LSAT Logic Applied

Can scientists detect life without knowing what alien life looks like? A new article about NASA’s Bennu asteroid sample and a machine-learning framework called LifeTracer raises exactly that question. Material from the asteroid Bennu contained many of life’s chemical building blocks, including nucleobases, amino acids, and complex organic molecules. But that does not mean scientists found life. In...

A new press release from Gatorade claims that over 150 million Americans feel dehydrated—and positions its products as a science-backed solution that can hydrate “better, faster, or longer than water.” That sounds compelling. But what exactly is being claimed? In this episode of LSAT Logic Applied , I break down the argument using core LSAT concepts like equivocation, necessary assumptions, proble...

A new large-scale study found that some medications used by patients with irritable bowel syndrome—especially antidepressants, and in IBS-D patients loperamide and diphenoxylate—were associated with higher all-cause mortality, while other IBS treatments were not. That is a serious finding. But what exactly does it prove? In this episode of LSAT Logic Applied, I break down the study using classic L...

A Washington Post story reports that more Americans are millionaires than ever before—but many of them still do not feel rich. That sounds intuitive in an economy shaped by inflation, soaring housing costs, and retirement wealth that exists mostly on paper rather than in cash. But what exactly follows from that? In this episode of LSAT Logic Applied , I break down the argument using classic LSAT c...

The U.S. Postal Service says it may run out of cash within a year—and is suspending pension contributions to free up $2.5 billion. The logic seems straightforward: there’s a problem, this action helps solve it, so it must be justified. But does that conclusion actually follow? In this episode of LSAT Logic Applied , we break down the argument using core LSAT concepts like necessary vs. sufficient...

A new study of CCTV cameras in Newark suggests something surprising: crime reduction effects may take years to appear. In the short term, the cameras showed little impact—but after three to four years, auto theft dropped significantly. Researchers call these “sleeper effects,” and the policy takeaway is intuitive: short-term studies may miss what really matters. But does that conclusion follow? In...

A new study reports a striking result: a lab-engineered diet boosted bee colony growth by up to 15 times. The implication? A potential breakthrough in protecting pollinators—and even stabilizing global food supply chains. But how strong is that argument, really? In this episode, we apply LSAT Logical Reasoning tools to unpack the claim. We examine the difference between causation and real-world im...

Can activity on the Sun trigger earthquakes on Earth? A new scientific model suggests that solar storms may influence fault lines through changes in the ionosphere, potentially nudging already unstable regions of the Earth’s crust toward seismic activity. It’s a striking idea—one that combines space weather, geophysics, and a plausible physical mechanism. But does the evidence actually support the...

Philadelphia officials have proposed a $1 rideshare tax to help close a $300 million school budget deficit—but does raising some revenue actually solve the problem? In this episode of  LSAT Logic Applied , we break down the argument behind the policy using classic LSAT reasoning tools. The proposal is straightforward: schools need funding, the tax generates about $48 million per year, and that rev...

A new study claims that most people misunderstand the environmental impact of the food they eat—and that better labeling could fix the problem. But does the evidence actually support that conclusion? In this episode, we break down the logic behind that claim using LSAT-style analysis. We look at the study’s design, including its small and localized sample, the use of controlled sorting tasks inste...

Sea-level rise is one of the most closely watched indicators of climate change—and one of the most heavily modeled. But recent claims suggest that some of those projections may be flawed because earlier models relied on incomplete assumptions about the Earth’s gravity and shape, known as geoid models. In this episode of LSAT Logic Applied , Andrew Leahey examines the reasoning behind that claim. I...

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of everyday health decisions. Millions of people now consult AI tools like ChatGPT for explanations of symptoms, medical information, and possible diagnoses. But recent studies have raised concerns that chatbots may sometimes give misleading or even dangerous medical advice. In this episode of LSAT Logic Applied , Andrew Leahey examines the reasonin...

