SGU Episode 285

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SGU Episode 285
29th December 2010
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 284                      SGU 286
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Guest
M: Mike LaCelle
Quote of the Week
Questioning our own motives, and our own process, is critical to a skeptical and scientific outlook. We must realize that the default mode of human psychology is to grab onto comforting beliefs for purely emotional reasons, and then justify those beliefs to ourselves with post-hoc rationalizations. It takes effort to rise above this tendency, to step back from our beliefs and our emotional connection to conclusions and focus on the process. The process (i.e science, logic, and intellectual rigor) has to be more important than the belief.
Steven Novella
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Introduction

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 Wednesday, December 29^th 2010, 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: What's up, guys

S: Evan Bernstein

E: Ha-ppy new year!

S: and, our special guest, Mike LaCelle

M: Hey guys, how's it going?

B,J,R&E: Mike!

R: I remember Mike

J: Hey!

S: Yeah, this is now a tradition, Mike joins us for the year-end wrap-up episode every year.

M: And get paid handsomely

E: Oh yeah, oh yeah

This Day in Skepticism (0:44)

S: Before we get started, Evan, tell us about this day–

E: Alright, but I'll need some help introducing this

Best and Worst of 2010 ()

This section is in the middle of being transcribed by Teleuteskitty (talk) as of {{{date}}}. To help avoid duplication, please do not transcribe this section while this message is displayed.

Science or Fiction ()

• Item number one: Researchers find that non-coding sequences of DNA may be responsible for more variation among individuals than genes.

• Item number two: An extensive genetic analysis indicates that modern dogs first evolved in the Middle East, not Asia, as was previously thought.

• Item number three: Geologists have determined that the earth was not completely frozen for most of its early history, despite lower levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, because of relatively increased output from the sun.

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

Questioning our own motives, and our own process, is critical to a skeptical and scientific outlook. We must realize that the default mode of human psychology is to grab onto comforting beliefs for purely emotional reasons, and then justify those beliefs to ourselves with post-hoc rationalizations. It takes effort to rise above this tendency, to step back from our beliefs and our emotional connection to conclusions and focus on the process. The process (i.e science, logic, and intellectual rigor) has to be more important than the belief.

Steven Novella

Announcements ()

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