Skeptic Check: Mysterious Illness

Stuttering speech and facial tics are among the strange symptoms that swept through a New York high school. Discover what’s behind the odd outbreak, and why one sociologist sees parallels to Salem, Massachusetts 300 years ago. Also, an update on the cellphone cancer debate, and why one congressman wants warning labels on all new phones. Plus, the ultimate cleanse: giving up on food to survive on light and air. We investigate the claims of Breatharians. It’s Skeptic Check … but don’t take our word for it! Guests: •  Dennis Kucinich – U.S. Representative, Ohio’s 10th congressional district •  Joshua Muscat – Epidemiologist, professor of public health sciences, Penn State at Hershey College of Medicine •  Michael Wyde – Toxicologist, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences •  Robert Bartholomew – Sociologist, Botany College, Auckland, New Zealand, author of Outbreak! The Encyclopedia of Extraordinary Social Behavior •  Gordy Slack – Science writer •  Benjamin Radford – Deputy editor, Skeptical Inquirer magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Om Podcasten

The surprising connections in science and technology that give you the Big Picture. Astronomer Seth Shostak and science journalist Molly Bentley are joined each week by leading researchers, techies, and journalists to provide a smart and humorous take on science. Our regular "Skeptic Check" episodes cast a critical eye on pseudoscience.