Episodes
In this episode, Evan discusses his departure to Canada and Tom gives an Irish quiz in tribute St Patrick's Day. In science this month, the lads discuss Neuralink's recent implant in a patient, as well as the recent restrictions on puberty blockers in the UK. In his main story, Tom discusses the scientific necessity behind using animals in research and whether they are useful as disease models to study drugs. So join us for an episode of education, discussion and fun!
Published 03/28/24
We are delighted to welcome Dr Patrick Doohan on our latest episode. Patrick is a mathematical modeller at the Jameel Institute, based in the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Imperial College London. We discuss Pandemic Preparedness, Priority Viral Pathogens as assigned by the WHO, Epidemiological-Economic models, Model Scenarios including the COVID-19 pandemic and what his thoughts are on global readiness for future pandemics. Join us for some interesting discussion about...
Published 02/29/24
Join Evan and Tom as they discuss a new study that investigates the deaths associated with hydroxychloroquine during the pandemic. Can Tom distinguish the sounds of frustrated vs happy chickens? Hear about recent clinical trials on groundbreaking drugs such as mRNA treatment for cholesterol reduction and Vitamin A derivatives that can halt eye degeneration in Stargardt disease. They also attempt to uncover the mysteries of ancient DNA that has been shown to reveal the origins of Multiple...
Published 01/25/24
Join us for a whirlwind recap of 2023 in science. We'll cover the Alzheimer's drug breakthrough, mRNA vaccines for RSV, and COVID-19's global health status shift. Dive into Mars exploration hurdles, Barbie's educational evolution, spider venom as a Viagra alternative, psychedelics for PTSD and depression in Australia, and the quirkiest Ig Nobel Prize winners. Stay tuned a scientific rollercoaster!
Published 12/21/23
Join Evan and Tom as they dive into the rising infant mortality rate in the US and the groundbreaking approval of the first CRISPR treatment for Sickle Cell and Thalassemia in the UK. They explore the nuances of preventative medicine and discuss fact-based policies versus alternative practices for preventative medicine promotion. Tune in for some discussion, education and fun!
Published 11/24/23
Join Evan and Tom as they cordially invite you to the much-anticipated season 3 finale. Prepare yourself for an enthralling experience as they embark on a captivating recapitulation of all the intriguing stories featured throughout the season. Delve deep into their intellectual discourse as they meticulously dissect each topic, meticulously examining the latest developments that have transpired since the initial airing of the episodes. With an air of introspection and self-reflection, Evan...
Published 06/29/23
Today, Evan and Tom delve into groundbreaking scientific progress, dissecting the implications of the first three-parent baby birth in the UK, the WHO's declaration signalling the finale of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the newly released reference pangenome. The spotlight, however, shines on a provocative topic: Can gene editing become a panacea for mental health disorders, especially in those scarred by traumatic childhoods? Listen in to hear their discussion.
Published 05/25/23
In this episode, we discuss how worms also get the munchies after being exposed to cannabis-like substances, the ongoing controversy surrounding the drug Mifepristone used in medical terminations, and the "publish or perish" mentality in academia. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of science, skepticism, and society.
Published 04/27/23
Today, Evan and Tom discuss the latest news on the UN 2023 water conference, challenges in ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all, controversies surrounding Ozempic and Semaglutide (Wegovy), drugs used for weight loss, science behind it and insights on what it means for us, and recent outbreak of Marburg virus in Africa and what we can do to prevent its spread.    
Published 03/30/23
On the 50th episode of the podcast, hosts Tom and Evan have a lively discussion about male erogenous zones before diving into some intriguing science news. Tom shares the latest research on male contraceptives, while also taking a moment to celebrate International Women in Science Day by highlighting some lesser-known female scientists from history. Meanwhile, Evan explores the insights into the second phase of the COVID origins study conducted by the WHO. The main story is divided into two...
Published 02/23/23
New year, new episode! The lads assess their goals for the new year including eating less meat and getting fit. Evan examines the science stories to look forward to in 2023, including cancer vaccine trials, further space imaging technology, returning to the moon and Alzheimer's drug development. Tom discusses the new field of meat cultivation, aka “lab grown meat” and gives a background on what it is, how it works, its suitability for vegetarians and vegans and the implications for...
Published 01/19/23
Welcome to the final episode of The Sceptically Inclined Science Podcast for the year! On todays episode we give a run down of our favorite science stories from the past 12 months.In the spirit of Christmas, the guys discuss Santa's characteristic face features and AI. In their 2022 review, Tom and Evan discuss topics such as the launch of the James Webb Telescope, the "beauty premium" in college grading systems, animal to human organ transplants, the tough placebo role in Shigella vaccines...
