SGU Episode 495

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SGU Episode 495
January 3rd 2015
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 494                      SGU 496
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the facts. They alter the facts to fit their views. Which can be uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering.
The Fourth Doctor, "The Face of Evil"
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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 ()

• January 3, 1888: Lick Observatory is first used

News Items ()

Alternative Therapies for Cancer ()

• http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/dec/03/alternative-therapies-risk-effectiveness-of-cancer-treatment-researchers-find

Law-Schilling Twitter Kerfuffle ()

• http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2014/11/espn_bans_baseball_writer_from_twitter_for_disagre.html

The Deep Web ()

• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/how-the-deep-web-works.htm

Jet lag Pseudoscience ()

• http://sciblogs.co.nz/infectious-thoughts/2011/01/15/1above-the-worlds-first-aerotonic-flight-beverage-seriously/

Gender in Education ()

• http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/09/opinion/kimmel-single-sex-classes/

Orion Capsule Test ()

• http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/dec/05/nasa-launches-orion-spacecraft-in-boost-for-mars-mission

Seeing Infrared ()

• http://phys.org/news/2014-12-human-eye-invisible-infrared.html

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: In 1990 Prime Minister Mike Moore appointed an official Wizard of new Zealand, who serves to this day. Item #2: On September 19, 1893, New Zealand became the first democracy in the world to grant women the full right to vote. Item #3: When humans first arrived in New Zealand they were preyed upon by giant eagles, capable of killing a fully grown person. Item #4: New Zealand has won the most Olympic gold medals per capita.

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:16:06)

"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the facts. They alter the facts to fit their views. Which can be uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering." - The Fourth Doctor, "The Face of Evil"

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