Skeptics Guide #967

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #967 January 17th 2024 Segment #1. News Items News Item #1 – Betavolt 50 Year Battery https://theness.com/neurologicablog/betavoltaic-batteries/ News Item #2 – Moon Landing Delayed https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-landings-artemis-delay-23e425d490c0c9e65ae774ec2e00f090 News Item #3 – Cloned Monkeys for Research https://www.science.org/content/article/these-monkey-twins-are-first-primate-clones-made-method-developed-dolly News Item #4 – Converting CO2 into Carbon Nanofibers https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240111113214.htm News Item #5 – Feng Shui https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/4-feng-shui-plants-avoid-062900383.html https://www.realhomes.com/design/small-entryway-feng-shui-mistakes Segment #2. Who’s That Noisy Segment #3. From TikTok Jellyfish UFO https://www.tiktok.com/@ufoexplorer/video/7321965407835852074?is_from_webapp=1&web_id=7254738756992828971 Segment #4. Interview with Robert Sapolsky Segment #5. 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: Chat GPT Item 1: A recently discovered species of deep-sea fish in the Antarctic ocean has been found to have transparent blood, due to a complete lack of hemoglobin. Item 2: Researchers have developed a type of biodegradable plastic that decomposes completely in just one week when exposed to sunlight and air. Item 3: Researchers have successfully trained a group of goldfish to drive a small, water-filled vehicle on land, demonstrating their ability to navigate in a terrestrial environment and challenging long-held views on fish spatial awareness. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week "Every great idea is a creative idea: The fact that you're using paint or you're using guitar strings or you're using equations, they're not really very different things. Getting that spirit into the education process ... being curious about the world, that is a gift we would love to share." Damian Kulash, OK GO