SGU Episode 211

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SGU Episode 211
August 4th 2009
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 210                      SGU 212
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
“Your victim was smothered. That's not opinion. That's science and science is one cold-hearted bitch with a 14-inch strap-on”
Vincent Masuka from Dexter Season 3 Ep5
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

News Items ()

Teeth from Stem Cells ()

• http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE5725RF20090803 http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/07/31/0902944106.full.pdf+html

Stem Cell Clinic Raid ()

• http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17551-guerrilla-stem-cell-clinic-raided-by-police.html

Laser Propulsion ()

• http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20090729/sc_space/laserpropulsionwildideamayfinallyshine

Update on Simon Singh ()

• http://jackofkent.blogspot.com/2009/08/simons-choice.html

Questions and E-mails ()

Question # 1 - Origin of Matter ()

Hi, My name is Aaron Kren. I'm a Christian and I've started to listen to some of your podcasts. I also lived in Grand Rapids for a while, so I found it interesting to hear you talk about about the area - such as churches like Mars Hill. I visited there a couple times, but became a member of a smaller independent church. I'm listening to discover more about what atheists and skeptics believe. I figure that if what I believe is true, then there ought to be proper responses to what you believe. I find your podcasts challenging, but good in giving me a greater desire to dive deeper into what I believe. I think it is true that many Christians don't have a deep understanding of their faith. I also think (because it has been true of me) that Christians are often segregated in their own communities and don't rub shoulders enough with people who aren't Christians. It really is amazing to see how wholeheartedly people believe in different things. I found it refreshing to hear you say (and correct me if I'm wrong) that you don't follow the postmodern perspective that there is no One Truth and that belief is subjective. It makes sense that if the whole Universe relies on laws and scientific facts, that the same should also be true for issues of spirituality. I know you don't believe in spiritual things, or God, but if God were real, would you say that not all belief systems would work equally in connecting with God and living the way He desires? I'm just curious as to what you would say. I have one other question. I don't necessarily mean it to be a 'got you!' question, but I am curious about what your view is. If evolution is true, where did the first particles of matter, from which all life evolved, come from? You've probably answered this many times and you've no doubt thought about it and researched it as best as you can. I admit, I haven't yet taken the time to research the common beliefs about the subject, but I thought this would be a good place to start. I just wonder (since your beliefs are based on logic) how you could logically believe that these particles always existed for zillions of years before they started evolving. Our experience of the earth and the universe tells us that things have a beginning and an end. Things are born and things die. Nothing randomly originates out of nothing. Where did these original 'things' come from? Logically, there should be just nothing - no matter, no universe, no existence, no life - then we wouldn't have to answer the question of how something came from nothing. Well, I'll stop babbling, and I'll continue to check in on your podcast. Thanks, Aaron

Question # 2 - Interval Training ()

Hey All, I subscribe to Popular Science, and perhaps my favorite thing about the magazine is the pseudoscientific advertising on the last few pages. This month I came across an exercise machine that looks more like a Rube Golgberg device than anything else. Anyway, the reason this particular ad caught my eye is that the major selling point of the thing is that it costs $14,615. (Apparently, it's worth it because you only need to exercise 4 mites a day.) I thought you might like to check out their site. http://www.fastexercise.com/ It's good for a laugh, and I thought it might make for a fun item to discuss on the show. Keep up the good work, Justin Larcomb Columbus, OH

Interview with Skepchick Carrie Iwan ()

• The Rogues discuss sexism at TAM7 and the skeptical movement with Rebecca and fellow Skepchick, Carrie.

Science or Fiction ()

Item # 1: New studies find that most people grossly overestimate their ability to resist temptation. Item # 2: A new study finds that daily use of kefir, a fermented milk drink rich in probiotics, is associated with a decreased risk of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Item # 3: A new study finds that 70% of US children are deficient in Vitamin D.

Who's That Noisy ()

• Answer to last week - Bottlenose Dolphin

Quote of the Week ()

“Your victim was smothered. That's not opinion. That's science and science is one cold-hearted bitch with a 14-inch strap-on”. From Dexter Season 3 Ep5 Character - Vincent Masuka sent in by Peter McCully

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