The Skeptics Guide To The Universe

The Skeptics Guide to the Universe is an award-winning weekly Podcast dedicated to science and critical thinking, discussing the latest science news and topics from the world of the pseudoscience and controversial claims from a scientific point of view.

Skeptics Guide #980 04/20/2024

Skeptics Guide #980 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #980 April 17th 2024 Segment #1. What’s the Word Anhedonia Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – New Scams https://wwhttps://www.npr.org/2023/03/22/1165448073/voice-clones-ai-scams-ftcw.npr.org/2023/03/22/1165448073/voice-clones-ai-scams-ftc News Item #2 – Reconductoring https://theness.com/neurologicablog/reconductoring-our-electrical-grid/ News Item #3 – ISS Space Junk Crashed Through Home https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/16/24131804/nasa-confirms-iss-space-station-junk-crashed-into-florida-home News Item #4 – Zombie Cicadas https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/cicadas-zombies-hyper-sexual-sexually-transmitted-fungus-expected-to-emerge-this-year-massospora-cicadina/ News Item #5 – Death by Wellness https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-17/ballarat-clunes-wellness-retreat-drink-death/103730712 Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Your Questions and E-mails Question #1: Drug AI Development Correction 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. Item 1: A new economic study finds that by 2050 the economic loss of climate change will be about 19% of the global economy, or 38 trillion dollars annually, even without further emissions. Item 2: Scientists have bioengineered a cultivar of corn that has orange stalks and leaves, to make weeding easier for robots. Item 3: Paleontologists have formally described the largest marine reptile, an ichthyosaur estimated at 25 meters, about the size of a blue whale. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week "Actual science is _the_ great accomplishment of mankind. The antidote to ignorance, superstition, religious zealotry, and nonsensical beliefs in general. An eclipse exemplifies, to even the lay-est of laypeople, just how advanced modern science is." John Gruber /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/30911198

Skeptics Guide #979 04/13/2024

Skeptics Guide #979 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #979 April 7th 2024 Live from Dallas With special guest Dustin Bates from Starset https://starset.fandom.com/wiki/Dustin_Bates Segment #1. Science of Eclipses https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/nasa-research/ Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – AI Designed Drugs https://theness.com/neurologicablog/ai-designed-drugs/ News Item #2 – AI Music https://www.shootonline.com/spw/new-study-ai-music-production-pits-human-against-machine https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-ai-music-songwriting-tennessee-eb95c850f13fd78f9e65abce2ee45091 https://completemusicupdate.com/icmp-launches-rights-reservations-portal-setting-out-the-legal-and-moral-obligations-of-ai-companies/ News Item #3 – Music Getting Simpler https://theness.com/neurologicablog/is-music-getting-simpler/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/song-lyrics-really-are-getting-simpler-and-more-repetitive-study-finds/ News Item #4 – Aphantasia Spectrum Exploring Aphantasia: The Mind Without a Mental Picture - Neuroscience News News Item #5 – Nova and Comet Compete with Eclipse https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240322-visible-nova-explosion-is-coming https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/04/02/solar-exclipse-horned-devil-comet-april-8/73147667007/ Segment #3. 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: Texas Item 1: Texas has the road with the highest speed limit in the US, at 85 mph. Item 2: The largest single employer in Texas is Amazon. Item 3: Six Flags amusement park gets its name from the fact that Texas has been part of six nations throughout its history. Segment #4. Skeptical Quote of the Week "As the sun eclipses the stars by his brilliancy, so the man of knowledge will eclipse the fame of others in assemblies of the people if he proposes algebraic problems, and still more if he solves them." — Brahmagupta /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/30807133

Skeptics Guide #978 04/06/2024

Skeptics Guide #978 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #978 April 2nd 2024 Segment #1. Quickie with Bob Silicon spikes https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240326103936.htm Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Havana Syndrome https://theness.com/neurologicablog/what-to-make-of-havana-syndrome/ News Item #2 – Robo Taxis in NY https://www.popsci.com/technology/nyc-robotaxis-driverless/ News Item #3 – Rebellions and Cultural Memory chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w29182/w29182.pdf News Item #4 – Gravitational Waves and Human Life https://phys.org/news/2024-03-gravitational-human-life.html Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Your Questions and E-mails Question #1: Evolution of Gullibility Great show, but everyone says that. Nevertheless, it is. My question - what's the evolutionary benefit of gullibility? My premises - 1. There appears to be a long history of received wisdom about how the world works. E.g. 'it is what it is'. That goes back in written texts at least as far as Gilgamesh, and therefore probably further. 2. This trait, despite on the face of it inclining towards "not very useful, because, well, reality dude" has survived and flourishes. 3. Traits can survive without being useful if they're not harmful, but given the small percentage of skeptics, it suggests an advantage. 4. Given this, is there an evolutionary benefit to gullibility? And if so, what? Asking for a friend 😉 Keep it up guys, seriously. Lots of us out here admire what you do... Kind Regards Malcolm 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: Eggs Item 1: By weight the egg white is >90% protein, while the egg yolk is >90% fat. Item 2: Easter egger chickens are a breed that can lay eggs which are yellow, blue, green, cream, or even pink. Item 3: In the US eggs must be refrigerated once harvested and cleaned, while in Europe eggs are stored at room temperature. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week “As always in life, people want a simple answer . . . and it’s always wrong.” - Susan Greenfield, Neurochemist currently researching Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/30708158

