News Front
Jessica Macfarlane - 1 August 2018
Zoe Marshall Slammed by doctor for drinking her placenta
Where: www.stuff.co.nz
Who: Unknown When: 05/04/2018
Skeptic summary: Zoe Marshall, radio host, and wellness advice ‘influencer’ on Instagram, (who has now split from Rugby League star Benji Marshall), drinks a placenta shake after giving birth. Dr. Nick Fuller of the University of Sydney says the drink is ‘unsafe’ and could cause ‘potential harm’. Zoe Marshall was in the news earlier this year when she turned to Chinese herbal medicine, and a starvation diet to help her conceive. In an NZ Herald article, “TV star Zoe Marshall resorts to “drastic measures” in bid to get pregnant“ the diet was criticized by the Chair of the Fertility Associates board in Australia, Dr Mary Birdsall, who warned calorie depravation can be harmful to the health of the child long-term.
NZ Scientist to discover what lies within Loch Ness
Where: www.rnz.co.nz
Who: John Campbell When: 21/05/18
Skeptic summary: Prof. Neil Gemmell does an excellent job of explaining the job of a scientist to gather samples and undertake double blind testing to find out what is in the waters of Loch Ness. Talking with John Campbell who seemed like he wanted to believe in a Loch Ness Monster, Neil used CSI as a way of explaining the science behind the investigative process. He explained if there was a monster, it would be creating ‘pee and poo’ which they would then be able to detect in the water. He explained how the idea of ‘sea caves’ had been used to explain how a monster could live, breed and die for a million years without detection.
Are water ionisers money down the drain?
Where: www.rnz.co.nz
Who: Jesse Mulligan When: 28/05/2018
Skeptic summary: Alison Campbell talks to Jesse about Kangan water aka “alkalized water” and sums up by saying it’s an expensive way to get your daily water - you’d be better off drinking good chilled tap water.
Why Elon Musk was dead wrong to tell me nanotechnology is BS
Where: thespinoff.co.nz
Who: Michelle Dickinson
When: 28/05/18
Skeptic summary: Nano girl, aka Michelle Dickinson with a PhD in nanotechnology defends an Australian scientist who was slammed for having ‘nano’ in her bio by Elon Musk (Entrepreneur, CEO of Tesla, Space-X, The Boring Company) who said ‘nano’ was ‘BS’. As Michelle points out, in the twitter exchanges that followed, Elon didn’t apologise, and ended up obliquely suggesting he create a news rating website called Pravda (after the Russian newspaper known for repeating the party line) which would allow the public to rate ‘good’ journalists and news outlets.
Mark Lynas: how we got it wrong on GMOs
Where: www.rnz.co.nz
Who: Wallace Chapman When: 10/06/2018
Skeptic summary: Discussing his book “On seeds of Science”, Mark starts by explaining how he went from anti-GMO activist to supporter, and explains the science for GMOs as well as countering some of the illogical arguments used against it. He explains it was the conflict he felt as a science writer where at the same time as agreeing with the 97% about climate change, he didn’t believe scientists about GMOs, and that dissonance helped him move to align himself with science on both issues. Mark slams the environmental movement and accuses them of causing hunger and poverty by banning safe GMOs. Mark does not pull any punches and vehemently sticks up for science. A must listen!
Bringing the big meth myth mess to light
Where: www.rnz.co.nz
Who: Colin Peacock When: 10/06/2018
Skeptic summary: A brilliant run down going back years on the media reports on meth testing. It was New Zealand alone who decided to pour thousands into tests and to evict innocent tenants on the basis of those tests. Sadly good media reporting and scientists seem to have systematically been ignored in a classic case of mass hysteria. Skeptical hero Souxsie Wiles is quoted as saying “how do we get evidence based policy making?” Conclusion, scientists must be consulted for good reporting and effective moral policy decisions.
Cambridge’s Lloyd Buscomb named Chiropractor of the year
Where: www.stuff.co.nz
Who: Mike Bain When: 08/06/2018
Skeptic summary: Lloyd’s clinic offers services to babies and children to treat ‘a wide range of childhood symptoms’. You have been warned.