A common pain reliever has become the center of a heated debate . Some commentators have claimed do 1that taking Tylenol during pregnancy may contribute to autism in children, pointing to studies that show a statistical association between prenatal acetaminophen use and later autism diagnoses. But does that association actually prove causation? In this episode of LSAT Logic Applied , Andrew Leahey...

Scientists studying academic fraud recently issued a striking warning: fraudulent scientific papers may now be appearing at a faster rate than legitimate ones. The claim comes from new research examining so-called “paper mills”—organized networks that mass-produce fake academic papers and sell authorship positions to researchers looking to inflate their publication records. At first glance, the co...

A recent court fight over tariffs has produced a fascinating real-world example of a classic LSAT logical flaw. In this episode of LSAT Logic Applied, Andrew Leahey breaks down an argument made by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in federal court. The agency warned that refunding certain tariffs could take years, pointing to a similar government refund program from the 1990s that also took years...

A recent study of more than 130,000 adults found that people prescribed melatonin long-term had significantly higher rates of heart failure and mortality. Headlines quickly followed, raising concerns about the safety of one of the most widely used sleep supplements. But what does the study actually show? In this episode of LSAT Logic Applied, Andrew Leahey uses the tools of LSAT logical reasoning...

An internal FDA memo claims that COVID-19 vaccines caused at least ten child deaths and suggests sweeping regulatory reform may be necessary. In this episode, I’m not debating vaccine policy—I’m applying LSAT Logical Reasoning tools to the structure of the argument itself. We examine selective skepticism, necessary assumptions, burden of proof, and scope shifts. When does incomplete data invalidat...

We all know the common LSAT Logical Reasoning question types: necessary assumptions, flaws, strengthen, weaken, causation, scope shifts. But here’s the better question: Why should anyone care about those forms of inquiry outside a standardized test? In this episode of  LSAT Logic Applied , Andrew Leahey steps back from breaking down a single news story and instead explains why the LSAT’s core ques...

In this episode of  LSAT Logic Applied , we break down the EPA’s decision to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding and eliminate federal vehicle emissions standards. The legal fight isn’t just about climate policy — it’s about logic. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA must regulate vehicle emissions if it determines they “cause or contribute” to air pollution that endangers public hea...

Can a president argue that civil litigation is too distracting to defend—while filing multiple civil lawsuits of his own? In this episode of LSAT Logic Applied , we break down a Reuters story involving Donald Trump and his claim that a sitting president should receive temporary immunity from civil lawsuits because litigation burdens the presidency. At the same time, he initiated several civil suit...

In this episode of LSAT Logic Applied , Andrew Leahey breaks down one of the most tested—and most misunderstood—skills on the LSAT: inference questions. Using a recent scientific claim about prehistoric humans shaping European ecosystems, Andrew walks through how Inference to the Best Explanation (IBE) works both on the exam and in real-world research reporting. You’ll learn: The difference betwee...

Does cannabis protect the aging brain—or are we watching correlation quietly turn into causation? In this episode of LSAT Logic Applied , Andrew Leahey breaks down a newly accepted study from the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs titled “ Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Associated with Brain Volume and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. ” Using UK Biobank data, the study finds that...

Zaxby’s says fans are craving the return of its Southern Fried Shrimp and Giant Quesadillas—so bringing them back is a no-brainer. But what, exactly, does that claim depend on? In this episode of  LSAT Logic Applied , we use a real corporate press release from Zaxbys to break down a classic LSAT skill: identifying a  necessary assumption —the unstated idea an argument must rely on to work at all....

We break down a real-world opinion piece on immigration enforcement to illustrate one of the LSAT’s most fundamental skills: identifying the  main conclusion  of an argument. Using a recent news column calling for the removal of a senior White House official, the episode shows how facts, narratives, and moral language can obscure the actual claim an author is trying to prove. By stripping the argu...

Today’s episode is about necessary assumptions — the unstated ideas an argument must rely on to reach its conclusion, even if no one ever says them out loud.