SGU Episode 253
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| SGU Episode 253 |
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| May 19th 2010 |
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| (brief caption for the episode icon) |
| Skeptical Rogues |
| S: Steven Novella |
B: Bob Novella |
R: Rebecca Watson |
J: Jay Novella |
E: Evan Bernstein |
| Quote of the Week |
'Imagination is as vital to any advance in science as learning and precision are essential for starting points.' |
Percival Lowell 1855-1916 Astronomer, founded Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, began effort to find Pluto, famous for claiming to have found canals on Mars. |
| Links |
| Download Podcast |
| Show Notes |
| Forum Discussion |
Introduction
You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.
News Items ()
Cell Phone Cancer Update ()
Why Does Matter Exist ()
Applied Kinesiology ()
BMA Trashes Homeopathy ()
Early Bird Feathers ()
Ball Lightening ()
Pesticides and ADHD ()
Who's That Noisy ()
- Answer to last week - the sound of Dark Matter
Questions and E-mails ()
Question #1 - Liquid Mountaineering ()
http://skepchick.org/blog/2010/05/how-to-google-aka-liquid-mountaineering-is-a-viral-ad/
Question #2 - Cults ()
Big fan etc etc but I often (in the podcast, in the Why Are Nerds Unpopular article) hear/see you use the term 'cult'. Could you give a definition of what a cult is? Specifically, could you provide one that distinguishes a 'cult' from, say, a Baptist church, or a Buddhist society, while also being encompassing enough to include all of the different groups that people have applied the label 'cult' to? I ask because I do not have such a definition, and from everything that I know about the sociology of religions it is not possible to have such a definition. 'Cult' seems to be a derogatory term applied by members of a dominant/popular religious group towards a smaller religious group that they don't like, and I'm disappointed that you use it so readily and without any qualification. I know you're very busy, but I hope you find time to respond. Regards, Jakub
Science or Fiction ()
Item #1: A new study shows that wild birds prefer conventionally grown seeds to their organically grown counterparts. Item #2: A recent review concludes that epidemiological and animal data support the conclusion that caffeine slows progression and improves function in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Item #3: Researchers announce that they have successfully developed a universal flu vaccine that can be widely available prior to the next flu season.
Quote of the Week ()
'Imagination is as vital to any advance in science as learning and precision are essential for starting points.' - Percival Lowell 1855-1916 Astronomer, founded Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, began effort to find Pluto, famous for claiming to have found canals on Mars.
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.
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