The Reality Check

It is said that most orange cats are male. Is that true? At what rate, and why? In this show Adam looks at a more personal question. Is his new orange kitten male? He looks at a number of factors, investigates cat coat genetics and determines the likelihood that Cheeto the orange kitten, is actually male. Then we go from the orange cat to the red planet as Darren investigates just how cold the surface of Mars is, and beyond that, how warm it is at the height of your head! Be sure to listen to be sure that you’re properly dressed for Mars. Don’t forget to hold your breath. Cheeto has the right idea!

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It is quite difficult to predict how things will play out in the world of AI, but this doesn’t mean we should give up on trying entirely or to assuming everything will be just fine. Darren looks at the implications of the assumptions many make about the future of AI. Then did you know that people in circle pits always move counterclockwise? Adam examines the human preference for moving counterclockwise when walking or running, and just what it is which could be motivating us to do so.

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Is space fake? Are the stars real? How about other planets? Despite what they tried to teach you in school, doesn’t it just feel like the Earth is actually the center of the universe? Adam looks at people who don’t believe in space, and explores why that may be. Darren gives us book reviews on two books. The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes–and Why by Amanda Ripley is a thorough analysis of how people react to immediate disasters. Moral Economics by Alvin Roth explores the economics of activities which many people consider to be repugnant.

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The recent hack of Hugging Face servers by Open AI agents has raised some serious concerns about the current state of AI as well as implications on AI safety. Darren examines just what occurred and what this means more broadly. Adam investigates how real photos of the moon taken with smartphones, more specifically Android phones, such as those by Samsung and Xiaomi, really are. Many photos appear to show details of the Moon’s surface that should be impossible, so how is this even done?

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Darren and Adam bring you a different type of show today as they have a discussion about the Christopher Nolan film The Odyssey. They discuss the film’s merits and faults, technical achievements, their favourite parts of the film, other Christopher Nolan films and IMAX cameras.

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Darren explores issues of moral philosophy in his review of Death in a Shallow Pond: A Philosopher, a Drowning Child, and Strangers in Need by David Edmonds. In this analysis he looks at this classic thought experiment, its implications, criticisms and rebuttals to them. Adam examines the Decoy Effect, a psychological marketing strategy designed to encourage you to buy the most expensive thing, even if you wouldn’t otherwise be inclined to do so.

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Superman’s costume is iconic, but why does he dress like that? We just assume that superheroes should be wearing tight fitting outfits, tights and a cape, but it wasn’t always like this. Adam looks at what Superman, a hero created in the 1930s, is really meant to look like, as well as what inspired future superhero outfits. With soaring temperatures in Europe and across the world, Darren looks at air conditioning in Europe. He dives into the often repeated claim that you’re more likely to die from heat in Europe than from gun violence in the United States. What does this statement really mean and is it even true?

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Are you concerned about AI threats to your privacy? If you aren’t, Darren’s got a few reasons why you should be! Images of fingerprints and keys, wifi signals and more could leave you vulnerable to bad actors using AI. Adam wonders why the order status screens at McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants often have inaccurate information. The problem leading to this is known as Goodhart’s Law.

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Did tyrannosaurus rex roar? Adam looks at what sound they, and other dinosaurs, may have made and just why animals roar at all. Darren gives us a book review of Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare, by Edward Fishman, which looks at the history of economic sanctions, what they are, how they’re used and what their impact is.

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Is it windy on other planets and celestial bodies in our solar system? Darren looks at just what wind is and how much of it occurs on the surface of our various neighbours. Adam looks into whether or not windows are always on the student’s left side in a classroom, and why that might be.

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