high density crowds in light of the recent Astroworld music festival tragedy. Adam takes a closer look behind popular memes. Are they data mining, pushing elaborate conspiracy theories, or just plain old clickbait? Darren gives us a great overview of Steven Pinker’s latest book “Rationality”, which explores the concept of collective rationality in society.

Darren brings us an important overview of the recent updates from the charity evaluation website GiveWell to help inform your charity donation decisions this holiday season. Adam rounds out the show by scrutinizing claims that the recent lunar eclipse was the longest eclipse of this century and next.

Cristina shines a spotlight on the incredible career of the first African-American female in space, Dr. Mae Jemison, and shares some fun Star Trek trivia. Adam takes a look behind the factors contributing to higher house prices to determine if they’re going up as much as we think. Darren goes meta with a deep dive into how often Superman really changes in a phone booth.

Darren delivers a compelling synopsis of a report released by the UK Department of Defence earlier this year regarding the field of Human Augmentation. Could integrating the abilities of both people and machines be critical to winning future wars?

Adam discovers a vulnerability in the new COVID Verify Ontario app that allows an easy way for anyone to see personal information contained in someone’s Quebec QR code. Pat challenges the crew with an always-entertaining game of ‘Spot The Fake’. Lastly, Darren gives us a quick take on the book, “The Next 500 Years: Engineering Life to Reach New Worlds.”

Adam seems to experience deja vu when covering China’s latest attempts to restrict online gaming for minors. In a total cheugy move, Darren looks at the problems with generational labels like Gen Z and why a recent letter sent to Pew Research Center is urging to stop using them. Lastly, Cristina has been sitting on this gassy topic until the crew reunited. Is it physically possible to burp and fart at the same time?

Cristina gives us an earful about a wellness trend that suggests placing a small seed or bead on the cartilage of your outer ear provides multiple health benefits. Adam looks back in history to corroborate whether sex work really is the so-called ‘oldest profession’.

After a vaccine passport system is launched in his home province of Quebec, Adam investigates whether people’s fear that QR code technology is dangerous and could compromise our privacy is justified. Darren looks into the validity behind claims that consumer brands can target ads at your dreams using Targeted Dream Incubation.

Darren does a deep dive into the Global Health Security Index which aims to assess a country’s capability to prevent and mitigate epidemics and pandemics. Adam unleashes his inner Trekkie by venturing into the Neutral Zone to discover its meaning and historical origins. After hearing ads for the Embr Wave on other podcasts, Cristina looks behind the wearable device’s claims to cool you down or warm you up.

Cristina fact checks rumours circulating on social media that anti-sex beds were installed in Tokyo’s Olympic Village to deter athletes from hooking up. Adam digs into the plausibility of the Hollow Earth theory after seeing Godzilla vs. Kong. Darren looks into the shocking story behind the youngest person to ever give birth.