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The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Dr. Steven Novella
Climate Change
Artificial Intelligence
NASA
Covid-19
Critical Thinking
Misinformation
Black Holes
Kansas
Vaccines
Gravitational Waves
Pseudoscience
CRISPR
Italy
Science
Alzheimer's Disease
Scientific Skepticism
Evolution
Nightmares
Conspiracy Theories
Vaccination

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a weekly science podcast discussing the latest science news, critical thinking, bad science, conspiracies and controversies. -The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: Your escape to reality - Produced by SGU Productions, LLC: www.theskepticsguide.org

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1105Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Latest Episodes

Live from LA with guests Andrea Jones Rooy and Brian Wecht; Living in LA; What Ever Happened To: Breakthrough Starshot, Fen-phen, The Coming Hydrogen Economy, String Theory, The Segway, Going to Mars; Science or Fiction

What's the word: Encephalopathy; News Items: AI Assisted Research Training, Robot Outruns Humans, Latest CTE Study, Bacteria Share Survival Genes; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Peptides vs Proteins, Stellarator; Science or Fiction

News Items: Drone Delivery System, Human Taxonomy, Peptide Wellness Fad, NASA Radiation Vest; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Model Railroaders, Leechbook, Genetic Diversity; Science or Fiction

News Items: Trump Order on Vaccines, Spying with WiFi, Diminishing Vegetables, Two Origins of Life, More Pentagon UFOs; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Thousand Year Old Remedy; Science or Fiction

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

George Hrab
Guest, musician and skeptic
Music/Skeptic community
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1100 - Aug 8 2026
Andrea Jones-Roy
Guest, comedian and researcher
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1093 - Jun 20 2026
David Kyle Johnson
Philosopher, guest on the show to discuss expertise vs. authority
Lehigh University (as referenced in discussion)
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1087 - May 9 2026
Christina Cook
Artemis II Astronaut
NASA
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1084 - Apr 18 2026
Kristian Andersen
Professor of Infectious Disease Genomics, Director of Infectious Disease Genomics at Scripps Research Translational Institute
Scripps Research Translational Institute
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1080 - Mar 21 2026
Parrish Knight
Computer desktop support technician
NIH, NASA, The Mint
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1075 - Feb 14 2026
Ian Callanan
Regular guest on the Year End Wrap-Up show
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1068 - Dec 27 2025
Lee Mosbacher
Long-time listener and patron of the show
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1056 - Oct 4 2025
Justin Daab
Former brand strategist, now a fellow focusing on innovation and generative AI.
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1041 - Jun 21 2025

Hosts

Stephen Novella
Primary host and long-time anchor of the show; key figure in scientific skepticism and science communication.
Bob Novella
Co-host with a focus on skepticism, science communication, and popular science topics.
Kara Santamaria
Co-host known for science communication and skeptical discussion.
Jay Novella
Co-host with emphasis on science topics and community engagement.
Steven Novella
Renowned neurologist and skeptic, frequent panelist and host figure.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 11.3k ratings
  • 606

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Right more often than not
    2 months ago
  • Politics… and I stop listening

    Listened to this show for many many years…. But now all the micro political “remarks” had turned this into something that is stressful to actually listen to… and then to remove a host because he has different political opinions…. No thank-you… and inferring he has a mental sickness… From the outside and in the past… the show was a-political … and now we are being talked down to and told what to think…. It’s all the micro-hinting at which political side a skeptic should be on… I’m so finished w... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Film Lover 67
    United States2 months ago
  • Harder and harder to listen.

    Sadly what was once a great weekly science news show, the SFU has drifted into a left leaning political opinion show. Peri / Post covid the show has become overly partisan while proclaiming itself apolitical. If you are looking for a diversity of opinion this is not the show for you.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ricochet Karma
    United States2 months ago
  • Speaking truth

    I have listened to the SGU for 15 years and I have come to appreciate hearing the truth about science and skepticism.

    Being a skeptic means getting to the truth no matter how hard, painful, or relation to your personal views.

    The open conversation about Evan’s departure was heartfelt and honest. Thank you SGU for not hiding behind pedantic statements.

    Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ammorifle
    United States2 months ago
  • Cancel Culture Dooms a Once Vibrant Show

    Haven’t checked in on SGU in months. After royally screwing the pooch on Covid-19, now they’ve cancelled one of their long-time hosts. Look elsewhere for truly skeptical content.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    NairbOU812
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners feel episodes became more political or less objective over time; balance concerns persist.
The show is praised for rigorous science and skepticism, even when controversial topics arise.
Guests and hosts are repeatedly commended for accessible, engaging explanations of complex topics.
Audience notes a strong, durable format with deep, thoughtful discussions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#22
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#15
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#30
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#12
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#138
Italy/Science
Apple Podcasts
#152
Germany/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Skeptics Guide #1093 - Jun 20 2026
Q: What did the battery testing reveal about the claimed solid-state battery?
Independent battery experts found the sample behaved like a lithium-ion battery, with voltage curves and an expansion fingerprint consistent with lithium, strongly suggesting fraud or misrepresentation at best.
The Skeptics Guide #1092 - Jun 13 2026
Q: Does the isopod study show a mechanism for true multitasking?
Yes, the study suggests that with extensive training and offloading of tasks to different brain regions, some multitasking can occur, though the frontal lobes still control core attention.
The Skeptics Guide #1092 - Jun 13 2026
Q: What is the biggest determinant of cooperation in the cross-cultural study they discussed?
The strongest predictor was belief in how many people cooperate; the more someone believes others cooperate, the more likely they are to cooperate themselves.
The Skeptics Guide #1092 - Jun 13 2026
Q: What is the likely spread of Ebola if isolation remains at 20 percent?
If isolation stays at around 20 percent, models project more than 20,000 cases in the next three months, indicating a much more severe outbreak.
The Skeptics Guide #1083 - Apr 11 2026
Q: What makes the Artemis II heat shield discussion important for mission safety?
The heat shield behavior was previously observed with some char loss and gas pockets; NASA says Artemis II will use a safer re-entry profile and that the anomaly does not compromise the core safety function, but Inspector General warnings suggest continued validation is needed.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

What is The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A long-running science and skepticism show offers weekly discussions on current science news, critical thinking, and the social implications of science and technology. Episodes mix rigorous analysis with accessible banter, covering topics from space, biology, and health policy to AI, science communication, and public trust in institutions. Guests range from researchers and philosophers to science communicators and pop culture figures, contributing diverse angles to evidence-based skepticism. The show often threads practical demonstrations, media literacy, and policy considerations into broad conversations, making it useful for listeners who want to sharpen critical-thinking skills while staying informed about how science interacts with soci... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe:

1. Political Reality
2. Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria
3. Skeptics with a K
4. Skeptoid
5. Cognitive Dissonance

How many episodes of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe are there?

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe launched 21 years ago and published 1105 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe?

Recent guests on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe include:

1. George Hrab
2. Andrea Jones-Roy
3. David Kyle Johnson
4. Christina Cook
5. Kristian Andersen
6. Parrish Knight
7. Ian Callanan
8. Lee Mosbacher

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