SGU Episode 524

This episode needs: transcription, time stamps, formatting, links, 'Today I Learned' list, categories, segment redirects. Please help out by contributing!

How to Contribute

SGU Episode 524
July 25th 2015
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 523                      SGU 525
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
'It's OK to fool people, as long as you're doing that to teach them a lesson which will better their knowledge about how the real world works. No matter how smart or well educated you are you can be deceived.'
James Randi
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

Announcement ()

• Cara Santa Maria Joins Rogues: http://carasantamaria.com/

Forgotten Superheroes of Science ()

• Henrietta Leavitt: Astronomer who discovered the property of Cepheid variables

News Items

Pluto Close Approach ()

• https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/nasa-celebrates-new-horizons-closest-approach-to-pluto

Village on the Moon ()

• http://archinect.com/news/article/132492446/esa-proposes-a-village-on-the-moon

Giant Fighting Robots ()

• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/11721037/Japan-and-America-agree-to-put-giant-fighting-robots-into-battle.html

Depression App ()

• http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/15/research-study-tests-if-smartphones-can-diagnose-depression/

We Are Teaching Science Wrong ()

• http://www.nature.com/news/why-we-are-teaching-science-wrong-and-how-to-make-it-right-1.17963

New Winged Dinosaur ()

• http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33510288

Scientists Discover Pentaquark ()

• http://www.universetoday.com/121413/whats-the-big-deal-about-the-pentaquark/

James Randi and Ray Hyman ()

• Discuss the origin of the skeptical movement.

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: Scientists have used meta material to create a prototype 'perfect lens,' 1,000 times smaller than conventional lenses with the same magnification. Item #2: Researchers have developed a light metal foam alloy that blocks gamma rays better than solid steel and X-rays almost as well as lead. Item #3: Researchers have used nanowires to increase the yield of a solar fuel cell 10 fold using 10,000 times less precious metal.

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

'It's OK to fool people, as long as you're doing that to teach them a lesson which will better their knowledge about how the real world works. No matter how smart or well educated you are you can be deceived.'- James Randi

S: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, dedicated to promoting science and critical thinking. For more information on this and other episodes, please visit our website at theskepticsguide.org, where you will find the show notes as well as links to our blogs, videos, online forum, and other content. You can send us feedback or questions to info@theskepticsguide.org. Also, please consider supporting the SGU by visiting the store page on our website, where you will find merchandise, premium content, and subscription information. Our listeners are what make SGU possible.

References