SGU Episode 653

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SGU Episode 653
January 13th 2018
Astronaut John W. Young
SGU 652                      SGU 654
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
Even when I have no power over important events in my life, I gain a feeling of control from understanding them. And I, too, have a sense of wonder. For me, discovering the workings of nature is a vibrant, satisfying experience that is both intellectual and emotional. To recognize the astronomical relationship between the Sun and the Earth, or to understand the optical phenomena that create its rosy light, does not strip the sunset of its beauty.
Stuart Vyse, American psychologist
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Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

Steve and Bob's VR fun (7:19)

(in Professor Farnsworth voice) "Good news, everyone!"

What's the Word? (23:23)

• Eutrophication

_consider_using_block_quotes_for_emails_read_aloud_in_this_segment_

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

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

Astronaut John Young Dies (28:48)

• Astronaut John Young, Who Walked on the Moon and Led 1st Shuttle Mission, Dies at 87

Space X Loses Satellite (37:16)

• Classified satellite fell into ocean after SpaceX launch, official confirms

Raw Water (47:42)

• "Raw water": The latest dangerous "natural health" fad

Human WiFi (52:07)

• How 'wi-fi' connects human brains and explains why people have 'gut feelings'

Cancer Deaths Declining (59:25)

• Cancer Deaths Continue to Decline

Who's That Noisy? (1:09:40)

Answer to previous Noisy:

Tuba playing a very low note

New Noisy (1:23:23)

[_short_vague_description_of_Noisy]

short_text_from_transcript

Science or Fiction (1:15:32)

Theme: Robots Item #1: Engineers have unveiled a fully autonomous robotic weeder that can target and remove individual weeds with >99% accuracy. Item #2: Scientists successfully tested an implantable robot that can be used to stretch and lengthen organs such as the esophagus or intestines. Item #3: Scientists have developed a system of soft artificial muscle for robots that produces 6 times greater force per unit area than mammalian skeletal muscle.

Answer	Item
Fiction	Robotic weeder
Science	Organ stretcher
Science	Soft artificial muscle

Host	Result
Steve	clever

Rogue	Guess
Jay	Organ stretcher
Evan	Robotic weeder
Cara	Soft artificial muscle
Bob	Soft artificial muscle

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

Bob's Response

GWB

go with Bob

Announcements (1:38:02)

• Britt Hermes lawsuit: Cancer quack Colleen Huber sues Britt Hermes over criticism

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:39:38)

Even when I have no power over important events in my life, I gain a feeling of control from understanding them. And I, too, have a sense of wonder. For me, discovering the workings of nature is a vibrant, satisfying experience that is both intellectual and emotional. To recognize the astronomical relationship between the Sun and the Earth, or to understand the optical phenomena that create its rosy light, does not strip the sunset of its beauty.

– Professor Stuart Vyse, American psychologist, teacher, speaker and author, from Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition

Signoff

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

S: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, dedicated to promoting science and critical thinking. For more information on this and other episodes, please visit our website at theskepticsguide.org, where you will find the show notes as well as links to our blogs, videos, online forum, and other content. You can send us feedback or questions to info@theskepticsguide.org. Also, please consider supporting the SGU by visiting the store page on our website, where you will find merchandise, premium content, and subscription information. Our listeners are what make SGU possible.

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Today I Learned

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

References

Vocabulary