Published 12/21/22
Today, Tom humble brags about his recent 7.5 km run in Netherlands while Evan poses the question 'Is lead poisoning the reason behind the Roman empire's success?'. In the news headlines, the lads discuss psilocybin use in treatment-resistant depression, the reasons for octopuses' tendencies to throw objects at each other and the declining sperm counts in men.In his main story, Tom speaks about dyslexia and his personal experiences. The lads discuss possible causes of dyslexia and explore the...
Published 12/01/22
Today, the lads are humbled by their inability to predict the Nobel Prize winners and things get heated when Tom discusses a new paper on the origins of Covid-19.In his main story, Evan focuses on the long term effects of Covid-19 and the desperate measures patients are going through to try to obtain treatment. including anticoagulant therapy and apheresis. The lads investigate the so called benefits and risks of such treatment and whether trials play a role or end up delaying treatment...
Published 11/03/22
Welcome back for Season 3 of The Sceptically Inclined Science Podcast. On today's premiere, the guys discuss their summer holidays while Evan examines the big science stories of the summer including pictures from the James Webb Telescope, CRISPR trials beginning in humans and whether even unborn babies like the taste of kale. Tom discusses an exciting new paper showing that stem cells, rather than a sperm and egg, could be used for embryo development. They also speculate on potential winners...
Published 10/06/22
Join Evan and Tom as they take a trip down memory lane and unwrap the stories and interviews of season 2. They put each other to the test to see how well they know each other after two seasons. They also examine the weird science stories released so far this year with Tom investigating Tourette's syndrome cases flaring up among teens on social media while Evan discusses the link between outdoor cat ownership and psychosis in males. So join us for this season finale for fun, discussion and...
Published 07/14/22
On today's special episode, Tom flies in for a in-person discussion with Evan. They talk about the flaws of Spotify while Tom casts his sceptical eye on a new drug that has put all trial participants of rectal adenocarcinoma into remission. In his main story, Evan examines the current state of gene therapy, looks at a current gene therapeutic for Sickle Cell disease and the disadvantages of the therapy. So join us for discussion, craic and some education.
Published 06/30/22
On today's episode the lads are having a hot science summer with Tom discussing his moderation at a recent discrimination in science event while Evan talks about a publicly available AI image generator. In science news headlines, Evan examines the high rates of people still suffering from long COVID-19, the current monkeypox situation, and Tom dives into the flawed world of Nutrition Science.
Published 06/16/22
Today, Evan and Tom have the pleasure to speak with Dr Anthony Kaveh MD, keynote speaker and founder of Medical Secrets. Anthony is a California-based anaesthesiologist and integrative medicine specialist. We picked Anthony's brain about the science of anaesthesia, what happens when things go wrong, and what exactly is an integrative medicine specialist? It did not take long for us to dive into the topic of psychedelic therapies and the effect of recreational drugs on the human body during...
Published 06/02/22
On this week's episode the lads recall their trip to New York while Tom gives his thoughts on a recent sexual harassment ruling for a bald man.  In their science stories, Tom discusses the infamous "doorway" on Mars and the use of lunar soil to grow plants. Evan examines the phenomenon of Fertility Fraud, the topic of a new Netflix documentary, where women were inseminated with the sperm of their fertility doctor, without their consent.
Published 05/19/22
On today's episode we are joined by Professor Michael Levin from Tufts University, Massachusetts. Michael completed his PhD at Harvard University in the field of Genetics, where he characterised the molecular genetic mechanisms of embryologic left-right asymmetry. His PhD research was recognised by the journal Nature as a “Milestone in Developmental Biology in the last century”. Currently he is the primary investigator and director at Allen Discovery Centre at Tufts University and Director at...
Published 05/04/22
In this episode, Evan reveals how scientists actually flex on each other and Tom shares how an experience being blind truly opened his eyes. Evan re-examines the new Alzheimer's drug after trial data was finally released while Tom investigates the story of how gaps from the original human genome project have only been filled in now. Here, you can learn more about a charity walk at the 'de4daagse' and have the opportunity to support Tom and his team. Listen to the episode to learn more:...
Published 04/21/22
In this episode Tom reveals his recent weight scare and talks about aphasia, a condition with recent relevance after Bruce Willis' diagnosis. Evan investigates the Opioid crisis and the unknown role Johnson & Johnson played in its propagation.
Published 04/07/22