SGU Episode 353

under way. --Rwh86 18:41, 23 April 2012 (UTC)

Podcast 353 - April 21, 2012

Links

• Show Notes
• Podcast
• Forum Topic

Skeptical Rogues

• S: Steven Novella
• B: Bob Novella
• R: Rebecca Watson
• J: Jay Novella
• E: Evan Bernstein

Introduction (0:00)

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

S: Hello, and welcome to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe. Today is Monday April 16th 2012 and this is your host, Steven Novella. Joining me this week are Bob Novella.

B: Hey everybody.

S: Rebecca Watson.

R: Hello everyone.

S: Jay Novella.

J: Hey guys.

S: And Evan Bernstein.

E: Carpe dium.

S: To you too, Evan.

R: So I'm just going to quit the podcast now and go out for a bike ride.

S: Yeah, (inaudible) your life.

E: Should I have said Carpe Podcast?

R: Yeah, that's probably a little better.

E: I'm not sure that was a popular phrase back when, but.

S: Carpe diem tomorrow.

E: (laughs)

J: Carpe manyana.

E: Crape diem.

S: Carpe manyana.

This Day in Skepticism

This Day in Skepticism: The Surgeons Photo Segment: This Day in Skepticism April 21, 1934 Surgeon's Photo of the Loch Ness Monster published

News Items

Life on Mars

http://phys.org/news/2012-04-proof-life-mars.html

Indian Skeptic Charged with Blasphemy

http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/indian-skeptic-charged-with.html

Multitasking

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17693737

Monkey's Recognize Words

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17676129

Cosmic Superwind

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2012/04/11/Mystery-of-cosmic-superwinds-solved/UPI-21491334185002/

Who's That Noisy?

Answer to last week: Ice chimes

Questions and Emails

Titanic Correction

Need to be careful believing the official position of white star lines. The Issue relates to PR using language to convey a message to the public that was generally believed before the event.: From snopes: Claim: The Titanic was never advertised using the word "unsinkable." : FALSE ...However, claiming (as White Star did) that although others may have used the word, White Star itself did not describe the Titanicas "unsinkable" in its advertising is a bit disingenuous. The February 1993 issue of The Titanic Commutator unearthed a White Star promotional flyer for the Olympic and Titanic that claimed "as far as it is possible to do, these two wonderful vessels are designed to be unsinkable." I never trust advertising to be fact ;) Nigel Underhill

Advanced Dinosaurs

Just wondering if you guys had stumbled upon this little gem http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2012/04/weekend-feature-intelligent-advanced-versions-of-earths-dinosaurs-may-have-evolved-elsewhere-in-univ.html Good example of horrendous journalism. Eric Rosinski Arkansas

Science or Fiction

Item #1 Medical researchers have demonstrated that a form of carbon nanotubes can function as an effective chemotherapeutic agent again several types of solid tumors. http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=24842.php Item #2 Researchers have developed a form of carbon nanotubes that form into durable sponges that can float on water and soak up 100 times their weight in oil. http://news.rice.edu/2012/04/13/nanosponges-soak-up-oil-again-and-again/ Item #3 Scientists have successfully created a form of graphene that can act as a semiconductor - previously known forms are either conductors or insulators. http://www..uwm.edu/news/2012/04/13/uwm-discovery-advances-graphene-based-electronics/ Item #4 Researchers have discovered that carbon nanotubes more than double the growth rate of plant cells in culture. http://esciencenews.com/articles/2012/04/04/carbon.nanotubes.can.double.growth.cell.cultures.important.industry

Skeptical Quote

"Everyone, in some small sacred sanctuary of the self, is nuts." --Leo Rosten