Mike looks at the recent paper from Anthropic which shows artificial intelligence can pretend to do one thing while secretly doing something else, and Marsh goes to London to see Inside Number 9 on stage.

You can sign up for the dedicated new Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak or if you want to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice looks at the wellness trend of Castor Oil Packs, what they are, and whether they do anything at all. Meanwhile, Mike gets a late Christmas present.

You can sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak or if you want to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

It's episode 400! Mike looks at a recent investigation which says that looking at an original work of art is more emotionally impactful than looking at a copy of the same work. Meanwhile, Alice tries to go to the doctor.

You can sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak or if you want to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Marsh returns to the misinformation surrounding around the attack on a dance class in Southport last year, following the sentencing of the perpetrator Axel Rudakubana.

You can sign up for the dedicated new Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak or if you want to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Marsh examines the chart-topping new podcast The Telepathy Tapes, which claims that autistic children are psychic. Plus, Mike goes to buy a kitchen in VR.

You can sign up for the dedicated new Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak or if you want to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice looks at the landscape of beauty trends on TikTok, and the team discuss the upcoming changes to the show for 2025.

You can sign up for the new Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak or if you want to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Welcome to 2025! For the first episode of the new year, the team run through questions asked by our listeners. Topic include: who wrote our theme tune, our personal paranormal experiences, and consuming pseudoscientific content without supporting it.

If you have have questions you want to put to us, you can email podcast@merseysideskeptics.org.uk

You can support the show by joining our Patreon at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics or by leaving a five-star reviews on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever else you get podcasts from.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

For the last episode of 2024, Alice talks about Teck Khong, the former-GP-turned-politician and now vocal critic of lockdowns and the Covid vaccine, and Mike looks at an article from BBC Future which examines the data behind home remedy cold cures. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at Skeptics with a K!

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.