welcome to the error bar, where neuroscience meets uncertainty.

the error bar is a podcast about brain science news, error, confusion, uncertainty, and controversy. it comes out at UK time Thursday evenings every 2 weeks. it’s aimed at scientists, students, journalists, and the general public.

my name’s Dr Nick Holmes, I’m a brain scientist and lecturer at the University of Nottingham in the UK, working in the psychology department, studying touch and movement in adults and children.

there are two kinds of episode in the podcast – news and discussion.

[BONG]

that’s Big Ben – London’s bell. he introduces every news story.

the news episodes are 10 minute briefings on the most interesting brain science news stories in the previous two weeks. I scan the main UK newspapers, and some from the English-speaking world; I check medical databases for articles, and pick out stories of interest from my regular reading. the news episodes focus on freely-available articles that are likely of wider interest. each story is briefly summarised, reviewed, and fact-checked. I also cover neuroscience obituaries.

[BONG]

the discussion episodes are 30 minutes long. they focus on a single claim, topic, or controversy. I aim to interview two guests, one on each side of an argument or approach. and I’ll give my own view at the end.

so why should you listen to the error bar podcast?

it’s as short as I can make it – averaging only 1 minute per day.

it takes a critical and occasionally-expert view of brain science news that you probably won’t find in the media.

and I try to be entertaining.

you can follow on twitter @BarError, listen at theerrorbar.com, or subscribe with your favourite podcast app.

the error bar is open, so pull up a chair and listen to our stories.

HAND, FOOT, MOUTH, BALLS

the error barBy Dr Nick HolmesJun 03, 2021