Uploaded September 2016 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
This talk was given as part of the Skeptical Thinking Track at Balticon 2016.
What do a pool cue, the Earth, a star colder than coffee, and DNA stretching to Pluto have in common? They're all part of this fast-paced, thought-provoking, and often funny presentation by David Richards, a longtime science communicator and past president of the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS). In this lively talk, David explores what it really means to be a skeptic—not a cynic or a contrarian—but someone who uses the best available evidence to make better decisions and live a better life in a better world.
Starting with simple but mind-bending demonstrations—like asking whether the Earth is smoother than a pool cue (it is!)—David takes viewers on an engaging journey through scientific thinking, common cognitive biases, and the power of skepticism. With quick quizzes, scientific trivia, and real-world examples, this video invites you to question what you think you know and to get uncomfortable in the best way possible.
Key topics and examples covered:
-- What skepticism really means: It’s not about doubt for its own sake. A skeptic strives to make decisions based on evidence, logic, and critical thinking.
-- Cognitive biases that cloud our judgment: Including confirmation bias, ego bias, inattentional blindness, and authority bias.
-- Why science is uncomfortable: Science often challenges our worldviews and forces us to confront what we don’t want to believe.
-- Pop quiz insights: From tardigrades surviving 30 years in frozen moss to a brown dwarf star cooler than a hot cup of coffee.
-- Einstein and the myth of failing math: A humorous but revealing case study on how misinformation persists and spreads.
-- Carol Tavris’s work on self-justification and confirmation bias: Especially her book Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me), which has had a major influence on the speaker's skeptical journey.
-- A breakdown of Steven Novella’s definition of science: And why a process-based view is essential to scientific literacy.
-- Daily decisions through a skeptical lens: Why critical thinking matters in everything from news consumption to product purchases.
-- Why "science doesn’t care about your feelings": A compelling argument for the objectivity and power of the scientific method.
David Richards is a former president of the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS) and a dedicated advocate for science education, critical thinking, and public understanding of science. With a background in engineering and a passion for public outreach, David brings clarity, humor, and deep insight to the challenges we all face in navigating a world filled with misinformation, pseudoscience, and emotionally driven thinking. His previous talks have covered UFOs, conspiracy theories, and the psychology of belief.
Whether you're a lifelong skeptic or just curious about how to think more clearly, this talk offers something for everyone. With memorable examples, real science, and a healthy dose of humility, David Richards challenges you to be just a little more uncomfortable—because that’s where learning begins.
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS).
#Skepticism #CriticalThinking #ScienceEducation #Pseudoscience #CognitiveBias #ConfirmationBias #ScienceCommunication #SkepticalThinking #SkepticCommunity #CarlSagan #CarolTavris #StevenNovella #ScienceLiteracy #Misinformation #Disinformation #SkepticalInquirer #NCAS #RationalThinking #ScientificMethod #DebunkingMyths #ConspiracyTheories #FactVsFiction #Skeptics #ScienceOutreach #BrownDwarf #Tardigrade #DNAFacts #EinsteinMyth #SkepticVsCynic #UncomfortableTruths #PsychologyOfBelief #SkeptiCamp #Mythbusting #ParanormalClaims #UFOsDebunked #FakeScience #AlternativeFacts #ScienceVsPseudoscience #ThinkingClearly #HumanBiases #ScienceVsBelief #RationalSkepticism #SkepticalEducation #ScienceFactNotFiction #ExploreWithSkepticism #TrustButVerify #WhatIsASkeptic #HowScienceWorks
This talk was given as part of the Skeptical Thinking Track at Balticon 2016.
What do a pool cue, the Earth, a star colder than coffee, and DNA stretching to Pluto have in common? They're all part of this fast-paced, thought-provoking, and often funny presentation by David Richards, a longtime science communicator and past president of the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS). In this lively talk, David explores what it really means to be a skeptic—not a cynic or a contrarian—but someone who uses the best available evidence to make better decisions and live a better life in a better world.
Starting with simple but mind-bending demonstrations—like asking whether the Earth is smoother than a pool cue (it is!)—David takes viewers on an engaging journey through scientific thinking, common cognitive biases, and the power of skepticism. With quick quizzes, scientific trivia, and real-world examples, this video invites you to question what you think you know and to get uncomfortable in the best way possible.
Key topics and examples covered:
-- What skepticism really means: It’s not about doubt for its own sake. A skeptic strives to make decisions based on evidence, logic, and critical thinking.
-- Cognitive biases that cloud our judgment: Including confirmation bias, ego bias, inattentional blindness, and authority bias.
-- Why science is uncomfortable: Science often challenges our worldviews and forces us to confront what we don’t want to believe.
-- Pop quiz insights: From tardigrades surviving 30 years in frozen moss to a brown dwarf star cooler than a hot cup of coffee.
-- Einstein and the myth of failing math: A humorous but revealing case study on how misinformation persists and spreads.
-- Carol Tavris’s work on self-justification and confirmation bias: Especially her book Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me), which has had a major influence on the speaker's skeptical journey.
-- A breakdown of Steven Novella’s definition of science: And why a process-based view is essential to scientific literacy.
-- Daily decisions through a skeptical lens: Why critical thinking matters in everything from news consumption to product purchases.
-- Why "science doesn’t care about your feelings": A compelling argument for the objectivity and power of the scientific method.
David Richards is a former president of the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS) and a dedicated advocate for science education, critical thinking, and public understanding of science. With a background in engineering and a passion for public outreach, David brings clarity, humor, and deep insight to the challenges we all face in navigating a world filled with misinformation, pseudoscience, and emotionally driven thinking. His previous talks have covered UFOs, conspiracy theories, and the psychology of belief.
Whether you're a lifelong skeptic or just curious about how to think more clearly, this talk offers something for everyone. With memorable examples, real science, and a healthy dose of humility, David Richards challenges you to be just a little more uncomfortable—because that’s where learning begins.
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS).
#Skepticism #CriticalThinking #ScienceEducation #Pseudoscience #CognitiveBias #ConfirmationBias #ScienceCommunication #SkepticalThinking #SkepticCommunity #CarlSagan #CarolTavris #StevenNovella #ScienceLiteracy #Misinformation #Disinformation #SkepticalInquirer #NCAS #RationalThinking #ScientificMethod #DebunkingMyths #ConspiracyTheories #FactVsFiction #Skeptics #ScienceOutreach #BrownDwarf #Tardigrade #DNAFacts #EinsteinMyth #SkepticVsCynic #UncomfortableTruths #PsychologyOfBelief #SkeptiCamp #Mythbusting #ParanormalClaims #UFOsDebunked #FakeScience #AlternativeFacts #ScienceVsPseudoscience #ThinkingClearly #HumanBiases #ScienceVsBelief #RationalSkepticism #SkepticalEducation #ScienceFactNotFiction #ExploreWithSkepticism #TrustButVerify #WhatIsASkeptic #HowScienceWorks
