Afghanistan suspends chess due to religious concerns. Newark goes dark -- for just long enough to prompt serious questions. The world witnesses new escalations in the Great Game, as various corporations and countries race to acquire precious mineral resources. Since Ben and Matt always like to end on a good note, this week's strange news segment concludes with an optimistic discussion about octopus civilization, and how ethically fraught brain surgery might extend the known lifespan of that species.

Is Your Intuition A Form Of Time Travel?
1:04:41

Listener Mail: Faith Healing, Christmas Conspiracies, Africville, a Letter from Malaysia, and More
56:36

The True Story of Tsantsas, or "Shrunken Heads"
58:10