Host: Chris Mooney

This is our first show of 2013, and notably, we're still here.

A lot of people actually thought the world was going to end at the end of last year, which, presumably, means that now it's rejoicing time.

And also reflection time. Time for reflection on all the things that people are capable of believing, as well as the things that might really lead to global catastrophe someday.

To help us in that process, we've invited back our expert on all things related to the world ending and not ending: Phil Plait.

He needs no introduction, except to say that he's the Bad Astronomer. He's the Bad Astronomer at Slate, on Twitter, and on every other platform you can imagine.

Phil Plait is an astronomer, lecturer, and author. After ten years working on Hubble Space Telescope data and six more working on astronomy education, he struck out on his own as a writer. His two books are Bad Astronomy: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Astrology to the Moon Landing "Hoax" and Death from the Skies! These Are the Ways the Universe Will End.