SGU Episode 437

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SGU Episode 437
November 30th 2013
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 436                      SGU 438
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie-deliberate, contrived and dishonest--but the myth--persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the cliches of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
JFK
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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 ()

• November 30, 1954: In Sylacauga, Alabama, United States, the Hodges Meteorite crashes through a roof and hits a woman taking an afternoon nap in the only documented case of a human being hit by a rock from space.

News Items ()

MAVEN Launch ()

• http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/maven/

Sylvia Browne Dead ()

• http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/2273-message-from-james-randi-on-sylvia-brownes-death.html

Homeopathy Death ()

• http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/mother-accused-negligence-babys-death-homeopathy-treatments-video/#axzz2lfW34kem

Capturing Lost Energy ()

• http://phys.org/news/2013-11-wireless-device-lost-energy-electric.html

FDA Report on Burzynski ()

• http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/15/stanislaw-burzynski-cancer-controversy/2994561/http://thehoustoncancerquack.com/

Comet ISON ()

• http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/comet-ison-if-it-survives-trip-around-the-sun-could-bring-spectacular-sky-show/2013/11/24/f544103a-53b6-11e3-a7f0-b790929232e1_story.html

Who's That Noisy ()

• Answers to last two weeks:

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: A new study examines South African dogs bred and trained to defend livestock, that are capable of fighting and killing cheetahs and other large predators. Item #2: A recent systematic review finds that people who suffer from food allergies are more likely to die from murder than from their allergy. Item #3: A new computer simulation suggests that a major component of the Permian extinction 252 million years ago was sulfuric acid rain with a pH of 2.

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

“The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie--deliberate, contrived and dishonest--but the myth--persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the cliches of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”- JFK

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