SGU Episode 647

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SGU Episode 647
December 2nd 2017
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 646                      SGU 648
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
Magnificent desolation. [Author's first words upon setting foot on the moon]
Buzz Aldrin, American astronaut
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

Forgotten Superheroes of Science ()

• Hisako Koyama: Hisako Koyama (1916-1997) observed and drew sunspots for her entire career, offering an invaluable resource to solar astronomers

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

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

Speciation Event Observed ()

• Evolution Observed in Darwin’s Finches

UK Water Companies Using Dowsing ()

• U.K. Water Companies Sometimes Use Dowsing Rods To Find Pipes

NET Neutrality ()

• Battle for the Net

Interstellar Visitor ()

• The First Interstellar Asteroid Is Like Nothing Astronomers Have Ever Seen

Who's That Noisy? ()

• Answer to last week’s Noisy: "Daddy's Car", a song written by AI

New Noisy ()

[_short_vague_description_of_Noisy]
(Answer from next episode)

Interview with Britt Hermes ()

• Naturopathic Diaries

Science or Fiction ()

Answer	Item
Fiction	Domesticated dumber than wild
Science	Dogs 2x smart as cats
Science	Carnivores not smarter than prey
Science	Raccoon equal to primates

Host	Result
Steve	sweep

Rogue	Guess
Bob	Carnivores not smarter than prey
Jay	Dogs 2x smart as cats
Evan	Dogs 2x smart as cats

’'Voiceover: It's time for Science or Fiction.

Theme: How Smart Are Carnivores?
Item #1: Dogs have twice the neuronal density as cats.
Item #2: On average domesticated species have significantly lower neuronal density than their wild counterparts.
Item #3: Contrary to what the researchers expected to find, carnivorous species did not have greater neuronal density than prey species.
Item #4: The racoon was an outlier among the carnivores, with a neuronal density equal to that of primates.

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

Magnificent desolation.
– American astronaut Buzz Aldrin's first words upon setting foot on the moon

Signoff/Announcements ()

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

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.

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Today I Learned

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

References

Vocabulary