Skeptics Guide #795

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #795 September 29th, 2020 Segment #1. COVID-19 Update https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/covid-not-close-to-herd-immunity/ Segment #2. What’s the Word Decrement Segment #3. News Items News Item #1 – Electric Vehicles and Climate Change https://phys.org/news/2020-09-electric-vehicles-wont-climate.html News Item #2 – Black Hole Circling a Wormhole https://www.sciencenews.org/article/black-hole-circling-wormhole-weird-gravitational-waves News Item #3 – Neanderthal Y Chromosomes https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/y-chromosomes-of-humans-neanderthals-and-denisovans/ News Item #4 – Paranormal Naval Ships https://www.kristv.com/news/local-news/u-s-s-lexington-hosts-paranormal-investigation Segment #4: Who’s That Noisy Segment #5: Your Questions and E-mails Question #1: Time Travel Paradox Subject: Time travel without paradox? I'm sure you've gotten many e-mails on this one. Any chance you can or can get a mathematician to explain how things like reality compensating for changes the time traveler makes can be expressed mathematically? Feels like trying to have an equation for free will or maybe just a smile... Cheers! Rich Dayton, OH Segment #6. Science or Fiction Each week our host will come up with three science news items or facts, two genuine, one fictitious. He will challenge our panel of skeptics to sniff out the fake – and you can play along. Theme: Predicting the Future #1) John Elfreth Watkins Jr., the curator of mechanical technology at the Smithsonian Institution, in 1900 predicted that by the 2000s, "there will be no C, X, or Q in our everyday alphabet. They will be abandoned because unnecessary." #2) In 1911 Thomas Edison predicted, “It will be an easy matter to convert a truckload of iron bars into virgin gold.” #3) “Nuclear-powered vacuum cleaners will probably be a reality in 10 years.” - Alex Lewyt, President of the Lewyt vacuum company, 1955. #4) Nikola Tesla predicted in 1935 that, “By the dawn of the 21st century alcohol will no longer be consumed by mankind, who will have evolved beyond the need for such tonics.” Segment #7. Skeptical Quote of the Week "There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the latter ignorance”. -Hippocrates