SGU Episode 203

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SGU Episode 203
June 9th 2009
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 202                      SGU 204
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
“If there is anything that can bind the heavenly mind of man to this dusty exile of our earthy home and can reconcile us with our fate so that we can enjoy living – then it is verily the enjoyment of … the mathematical sciences and astronomy.”
Johannes Kepler, in a letter to Jakob Bartsch
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
SGU Forum

Introduction

You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.

News Items ()

Crop Circles 2009 ()

• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1190279/Jellyfish-dragonflies-peace-symbols-The-summer-crop-circles-just-getting-started.html http://www.cropcircleconnector.com/2009/may2009.html

CT and Chronic Lyme Disease ()

• http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=551 http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=552

Quantum Mechanics ()

• http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/605/1

Casino Feng Shui ()

• http://ncseweb.org/news/2009/06/antievolution-bills-die-texas-004818

UFO Follow Up ()

• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5435262/UFOs-above-Merseyside-linked-to-HMS-Daring-military-exercise.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5434040/UFOs-spotted-in-Cambridgeshire.html

Questions and E-mails ()

Question # 1 - Apple Cider and Gallstones ()

Through her friends, my mother has decided to drink apple cider to remove gallstones. According to her friends, after drinking only apple cider for two days, the gallstones will be flushed out from the body and observed in the feces. It will appear green and and feel soft to the touch. I have found conflicting reports online and I care about my mother's health very much. Your opinions would be much appreciated. SGU Listener, Ruanne Lai Toronto

Interview with Bruce Hood ()

• Bruce Hood is the author of Supersense:Why We Believe in the Unbelievable http://brucemhood.wordpress.com/

Science or Fiction ()

Item # 1: Scientists have successfully genetically engineered bacteria to mass-produce tarantula silk, which can be used in textiles. Item # 2: New research suggests that chimpanzees are able to memorize the precise location of individual fruit bearing trees out of more than 12,000 trees in their territory, in addition to remembering their seasonal productivity. Item # 3: Researchers find that bats are able to identify other individual bats from their echolocation calls, even from a single burst of sound.

Who's That Noisy ()

• Answer to last week: Auroral Emissions

Quote of the Week ()

“If there is anything that can bind the heavenly mind of man to this dusty exile of our earthy home and can reconcile us with our fate so that we can enjoy living – then it is verily the enjoyment of … the mathematical sciences and astronomy.” - Johannes Kepler, in a letter to Jakob Bartsch

S: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by the New England Skeptical Society in association with the James Randi Educational Foundation and skepchick.org. For more information on this and other episodes, please visit our website at www.theskepticsguide.org. For questions, suggestions, and other feedback, please use the "Contact Us" form on the website, or send an email to info@theskepticsguide.org. If you enjoyed this episode, then please help us spread the word by voting for us on Digg, or leaving us a review on iTunes. You can find links to these sites and others through our homepage. 'Theorem' is produced by Kineto, and is used with permission.

References