Skeptics Guide #977 03/30/2024

Skeptics Guide #977 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #977 March 27th 2024 Segment #1. Special Report Music AI - https://app.suno.ai/create/ Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Sweetened Drinks and Atrial Fibrillation https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/sweetened-drinks-and-risk-of-a-fib/ News Item #2 – One Degree https://phys.org/news/2024-03-difference-degree.html#google_vignette News Item #3 – Birth Control Misinformation https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/03/21/stopping-birth-control-misinformation/ News Item #4 – Iridology https://www.yahoo.com/news/iridology-using-alternative-medicine-unlock-133524717.html?guccounter=1 Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. From Tik Tok and E-mail Question #1: Mel’s Mystery Hole https://www.tiktok.com/@atlantis.official2/video/7342712009198259498 Question #2: Positive Thinking My husband was recently diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, and he’s now in wk 2 of 6 of chemo- and radiation therapy. Nearly everyone we talk to tells us “It’s so important to keep a positive attitude.” But the skeptic in me wonders “What’s the mode of efficacy?” Exactly how is that positive attitude helping, and has it been scientifically tested? To me it seems akin to the so-called power of prayer. You can’t pray cancer away, so why should I believe that a positive attitude will make a difference? In recent yrs I knew a woman who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. No one had a more positive outlook than this woman, and she took on the challenge with a strong “I can do this!” attitude. She died six months later. So, my question, again, is: What’s the mode of efficacy? Exactly how is that positive attitude helping, and has it been scientifically tested? —kai. 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: Energy Item 1: Researchers have developed an implantable battery that is powered by oxygen in the body and capable of producing continuous electricity at 1.3 V. Item 2: Toyota reports its latest hydrogen fuel cell car will average 845 miles on a single tank of hydrogen. Item 3: Engineers have created flexible perovskite solar cells with a power conversion efficiency of 25%, and maintaining 90% of this efficiency after 10,000 bending cycles. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week “The shameful thing is not ignorance -- on the contrary, that is the natural thing. The really shameful thing is not to want to know, to resist finding out when the occasion offers. It is never the ignorant who offer that resistance, but the ones who think they know. That is the shameful thing -- to think you know. He who thinks he knows something, but is in fact ignorant of it, closes the door of his mind through which authentic truth could enter.” - Jose Ortega y Gasset /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/30605033

Skeptics Guide #976 03/23/2024

Skeptics Guide #975 03/16/2024

Skeptics Guide #975 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #975 March 13th 2024 Segment #1. Fraud Alert Tax Scams Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Pentagon UFO Report https://theness.com/neurologicablog/pentagon-report-no-ufos/ News Item #2 – Microplastic Risks https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00650-3 News Item #3 – Parasite Cleanse https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/parasite-cleanse/ News Item #4 – Gut Microbe Communication https://today.ucsd.edu/story/molecular-rosetta-stone-reveals-how-our-microbiome-talks-to-us News Item #5 – Interstellar Meteorite https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/deep-space/a60141520/alien-is-a-truck/ Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Your Questions and E-mail Question #1: Thou I'm just wrapping up listening to episode 974 when you're discussing how English doesn't have a plural second person, and I have to share this because that same question of why it doesn't used to bug me: English DOES have a plural second person. It's "you." The singular second person in English is "thou." Much like in French with "tu" and "vous," "thou" was exclusively singular and informal while "you" could be plural or formal singular. Obviously we don't use "thou" today, and the leading theory is that because social classes became more complex over time, it was safer to politely address someone as "you" rather than make the social misstep of calling a peer or your better "thou." I would liken this to the modern rise of singular "they." I've only had the pleasure of listening to the SGU for about two years, but I'm looking forward to many more. I will be writing in again to ask some scientific questions that I've never been able to get an answer for that have bothered me for decades. Thanks for doing all you do, Helen Question #2: Mach Effect Drive Hi rogues! Long time listener. Love the work you do! Here's a question you may have covered in the past, but I saw a video about a Mach effect drive and immediately thought it was a scam! A space drive with no propellant??? "Umpossible" I thought!! https://youtu.be/0bp8fk5rosI?si=5ufWN4d63NLEml8g I then Googled it to get more info and came across the NASA website saying it was "credible"!! Wtf?? https://www.nasa.gov/general/mach-effects-for-in-space-propulsion-interstellar-mission/#:~:text=Mach%20Effect%20Thruster%20(MET)%20propulsion,accelerations%20and%20internal%20energy%20changes. Can you folks break this down for me? Scam or science? Waddaya think? Thanks for the amazing podcast, consistently my favourite since the beginning! 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: Equinoxes Item 1: On the day of each equinox, day and night are of equal length. Item 2: During the equinoxes, solar declination is 0°. Item 3: So-called solar outages, or equinoctial disruptions, refer to the fact that communication satellites are often partially or totally blocked for a few days either before or after the equinoxes. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week "If you want to do seismic analysis, it’s ideal if you check with a seismologist first." Benjamin Fernando, planetary seismologist at Johns Hopkins University /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/30399548

