The Failings of Forensic Science, Part I

Once more, it's time for a dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe dive into the grisly black sorcery and mind-bending Buddhist magic in the legendary Shaw Brothers film “The Boxer’s Omen,” directed by Kuei Chih-Hung. (orignally published 9/19/2025)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ... Show More

In this classic Star Trek Week episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss teleportation in the Star Trek universe and the questions it raises about human identity and consciousness. (originally published 9/11/2025)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio ... Show More

Forensic Science is supposed to provide perfect certainty in the most serious criminal cases. What if it's all a bunch of bullshit? Robert sits down with Dr. Kaveh Hoda to talk about all the myriad cons in forensic "science.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

Ever watch those crime TV shows and wonder how the forensic scientists process all that evidence? Listen to this fun and informative chat with Dr. Kelly Elkins, biochemist and forensic scientist. Learn all about DNA, fingerprints, and solving for clues!  

<p>It’s courtroom 101: the prosecution’s trying to make a case, the defense is trying to get their client off, and it’s the jury’s job to figure out the truth. But how much of the science that’s presented at court is actually scientific? Ben and Sharon look closely at specific pi ... Show More

Josh Dubin speaks with Bill Osinski, journalist and author of “Guilty By Popular Demand.” Even when done correctly, impression analysis of evidence, like shoe prints and tire tracks, is purely subjective. Many experts recognize its limitations. But one so-called “expert” in parti ... Show More

A Forensic look at ForensicsNo dead strawberries this week, but plenty of dead bodies, as Brian Cox and Robin Ince take a gruesome look at the science of death and some of the more unusual ways that forensic scientists are able to look for and gather clues and evidence. From inse ... Show More

Raychelle Burks is a forensic chemist and an associate professor at American University. She's also a big fan of murder mysteries. Today, we talk pop culture forensics with Raychelle and what signs to look for to know whether or not a tv crime show is getting the science right. ( ... Show More

Pseudoscience can sometimes be hard to distinguish from the real thing. Today we discuss how philosophers of science have thought about this problem.For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverseOur merch is ... Show More