SGU Episode 326

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SGU Episode 326
October 15th 2011
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 325                      SGU 327
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
'Imagination should give wings to our thoughts but we always need decisive experimental proof, and when the moment comes to draw conclusions and to interpret the gathered observations, imagination must be checked and documented by the factual results of the experiment.'
Louis Pasteur
Links
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Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.

This Day in Skepticism ()

• October 15: Global Handwashing Day! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Handwashing_Day

News Items ()

Vitamins and Mortality ()

• http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/vitamins-and-mortality/

Megavirus ()

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15242386

NDEs ()

• http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/science/near-death-experiences-30-years-of-research-part-1-61547.html

More UFOs ()

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-15165928 and UFB - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2047746/The-proof-UFOs-exist-picture-taken-Cornish-coast.html

Electrosense ()

• http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011163057.htm

Airborne Petition ()

• http://skepchick.org/2011/10/the-airborne-identity/

Who's That Noisy ()

• Answer to last week: Zaphod Beeblebrox IV

Interview with Stephen L. Macknik, Ph.D. and Susana Martinez-Conde, Ph.D. ()

• http://www.sleightsofmind.com/

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: Astronomers discover that the intergalactic fog that was present in the early universe was likely cleared away by rogue black holes. Item #2: Scientists discover that communication among bacteria plays an important role in global climate change. Item #3: A research team has created a new form (or allotrope) of carbon that has the hardness of diamond but is amorphous.

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

'Imagination should give wings to our thoughts but we always need decisive experimental proof, and when the moment comes to draw conclusions and to interpret the gathered observations, imagination must be checked and documented by the factual results of the experiment.' Louis Pasteur

Announcements ()

• CSIcon: http://www.centerforinquiry.net/events/csicon_2011/
• Podcast Awards: http://podcastawards.com/

Voice-over: 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 www.theskepticsguide.org. You can also check out our other podcast, The SGU 5x5, as well as find links to our blogs and the SGU forums. 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 leaving us a review on iTunes, Zune, or your portal of choice.

References