Skeptics Guide #974 03/09/2024

Skeptics Guide #974 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #974 March 6th 2024 Segment #1. Quickie with Bob Finding new physics in debris from colliding neutron stars https://phys.org/news/2024-03-physics-debris-colliding-neutron-stars.html Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Sinking Cities https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/climate-change/32-us-cities-including-new-york-and-san-francisco-are-sinking-into-the-ocean-and-face-major-flood-risks-by-2050-new-study-reveals News Item #2 – Hypervaccination https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/hypervaccination/ News Item #3 – Conspiracy Theorists and Disease X https://www.sciencealert.com/conspiracy-theorists-are-profiting-off-a-disease-that-doesnt-exist-yet News Item #4 – Celebrities and Flat Earth https://fandomwire.com/a-planet-in-the-sky-gave-a-rats-a-about-anything-in-your-life-even-neil-degrasse-tyson-lost-it-after-amber-roses-dumb-pseudoscience-question/ and https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10111148-nfl-draft-prospect-tyler-owens-says-he-doesnt-believe-in-space-and-other-planets News Item #5 – Superconducting Magnets and Fusion https://news.mit.edu/2024/tests-show-high-temperature-superconducting-magnets-fusion-ready-0304 Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Your Questions and E-mail Question #1: Update on IVF Question #2: Moon and Sun I believe you said the moon's path some the sun is always concave. I think this implies a very particular condition - that the moon earth distance is approximately 1/13 the distance to the sun - which it clearly is not. The velocity of the moon in Earth's reference frame never comes close to velocity of the earth-moon system around the sun, so the path of the moon around the sun must be like a distorted sine wave - meaning there are concave and convex parts of the orbit with redirect to the sun. Maybe I misheard! But I'm busy and it's only in the middle of the night when I wake up that I remember these things from my commuting podcasts! Sincerely, Hugh Philipp 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: DST Item 1: A study of over 200 thousand malpractice claims finds that daylight saving time is associated with worse severity of incidents and higher average payments than standard time. Item 2: Credit for the first serious proposal of daylight saving time goes to entomologist, George Vernon Hudson, who presented the idea in 1895 because he wanted more time in the evening for bug collection. Item 3: Among its many detrimental effects, daylight saving time is associated with an increase in overall crime compared to standard time. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week "Most deadly errors arise from obsolete assumptions." Frank Herbert, From Children of Dune /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/30299593

Skeptics Guide #973 03/02/2024

Skeptics Guide #972 02/24/2024

Skeptics Guide #971 02/17/2024

Skeptics Guide #971 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #971 February 13th 2024 Segment #1. Quickie with Bob Metalenses https://phys.org/news/2024-02-optical-mirrors-image-power-human.html Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Flow Batteries https://theness.com/neurologicablog/flow-batteries-now-with-nanofluids/ News Item #2 – Green Roofs https://techxplore.com/news/2024-02-green-roofs-cool-cities-energy.html News Item #3 – LEGO MRI Scanner https://mymodernmet.com/lego-mri-scanner/ https://www.hearinglikeme.com/lego-minifigure-with-a-hearing-aid/ News Item #4 – The Circular Collider https://www.universetoday.com/165685/cern-wants-to-build-an-enormous-new-atom-smasher-the-future-circular-collider/ News Item #5 – Mayo Clinic and Reiki https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/mental-health/my-journey-from-energy-work-skeptic-to-reiki-practitioner/ Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Name That Logical Fallacy Hi SGU! I am a long time listener to the podcast and a long time OWNER of your first book, but (and I’m afraid to admit this) just getting around to reading it. I just finished the short section on the gamblers fallacy, The idea that if you flip heads five or 10 or 25 times in a row, tails is due, when, in reality, every individual flip has its own 50-50 chance of being either heads or tails, which is not influenced by past events. I have always had a little trouble with this idea, because, while an individual flip absolutely does have an Equal likelihood of landing heads or tails, if we consider an “event“ to be 25 flips, (maybe this isn’t allowed?) Then the likelihood of 25 heads in a row is vanishingly small, and the likelihood of 12 to 14 heads, much much higher, so if halfway through that “event”, you’ve got 12 heads, I would think that the likelihood Of flipping tails at least a few times throughout the second half, does, in fact go up significantly. I think of this as in line with The very well established statistical phenomenon of regression to the mean: While Outlier events and streaks are very much part of Randomness, over time those bumps and spikes tend to smooth out to show more or less the expected distribution. So I guess my question is, is there a conflict between the ideas of the gamblers fallacy and regression to the Mean? Is there not something valid in the idea that, if you’ve flipped heads 10 times in a row, the likelihood of continuing to flip heads on each successive flip, in a sense, does go down? Not because past events influence future ones, perhaps, but rather because we expand our idea of the present to include the very recent past, and the very near future? Aren’t there other probabilities at play than just the single, momentary 50-50 chance of the individual flip? Where am I just a hopeless gambler? 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. Item 1: A recent study shows that older adults are more vulnerable to first impressions of trustworthiness even in the face of contradictory evidence. Item 2: A machine learning analysis correlating road features with accident frequency finds that the most predictive variable for high crash risk is the presence of distracting billboards and other advertisements. Item 3: Researchers find that short and simple corrective statements on social media help readers identify false information. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week "Starving brains can hallucinate, but even well-fed minds can convince themselves they can feel something which simply isn’t there." - Jonathan Jarry, science communicator, McGill University Office for Science and Society /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/29996293

