SGU Episode 853

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SGU Episode 853
November 13th 2021
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 852                      SGU 854
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
When people see a story as an external object, then someone challenging the story is just making an intellectual argument. But when believers identify with a story, someone challenging the story is a personal threat. And since our brains are notoriously bad at distinguishing between our psychological identity and our physical body, the personal threat doesn’t feel like an insult—it feels like danger.
Tim Urban, writer/illustrator
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Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

Voice-over: You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.

COVID-19 Update (1:17)

• New Antivirals

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

(laughs) (laughter) (applause) [inaudible]

Moon Return Delayed (11:59)

• NASA pushes back crewed Moon landing to 2025 or later

Brain Stimulation Treatment (18:27)

• Brain Stimulation for Cognitive Control

Carbon to Rock (33:49)

• In Iceland, CO2 sucked from the air is turned to rock

Astronaut Brain Damage (44:42)

• Astronauts may suffer from long-term brain damage, blood tests show

Who's That Noisy? (52:05)

Answer to previous Noisy:

Two Indri lemurs

New Noisy (55:42)

[constant electronic droning sound with MIDI-like tones playing a melody]

J: So if you think you know what this week's Noisy is or, please, if you've heard something cool

Questions/Emails/Corrections/Follow-ups (59:45)

_consider_using_block_quotes_for_emails_read_aloud_in_this_segment_ with_reduced_spacing_for_long_chunks –

Science or Fiction (1:18:52)

Answer	Item
Fiction	Eyewitness identification consistency
Science	Human neurons differ from mammals'
Science	Sun-like stars engulfing systems

Host	Result
Steve	win

Rogue	Guess
Evan	Sun-like stars engulfing systems
Jay	Eyewitness identification consistency
Bob	Eyewitness identification consistency
Cara	Eyewitness identification consistency

Voice-over: It's time for Science or Fiction.

Item #1: MIT scientists find that human neurons differ from all other mammalian neurons tested, having a significantly lower density of ion channels. Item #2: A new analysis suggests that as many as 35% of sun-like stars may engulf and consume their planetary system. Item #3: A new study finds that eyewitness identification can have greater accuracy with multiple testing to demonstrate consistency.

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:36:24)

When people see a story as an external object, then someone challenging the story is just making an intellectual argument. But when believers identify with a story, someone challenging the story is a personal threat. And since our brains are notoriously bad at distinguishing between our psychological identity and our physical body, the personal threat doesn’t feel like an insult—it feels like danger.
– Tim Urban, writer/illustrator and editor of Wait But Why website

Signoff/Announcements ()

S: —and until next week, this is your Skeptics' Guide to the Universe.

S: Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, dedicated to promoting science and critical thinking. For more information, visit us at theskepticsguide.org. Send your questions to info@theskepticsguide.org. And, if you would like to support the show and all the work that we do, go to patreon.com/SkepticsGuide and consider becoming a patron and becoming part of the SGU community. Our listeners and supporters are what make SGU possible.

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Today I Learned

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• Fact/Description
• Fact/Description

References

Vocabulary