Skeptics Guide #1105

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #1105 September 5th 2026 With Special Guest Christian Hubicki Segment #1. Updating the Matrix If you could change the laws of physics to make one sci-fi technology possible and feasible, what would it be? (With special appearance by Julia Novella) Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 - Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope https://theness.com/neurologicablog/nasas-new-roman-telescope-launches/ News Item #2 - Training Robot Babies https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.aed4106 News Item #3 - Testing Gravity In Space https://www.sciencenews.org/article/atoms-gravity-space-galileo-einstein Segment #3 - Science or Fiction Item 1) In an 1865 novel an it’s sequel, Jules Verne described launching a manned capsule from Florida, which flew around the moon, altered its course with retro rockets, splashed down in the Pacific, and was recovered by the US Navy. Item 2) Mark Twain anticipated the internet in 1898, imagining the “telelectroscope”- a global network of telephone lines people could use to access news in real time and chat with others from their own home. Item 3) In his 1888 utopian novel, Looking Backward, Edward Bellamy predicted the “credit card”, a small card that would electronically track transactions for a rolling line of credit. Segment #4 - Skeptical Quote of the Week “AI doesn’t have to become conscious to change civilization. It only has to become competent.” “OpenAI ChatGPT, GPT-5.6 Sol, generated September 5, 2026.”