Skeptics Guide #970 02/10/2024

Skeptics Guide #970 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #970 February 7th 2024 Segment #1. What’s the Word Cardinal Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – New Class of Microbes Found https://www.sciencealert.com/obelisks-entirely-new-class-of-life-has-been-found-in-the-human-digestive-system News Item #2 – SLIM Lunar Tech https://www.space.com/slim-lunar-lander-technology-technology-future-missions News Item #3 – Misinformation and Wellness Influencers https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-menace-of-wellness-influencers/ News Item #4 – Super Earth in Habitable Zone https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/story?id=106961506 News Item #5 – Climate Change and Storms https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/hurricanes/we-may-need-a-new-category-6-hurricane-level-for-winds-over-192-mph-study-suggests Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Name That Logical Fallacy I can't recall ever hearing this debate tactic talked about on the show before. It's quite possible it has been brought up, just that I don't remember a name being put to it. So if it has been discussed, without a name, maybe that's why I don't remember it. This youtube video is the first time I can remember having a name put to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK4RHzNHZXY&ab_channel=InnuendoStudios But I have seen people use this "Reverse Gish-Gallop" used all the time. I think a good example of this is when debating ANYTHING regarding common sense gun control, a 2nd amendment nut will point to the tiniest little mistake in your reference to any firearm, and then say something like "Since you don't know the difference between a swing arm lever and a coil spring lock on a 1964 1911 Smith and Wesson, then you are a moron and can't possibly comment on anything gun related!" Just thought if this has never been discussed before, it would be relevant segment on the show. Thanks, Mike 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: Shark Week Item 1: The age of most sharks can be accurately estimated by counting growth rings on their vertebrae. Item 2: Sharks as a group have poor vision, relying instead on their sense of smell and special electroreceptor organs that can sense electromagnetic fields. Item 3: Most sharks have to swim to get oxygen, but benthic sharks are able to pump water through their spiracles (small holes behind their eyes) and over their gills so they can breathe without swimming. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week “I don’t wish to be without my brains, tho’ they doubtless interfere with a blind faith which would be very comfortable.” — Ada Lovelace /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/29885733

Skeptics Guide #969 02/03/2024

Skeptics Guide #969 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #968 January 31st 2024 Segment #1. News Items News Item #1 – Neuralink Implants Chip in Human https://theness.com/neurologicablog/neuralink-implants-chip-in-human/ News Item #2 – Love on the Brain https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240112114712.htm News Item #3 – Amelia Earhart Plane May Be Discovered https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/30/travel/amelia-earhart-missing-plane-pacific-ocean-scn/index.html News Item #4 – Hiding Sickness https://neurosciencenews.com/social-behavior-contagious-sickness-25540/ News Item #5 – Cicada Double Brood https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/26/us/cicadas-emergence-broods-xix-xiii-scn/index.html Segment #2. Who’s That Noisy Segment #3. Your Questions and E-mails Question #1: Moon Mission Question #2: Microgel Insulin https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142961220307043?via%3Dihub Segment #4. Interview with Dustin Bates https://www.instagram.com/starsetsingerguy/?hl=en 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: Animal Emotions Item 1: Most rats will stop pulling a lever to deliver a preferred treat if that lever also gives a fellow rat a small electric shock. Item 2: A recent study shows that goats are able to tell the difference between happy sounding and angry sound human voices. Item 3: Capuchin monkeys are one of the few non-human animals to be shown to cry emotional tears. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week "If you really want to rediscover wonder, you need to step outside of that tiny, terrified space of rightness and look around at each other and look out at the vastness and complexity and mystery of the universe and be able to say, "Wow, I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong." Kathryn Schulz, columnist The New Yorker - author of the book Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/29782938

Skeptics Guide #968 01/27/2024

Skeptics Guide #967 01/20/2024

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 /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/29574188

Skeptics Guide #966 01/13/2024

Skeptics Guide #966 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #966 January 11th 2024 Segment #1. Dumbest Thing of the Week https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/17/king-charles-has-appointed-homeopath-why-do-elite-put-faith-in-snake-oil Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Dual Sympathetic Reset https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/dual-sympathetic-reset-for-ptsd/ News Item #2 – Peregrine Moon Mission https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=PEREGRN-1 News Item #3 – Solar Eclipse https://www.sciencenews.org/article/total-solar-eclipse-sun-science-viewing-2024 News Item #4 – Boy Beats Tetris https://www.iflscience.com/13-year-old-boy-becomes-the-only-human-to-ever-complete-tetris-72267 Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Your Question and E-mails Question #1: Dimensional Weight Love your podcast. Long time listener. Have you guys/gal done any shows talking about the subject title here? I was caught off guard, as it would seem many others have been, on late additional shipping charges that come back as dimensional weight or volumetric weight charges by FedEx, UPS and USPS. Almost seems like a cash-grab but seems like it's standard practice. But third-party shippers do not disclose this upfront. Just wondering if you guys ever broached the subject? Thanks, and keep in the skeptic work! Ron Mochinski Fairfax, VA https://www.webretailer.com/shipping-fulfillment-returns/dimensional-weight/ 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: Positive Trends #1) Cigarette smoking has decreased dramatically among US teens between 1991 and 2021, with daily use declining from 9.8% in 1991 to 0.6% in 2021, a greater than 16-fold decline. #2) The global literacy rate has almost tripled since 1990, from around 30% to 89%. #3) Extreme poverty is on the decline – there are over a billion fewer people living below the international poverty line today than in 1990. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week "I’m not sure why I enjoy debunking. Part of it surely is amusement over the follies of true believers, and partly because attacking bogus science is a painless way to learn good science... Another reason for debunking is that bad science contributes to the steady dumbing down of our nation. Crude beliefs get transmitted to political leaders and the result is considerable damage to society.” —Martin Gardner /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/29472808

