SGU Episode 989

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SGU Episode 989
June 22nd 2024
"Freeman Dyson theorized that hypothetical alien megastructures would give off infrared radiation and searching for that byproduct would be a viable method for searching for extraterrestrial life." 3D Illustration Getty Images/NASA
SGU 988                      SGU 990
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
The downside of skepticism: it can easily turn into an arrogant position of a priori rejection of any new phenomenon or idea, a position that is as lacking in critical thinking as the one of the true believer, and that simply does not help either science or the public at large.
Massimo Pigliucci, Italian-American philosopher and biologist
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Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction, Juneteenth

Voice-over: You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

(laughs) (laughter) (applause) [inaudible]

Sun's Magnetic Field About to Flip (7:04)

• The sun's magnetic field is about to flip. Here's what to expect. 

Kids and Gun Safety (14:42)

• In Homes With Children, Even Loaded Guns Are Often Left Unsecured 

Gates Goes Nuclear (28:29)

• Bill Gates Backs Nuclear 

Nanodroplet Drug Delivery (49:54)

• Ultrasound beam triggers 'nanodroplets' to deliver drugs at exactly the right spot 

Potential Dyson Spheres (1:03:23)

• 'Dyson spheres' were theorized as a way to detect alien life. Scientists say they've found potential evidence.  

Who's That Noisy? (1:15:01)

Answer to previous Noisy:

Buggy-eyed frog picked up then going into water

New Noisy (1:18:33)

[Forest sounds in background, squeaking animal foreground]

J: ... what this week's Noisy is

From TikTok: Free Energy Murders (1:21:55)

• [url_from_show_notes _article_title_] 

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Science or Fiction (1:27:54)

Item #1: A recent analysis confirms that the current red spot of Jupiter is the same spot first observed by Cassini in 1665, making it at least 360 years old. Item #2: By analyzing tool-making researchers find that humans began cumulative culture around 600,000 years ago. Item #3: For the first time astronomers witness the activation of a massive galactic black hole into an active galactic nucleus.

Answer	Item
Fiction	Cassini saw same Red Spot
Science	Cumulative culture 0.6Mya
Science	Black hole into nucleus

Host	Result
Steve	win

Rogue	Guess
Cara	Cassini saw same Red Spot
Jay	Cumulative culture 0.6Mya
Evan	Cassini saw same Red Spot
Bob	Cassini saw same Red Spot

Voice-over: It's time for Science or Fiction.

Cara's Response

Jay's Response

Evan's Response

Bob's Response

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:46:47)

The downside of skepticism: it can easily turn into an arrogant position of a priori rejection of any new phenomenon or idea, a position that is as lacking in critical thinking as the one of the true believer, and that simply does not help either science or the public at large.  – Massimo Pigliucci (1964-present), Italian-American philosopher and biologist, from Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk

S: ...we interviewed him^{[link needed]}

Signoff

S: —and until next week, this is your Skeptics' Guide to the Universe.

S: Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, dedicated to promoting science and critical thinking. For more information, visit us at theskepticsguide.org. Send your questions to info@theskepticsguide.org. And, if you would like to support the show and all the work that we do, go to patreon.com/SkepticsGuide and consider becoming a patron and becoming part of the SGU community. Our listeners and supporters are what make SGU possible.

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Today I Learned

• Fact/Description, possibly with an article reference
• Fact/Description
• Fact/Description

References