SGU Episode 492

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SGU Episode 492
December 13th 2014
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 491                      SGU 493
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
Isn’t this enough? Just this world? Just this beautiful, complex wonderfully unfathomable world? How does it so fail to hold our attention that we have to diminish it with the invention of cheap, man-made myths and monsters?
Tim Minchin
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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 ()

• December 13th 1972: Last person on the moon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Cernan

News Items ()

Lunar Mission One ()

• https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lunarmissionone/lunar-mission-one-a-new-lunar-mission-for-everyone

Ginkgo Biloba ()

• http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/ginkgo-biloba-no-effect/

Psychic Predicts Airline Crash ()

• http://nypost.com/2014/11/24/airline-changes-flight-after-renowned-psychic-predicts-crash/

Politics vs Science ()

• http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/politics-vs-science/

Nanosculpture ()

• http://phys.org/news/2014-11-science-art-nanosculpture-marvels.html

Saving Christmas ()

• http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2014/11/17/kirk-cameron-s-faith-based-film-saving-christmas-outperforms-at-box-office-in-spite-of-negative-reviews/

Teen Brains ()

• http://www.wired.com/2014/11/teen-brain-shuts-hears-moms-criticism/

Special Report ()

• http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/wind-turbine-syndrome/

Interview with James Randi ()

• http://www.randi.org

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: In 1902 the Royal Australian Army declared the emu to be an enemy of the state, shooting them on sight and driving them near extinction until the order was lifted in 1911. Item #2: The first police force in Australia was called the Night Watch, the ranks of which were filled with the best-behaved convicts. Item #3: The Tasmanian crop circle mystery was solved when it was discovered that wallabies were eating poppy plants, getting high, and then hopping around in circles. Item #4: Security guards at Canberra's Parliament House were banned from using the word 'mate.' The measure was quickly criticized as 'un-Australian' and lasted only one day.

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:22:45)

“Isn’t this enough? Just this world? Just this beautiful, complex wonderfully unfathomable world? How does it so fail to hold our attention that we have to diminish it with the invention of cheap, man-made myths and monsters?” - Tim Minchin

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.

References