Skeptics Guide #965 01/06/2024

Skeptics Guide #964 12/30/2023

Skeptics Guide #964 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #964 December 20th 2023 SGU Year in Review 2023 Segment #1. Best Science News of 2023 Leqembi for Alzheimer’s disease Osiris Rex Sickle Cell treatment Weight loss drugs Artificial Intelligence India Moon Landing First successful transplant of cryopreserved rat kidney Global Warming – hottest year on record, Canada fires, Antarctic record low ice Segment #2. Favorite SGU Moments Segment #3. Favorite SGU Interviews Segment #4. Skeptical Hero of the Year Segment #5. Skeptical Jackass of the Year Segment #6. In Memorium Skeptics Bruce Press Harriet Hall Politicians Sandra Day O’Connor (93) Henry Kissinger Dianne Feinstein (90) Rosalynn Carter (96) Scientists Dr. Gao Yaojie (95) – Exposed an HIV epidemic in China Dr. William P. Murphy Jr. (100) – invented the vinyl blood bag Endel Tulving (96) – Influential memory researcher M.S. Swaminathan (98) – Indian crop scientist/geneticist Ian Wilmut (79) – Dolly the sheep Douglas Lenat (72) – AI researcher, Eurisko, AI with “common sense” Dr. Ferid Murad (86) – effects of nitric oxide on cardiovascular system John Warnock (82) – developed the PDF Sliman Bensmaia (49) – neuroscientists developing prosthetics with sensation W. Jason Morgan (87) – plate tectonics Virginia Norwood (96) – technology for mapping Earth from space William Wulf (83) – computer scientists, development of internet Paul Berg (96) – first recombinant DNA or rDNA John B. Goodenough (100) – Li Ion batteries Gordon E. Moore (94) – Moore’s Law David Etnier PHd (84) – discoverer of the Snail Darter Other Frank Borman (95) – Apollo 8 astronaut Walter Cunningham (90) – First crewed Apollo mission (7) Mark Goddard (87) – Lost in Space Michael Gambon (82) – Dumbledore Bob Barker (99) Paul Reubens (71) – Pee-wee Herman Tony Bennett (96) Raquel Welch (82) Al Jaffee (102) – Mad Magazine Segment #7. Science or Fiction 2023 stats: Cara – 30 wins / 13 losses – 69.7% Evan – 26 wins / 22 losses – 54.1% Bob – 20 wins / 29 losses – 40.8% Jay – 21 wins / 26 losses – 44.6% Every guest who played Science or Fiction lost – 10 total. Rogues swept Steve 6 times Steve swept Rogues 8 times 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: SGU Past #1) In 2008 we reported on a new theory that disease spread by insects might have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. Since then a 2016 study found that malaria dates back to the time of the dinosaurs and infected reptiles. #2) In 2009 we reported that Honda had developed a brain-machine interface that allows a driver to steer a car with mind control alone. They are still developing the technology, without any commercial applications so far. #3) In 2008 we reported on new bionic eyes, involving artificial retinas that allow previously blind patients to see shapes and lights. The company, Second Sight, has since gone bankrupt, abandoning patients with the implants. Segment #8. Skeptical Quote of the Week “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” ― T.S. Eliot /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/29279543

Skeptics Guide #963 12/23/2023

Skeptics Guide #962 12/16/2023

Skeptics Guide #961 12/09/2023

Skeptics Guide #961 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #961 December 6th 2023 Segment #1. Quickie with Bob Ceramic Storage https://www.techradar.com/pro/video-of-ceramic-storage-system-prototype-surfaces-online-10000tb-cartridges-bombarded-with-laser-rays-could-become-mainstream-by-2030-making-slow-hard-drives-and-tapes-obsolete Segment #1. News Items News Item #1 – Uniting Quantum Gravity https://theness.com/neurologicablog/new-theory-unites-gravity-and-quantum-mechanics/ News Item #2 – X-Prize for Health Span https://www.science.org/content/article/xprize-aging-will-award-101-million-therapies-restore-vigor-elderly News Item #3 – ECT Heals the Brain https://theconversation.com/how-electroconvulsive-therapy-heals-the-brain-new-insights-into-ect-a-stigmatized-yet-highly-effective-treatment-for-depression-217889 News Item #4 – Building New Materials with AI and Robots https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03745-5?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=nature&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1701275544-1 Segment #3. From Tik Tok Car Runs Without Charging https://www.tiktok.com/@justgeorgeous/video/7306927710733913346 Segment #4. Who’s That Noisy 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. #1) A new study finds that the average volume of speech, called “sonority” is highest in the tropics and lowest in the northwest coast of North America. #2) A new comparative study finds that human newborn brain size is relatively smaller at birth than our primate relatives, representing a relatively shorter gestation and delay in brain development. #3) Researchers find that the electric organ discharge of an electric eel is capable of transferring DNA into zebrafish larvae. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week “People can be extremely intelligent, have taken a critical thinking course, and know logic inside and out. Yet they may just become clever debaters, not critical thinkers, because they are unwilling to look at their own biases.” - Carol Wade, cognitive psychologist /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/29000068

Skeptics Guide #960 12/02/2023

Skeptics Guide #960 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #960 November 29th 2023 Segment #1. News Items News Item #1 – Internet Use and Mental Health https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/internet-use-and-mental-well-being/ News Item #2 – Methane Capture https://www.sciencenews.org/article/methane-capture-air-global-warming-climate News Item #3 – Bitter Revenge https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/transcending-the-past/202311/revenge-is-rarely-sweet News Item #4 – Underground Microbes https://phys.org/news/2023-11-minimalist-maximalist-life-microbe-mile.html News Item #5 – PopSci Magazine Closes https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/27/23978042/popular-science-digital-magazine-discontinued Segment #2. Quickie with Steve LK-99 Debunked https://scitechdaily.com/shattered-dreams-scientists-debunk-lk-99-room-temperature-superconductivity-myth/ Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Questions and E-mails Question #1: Dr. GPT My friend suggested I submit this story """ I've been using GPT for a great deal of software and also family health work. I'm pretty much using it as a personal physician. I understand the risks but I'm pretty good at corroborating its responses with other research. Toddler banged his head yesterday, and I took a photo of it into GPT and asked it how it looked, it was pretty helpful. Baby was quite sick last week and it helped us make a decision on care at night. "" Cheers Ryan, Cayman Islands 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: Mushrooms #1) Evidence shows that many mushroom species will increase their growth after a lightning strike, with shiitake crop yield doubling. #2) Three popular supermarket mushrooms, cremini, button, and portobello, are all the exact same species. #3) Although originally classified as plants, the kingdom of Fungi is genetically closest to the kingdom of Protista. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week “Skepticism: the mark and even the pose of the educated mind.” ---John Dewey /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/28897373

Skeptics Guide #959 11/25/2023

Skeptics Guide #959 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #959 November 22nd 2023 Segment #1. What’s the Word Rugae Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – 3D Printing Soft Robots https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/11/231115113428.htm News Item #2 – First CRISPR Treatment Approved https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/first-crispr-treatment-approval/ News Item #3 – Omicron Update https://undark.org/2023/11/14/texas-covid-vaccine/ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/21/science/covid-omicron-variant.html News Item #4 – Lunar Library https://www.prweb.com/releases/arch-mission-foundation-prepares-lunar-library-ii-for-december-2023-launch-301983522.html Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Questions and E-mails Question #1: Trust in Science Listening to the segment about the poll about trust in science and scientists decreasing, I was thinking about some reasons about why I have reservations in saying that I trust scientist. We as a society have definitely been improved by science by technological breakthroughs (computers, internet, harnessing electricity for Christ's sake), medicine, ecology, and much more; but science is much more than the good things that help us. Scientists created the atom bomb that can destroy the world many times over. Scientists feed into the military industrial complex by creating and refining weapons meant to murder more and more people in one stroke. Gain of function research is still being done in China with US funding (I know it's not the plausible reason for Covid, but there's still great risk). Artificial intelligence has been created and is being used in more nefarious ways than originally thought possible. MK Ultra, Tuskegee experiments of last century to iCOMPARE and FIRST trials of this century. I think it's fair to look down upon those that do not wholeheartedly trust scientists with so many examples of harm in our history, even very recent examples. Not all scientists unethical and doing harm, it's a small population. But with world changing progress it also has the potential for world ending power. Brent Question #2: Fashion Hey! Just recently started listening to your podcast about a year ago and this past podcast has something that made me think. I’m 21 years old so my “childhood” was during the late 2000s and early 2010s. When everyone said that there wasn’t a defined clothing trend for this decade, it got me thinking. I believe that the generational difference is definitely there, because there was most certainly a trend for the 2010s! A few examples for women’s clothing are statement necklaces, chevron pattern, tall ugg boots, etc. I just think that it would be worth looking up what some of the style trends are to hopefully see that we do have a defined style for the 2010s! Olivia, Virginia 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. #1) Researchers have developed a hydrogel that will allow people with diabetes to inject their insulin once every several months, rather than every day. #2) Scientists find that the eyes communicate to the ears, causing the ears to make a sound which can be used to track eye movements. #3) A new study finds solar wind-derived molecular hydrogen trapped in Apollo lunar regolith samples. ¬¬ Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week “Science has the answer to every question that can be asked. However, science reserves the right to change that answer should additional data become available.” — Mary Roach /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/28787228

Skeptics Guide #958 11/18/2023

Skeptics Guide #958 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #958 November 15th 2023 Segment #1. Swindler’s List Romance Scam Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Whole Eye Transplant https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/first-whole-eye-transplant/ News Item #2 – Hottest Year on Record https://www.sciencenews.org/article/last-12-months-hottest-record-climate News Item #3 – Neutron Thickness https://phys.org/news/2023-11-heavy-ion-collisions-lhc-scientists-thickness.html News Item #4 – Hydrogen Deposit in France https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/09/white-hydrogen-deposit-france/ News Item #5 – Trust In Science Declining https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2023/11/14/americans-trust-in-scientists-positive-views-of-science-continue-to-decline/ Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Questions and E-mails Question #1: Oldest Photo I am a longtime fan of the show and never hesitate to recommend it to friends, family and anyone else who even expresses a vague interest in listening to podcasts. Thank you so much for your dedication to science communication and helping us all avoid the traps of unscientific thinking. That said, Science or Fiction this week contained some pretty egregious misinformation. You stated that Niécpe took his famed 1826 photo out of his window while visiting his brother Claude in London. I am not sure where you got this information, because the photo in question is litterally entitled "View from the Window at Le Gras" ("Point de vue du Gras" in French). Le Gras is an estate in the village of Saint-Loup-de Varennes, France where Niécpe had his laboratory. The photo is not a cityscape, but rather a few parts of some estate outbuildings and the surrounding rural countryside. The photo has never been in the Royal Photographic Collection, as stated in your piece. In fact, since 1963, it has primarily been on display at the Harry Ransom Center in Austin, Texas, Thanks again for all that you do. I look forward to every episode. Sincerely, Beth Kolb Jacob Saint-André-de-Boege, France 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. #1) Researchers have discovered the first “vampire” virus, a parasitic virus that attaches to the “neck” of another virus in order to enter a host cell and take over the reproductive machinery. #2) A new study finds that Google DeepMind’s machine learning weather prediction model can outperform existing models for 10 day weather prediction, 90% of the time in under one minute. #3) Scientists present a new fossil of a flying feathered dinosaur, avioptera, which dates to 185 million years ago, 20 million years older than the group (paraves) which is believed to have given rise to modern birds. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week "True science teaches, above all, to doubt and to be ignorant." Miguel de Unamuno (loosely translated to english): /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/28700148

