SGU Episode 988

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SGU Episode 988
June 15th 2024
Model of the targeted deep brain zone, the striatum, a key player in reward and reinforcement mechanisms. Credit: EPFL
SGU 987                      SGU 989
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
Understand well as I may, my comprehension is only an infinitesimal fraction of all I want to understand.
Ada Lovelace, English mathematician
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction, superhero TV series

Voice-over: You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.

Quickie with Evan: Mysterious Signal (5:48)

• [url_from_show_notes _article_title_] 

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

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

Ultra-processed Foods (12:24)

• Ultra-processed Foods 

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Artemis Space Suits (27:54)

• Astronauts test SpaceX Starship hardware and spacesuits for Artemis 3 moon mission (photos) 

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The next-generation spacesuit as designed by Axiom Space is a modular design, ready for a diverse astronaut corps. Image credit: Axiom Space
(Click/tap image for article.)

E: ... Suity McSuitface

Interstellar Clouds (41:32)

• Astrophysicists calculate the likelihood that Earth was exposed to cold harsh interstellar clouds 2 million years ago 

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Prebiotic Soda (55:47)

• New Lawsuit Alleges Poppi Soda's Health Claims Are Bogus 

Non-invasive Deep Brain Stimulation (1:07:45)

• Non-Invasive Deep Brain Stimulation 

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Who's That Noisy? (1:11:24)

Answer to previous Noisy:

Exhaust nozzle closing on Pratt and Whitney fighter jet engine

New Noisy (1:17:02)

[whizzing, whooshing animal burbles?]

what this noisy is

Questions/Emails/Corrections/Follow-ups (1:22:14)

Email #1: Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon

Hello fellow skeptics. I have been listening to the SGU for almost a decade now and really enjoy and appreciate what you guys are doing. Critical thinking is needed NOW MORE THAN EVER. To my comment: Have you guys discussed the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon before? Apparently it is a frequency illusion where when you hear about something it all of a sudden appears more frequently, i.e., learning about a new person and all of a sudden the person's name appears everywhere. I have a sense that it is a cognitive bias but would like to especially hear Steve's and Cara’s takes on the subject (the neurologist and psychologist, respectively).

– Adrian Tello, Texas

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Science or Fiction (1:29:37)

Item #1: Researchers unveiled a new computer modeling system of a living cell that is 1 million times faster than existing simulations. Item #2: For the first time physicists report they have been able to isolate true magnetic monopoles.†  Item #3: NASA recently successfully tested their new communications link to the ISS, which was able to transmit data up and down at 1.2 gigabits per second. † "Quadruple-𝑄" in the article title refers to q, the wave number used in the helical spiral (1Q state) and the hedgehog lattice (3Q state)

Answer	Item
Fiction	Magnetic monopoles
Science	Living cell model
Science	1.2 Gbps ISS link

Host	Result
Steve	swept

Rogue	Guess
Bob	Magnetic monopoles
Jay	Magnetic monopoles
Evan	Magnetic monopoles

Voice-over: It's time for Science or Fiction.

Bob's Response

Jay's Response

Evan's Response

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:41:48)

Understand well as I may, my comprehension can only be an infinitesimal fraction of all I want to understand.  – Ada Lovelace (1815-1852), English mathematician and writer

Signoff

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

S: Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, dedicated to promoting science and critical thinking. For more information, visit us at theskepticsguide.org. Send your questions to info@theskepticsguide.org. And, if you would like to support the show and all the work that we do, go to patreon.com/SkepticsGuide and consider becoming a patron and becoming part of the SGU community. Our listeners and supporters are what make SGU possible.

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Today I Learned

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

References