SGU Episode 987

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SGU Episode 987
June 8th 2024
On the far side of the Moon, the Chang'e-6 lander deployed a small roving vehicle to take a selfie. Credit: CNSA
SGU 986                      SGU 988
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
Remember that all models are wrong; the practical question is how wrong do they have to be to not be useful.
George Box, British statistician
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction, Cara's dog's ailment

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

Quickie with Bob: Drake Equation Update (13:06)

• [url_from_show_notes _article_title_] 

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News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

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

Change-6 Lifts Off from Moon (18:11)

• Carrying lunar rocks, Chinese probe lifts off from far side of moon 

Adaptogens (27:48)

• What are "Adaptogens"? 

Younger Periods (44:42)

• Age of first period declines and researchers say it could be obesity or even pollution 

More Aliens (56:44)

• US Army officer claims 'aliens exist and are already interacting with humans' 

Metasurface Night Vision (1:12:18)

• A Metasurface Approach to Night Vision 

Who's That Noisy? (1:25:29)

Answer to previous Noisy:

Controlled audio feedback via "pendulum music"
Note: the Noisy is based on this piece/installation: Pendulum Music - Steve Reich (1966)

New Noisy (1:29:20)

[Background whooshing, foreground whirring/siren]

J:... what this week's Noisy is

Questions/Emails/Corrections/Follow-ups (1:32:29)

Email #2: Ancient Pyramids

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Science or Fiction (1:42:55)

Theme: GMO News Item #1: Researchers have developed a photosynthesis-enhanced poplar tree variety with a greater than 50% increase in above ground biomass accumulation. Item #2: The pink glow pineapple is approved in the US, it has pink flesh that is sweeter, less sour, with hints of watermelon. Item #3: A biotech company has begun shipping "firefly petunias", which glow when you touch or shake them.

Answer	Item
Fiction	Firefly petunias
Science	Enhanced poplar tree
Science	Pink glow pineapple

Host	Result
Steve	win

Rogue	Guess
Cara	Firefly petunias
Jay	Enhanced poplar tree
Bob	Enhanced poplar tree
Evan	Enhanced poplar tree

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

Cara's Response

Jay's Response

Bob's Response

Evan's Response

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:59:39)

Remember that all models are wrong; the practical question is how wrong do they have to be to not be useful.  – George Box (1919-2013), British statistician, from Empirical Model-Building and Response Surfaces (1987)

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