Skeptics Guide #957 11/11/2023

Skeptics Guide #957 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #957 November 8th 2023 Segment #1. Dumbest Thing of the Week https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/angels-demons-spirits-souls-do-exist-exorcist-priest-warns-ouija-board-use Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – ESA Plans Space Capsule https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67339057 News Item #2 – Oldest Evidence for Projectile Weapons https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-45554-w News Item #3 – Vaccine for Cocaine Addiction https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-unveil-world-first-experimental-cocaine-addiction-vaccine?utm_source=pocket_saves News Item #4 – Ancient Planet Buried in Earth’s Mantle https://www.newscientist.com/article/2400567-bits-of-an-ancient-planet-called-theia-may-be-buried-in-earths-mantle/ News Item #5 – Bankman-Fried Guilty https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/02/sam-bankman-fried-found-guilty-on-all-seven-criminal-fraud-counts.html Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Interview with James Burke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connections_(British_TV_series) 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: Technology #1) In 1826 the first photograph was created by French inventor Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, requiring an 8 hour exposure. #2) Terms and Conditions for iTunes includes the phrase: “You also agree that you will not use these products for the development, design, manufacture, or production of nuclear, missile, or chemical or biological weapons.” #3) Apollo astronauts were each insured for $1 million in case they did not survive their mission, with coverage ending at the end of the post-mission quarantine. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week "Hungry for innovation that will change our ailing world, we’re blind to hubris, misguided egos and wishful thinking." - Josie Cox /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/28594458

Skeptics Guide #956 11/04/2023

Skeptics Guide #955 10/28/2023

Skeptics Guide #954 10/21/2023

Skeptics Guide #954 Segment #1. Swindler’s List The IT Scam Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Driverless Cars https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/update-on-self-driving-cars/ News Item #2 – Dead Whale Mystery https://www.sciencealert.com/unusual-mystery-of-dead-whales-washing-up-on-us-coast-may-be-solved News Item #3 – Filtering Wildfire Air https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/10/air-purifiers-arent-enough-to-clean-your-home-from-wildfire-smoke/ News Item #4 – New Law of Nature Proposed https://www.reuters.com/science/scientists-propose-sweeping-new-law-nature-expanding-evolution-2023-10-16/ News Item #5 – The Real Count Dracula https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/998653 Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Your Question and E-mails Question #1: Life After Big Bang Hey folks! I listen to the show every week and I recently came across this video / research speculating that life may have started almost immediately after the Big Bang so I want to send it along and ask for your thoughts. To me I find it absolutely fascinating and while I know it’s highly speculative I find the idea that we could be connected to life everywhere… almost comforting, in a way. Anyway, here’s the video and it has research linked from it. https://youtu.be/JOiGEI9pQBs Kris Siegel CA 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: Infectious Disease #1) A new study finds that the risk of getting Guillain Barre Syndrome within 6 weeks after COVID increases by six times, and decreases by more than half after getting the BioNTech vaccine. #2) A new study finds that approximately 50,000 deaths per year in the Americas can be attributed to antimicrobial resistance. #3) Since 2010 the number of reported tick-borne infections in the US has increased 10 fold. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week "Our ignorance is profound, forgivable and temporary. There are only two true errors: One is believing that we have no errors left to make, and the other is believing that those errors are permanent and irreversible.” Adam Mastroianni, experimental psychologist, author of the science blog Experimental History /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/28382276

