Skeptoid #1059: Do You Have Cortisol Belly?

Checking in on how we're doing with major weather events attributed to human-caused climate change. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Today we have a special bonus treat for you: A look back at episode 98 about the most famous of all the world’s crystal skulls. This December, Skeptoid Adventures is taking you into the jungles of Belize, where a 20th century British adventurer claims to have found the mystical skull carved from pure quartz crystal inside a Maya temple. It’s said to have all kinds of metaphysical powers. And so, if you’re coming with us, you’ll want to know all about the history of this rare and valuable artifact. Visit skeptoid.com/adventures to learn all about the trip, and attend now to learn all about the Crystal Skull. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Some common logical fallacies frequently misused or misdefined — and how to use them properly. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Are all those stories you heard about razor blades hidden in Halloween candy true, or just more urban legends? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

These tests that promise to easily detect cancer with a blood test are fraught with profound accuracy errors. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Las Vegas mob lore clings thick to human remains found as Lake Mead's water level recedes. But is it truly mob secrets that are being revealed or perhaps something a bit more nuanced?The NamUs.gov profile for the Hemenway Harbor Doe is here. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Did this mysterious carved beast — the most common object on the Pictish standing stones — ever actually live? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In honor of Skeptoid's 20th birthday, today we're playing episode #1 from October 2006. Enjoy! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Is the moral panic surrounding artificial intelligence justified? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Wellness influencers promise to sell you supplements to reduce your cortisol, and thus reduce your weight — even though it doesn't work that way. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices