SGU Episode 150

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SGU Episode 150
June 4th 2008
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 149                      SGU 151
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
E: Evan Bernstein
Guest
WI: Walter Isaacson
Quote of the Week
A popular feel for scientific endeavors should, if possible, be restored given the needs of the twenty-first century. This does not mean that every literature major should take a watered-down physics course or that a corporate lawyer should stay abreast of quantum mechanics. Rather, it means that an appreciation for the methods of science is a useful asset for a responsible citizenry. What science teaches us, very significantly, is the correlation between factual evidence and general theories, something well illustrated in Einstein's life.
Walter Isaacson
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

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, June 4th, 2008, and this is your host, Steven Novella, President of the New England Skeptical Society. Joining me this evening are Bob Novella...

B: Hey, everybody.

S: Rebecca Watson...

R: Hi, everyone.

S: And Evan Bernstein.

E: Hello, everyone. On this day in 1783, the Montgolfier brothers publicly displayed their hot air balloon.

S: Is that right?

B: Oh, so that's why Google changed their image to a balloon.

E: That's right. Very good, Bob; I noticed that too.

B: I thought that might be it. Excellent.

E: And that's what... made me bring that up tonight. So.

R: So the hot air balloon was more important than women gaining the right to vote... in America.

E: Women can vote?

S: (laughs) Well, also, what happened 40 years ago today?

E: Ooh... 40 years ago.

S: Robert Kennedy was assassinated.

R: Oh, yeah.

E: Right.

B: Wow.

S: This is a momentous day.

E: What a day.

B: How about 50 years ago today?

(laughter)

R: You made something up?

S: I don't know.

B: My buddy at work was born.

S: (laughs)

R: Wow!

S: How did I miss that?

B: Today was his 50th birthday.

E: Why isn't that in Wikipedia?

R: Happy birthday, random dude we don't know.

B: Doug. His name is Doug.

S: But all of those historical events will pale in comparison to today, which is the SGU 150th episode.

E: 1-5-0.

B: No way! Whoa.

News Items

New Alien Video (1:50)

• www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/30/alien-commission-causes-commotion/
  br.youtube.com/watch?v=4h_ZR5F0PFg
  
  Stan Romanek: www.stanromanek.com/03)%20Picture%20&%20Video%20Timeline%20Page_website/
  
  
  

Solar Power from Space (8:53)

• www.universetoday.com/2008/06/01/harvesting-solar-power-from-space/
  
  
  

Green Our Vaccines Rally in DC (14:07)

• scienceblogs.com/insolence/OpenLetterFinal.pdf
  www.safevaccines.org/press-080527.htm
  www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=9
  abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=4987758
  
  
  

Questions and E-mails (25:16)

Cold Fusion

I just stumbled upon an article online that seems to ridicule the idea of cold fusion as supposedly described in this article physicsworld.com/blog/2008/05/coldfusion_demonstration_a_suc_1.html, along with the likes of perpetual motion machines. I understand why a perpetual motion machine can't theoretically be possible could you please explain if cold fusion is as unlikely to be possible.

Sam Spreull
Brighton, UK

Interview with Walter Isaacson (34:39)

• Author of Einstein
  www.simonsays.com/content/destination.cfm?tab=1&pid=349181
  

Science or Fiction (1:06:24)

Question #1: New study shows that we pick our friends based largely on similarity of physical appearance. Question #2: Playing golf prolongs life expectancy by an average of 5 years. Question #3: New research shows that when it comes to collective traumatic events, like terrorists attacks, it is psychologically healthy to keep feelings inside rather than discussing them with others.

Quote of the Week (1:16:04)

'A popular feel for scientific endeavors should, if possible, be restored given the needs of the twenty-first century. This does not mean that every literature major should take a watered-down physics course or that a corporate lawyer should stay abreast of quantum mechanics. Rather, it means that an appreciation for the methods of science is a useful asset for a responsible citizenry. What science teaches us, very significantly, is the correlation between factual evidence and general theories, something well illustrated in Einstein's life.'- Walter Isaacson

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