Skeptics Guide #953 10/14/2023

Skeptics Guide #953 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #953 October 11th 2023 Segment #1. Quickie with Bob https://phys.org/news/2023-10-solar-panels-proxima-centauri.html Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Oldest Evidence of Humans in Americas https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/oldest-evidence-of-humans-in-americas/ News Item #2 – Addictive Foods https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/health/food-and-nutrition/addictive-foods/ News Item #3 – Using CRISPR To Make Chickens Resistant https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41476-3 News Item #4 – Superheavy Elements and Ultradense Asteroids https://phys.org/news/2023-10-periodic-table-superheavy-elements-ultradense.amp News Item #5 – Prehistoric Solar Storms https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsta.2022.0206 Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Your Question and E-mails Question #1: Nobel Peace Prize I was literally screaming at y'all on the podcast as I listened to it in my car yesterday during Science or Fiction, as you considered whether four Nobel laureates won their awards while they were imprisoned. Hello!! Like the one who literally just won, Narges Mohammadi, who sits at this moment in an Iranian prison. I realize now that I have the benefit of the podcast time delay, and that at the time you recorded episode #952, the 2023 Peace prize winner hadn't yet been announced. How ironic that events in just the few days between when you recorded the podcast and when it was released actually invalidated your "science" item and made it fiction. You should announce a correction (or maybe "acknowledgement" is more appropriate, in fairness to you) that there are now five Nobel laureates who won their award while imprisoned. All the best, Tom Segment #5. Interview with Dan Friesen and Jordan Holmes Knowledge Fight podcast 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. #1) Astronomers have spotted the first exoplanet collision, which happened in a system 1,800 light years away. #2) Scientists have developed a new method of error correction in quantum computers that is 10 times as effective as previous methods, reaching fidelities of 0.999. #3) The NIH has announced a $150 million grant to develop a Digital Twin Brain – an open-source platform to virtually duplicate human brain function. Segment #7. Skeptical Quote of the Week “Sciences provide an understanding of a universal experience, Arts are a universal understanding of personal experience. The arts and sciences are avatars of human creativity” Mae Jemison, First African American woman astronaut in space. /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/28315286

Skeptics Guide #952 10/07/2023

Skeptics Guide #952 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #952 October 4th 2023 Segment #1. What’s the Word Fulguration Segment #2. News Items Nobel Prizes 2023 News Item #1 – Nobel Prize in Chemistry https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2023/press-release/ News Item #2 – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2023/press-release/ News Item #3 – Nobel Prize in Physics https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2023/summary/ News Item #4 – Radio Telescope on the Moon https://www.sciencealert.com/mission-to-put-a-radio-telescope-on-the-moon-planned-to-launch-in-2025 News Item #5 – FEMA Alert Conspiracy https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/oct-4-fema-alert-test-5g-anti-vaxx-conspiracy-theory-1234838377/ Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Your Question and E-mails Question #1: Red Dye and ADHD I have a son with adhd, and my wife mentioned eliminating red dye from his diet due to some info she found. I did some research and found conflicting results I’d love to hear your thoughts Thank you and keep up the good work !! David, MA Segment #5. Interview with Lars Martin https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lars-Martin 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: Nobel Prize #1) Four Nobel laureates won their award while they were imprisoned. #2) The 1926 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Johannes Fibiger was the only one ever to be rescinded – he discovered that round worms cause cancer in mice and rats, but a mere three years after the award was given his findings were completely refuted. #3) The Following people never won a Nobel Prize: Dmitri Mendeleev, James Joyce, Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Jules-Henri Poincaré, and Mahatma Gandhi. Segment #7. Skeptical Quote of the Week “Reality denied comes back to haunt.” ― Philip K. Dick, Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/28252943

Skeptics Guide #951 09/30/2023

Skeptics Guide #951 The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #951 September 27th 2023 Segment #1. Special Report Misinformation Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Zoom Backgrounds https://phys.org/news/2023-09-background.html News Item #2 – Manifesting Fails https://www.sciencealert.com/manifesting-more-money-is-linked-to-worse-financial-outcomes News Item #3 – Tong Test for AI https://techxplore.com/news/2023-09-tong-approach-artificial-general-intelligence.html News Item #4 – Looking for Service Worlds https://www.sciencealert.com/forget-alien-megastructures-new-study-says-we-need-to-look-for-service-worlds News Item #5 – NASA Recovers Asteroid Sample https://www.npr.org/2023/09/24/1201386042/watch-live-nasa-sends-an-asteroid-sample-back-to-earth Segment #3. Who’s That Noisy Segment #4. Your Question and E-mails Question #1: Natural Gas vs Coal At the end of the climate change science or fiction Steve made an offhand comment that NG is 10% the climate impact of Coal. That's not accurate, so just wanted to get you all up to date with the latest here. Some great sources of info also at https://coalvsnaturalgas.org/ (which is a site of the Rocky Mountain Institute) Coal when burned to make electricity, is about 2x the CO2 emission of Natural Gas. It also has higher rates of fine particulates (that may be the source of the 10% number stuck in folks heads). However methane (the primary component of Natural Gas) is itself a greenhouse gas. It is 85x more potent than CO2 over a 20 year time horizon. Best estimates are that 40% of current global warming we are experiencing is because of methane (0.5C attributed to the methane that has been released). Methane is a small molecule, it leaks a lot in pipes. Current EPA estimates of leakage of methane make it worse than coal from a GHG perspective because of those rates of leaks. We should stop burning coal for sure. But Natural gas isn't better from a warming perspective (though it does release less fine particulates), when you look at it's system impact. So coal to gas transitions weren't the win people thought they were. Sean Dague NY 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. #1) A series of cognitive studies finds that people tend to make worse decisions when given more information. #2) In the first study of its kind, researchers find that antihydrogen atoms respond the same to gravity as normal matter, ruling out the existence of repulsive antigravity. #3) Engineers have published a method for making thin crystalline silicone solar cells that are one eighth the thickness of existing commercial solar cells with record-breaking efficiencies of 29%. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week “Ignorance lies not in the things you don't know, but in the things you know that ain't so.” - Will Rodgers “I honestly believe it is better to know nothing than to know what ain’t so.” - Josh Billings /episode/index/show/skepticsguide/id/28185851

The Skeptics Guide To The Universe

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