SGU Episode 654

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SGU Episode 654
January 20th 2018
The Black Death in Medieval Europe
SGU 653                      SGU 655
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
Science is a way of life. Science is a perspective. Science is the process that takes us from confusion to understanding in a manner that’s precise, predictive and reliable – a transformation, for those lucky enough to experience it, that is empowering and emotional.
Brian Greene, American theoretical physicist
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction, Mudslides & Amtrak, Jay's VR fun

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

Forgotten Superheroes of Science (8:40)

• Sophie Wilson, English computer scientist

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

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

Black Death (11:09)

• Maybe Rats Aren't to Blame for the Black Death

Britt Hermes Lawsuit (22:58)

• Britt Hermes Legal Costs Fundraising Campaign

Fake News Follow Up (32:34)

• Study: 42 percent of Republicans believe accurate — but negative — stories qualify as "fake news"

Who's That Noisy? (43:23)

Answer to previous Noisy:

Garbage can rolling over packed snow

New Noisy (48:32)

[guttural, throaty animal grunts]

J: what it is or you heard something...

Interview with Richard Wiseman (49:11)

• Richard's website

_text_about_skip this abridged version

Science or Fiction (1:13:55)

Item #1: A new paper presents preliminary evidence using fungal spores in concrete mix to make the concrete self-healing – the spores will become activated by cracks and secret calcium to fill them. Item #2: A recent comprehensive study finds that the phases of the moon are statistically significantly associated with the risk of a magnitude 3 or greater earthquake. Item #3: Engineers present the first atom-thick memory storage chip they are dubbing an "atomristor."

Answer	Item
Fiction	Moon phases & earthquakes
Science	Self-healing concrete
Science	Atom-thick storage chip

Host	Result
Steve	swept

Rogue	Guess
Cara	Moon phases & earthquakes
Bob	Moon phases & earthquakes
Jay	Moon phases & earthquakes
Evan	Moon phases & earthquakes

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

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:26:17)

Science is a way of life. Science is a perspective. Science is the process that takes us from confusion to understanding in a manner that’s precise, predictive and reliable – a transformation, for those lucky enough to experience it, that is empowering and emotional.

– Brian Greene, American theoretical physicist, mathematician, and string theorist

Signoff/Announcements (1:28:00)

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