SGU Episode 564

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SGU Episode 564
30th Apr 2016
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 563                      SGU 565
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Guest
MW: Michael Whelan
Quote of the Week
The claim of alternative practitioners to not treat disease labels but the whole patient...allows alternative practitioners to live in a fool's paradise of quackery where they believe themselves to be protected from any challenges and demands for evidence.
Edzard Ernst
Links
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Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

Forgotten Superheroes of Science ()

• Annie Maunder

Annie Maunder was one of the first professional Irish female astronomers. The famous Maunder Minimum, a period of very low sunspot activity was named after her and her husband.

News Items

Zinc Flash at Conception ()

• http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2016/04/radiant-zinc-fireworks-reveal-quality-of-human-egg.html

Plant Prion Memory ()

• https://www.newscientist.com/article/2085770-plants-may-form-memories-using-mad-cow-disease-proteins/

Parents Convicted in Toddler’s Death ()

• https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/parents-convicted-in-death-of-toddler/

Who's That Noisy? ()

• Answer to last week: Autopilot

What's the Word ()

• Hyperthymesia

Interview with Michael Whelan ()

• http://www.michaelwhelan.com

Science or Fiction ()

• Item #1: Researchers find that assisted driving systems that use a more natural voice, especially one that the driver socially connects to, results in decreased accidents. http://phys.org/news/2016-04-strong-interactions-voice-guided-vehicles-result.html
• Item #2: Scientists have created an artificial protein that self-assembles with Buckminster fullerenes to create a lattice superstructure. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160426091731.htm
• Item #3: Scientists have developed an entirely dissolvable memristor, that can potentially be used as an implantable or environmentally safe sensor. http://canadafreepress.com/article/toward-dissolvable-electronics-for-implants-and-sensors

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

The claim of alternative practitioners to not treat disease labels but the whole patient...allows alternative practitioners to live in a fool's paradise of quackery where they believe themselves to be protected from any challenges and demands for evidence.

Announcements ()

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